Getting it out of my system....

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:46 pm

Ask a stupid question. (No, really.)

I'll give you a stupid answer. (No, really.)

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:11 pm

Should I feel bad for sucker punching a noob? I mean the nearly-1000-posts-in-a-shade-over-2 months type noob, non that Kanadian non-reader.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:13 pm

should I stop postin on eplaya?

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:40 pm

I think that people who are offended by what is said on the eplaya are in for a rude awakening when they accidentally piss off Deathguild "Oh that was your go-kart? I was just taking it for a spin!" or DPW "oh, that last beer was yours? *sorry*" hell, even Pepe can get his dander up when you crash into his Opera stage with your land yacht.

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:53 pm

Sensei wrote:Should I feel bad for sucker punching a noob?

Depends - are we talking "Damn, I should know better" bad? Or "Oh, man, if I'd phrased it like this, it would've been even more harsh!" bad?

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:54 pm

DVD Burner wrote:should I stop postin on eplaya?

Are you out of your freakin mind? What kind of sorry, pathetic, lame assed question is that? Don't make me fly out there and give you a spinning kick with my size 14 feet. I'll be on the next transport out of here if I need to.

(Some people ((certain anonymous 3playans come to mind)) can't stand you, I would really miss ya if you didn't post. So to officially answer your question: HELL NO! And don't ask again, the answer isn't gonna change.)

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:54 pm

DVD Burner wrote:should I stop postin on eplaya?

I find myself thinking of a line from Shrek to Donkey in Shrek 2: "But you DO have the right to remain silent! What you lack is the capacity."

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:20 pm

PurpleKoosh wrote:
Sensei wrote:Should I feel bad for sucker punching a noob?
Depends - are we talking "Damn, I should know better" bad? Or "Oh, man, if I'd phrased it like this, it would've been even more harsh!" bad?

His post count was on a lunar trajectory: I launched several shots across his bow. No change in course or speed. Then it appears he took a volley in the magazine... Truthfully, it was a 32 gun volley. Even though I'm basking in the relative silence, I kinda feel like I squashed a bug...

Jus Say Ventura · Post by **Jus Say Ventura** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:44 pm

Do Boas make you a Girly Man?

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:47 pm

DVD Burner wrote:should I stop postin on eplaya?

That would all depend on *WHO* you were talking about?

A II Z

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:44 pm

Jus Say Ventura wrote:Do Boas make you a Girly Man?

Only if it doesn't match the rest of your accessories.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:17 am

A certain new ePlayan started out pissing me off by posting a beat to death beyond recognition question before even looking at the BM website info. It was plain obvious. But I breathed, and then typed out a well thought out best effort outline on what one should bring and not bring.

This was 6 hours after his first post, so I thought that should have been sufficient to get the lad/lass started. A complete list just isn't possible (one toothbrush, one tube toothpaste, one nasal shaver, 12...no 24 condoms, one aardvark, etc). But that's what he later whined that nobody would provide him. I can understand the frustration of losing a complete, personal list, but come on! computers eat data! Get over it and put together another, even more well thought out list.

But no. He posted a second thread on the same day. As a kindness to him, I PM'd him about ePlayan etiquette. He didn't understand he'd done something inapropriate obviously. He got all butt-hurt about this. I tried warning him about not so patient people (you know who you are

), but that just torqued his jaw more! I spose others lambasted his dum-ass quickly, cause the flame war began.

This wasn't enough to stop his sniveling. He posted to the Nature of BM, a place which is on it's face not where a newbie is going to find a patient audience when he goes on about the "spirit of burningman" having never been. So that's when I told him some down home philosophy about not letting anyone know where you tie up your goat in the first place. Chupacabras and some DPW's eat these losers for brunch.

Technopantra, bless her heart, tried to diffuse the situation, but it was just getting sillier and sillier, with the "bleeding hearts" vs the "agro ass-kickers" wallpapering a Q&A area for all to see.

You just can't win with some people. How big do you want the shoe that is about to kick your ass, buddy? Thank you Mistress, can I have another? I tried patient, I tried educational, I tried "grow the fuck up and get back to work like the rest of us."

He's probably still rocking back and forth holding his poor buttocks.

There. I needed to get that off me. Now back to my nice, taoist, self.

Fuck that! I never STOPPED being a Taoist. Some people just need their ass kicked to get the Big Picture. So here's your tall, frosty glass of SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:30 am

My sanctimonious negative Republican in-crowd asshole Nazi system is just fine the way it is, thank you very much.

Lydia Love · Post by **Lydia Love** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:32 am

I think that people who are offended by what is said on the eplaya are in for a rude awakening when they accidentally piss off Deathguild "Oh that was your go-kart? I was just taking it for a spin!" or DPW "oh, that last beer was yours? *sorry*" hell, even Pepe can get his dander up when you crash into his Opera stage with your land yacht.

Thank you, and no shit!

When I hit the playa I mostly get filled up with this deep well of bliss and love of humanity. I make hot-cocoa for etards (actually, I make hot cocoa for anyone who will stand still long enough...) I find quiet places for the stressed-out. I stroke foreheads, I give hugs... and I love it, absofuckinglutely love this weird fucking maternal transformation and every second of that hippy-dippy, luvy dovey stuff.

And I simultaneously cannot stand for a second the idea that it is *expected* of me in some way. That I'm fullfilling some fucking ethos by being that person. To *have* to do it would rob me of it's joy.

If the playa is stripped of it's danger, the lewd, the crude, the ill-tempered, the sexy, the scary, the crackpots and cranks and is left a place where every action has to be "nice" or "plur, man" it will be left less honest and those acts of generosity, those gifts given from a loving heart will be left meaningless.

It is not a safe or easy place and it shouldn't be. If you *expect* me to give you a gift how can you be surprised when I give you one? If you demand I give you my heart how lacking the miraculous for us both if I give it?

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:14 am

robbidobbs wrote:A complete list just isn't possible (one toothbrush, one tube toothpaste, one nasal shaver, 12...no 24 condoms, one aardvark, etc).

And see? You're wrong already - where's the CONSENT FORM for the aardvark?!

robbidobbs wrote:I tried warning him about not so patient people (you know who you are )

I haven't the faintest idea who you're talking about. </deadpan>

robbidobbs wrote:Technopantra, bless her heart, tried to diffuse the situation, but it was just getting sillier and sillier, with the "bleeding hearts" vs the "agro ass-kickers" wallpapering a Q&A area for all to see.

And it was getting to her, too, to judge from the change in tone between her first post and her second.

robbidobbs wrote:He's probably still rocking back and forth holding his poor buttocks.

Actually, he appears to have gotten his head out from between said buttocks - to say nothing of giving himself a sound thrashing when he FOUND the damnable list, after all.

I think he'll make it, and I hope he stops by the DMV during one of my shifts, so I can give him one of my leftover "CLUE" buttons from last year - god knows he earned it.

And thanks to you, and Wendor, and everyone else who stood up for my right to borrow Badger's "brutal to the clueless" title for a while. Even if I did eventually decide I could've handled it better. Flies and honey and all that. (Though why anyone would want to catch a fly is still beyond me.

)

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:16 am

Lydia Love wrote:(actually, I make hot cocoa for anyone who will stand still long enough...)

Note to self: Find Lydia. Stand still.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:18 am

Lydia Love wrote: Thank you, and no shit!

Hey Lydia and everyone else.........I have a "no Shit" hat. would it offend you if I wore it?

(seriously....I really have one......ask TP and AG. made custom for me.)

Lark · Post by **Lark** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:26 am

Is this a stupid question?

zzberlin · Post by **zzberlin** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:18 am

Life can be so difficult when one has all the answers.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:29 am

Q: What is the answer to all of Life's questions?
A: Pay attention.

(Really, just try asking one to yourself.)

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:04 pm

Lydia Love wrote:
I think that people who are offended by what is said on the eplaya are in for a rude awakening when they accidentally piss off Deathguild "Oh that was your go-kart? I was just taking it for a spin!" or DPW "oh, that last beer was yours? *sorry*" hell, even Pepe can get his dander up when you crash into his Opera stage with your land yacht.
Thank you, and no shit!

When I hit the playa I mostly get filled up with this deep well of bliss and love of humanity. I make hot-cocoa for etards (actually, I make hot cocoa for anyone who will stand still long enough...) I find quiet places for the stressed-out. I stroke foreheads, I give hugs... and I love it, absofuckinglutely love this weird fucking maternal transformation and every second of that hippy-dippy, luvy dovey stuff.

And I simultaneously cannot stand for a second the idea that it is *expected* of me in some way. That I'm fullfilling some fucking ethos by being that person. To *have* to do it would rob me of it's joy.

If the playa is stripped of it's danger, the lewd, the crude, the ill-tempered, the sexy, the scary, the crackpots and cranks and is left a place where every action has to be "nice" or "plur, man" it will be left less honest and those acts of generosity, those gifts given from a loving heart will be left meaningless.

It is not a safe or easy place and it shouldn't be. If you *expect* me to give you a gift how can you be surprised when I give you one? If you demand I give you my heart how lacking the miraculous for us both if I give it?

thanks for this post Lydia....we can't control everything or anything on the playa, except our own thoughts and decisions.....I think to have no expectations is a good way to be, speaking for myself anyway, though I did feel an abundance of good energy going on there last year. I saw some amazingly beautiful heart wrenching things going on around the temple of honor and even the seemingly violent crazy types tossing whiskey bottles into the Man's fire at the end was ok with me....that young guy really needed to do that. I can only ultimately be responsible for myself.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:31 pm

Going into the Playa with NO expectations is a vital maxim to prepare accordingly, and to have the most joy once there.
Expecting to find "an abundance of good energy" is entirely up to the individual, not the responsiblity of the Community. Which is probably why I enjoy the DPW so much, they can be so damn REAL when gifting their love.

I work harder out there than anywhere else in my life, and I'm empowered, envigorated, and inspired as a result of that work. For some, these feelings come from relaxing in a drum circle, getting multiple massages from loving people, or just having a damn good trip. You can't predict how to reach that point, only be prepared to relax into it once you realize it's happening.

And wanton acts of destructions, like the beer bottle throwing event, is also part of the beauty of radical self-expression.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:32 pm

I make hot-cocoa for etards (actually, I make hot cocoa for anyone who will stand still long enough...) I find quiet places for the stressed-out. I stroke foreheads, I give hugs... and I love it

if I believed in the merit of the crush thread...

Save a cup fer me.

but this all opens up a thought that's been kicking around the back of my head...

this whole 'gift economy' thing. If it's preached about to the extent that it is and newbs and vets run with the word (mostly newbs though, cuz they get 'the spirit of burning man' best) to the extent they do it begin to ring hollow. For me anyway. You are touching on this with your idea of compulsory love Lydia. I hear ya. I am all conflicted. I like the idea of doing shit cuz I want to, but I don't want your plastic crap nor your candy.

Gack, I'm afraid I need to launch into an anecdote...

So, 2 years ago I am at the space cowboys bar and, well, we want some drinks. There are about 4 of us. I nominated our cutest girl to be the solicitor cuz lets face it, cute girls get way more mileage than dorky boys (don't even consider arguing this with me). Anyway, she comes back all grumpy cuz all she got was one half full cosmo. I ask what happened and she said she gave the guy some candy and that's all she got even though she asked for more. Well, the way she told the story made it sound like she was treated harshly (this is an occasionally recurring theme). So, I sidled up to the bar and smiled at the bartender briefly but made no demands. I just observed for a bit. I noticed a lot of folks was giving this poor guy candy and trinkets from the OTC. They had a giant bin full of the useless shit behind the bar. I then noticed the guy start hunting for a smoke so I gestured to him and started assembling a hand rolled one for him. Takes the fixins, patience and skill on the playa. He made me promise it was just tobacco, took it from me and asked what I wanted. I got 4 brimming cosmos. My friend was pretty annoyed. She asked what I gave him. I did not think she would appreciate me relating my interaction so I just said 'maybe he was just gay'.

anyway, it kinda makes want to say 'fuck the gift economy'. From each according to his gifts to each according to his needs

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:33 pm

oh, and DF, WRT your question...

in all honesty, I am torn.

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:21 pm

Stuart,

(since you don't read the crush thread and all)

You make me swoon.

Das Bus · Post by **Das Bus** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:33 pm

Stuart:

Right on Dude! I hope everyone reads your post, because you've explained 'gifting' so well.

My first year I brought OTC crap, but once I got there, I realized how stupid that was. So I gave out beer, water and my help instead.

I also learned to bring LOTS of cigarettes. If someone asks me for one, I give them a pack, cause it sux to run out on the playa!

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 5:13 pm

Stuart, you came close, but some may have missed the point I think needs to be made. You got 4 cosmos BECAUSE you provided a commoditiy that is worthy of that "price": tobacco.

Newbies: if you bring no other trading stock but tobacco, you'll go far. That and beer, but at a bar, tobacco is King of the Gifts. You folks out there who don't smoke might not feel the intensity of this claim, but it's a social fact out there.
Smokers will usually smoke 2x more out there than in "real" life, and many didn't account for this phenomenon. So they run out, and beg off others. Handing a guy a pack of tobacco is just over the top wondeful. You've made him and probably all his bumming friends happy. Rolling papers and lighters are also good.

Mind you, the above is not "gifting" but is bartering, a practice that is frowned upon, however widely and deeply practiced. Because of the work I do (pottie awareness), when I want a drink, I just strike up a conversation with someone at the camp, discuss excremental correctness stuff with them, and I generally get all manners of love dumped on me.

Or maybe it's cause I'm cute.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 5:37 pm

when I want a drink, I just strike up a conversation with someone at the camp, discuss excremental correctness stuff with them, and I generally get all manners of love dumped on me.

Or, you get accused of 'talkin' shit.'

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:15 pm

Robbi,

I see your point and while, yes the exchange of tobacco & cosmos is, indeed, commerce, the way I interprested stuart's anecdote was not so much the emphasis on "tobacco" but "something someone else needed at the time." I think (or I'd like to think) that if stuart walked up to the bar and noticed, say, the bartender struggling with lifting something heavy, he'd lend a hand. And the bartender might bequeath him drinks in return.

But it wasn't like stuart would have said "i'll give you a hand with that heavy thing if you give me a drink," likewise "i'll give you a smoke if you give me some drinks." I think stuart would have given the guy a cigarette no matter what. (I don't know stuart that well, but I'd like to think he'd do that, the reality doesn't matter, just using it to illustrate my point.)

That's just the way I read it.

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:22 pm

I hang out at heebeegeebees doin massages......this is good for me and good for the folks on the table, then I don't worry too much about the rest of it....poem cards are pretty decent.

Getting it out of my system....

Getting it out of my system....

I need to get this out of my fucking system too

Re: I need to get this out of my fucking system too

No expectations is one maxim to live by