Why are you a burner?

[Victorian]

Burner's are horses of a different color.
Hell, sometimes we're a multi-faceted gemstone, with every color on the rainbow in our hues.

What appealed to burning man for you in the first place when you first heard of it?

What made you keep coming back, year after year?
What made you never want to go back to default world?

Better yet, what makes you stand out, as a burner, from people in your every day life, that just DON'T get burning man?

Are you a hippie? An Old soul? A crazy MOFO who just likes adventure?
Are you an artist?

What exactly IS a burner to you?

I kind of just want to get into the mindset of others that I'm going to be out in the middle of this hellhole with for a week, to see what I am getting myself into...

Maybe find a reason or two worth listing, that makes me not feel so alienated from my coworkers and people I call friends that I share a drink with at my local bar...

What makes the rest of the world seem to think we're absolutely insane?

[epic_elite]

i think im a crazy old souled hippie that likes adventure and art.

but burners are as diverse as the residents of defaultia. i think many of them would not be discernable in a crowd.

your comment about insanity reminded me of an eastern proverb.

the one where the sage told the king that rain was comming, and it would bring madness with it and all the people who drank from it would become insane.

the king has his men gather enough water for him to live off of for a life time, and no one was allowed to it but him.

after the rain the king walked the streets of his maddened people. they starred at him and rejected him, because he was not like them. as years passed, the king grew lonely and bored. Alas, the king stepped to the river bank, cast off his robes and marched until his head was burried. the king drank, the king swam.

If every one is "insane" and you are "normal", you must examine the subjectivism of the whole concept. are you not the one who is "insane"?

maybe we go to burning man to aleviate the anxiety of our empire. maybe the playa is our river, and maybe Blackrock is our city of kings.

[Elorrum]

I kind of just want to get into the mindset of others that I'm going to be out in the middle of this hellhole with for a week, to see what I am getting myself into...

Nice try, but the votes have been tabulated and the results are in the sole possession of the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse and Smith, to be revealed only at the event itself.

I cannot arrive with pre-knowledge of what is going to happen to me. I'm not wise, or well adjusted even, just tired of wasting time. I'm finished with getting the lay of the land and the uniform figured out before hand. To be honest, it's not something I was ever any good at, so stressing about doing it "right" was a waste of my time and energy. I am a me.

[pentta]

to understand what a 'burner' is, is to understand your role within the community. what is your role?

as a burner, does that mean you are a participant? if you are a participant - what kind of participant are you? do you show up early in the week and produce art and generally mingle and be merry? or are you the other type of participant, one who shows up before the event and stays long after everyone has gone: generally known as a volunteer... is a volunteer the same as a participant?

are volunteers better than participants? are volunteers who are paid by the organization better than volunteers who are not paid? are all volunteers better than all regular participants?

are all participants better than all spectators? who is a spectator - one who watches something happening? doesn't it mean that you are a participant if you show up and pay for a ticket - who is to judge your level of participation, anyway?

if a BRC ranger has a deep rooted desire to be a BLM LEO and behaves accordingly, does that mean BLM LEOs are participants (considering all BRC rangers are considered participants - and by definition, "burners")?

is larry harvey is a burner? is john law a burner? is paul addis a burner? are you a burner?

i think "burner" should be exchanged for the more accurate label - generic marketeer. you are all participants in a weird viral marketing scheme, that uses the romantic notion of counter culture to pull the wool over your eyes, as you buy your ticket to West World, believing you're all equally yul brynner.

[TomServo]

I never wanted to be a burner. My ex wife really wanted to go, and talked me into going. I loved it, she hated it!

Their many different types of peeple on the playa. And each participates, hopefully, in their own way. I like serving drinks. And, for shits and giggles, volunteered with the DPW. Burners are like any normal person you'd meet in the real world, but with a dirty little secret.

The best advice I can give any newbie, is to go with NO expectations, and an open mind.

And I think you may find the weather more pleasant, than in Arizona.

[Victorian]

Thanks to all for sharing. I just wanted to hear what you thought made YOU a burner. And in burner, I meant someone who participates in Burning Man...

So if I made the post seem confusing, sorry. I wanted to hear some artistic points of view.

And no, I do not have expectations of the answers. I wanted to hear what it meant to you.

[ygmir]

how would Joan of Arc answer this?........

[teardropper]

i used to live in the Midwest. Burning Man was thousands of miles away and in a foreign land. I couldn't find anyone to get excited about it with me, so put if off. Wish I had found this forum then. Eventually, I moved to Oregon, only 200 miles from the playa, and had no reasons or excuses not to go. One of my things is boondock camping. The idea of a camp out in the extreme conditions of the playa appealed to me. Merely surviving the week was my first goal. Being prepared was almost an obsession. But it paid off with my physical needs being well met. That done, it left me free to explore, discover and be overwhelmed, or at least whelmed, by what I found.
I'm a child of the 60's who never quite lost the dream. The idea of Burning Man appealed to me, the art, the ability to become involved, not merely watch, the adventure, yes, and the community. It was hard to come and not have these expectations. Some, anyway. What I found knocked the socks off anything I could have imagined. In ways that are hard to put into words. The experience of the Temple Burn, for example. The burners, though not as many as the Man burn, but still a large number--silent. The fire, the sound of it, the smoke tornados spinning into the far humanity. A profound experience. But to explain it, what it meant to me, most words fail. I found something enough to insure my return, for sure. What ever it was, I'll be back for more. And as far as being a burner... I have yet to burn anything on the playa. Am I a burner yet? Wait till this year.

[Fire_Moose]

i first saw BM on tv when i was about 12 or so. In the brief segment that i saw, i instantly knew that i HAD to be there. fast forward 11 years, to april 20, 2007. I was at a party and saw fire spinning for the first time, i had the same feeling of i HAVE to do that. shortly after they brought up burning man and i had a "OoOoO i remember burningman!!" moment. then i went in '08


I'm an adventurer on the path to self discovery i guess?

[changoloco]

Burning Man to me is simply the place where I "burn" myself and give myself new life. Again and again I have gone through this process. The playa has an amazing knack for showing me who i was, who i am and who I want to be in the future.

[Ugly Dougly]

A bunch of French girls dragged me into it. Really!

Then I stayed for the boobies and free beer.

[teardropper]

i used to live in the Midwest. Burning Man was thousands of miles away and in a foreign land. I couldn't find anyone to get excited about it with me, so put if off. Wish I had found this forum then. Eventually, I moved to Oregon, only 200 miles from the playa, and had no reasons or excuses not to go. One of my things is boondock camping. The idea of a camp out in the extreme conditions of the playa appealed to me. Merely surviving the week was my first goal. Being prepared was almost an obsession. But it paid off with my physical needs being well met. That done, it left me free to explore, discover and be overwhelmed, or at least whelmed, by what I found.
I'm a child of the 60's who never quite lost the dream. The idea of Burning Man appealed to me, the art, the ability to become involved, not merely watch, the adventure, yes, and the community. It was hard to come and not have these expectations. Some, anyway. What I found knocked the socks off anything I could have imagined. In ways that are hard to put into words. The experience of the Temple Burn, for example. The burners, though not as many as the Man burn, but still a large number--silent. The fire, the sound of it, the smoke tornados spinning into the far humanity. A profound experience. But to explain it, what it meant to me, most words fail. I found something enough to insure my return, for sure. What ever it was, I'll be back for more. And as far as being a burner... I have yet to burn anything on the playa. Am I a burner yet? Wait till this year.

Yes... and the boobies and the beer. Jeez, do I have to bare my soul?...

[Boijoy]

[AntiM]

Because the alternative is unthinkable.

[ygmir]

Because the alternative is unthinkable.

best answer!!!!!!

[TomServo]

Thanks to all for sharing. I just wanted to hear what you thought made YOU a burner. And in burner, I meant someone who participates in Burning Man...

So if I made the post seem confusing, sorry. I wanted to hear some artistic points of view.

And no, I do not have expectations of the answers. I wanted to hear what it meant to you.

It wasn't confusing. Like explaining BM, their are probably 50,000 explainations, from peeple who've been. Its meant the world to me! Inspired me to do shit. Learned how to sew a kilt, make bicycle mounted flame cannons, sew a 6 1/2 foot teddy bear suit, make buttons, pour drinks, invent drinks, roller skate, be able to not hate the general public, camp, make a thermosyphon hot tub, colored flames, and survive. Its probably one of the most difficult events to attend, but I think, the most rewarding. Its inspirational. Take in the strong playa smell, when you take your first step on the playa.

Its unreal! Think you'll love it Victorian!

[theCryptofishist]

Possibly std from my husband.

Maybe I was suseptible from my vague sideline caco experiences.

[NyxyNox]

Ritualized madness is the cure for insanity.

[Ugly Dougly]

Possibly std from my husband.

TMI.

[Simon of the Playa]

that uses the romantic notion of counter culture to pull the wool over your eyes, as you buy your ticket to West World, believing you're all equally yul brynner.

[youtube][/youtube]

[Gizmo]

In 1957 Jack Kerouac wrote in "On The Road",
"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

[Victorian]

In 1957 Jack Kerouac wrote in "On The Road",
"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

Best answer.

[AntiM]

From B-man 2004:

[C.f.M.]

In 1957 Jack Kerouac wrote in "On The Road",
"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

Best answer.

Naturlich.

Dirty Southern Burners FTW.

[partynaked]

In 1957 Jack Kerouac wrote in "On The Road",
"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

Fantastic! As a soon-to-be first time burner, I can't yet say while I'll come back, but I can say why I know I'll be there...

As the quote says I've always been drawn by the different and to people that said "screw the world" to be themselves. I'm not necessarily speaking of people that set out to shock, but rather people that were not afraid to express who they are. It took a few years, but over time the timid me made way for the more-me me. Now I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be than communing/participating in a group of people that dare to be different and to express themselves.

Let's burn!

[Donna Matrix]

because

[goathead]

the Bacon, its all about the Bacon.

[DVD Burner]

Why am I a Burner?


Just born that way!

[Fire_Moose]

Free booze and titties.

[Ugly Dougly]

Free booze and titties.

Shush, you! FM means it's the art, and the intentional community on a vast canvas. And boobies.