Interview with a Burner

LexUnscripted · Post by **LexUnscripted** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:30 am

[size=9]Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I figured it's mostly about your experiances.[/size]

Hey!

I do the [i]Alt Lifestyle[/i] section of my college newspaper & for our latest issue I decided to do an article on Burning Man.

Problem is I've yet to have the funds or time to attend.

So I was wondering if maybe a few of you would be willing to answer a few questions for me?

I won't make you do a one-on-one with me, although I'd like to, but I'd like to get feedback from as many burners as possible, so I will leave the questions here.

If you would like a one-on-one, feel free to PM me, I'll be more than happy to.

Thanks in advance!

[b]Burning Man is described as an event based on Community, Radical Self-Reliance & Radical Self-Expression, but it is often said you cannot understand it unless you experience it for yourself, so what does Burning Man mean to you?[/b]

[b]Many people claim that their experiences at Burning Man have changed them, and their lives dramatically. Have you had any experiences that you feel have had that kind of effect?[/b]

[b]When the Man burns, what do you feel?[/b]

[b]
What was it like when you first attended Burning Man?[/b]

[b]After a week at Burning Man, how do you re-adjust to normal society?
Is it difficult?[/b]

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:59 am

I doubt these questions will help you much. You have to go. No story or answer will let you know all that it is. It's just a camping trip in the desert, with 40,000 others. Survival is first, the rest is cake.

Roberto Dobbisano · Post by **Roberto Dobbisano** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:37 am

I'm a strange person.

But I know one day I'm going to change the world.

I'll start a movement and the only way to move will be with me.

You'll have never seen anything like this before.

oh yes, i have....teen-age angst meets sophomore year in college....add mushrooms and some neitzche and you get unabashed chutzpah with nothing to back it up.

been there, done that....i suggest you come to burning man instead of having us write your paper for you.

i charge by the syllable.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:56 am

Problem is I've yet to have the funds or time to attend.

Start selling blood now, you should be able to come up with the funds for next year.

It isn't difficult, and from what I hear doesn't take much time.

They even give you cookies.

LexUnscripted · Post by **LexUnscripted** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:28 am

[quote="Roberto Dobbisano"]

oh yes, i have....teen-age angst meets sophomore year in college....add mushrooms and some neitzche and you get unabashed chutzpah with nothing to back it up.

been there, done that....i suggest you come to burning man instead of having us write your paper for you.

i charge by the syllable.[/quote]

I'm going to ignore that, seeing as you have no clue who I am.

& I thought you people would've been more up for this, could've been a bit of fun.
Somehow, spending a week in the desert with a bunch of cranky pricks like you, is making BM really seem less attractive.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:11 am

LexUnscripted wrote:
Roberto Dobbisano wrote:
oh yes, i have....teen-age angst meets sophomore year in college....add mushrooms and some neitzche and you get unabashed chutzpah with nothing to back it up.

been there, done that....i suggest you come to burning man instead of having us write your paper for you.

i charge by the syllable.

I'm going to ignore that, seeing as you have no clue who I am.

& I thought you people would've been more up for this, could've been a bit of fun.
Somehow, spending a week in the desert with a bunch of cranky pricks like you, is making BM really seem less attractive.

DVD, is that you?

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:18 am

LexUnscripted wrote:
Roberto Dobbisano wrote:
spending a week in the desert with a bunch of cranky pricks like you, is making BM really seem less attractive.

I wish I'd gotten some pricks in the desert. Cranky or not.

(cranky preferred)

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:20 am

Somehow, spending a week in the desert with a bunch of cranky pricks like you, is making BM really seem less attractive.

mission accomplished.

if you cant take the snark, get the fuck outta the desert.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:19 am

LexUnscripted wrote: ...you people...

Funny how being called "you people" basically makes the epithetuer look really annoying.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:57 am

I'm very sorry sir, but I'm afraid you've been misinformed. After 2007, they no longer allow college students to attend Burning Man. Sorry.

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:00 am

lonestoner916 wrote:I'm very sorry sir, but I'm afraid you've been misinformed. After 2007, they no longer allow college students to attend Burning Man. Sorry.

Bah. Four of my camp mates were three students and their professor, who had their trip funded by their school.

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:21 am

There are all kinds of posts on this board that address the questions you asked. Have you tried reading some of those?

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 4:06 am

C.f.M. wrote:
LexUnscripted wrote:
Roberto Dobbisano wrote:
spending a week in the desert with a bunch of cranky pricks like you, is making BM really seem less attractive.
I wish I'd gotten some pricks in the desert. Cranky or not.

(cranky preferred)

Of course there is always the battery operated option.
Less maintance that way.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:27 pm

(b) is my hovercraft full of eels?

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:00 am

Simon of the Playa wrote:(b) is my hovercraft full of eels?

Thank You

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:19 am

Lex, we obviously don't want to be featured in the Altlife column. if you ever get the chance to be boots in the dust, you'll understand why burners don't want to be subject to interviews from students. There's a post or two like this at least once a year: someone is writing about Burning Man without experiencing the event, usually for a paper or some such. Just coming here and asking won't do it. We can describe endlessly, but that means nothing.

Why are you writing about something you have zero experience with? There's more than enough firsthand blogs and journals out there for those who are truly motivated to read about burning man. Write about what you know. Coming to the internet is like cheating.

Your first question negates the very asking of it! But since you asked:

What does Burning Man mean to me? A fucking expensive dusty camping trip. My friends. Art. In that order.

When the Man burns, what do you feel? Relief that we got through the fire conclave performance safely, and annoyance that I am old and it hurts to sit on the ground. I wanna go get drunk.

What was it like when you first attended Burning Man? Like going home to Project Artaud.

After a week at Burning Man, how do you re-adjust to normal society?
Is it difficult? A long shower and a big buffet in Reno. I turned the lights on and off a lot the first year. I pick up trash more often. Basically, nope, not difficult. Normal society isn't as normal as you think.

Happy now? And what am I going to do about these fucking eels?

Interview with a Burner

Interview with a Burner

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