cultural divide?

Share your views on the policies, philosophies, and spirit of Burning Man.
trenton
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:35 am
Location: Santa Nella CA

Post by trenton » Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:51 am

In responce to Little LBski post I would like to say I've always seen a great variety of personalities at BM. Our camp had Attorneys, Construction workers, City folk, Country folk, all walks of life, I believe that is what makes it sooooo cool. One of our neighbors were rich guys from Vegas that with thier help made our lives much easier. The "outside world" does not understand what happens at BM IMHO is a cross section of what is America, You will not like everything you see or hear, but the end result is a great event covered in dust, wine ,beer, ect. We are allready planning for next year! While our camp defiencies and posivitives are fresh in our worn-out brains. Don't get discouraged by what you read here, most of it is just humored banter.

skygnome777
Posts: 83
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:11 pm

Post by skygnome777 » Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:23 pm

My first time was this just passed event. I'm drugs and alcohol free and always have been.(Yeah, boo, whatever guys :-))

I had a great time, and didn't once feel like I got any crap from anyone that wasn't playful in nature.
Remember BRC is over 40,000 people. Your experience, like in any city, depends on who you hang around. My camp of 40 was mostly biologists and computer scientists. It was a great group of intelligent and conscientious people. (I had only met two of them prior.)
My impression of burning man was strongly reflected by them. I felt I continued to run into intelligent professional people who were just out to have a good time with a few less social rules than usual.
Peace, love, intellectual stimulation, and good times!

User avatar
ygmir
Posts: 30403
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:36 pm
Burning Since: 2007
Camp Name: qqqq
Location: nevada county

Post by ygmir » Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:42 pm

you see them fellers Darryl? nope Darryl, I dinnu......how bout you?

Image
YGMIR

Unabashed Nordic
Pagan

User avatar
TomServo
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:17 pm
Burning Since: 1999
Camp Name: Black Rock City Assholes Union Local 668
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Re: cultural divide?

Post by TomServo » Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:56 am

LittleLebowski wrote:I've never been to Burning Man, but from what I've observed in this forum and seen from people who have been, it almost seems like there are two different types of people who may clash on the playa.
So I'm asking, is it hard for the "titties and beer" people, and the "dirty hippies" to get along? (no offense meant by either, but you get the idea). What do you think the percentage is of people who are just there to get fucked up and point at naked people?
I try not to judge people, it just seems like it would be hard to "let go" in a mixed environment like that. When you think about it, everyone is there to have a good time... Enlighten me?
I love beer, but wouldn't consider myself a "titties and beer" person. I got over the naked women thing after my first 15 minutes at burning man 1999. I do like a woman in military gear though...

Oh yeah! Screw the hippies! They had their time..
anything worth doing is worth overdoing..

User avatar
vargaso
Posts: 785
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Burning Since: 2007
Camp Name: Suburbanoya
Location: Lincoln, CA

Post by vargaso » Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:07 am

ePlaya is like any other internet bulletin board; most people either bitching about one thing or another, or attempting to be funny. Myself included.

Burning Man is like nothing else on this earth.

lhyr
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:50 pm
Location: humboldt county

Post by lhyr » Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:09 am

in my experience, the unwashed dready-headed bare footed hippies who show up with no food and two gallons of water for the week have lot in common energetically with the shirt cocking beer swilling "i'm here because breasts" crowd: they both want a good time supplied by those who pour effort and resources into projects all year.

but both of these groups rely on one another so they have something to bitch about. i mean, folks always need something to complain about, some aspect of the experience they can gripe on and on about to counter-balance all the cool shit that goes on when talking it up to folks back home who have never been to BM.

at one point during the last event, i offered a pair of hippies who didn't have any solid food, transportation, or a tent (hardly had clothes, not sure how they even got into the event) a tin can to use as an ashtray, because as a neighbor i'd noticed them putting cigarettes out on the playa. they acted insulted and didnt want it, but wanted to know if i'd trade some tobacco for some yerba mate...

... i also watched a rave debark from a mutant vehicle full of wanksters and frat kids, move from the vehicle to the temple, trying to keep their party atmosphere, while mingling with folks who were sobbing and writing dedications to passed away loved ones. i watched sadness transfer like a virus of truth from one person to a frat kid in silly clothes, who had been having a great time on E and was all of a sudden overwhelmed by the shit going on around him...

really, it's just a bunch of overgrown kids who haven't realized that their labels fall short, that life is too weird to fit in a mold. from what i've seen, it doesn't matter what the intention is when heading out to black rock city: once you're there, if you don't learn and grow from the experience, then you're doing it wrong.

User avatar
Ugly Dougly
Posts: 17612
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
Burning Since: 1996
Location: เชียงใหม่

Post by Ugly Dougly » Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:48 am

Uh, "radically inclusive" means... wait a minute.... dang, dropped the dictionary, wait a minute....

Oh, well, come back later and I'll have it for you.

lhyr
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:50 pm
Location: humboldt county

Post by lhyr » Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:14 pm

hey now, i never said that if you're doing it wrong that you shouldn't go.

User avatar
Ugly Dougly
Posts: 17612
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
Burning Since: 1996
Location: เชียงใหม่

Post by Ugly Dougly » Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:46 pm

If you're doing it right, then you're not paying attention.

User avatar
Elorrum
Posts: 6202
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:09 pm
Burning Since: 2007

Post by Elorrum » Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:39 am

Doesn't the uncertainty principle apply to measuring correctness at burning man? The more accurate a measure of correctness, the less accurate the measure of being at burning man?

User avatar
Ugly Dougly
Posts: 17612
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
Burning Since: 1996
Location: เชียงใหม่

Post by Ugly Dougly » Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:45 pm

When I catch people being Serious at Burning Man, I remind them that they are camping in the desert, wearing a tutu, all so you can watch some wooden effigy burn to a cinder. Then you're going home.

yellowdog
Posts: 80
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:06 pm

Post by yellowdog » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:19 am

Every time you read something on here, repeat to yourself "E-playa is not THE playa".
You know how, when you ask people how their vacation (or day, or date, or whatever) went, and they cant wait to tell you about the missed flight, or the filthy streets, or the overpriced restaurant, instead of the cool article they read on the flight, or the feel of the sea breeze wafting thru their hotel window, or the way their date introduced a new wine to you? It's kinda like that.
Not to say that there is not some really good advice to specific, concrete questions on here. Just be careful inferring too much from opinions. Your experience will be YOUR experience.

User avatar
Ugly Dougly
Posts: 17612
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
Burning Since: 1996
Location: เชียงใหม่

Post by Ugly Dougly » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:29 am

The playa that can be described is not the eternal Playa. The name that can be named. The Playa is ungraspable. How can one's mind be at one with it?

I dreamed that Lake Lahontan came back in a huge flood. Resorts sprang up along the shores. It was beautiful.

User avatar
mayavin
Posts: 3779
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:21 am

Post by mayavin » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:49 pm

if your going to categorize, buy a fine tip pen

User avatar
mayavin
Posts: 3779
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:21 am

Post by mayavin » Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:08 pm

i'm not saying there's something wrong with training wheels...

or that prior notions are neccesarily obsolete

but radical self expression means something to me


if you look and find a dirty hippy, or a beer and titties kinda person, then be it... best you can and then some


but the birds don't tell me of borders

and their songs change/similar-ately

User avatar
mayavin
Posts: 3779
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:21 am

Post by mayavin » Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:14 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:Once you've realized you've squandered a fortune to squat in the desert on the wrong end of Nevada to watch a big wooden man get burned in the middle of the night, in the company of thousands of men in tutus and sarongs, then how the hell can you take anything seriously?

Hippy.
second the motion


does it pass?

Post Reply

Return to “Philosophical Center”