How to deal with moochers

[Mulligan]

Last year, I noticed a good number of burners who were not prepared wandering into our camp early on in the week. We were not part of a theme camp and we weren't even close to one.

These "moochers" had no water, no food, no shelter. Heck, a few didn't even have a cup. One chicka decided our trash would be a good place to drop off hers and after depositing a good amount didn't even say thanks or spend time to talk to us.

Last year was my first burn. I know the whole gifting thing (and gave and received many times), but I really didn't feel like just because I had prepared enough water and food for myself that I really had to share it with somebody that decided they didn't need to be radically self-sufficient. I did share, of course, but I felt like my generosity was abused.

Am I that way off base? How have others dealt with "moochers"?

[C.f.M.]

Well, I'm very lucky in that the overwhelming majority of my burn experience has been hippi - er, moocher free.

However, the few times people did try something, I flat out said no. With a little fuck off you moronic jerkoff.

Reiterate why you are saying no "No, you can't use our trash can. If you brought it with you, you take it out with you. Do you not know where you are? Did you not come prepared?"

I further threaten to kick them in the dick, if I see them mooping anything, anywhere, at any other time.

"No, you may not have one of our steaks. If you need food, you bring food. This is a self-reliant event. If you can't take care of yourself like the grown-ass being you look like, stay home next time - or buy your mommy a ticket."

[theCryptofishist]

Fencing. Building/arranging camp so that the only ingress/egress is readily visible. Never let them see your garbage. Even in "RL" a garbage can is an open invitation to have someone dump their trash in your can. Start talking to them; they'll either bolt like rabbits or interact with you, changing the dynamic.

However, staking out on an ant hill will not work.

[dragonfly Jafe]

I agree - a good defense is the best option (for this and many other problems). have a separate camp and interaction area, with a barrier of some kind (cars, rows of tents, etc) to limit access between. Fence off your camp area. Question and/or kick-out interlopers.

They still will come into your open area and "mooch", so be prepared to either deal with it or have some "color" for your interaction area for the next few hours. If you wanted to have some fun, lure them to the closest Ranger outpost and let the Rangers know that this person has no food and/or water, and is mooching to survive...

[Savannah]

Probably one of the more productive ways to handle the Underprepared is by briefly educating them.

* If you have more than enough of a certain item they're looking for, remind them of the barter economy. i.e., say that you may know of some extra _____ (you don't even have to admit that it's yours) but need to know what they have to offer in exchange. Who knows, they might have something amusing.

* Also, tell them about the shuttle into town. From the main site:

. . . daily shuttle to the Empire General Store for $10. Tickets for the bus will be available for purchase in Center Camp. The Bus Depot location is usually adjacent to the 6:00 road, and is indicated on the BRC map handed out to new arrivals at Greeters Station. You must be fully clothed and sober to ride the bus. Be warned: the Empire General Store is a small store, supporting a community of less than 500 people. They have a minimal selection of goods for purchase!

I also tend to keep my resources unobtrusive when I can, & that includes my trash and recycling.

[dragonpilot]

Yeah...this isn't all a nicey-nicey, political correctness, laid back event. We all like to think of this as an alternate schmoozy universe, but reality tends to hit you square betwixt the eyes here!

I have seen, and have myself, responded to moochiness/rudeness with less than a loving attitude.

Trust that a stern response to inconsiderates will serve to heighten their Burning Man experience.

[Ugly Dougly]

For some reason Barbarian Camp never had a problem with moochers.

Largely because we didn't have anything worth mooching.

[Dr. Pyro]

I have found the line, "I'm sorry, I don't remember getting your check for the camp dues." tends to get rid of the vermin in a hurry.

[C.f.M.]

Those hippies already get enough gd "love." That's why they keep thinking they can get away with it, and why I make an extra effort to give them a taste of "reality."

Hippies must be trained. Give a man to fish and shit.

I do not reinforce bad habits.

...except my own.

[phil]

> Give a man to fish and shit.

I think I'll <s>right</s> [edit: write] that down. Can somebody give me a pen and some paper?

[Savannah]

I might know of where you can find such items, but I'm going to need an ounce of white rum for it.

[C.f.M.]

Got that skrait from the BIBLE, man!

Life is precious and God and the Bible.

[phil]

> Am I that way off base?

I'll suggest that you're taking it a little too harshly and a little too personally.

Yes, there are moochers. If they want something from you that you don't want to share, don't have enough of, or whatever reason suits your fancy, a simple, "Sorry, no" is sufficient. If they want to know where else to look, "I have no idea, sorry" works, too. Then forget it. There's no use in letting someone else wreck your burn - you get to do that yourself.

I'm sure everyone gets asked for help. Some is legitimate (we were asked one year if we had our garlic crusher with us - she'd forgotten to pack hers), some is unreasonable (dropping garbage off at your camp). Some you _can_ help with, some you _want_ to help with, and some you just don't want to be bothered. In all events, do what you want and move on. We all need help on the playa, and there are thousands of people there ready, willing, and happy to help. Just pass the moochers on; they'll find a person happy to fill all their needs - hence, both sides get their needs met.

I'd also suggest lightening up on the BMOrg propaganda. I know they preach radical self-reliance, but don't swallow it all hook line and sinker. I see no reason to buy into BMOrg's Words of Larry any more than I bought into Chairman Mao's thoughts. Burning Man is what I make it for me, not what the organizers tell me to make it be for me.

If you want it to be about radical self-reliance, then go for it. But that's what you should want, not what you're told you should want it to be. Myself, I practice radical self-indulgence, in the words of Wally. :-> And if the moochers are still bothering you after all these months, please rethink your expectations and approach to Burning Man. They're there, they mooch, get over it, in the words of some T-shirt. YMMV.

[Just_Joe]

I have some extra water, I have some extra food, I have some extra garbage bags. I expect to (selectively) give/loan these items. I don't have extra beer. You say you'd like a beer?- Sorry dude, I barely brought enough for myself but hey, would you like a bowl of tasty noodles?
Lots of peeps get there by the skin of their teeth- mebbe they're gifted a ticket, scrape up enough for gas money and the next thing you know, they're asking you for a cup of water. No biggie. I don't get riled up by them @ the Tenderloin, no reason to let 'em get to me on the Playa.

Don't get me wrong- I can still be an asshole. The folks tripping into my camp on shrooms that want to "connect" with me for hours regarding the sky and the way that it's melting into the man are definitely not welcome and are shown to the door.. NO NOODLES FOR YOU!

[Savannah]

Yes, there are moochers. If they want something from you that you don't want to share, don't have enough of, or whatever reason suits your fancy, a simple, "Sorry, no" is sufficient. If they want to know where else to look, "I have no idea, sorry" works, too. Then forget it. There's no use in letting someone else wreck your burn - you get to do that yourself.

I'm sure everyone gets asked for help. Some is legitimate (we were asked one year if we had our garlic crusher with us - she'd forgotten to pack hers), some is unreasonable (dropping garbage off at your camp). Some you _can_ help with, some you _want_ to help with, and some you just don't want to be bothered. In all events, do what you want and move on.

Nicely said, I think.

[ygmir]

D.P.W.................

[Thecatman]

I never had a problem with "moochers"?
Sounds like a few undesirables are irresponsible as well.

[curiousgnate]

I haven't experienced a huge hobo problem at the burn, but I think that is because where we camp is in an area where most of the people are vets. IE red light district. But at regionals they seem to come out of the woodwork, at an Idaho regional we had a barefoot rainbow hippie dude come into our camp. he decided that he was going to camp with us and pitched his tiny tent let his dog run around the whole party for the weekend only had a frisbee and no water for the dog, he brought half a case of ramen to trade for well everything. hummm beer for a ramen, I don't think so. At one point I let his dog snuggle with me in my tent because it was freezing cold and shaking. god only knows where he was. oh yeah he brought like two scoops of food for the dog for three days. what a douche. so they are out there. fortunately rainbow people don't overrun burningman, but I'm sure they are out there so beware.

[ygmir]

I haven't experienced a huge hobo problem at the burn, but I think that is because where we camp is in an area where most of the people are vets. IE red light district. But at regionals they seem to come out of the woodwork, at an Idaho regional we had a barefoot rainbow hippie dude come into our camp. he decided that he was going to camp with us and pitched his tiny tent let his dog run around the whole party for the weekend only had a frisbee and no water for the dog, he brought half a case of ramen to trade for well everything. hummm beer for a ramen, I don't think so. At one point I let his dog snuggle with me in my tent because it was freezing cold and shaking. god only knows where he was. oh yeah he brought like two scoops of food for the dog for three days. what a douche. so they are out there. fortunately rainbow people don't overrun burningman, but I'm sure they are out there so beware.

I think the cost keeps a lot of them away........

[curiousgnate]

hahahahaaaaaaaaaa. glad its good for something other then infastructure!

[theCryptofishist]

remind them of the barter economy.

Tectonically:
It's not a barter economy. Barter counts as commerce, hence the llc cannot tell anyone it's a barter economy. What we have is a gift economy. You don't want to confuse the teeny, tiny hippie brain with ambiguities.
Of course if you over emphasis the "gifting" bit, those same minuscule brains might think they can demand gifts.

[CapSmashy]

I live for the day someone comes into my camp and 'demands' a gift from me.

[phil]

I live for the day someone comes into my camp and 'demands' a gift from me.

Louise and I have had people stop us and demand we take their gift. I'm serious. Someone stopped us on our bikes and made us take pasteboard bookmarks from some library in New York. We tried to decline, but they wouldn't let us because it's a gift economy. Pasteboard bookmarks from a library.

[Sail Man]

fortunately rainbow people don't overrun burningman, but I'm sure they are out there so beware.

We've had a rainbow family camp by us in Kidsville the last 2 years. Very nice family, courteous and laid back. IIRC we've swapped a few items and I have no issue with.

I tend to take a few extra of many things and if I can help somebody out, that is my gift to them. I wouldn't tolerate them trying to leave their garbage with me though.

[Sham]

I had a woman a few years ago demand a piece swag that I had. She was pretty forceful about it. I know it was boorish on my part, but in response to her forcefulness, I told her to show me her tits and I would give it to her. She seemed pretty stunned by that, but didn't see any issue with her pushiness.
I have no problem with being generous and offering help, but moochers do bug me.

[Simon of the Playa]

i like tazers, and there is nothing like seeing ten pounds of dreadlocks defy gravity and stand on end.

[C.f.M.]

"Lots of peeps get there by the skin of their teeth- mebbe they're gifted a ticket, scrape up enough for gas money"


Lots of us get there by the skin of our teeth, going to great lengths and expense to ensure we do it RIGHT, with RADICAL SELF-RELIANCE.

WHATEVER you need for your trip to Burning Man, BRING IT.

If you can't bring it, and take care of your own needs like a grown-ass person, stay the fuck home.

[Sham]

If you can't bring it, and take care of your own needs like a grown-ass person, stay the fuck home.

Point well taken. I'll stay home.

[C.f.M.]

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A man’s gotta do
what a man’s gotta do
Don’t plan the plan
If you can’t follow through


Also, "balls."