Whose brilliant idea was it to put a cellphone tower@BM

[Absolut Jeenyus]

Just because there are real people to talk to you opt for a piece of plastic.

Cell phones defeat the purpose of the event.

Leave your plastic at home.

You do realize that 90% of the shit out there is from Costco, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, U-haul, Ryder, 1800-rent-rv... If everyone left their 'plastic' at home there wouldn't be much out there.

Don't get me wrong, I am completely against the cell phone thing on the playa. But there is the flip side, where just because you can use a phone doesn't mean you have to. I turn my shit off and put it away in the car till I get home. The thought of using my phone doesn't even cross my mind while I'm out there.

It was annoying seeing people rushing through the crowd on their Iphones. All important like. Like it was a fucking night club or something.

One of the stupid phone conversations overheard: "Just let me talk to her Chet... Chet, just let me fuckin talk to her... Dammit Chet I dont care, just let me talk to her."

Makes me want to smack someone.

[gyre]

I just respond to their conversations.
Especially when they ask questions.

[spectabillis]

If everyone left their 'plastic' at home there wouldn't be much out there.

including 'people'

But there is the flip side, where just because you can use a phone doesn't mean you have to.

many said the same thing about cameras, doesnt happen.

[Elderberry]

I would do the same thing if I saw somebody on the Playa working on a spreadsheet or something, or passing out fliers for their Bay Area graphics business...

Hmmmm.....what would be wrong with a person that puts the stimulation and creativity that the playa affords should that person decide to apply said inspiration to use on a spreadsheet or other endeavors related to the default world? Isn't that part of the benefit of the event?

If you have a conversation with someone and discover that you have mutual interesting and complimentary skill sets, then no harm in exchanging numbers or cards or email addies. And it can be done privately, discretely, in a shade structure or even on the esplande with full consent of both parties and anyone else who's been part of the conversation. "...(P)assing out fliers..." is not even making a connection between the two parties. There's no consent. and it's intrusive to those of us who don't want to think of such things during our vacation. And it spreads moop.
Karine met Sergei Brin (co-founder of Google) at the event last year, and her impression of him is someone who has to keep up the barriers on playa, because there are so many people who try and grab his attention for their own aggrandizement. I think that Sergei Brin and Purple Koosh and Larry Harvey and the newest virgin still set on "overwhelm" and Kernel Killbuck and Opera Pepe and the lowliest shirt cocker should all be equally unencumbered by outside world expectations. And that's only one layer of what "no commerce" means to me.

I definately agree--there shouldn't be any passing out of fliers nor prospecting for business at all and didn't mean to imply that at all. Probably I should have better edited the quote. I like the idea of everybody being equal on the playa with no ulterior motives.

JK

[Apollonaris Zeus]

Its not JUST a cell tower.

It is a phallic Symbol