Things I learned this time...

Rob the Wop · Post by **Rob the Wop** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:08 pm

NEVER shave your testicles while drunk.

OK, that's about it. Other than that things went as planned.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:22 pm

RtW
Not even if you put on IcyHot afterwards?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:50 pm

Cluetards and newbies are gaining the upper hand. Unfortunately, the two seem to be fusing into the largest demographic attending the event (> 50%).

The ethos of BM is being dilluted with perceptions of the event being garnered more from second hand information and media reports than from the true experiences of those who have come before them.

Art suffered a lot this year - especially compared to past events.

30+ thousand peple provide a reasonable amount of annonymity for sexual predators which seems to be on the increase.

'Leave No Trace' seems to be interpreted lately as 'Leave As Much Shit As I Can Without Being Caught.'

More and more volunteers are being perceived as a work force that should be providing more specialized services and augmenting people who have come unprepared.

Exceptions to many of the rules/requirements seems to be drifting from on high. In some cases by members of the LLC themselves.

Magic continues to happen on the playa - especially to some of those attending for the first or second time.

Resentment abounds by those unprepared towards those who've made the effort.

Women continue to kick ass at the event.

Good friends staying together continues to be a good idea when dealing with the harsh realities of the playa.

Rangers seem to be either loved or hated with little middle ground.

DPW still rocks the universe in spite of the lame attitude espoused by some of their newer members - especially the faux bad-ass drunks wearing black who did nothing to add to the event.

The pre-burn event is becoming the antithesis of 'no spectators.' Fire spinning inside of the light ring is OK. Fire spinning outside of the ring would be even better.

'No Camera' zones throughout the city is starting to make sense.

The whining for tips by 'volunteers' at the coffee bar at all hours still sucks a big donkey dick.

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 3:48 pm

Badger wrote:Cluetards and newbies are gaining the upper hand. Unfortunately, the two seem to be fusing into the largest demographic attending the event (> 50%).

The ethos of BM is being dilluted with perceptions of the event being garnered more from second hand information and media reports than from the true experiences of those who have come before them.

Art suffered a lot this year - especially compared to past events.

30+ thousand peple provide a reasonable amount of annonymity for sexual predators which seems to be on the increase.

'Leave No Trace' seems to be interpreted lately as 'Leave As Much Shit As I Can Without Being Caught.'

More and more volunteers are being perceived as a work force that should be providing more specialized services and augmenting people who have come unprepared.

Exceptions to many of the rules/requirements seems to be drifting from on high. In some cases by members of the LLC themselves.

Magic continues to happen on the playa - especially to some of those attending for the first or second time.

Resentment abounds by those unprepared towards those who've made the effort.

Women continue to kick ass at the event.

Good friends staying together continues to be a good idea when dealing with the harsh realities of the playa.

Rangers seem to be either loved or hated with little middle ground.

DPW still rocks the universe in spite of the lame attitude espoused by some of their newer members - especially the faux bad-ass drunks wearing black who did nothing to add to the event.

The pre-burn event is becoming the antithesis of 'no spectators.' Fire spinning inside of the light ring is OK. Fire spinning outside of the ring would be even better.

'No Camera' zones throughout the city is starting to make sense.

The whining for tips by 'volunteers' at the coffee bar at all hours still sucks a big donkey dick.

I actually agree with everything you said... However i am unclear on what a "cluetard" is.

I had a very strange year... and I learned a few things

-Loved the No Camera zone's! (but did it actually work?)-

1) dont fall too deep into the music of a drum circle while belly dancing topless, you will end up with a group of men watching you snapping pictures (angry)

2) weather out there is crazy, bring more pants

3) Watch out for flying metal pieces in high winds

4) Get something better than a dust mask for asthma

5) Just because they SAY they are going to help setup/tear down does NOT mean they are GOING too(angry)

6) Do NOT walk a few theme camps down from yours alone at night, strange people on drugs will follow you and try to touch your soft hair or soft jacket and give you the creeps

Lydia Love · Post by **Lydia Love** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:02 pm

NO! Not more pants! More full length fun fur coats and fuzzy chaps!

I stayed pretty comfy all week and still looked like a freakin loon the whole time.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:08 pm

A worthy goal.

Remember, human beings did not evolve to wear pants.

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:17 pm

Lydia Love wrote:NO! Not more pants! More full length fun fur coats and fuzzy chaps!

I stayed pretty comfy all week and still looked like a freakin loon the whole time.

Oopsy my mistake!

Lession Learned!

*picks up sign* NO MORE PANTS!

*picks up other sign* Love the fuzzy chaps!

dzrtrat67 · Post by **dzrtrat67** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 7:38 pm

Hehehe...Jezebelinhel... yeah, playa love hurst so good...here's a good example (long story) I just saw on another thread.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=6292

Rat

XS · Post by XS » Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:00 pm

Still brought way too much shit... for my playa namesake... XS... somehow justified by the phrase "Ya never know...."

Sobretta Franjipan · Post by **Sobretta Franjipan** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:39 pm

DO walk a few theme camps down from yours alone at night, strange people on drugs will follow you and try to touch your soft hair or soft jacket and give you can give them the creeps

thedrunkenmonkey · Post by **thedrunkenmonkey** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:51 pm

JezebelinHell wrote:If six people go into the Flight To Mars maze, and they're all high as kites, only two will actually come out.

JOIN THE HORDE!

It's OUR DUTY! IT'S OUR RIGHT! TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE PLAYA TONIGHT!

Muwahahaha. As Horde Banner Carrier for a chunk, I fully encourage Hordiness.

Tips from the newbie:

1. If a newbie doesn't understand something, yelling, screaming, or acting as if they SHOULD know it doesn't work. Explanations help, conversations that don't have someone yowling about how horrible all the newbies are don't. You want to teach, go ahead and teach, but don't fucking yell at them for not knowing etiquette and protocol of the burn. Teach. Give them experience. Then, if they do it next year, THEN fucking yell at them.

2. Take care of folks. One guy stumbled into a camp I was visiting, obviously overdosed on a combination of alcohol and "other things", and was frigid - but still could talk. Leaving him to snooze it off wasn't an option - take care of folks. It's easier than watching someone turn blue in front of you.

3. One cooler is sufficient per person. Unless you've got a giant theme camp, you don't NEED a 150 quart ice cooler. Freeze EVERYTHING you bring and throw it in the cooler.

4. Gatorade. Not Kool-Aid. GATORADE.

5. Throw away the map and start walking. You're not on a schedule - playa time.

6. If you act like a martinet who has to have everything on time and RIGHT NOW, you're going to be disappointed (nod to Stuart). And people will stop being around you. Three people played Kommandant of the Kamp and it bugged the holy shit out of many people - especially when said Kommandants tried to pull them from other projects or social events to get them to do this one thing RIGHT NOW. Bad blood that could have been avoided by simply saying, "Oh, you're busy. I have a question when you're done."

7. Evaporation ponds don't. Put grey water into a container and dump it at home. You save more time, energy, and have significantly less stress than trying to make visqueen magically convert wastewater to dust. And it's a lot less messy.

8. Relax. You're not on anyone's timeline. Least of all your own.

9. Bike with a trailer, airhorn, bells, and lights all over the place and heavily modified for personal stuff and loads is a lifesaver. A fast-locking bike lock is also a good idea - Kryptonite. Although a giant duffel bag will carry ten bags of ice, it's freakin' heavy.

10. People who "play the game" are often the ones who wind up losing. Just quit trying to be Mr. or Ms. Smooth already - it doesn't work on me in the real world, either. :)

11. Last - your expectations aren't other people's expectations. Everyone does what they mentally and physically can. And even if you think you've been busting ass, and someone else shows up fresh as a daisy, you don't know whether that person just finished a full-on Ranger shift, or worked their butt off doing something else for the camp and needed a well-deserved break.

Did I mention I like to avoid DRAMA at all costs?

alienfry · Post by **alienfry** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:26 pm

oh also,

being someone who prefers foot over pedal,

next year i will bring a bike horn/bell with me EVERYWHERE i walk.

Things I learned this time...

Still brought too much shit.