What's left to enjoy

CannotWait · Post by **CannotWait** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:38 pm

I've been really excited about BM since I picked up tickets the day they went on sale, but maybe I've been reading eplaya too much.

It seems like everyone has a story about some horrible disaster on the playa.

Between having your bike stolen, being roofied, and being harassed by cops, when exactly can you let your guard down and actually enjoy the event?

Post by **Sham** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:50 pm

Don't believe everything you read. I've been attending for about 10 years, and yes there are a few stories that everyone has to tell, but for the most part, it's very peaceful and fun loving!
What tends to happen here, is that everyone shares an antidotal story and the place can look manacing. Cops for the most parts are great big fun loving teddy bears. They are happy to be doing the BM detail and get to see the sights just like the participants.
Yup, there is lots left to enjoy, and remember that eplaya in not THE playa!
See you there!

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:03 pm

> Cops for the most parts are great big fun loving teddy bears. They
> are happy to be doing the BM detail and get to see the sights just
> like the participants.

What drug are you on?! Ya gotta share that stuff. Wow.

> It seems like everyone has a story about some horrible disaster
> on the playa.

You will, too. Welcome to the club. But remember that people go to BM for years and years not because they like disasters but because they love Burning Man. The good times _far_ outweigh any trifling disasters that may befall us. You need to read the antidotal stories in context. There are a lot of prodotal ones, too. I just dote on them.

SnowBlind · Post by **SnowBlind** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:35 pm

I agree with Shambala. While bad things do happen, I think considering the size of the event, it's probably one of the most peaceful events of its size.

As a matter of fact, one of the main attractions for me is the friendly atmosphere and the neighborly spirit you experience at Burning Man.

And yes, in 10 years I've had nothing stolen, very few bad experiences with other burners, and not a single bad interactions with local or federal officers whatsoever.

My 2 cents.

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:01 pm

Yeah, don't take the stuff on ePlaya too seriously. Ever talk to people who have traveled somewhere exotic? After hearing them bitch about this and that, "oh, do you remember that time when all the toilets overflowed?" ask them if they'd do it again. They might look at you funny. Of course they'd do it again!

Bitching is just what people do. It's funny here, because someone will start up with some complaint and someone else says the first poster is an idiot then before you know it you've got 30 pages of people arguing at the top of their lungs, often in violent agreement with each other. You read that whole thread and you could think burning man is just a bunch of people screaming at each other. But that's ePlaya.

Bad things happen anywhere, but, probably more than just about any place else, at Burning Man if you use common sense and are reasonably alert you are very unlikely to have a bad experience.

1. Don't be stupid
2. Don't be an asshole
3. Safety third.

More specific ways to avoid problems:
Don't serve drinks to minors
Don't exchange drugs with anyone you don't know
If you use drugs, use them discreetly
If you abandon all self control (too stoned/drunk to manage your own safety) then someone else may take responsibility for you and you may not like the results.
This is not your living room. Small things (and some bigger things) can walk away. Be reasonably careful.
Things break. Deal with it. Invent workarounds.
Don't put anything in your mouth unless you have good confidence that it is safe and clean. Most gifted food & drink can be trusted, but just pay attention. I mean, if they're serving you mayonnaise from a grubby jar, you might want to say "no thank you". I didn't mean this to include body parts, but I guess that works too.
Part of the adventure of burning man (for me anyway) is doing all this insanity under such harsh conditions. You get great stories. "Why I remembah, the whiteout of, was it ought-six? No, it was the year the man burned early, musta been ought-7. We had a whiteout that was so bad....."
Give people room to go drama if they have to
If you need to go drama, excuse yourself from the group for a bit and go for a walk. Come back when you feel better.

Relax. Everything is critically important but none of it is serious. Or is it the other way around? Maybe neither.

Nitevenus · Post by **Nitevenus** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:17 pm

As with any city that you visit, you need to be aware of your surroundings. Accidents can happen most certainly, and there can be bad people anywhere. The good people on the playa by far outnumber the bad. If you indulge in activity that could possibly get you into LEO radar, then that hair rising on your neck should be a reminder for discretion. What's left.....is what you make it....and oh my gosh there's so much left to enjoy.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:21 pm

I enjoy the acoustic mornings at Center Camp. You can go & buy a cup of coffee or tea and plunk down onto a sofa & hear some nice mellow original acoustic music. I call it "easing into the day".

Post by **Savannah** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:09 pm

I've been really excited about BM since I picked up tickets the day they went on sale, but maybe I've been reading eplaya too much.

You have been.

If I'd read eplaya before my first year, I would have been better prepared, but possibly much more stressed out beforehand.

This place is a horde of dust-eating freaks geeking the eff out on something they love, complaining endlessly about it, rhapsodizing over it, filling their idle time @ work on it, and deconstructing it until it's a lot of unrecognizable fluffy bits of moop, like a dog lovingly destroying a stuffed toy in front of a roaring fire. Then we drop everything to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to fill up on happiness and memories and weirdness once again, because eplaya is not really anything like THE playa.

Your brain is full. Push away from the eplaya! Have a great time figuring out why we're all such obsessive basket cases.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:34 pm

Its just another of lifes little adventures.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:23 pm

Savannah wrote:
I've been really excited about BM since I picked up tickets the day they went on sale, but maybe I've been reading eplaya too much.

Have a great time figuring out why we're all such obsessive basket cases.

Ha. Bingo?

LindseyRaeFace · Post by **LindseyRaeFace** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:27 am

Shambala wrote:And remember that eplaya in not THE playa!

So true... Not only are people much more friendly, open, and loving ON the Playa, but these horror stories are few and far between. Read the posts on Playa Magic and Serendipity and y oull see the other side. The Playa Provides if y ou have faith. but keep your wits about you and be safe

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:45 am

Right, scum rises to the surface, if it bleeds it leads. The reality is that you will be part of a loving community out there. Eplaya's snark is a wink from those that know. Enjoy!

Post by **Eric** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:28 pm

Take into consideration when you read a post on the eplaya that the majority of regular posters here are either Jaded Old-Timers (who love the event with a passion), or Super Self-Reliant Virgins & Short-Timers (who love the event, or the idea of the event, with a passion).

As much as we snark & bitch & have differing opinions about specifics, I don't think you could get the majority of us to stop going.

Personally, I'm as jaded as all get-out, and have been since my virgin year (side effect of working for Piss Clear since before I ever hit the dust). I also revel in the magic & wonder, and spent the last two years frustrated because my job wouldn't let me attend.

My first thought (literally) on getting laid off this year? "Fuck Yes! I can go to Burning Man"*

5 days until the dust.....

*with the assistance of some amazing friends who helped make it happen. Yea friends!

baconqurlyq · Post by **baconqurlyq** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:38 pm

Virgin burner here. I have a heaping ton of friends who absolutely love the shit out of burning man, which is why I'm going. If it wasn't amazing, if there was just a ton of things to worry about, then I'm sure they wouldn't love it so much. It seems to me it's like any other situation where you're going to be mingling with lots of other strangers. Keep your head about you, but have fun.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:09 pm

Eric wrote:Take into consideration when you read a post on the eplaya that the majority of regular posters here are either Jaded Old-Timers (who love the event with a passion), or Super Self-Reliant Virgins & Short-Timers (who love the event, or the idea of the event, with a passion).

As much as we snark & bitch & have differing opinions about specifics, I don't think you could get the majority of us to stop going.

Personally, I'm as jaded as all get-out, and have been since my virgin year (side effect of working for Piss Clear since before I ever hit the dust). I also revel in the magic & wonder, and spent the last two years frustrated because my job wouldn't let me attend.

My first thought (literally) on getting laid off this year? "Fuck Yes! I can go to Burning Man"*

5 days until the dust.....

*with the assistance of some amazing friends who helped make it happen. Yea friends!

I want to add that the snark does fill a useful purpose. Us jaded old-timers already know much of what we want to about tents and gennies and thematic music. The witty dialougue keeps us coming back, so that when someone does ask a question, someone with knowledge sees it and answers.

I just hope they don't put in a button for us to press, designating if our post is serious or snarky.

CannotWait · Post by **CannotWait** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:20 pm

Savannah wrote: You have been. :)

If I'd read eplaya before my first year, I would have been better prepared, but possibly much more stressed out beforehand.

This place is a horde of dust-eating freaks geeking the eff out on something they love, complaining endlessly about it, rhapsodizing over it, filling their idle time @ work on it, and deconstructing it until it's a lot of unrecognizable fluffy bits of moop, like a dog lovingly destroying a stuffed toy in front of a roaring fire. Then we drop everything to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to fill up on happiness and memories and weirdness once again, because eplaya is not really anything like THE playa.

Your brain is full. Push away from the eplaya! Have a great time figuring out why we're all such obsessive basket cases.

Wow, that actually makes me feel a lot better. Well put!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:41 pm

We're just kidding. It's gong to be terrifying and painful.

bluesbob · Post by **bluesbob** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:01 pm

I'm fucked.