BOYCOTT BURNINGMAN! 1 YEAR SHUT DOWN!

[Lassen Forge]

I dunno - the JOTS weren't THAT bad... I didn't see any that were 6"+ over the seat. I remember those days...

I took a year off, then followed it with a second. I have 3 thoughts surrounding that experience...

(1) I missed the hell out of my family. Sure, I got a LOT done, but still, it realy desparately sucked eggs for that. But it showed me that while I love BRC, it's not the only thing in my life... and that if it were, I'd be a pretty sad, shallow person. I know, that's strange, but it's more than a burn that this chick makes! And the reunions were... SCHWEEEEET!

(2) It was the best thing I could have done. I was having progressively worse burns, and needed a break, and being gone 2 years seemed to give me a much-needed reset, both psychically and creatively. I got my drive and imagination back, and on returning (this last year) found an independence I didn't know I had... and the ability to let shit pass over me, bending like a reed in the wind.

(3) and speaking of... the burn HAS changed, but not as I expected. There were some that tried their damndest to either fuck up my shit, or take advantage of me, or even try to make me fill their expectations of what they thought I should be doing and how my burn should be. Strange shit, but ya know, being away, I realized a great truth...

Fuck 'em.

I let all that negative foisted-on shit pass me over. Some of the best friends I made were those I just met - telling me the Brurner spirit (whatever the fuck THAT is!!) is still alive, no matter how some of these old, jaded people are.

Actually, I think some FEAR taking a year off. Like, they'll be less of a person if they don't do BRC. And that was the greatest lesson of all - if your whole and entire life is wrapped up in one thing and one thing only, be it Burner art or work or Renfair or stock car racing or shit, planting trees or something... without letting anything else into that space... you're cheating YOURSELF. To be the best at your game, you have to know ALL aspects of that game. Else you're not only shallow... you're fucking unprepared for what may well be next!

See ya in '11!!!

[Ugly Dougly]

RESPECT OTHERS...

...YOU MORON!

I guess your font of respect is not that deep...

[Fire_Moose]

Any city growing as fast as ours is going to experience unpleasant growing pains. . . BE THE CHANGE YOU WANNA SEE!

what is this, hippy ass ghandi shit?

what we need is more bans.

[Bob]