Within one hour of exploring the Playa on Monday night I had my bike nicked from in front of centre-camp. I left it unlocked (annoying as I had a lock, but was in such a happy mood and was stopping for just a mo...) and in a flash it was gone. Not an expensive/desirable bike in the outside world, but it meant the world to me with its very special gyrating diode light/noise maker that made most people turn, look and wave to me. I loved it. Even the most shite faced person would have recognised this bike as not theirs... it did not really look that "common".
I also had the raw materials for my art project taken from the back of my truck. Custom cut perspex... I really did not think anyone would recognise it or have a use for it, except for me... making my lovely rings of saturn el wire hats... what did I get in return? A truck full of someone's else's garbage from another camp. Well, I guess it IS a form of Leave No Trace...
It seems that the "sharing/gifting" community is now extended to include, "just take what you want... they would have given it to you had you seen them to ask, man."
Our Sharing/Gifting Community?
AntiM wrote:This was the first year we consistently locked up our rhoadescar even in camp. How sad. I hope you managed to have a decent burn, sorry to hear what happened to you.
Dear Mars and AntiM,
Thank you for your kind thoughts. Our burn was sort of ruined, but not by just these isolated events.
I was a first timer last year arriving on Thursday to be mentored by experienced burners. I was dazzled. This year I wanted the full treatment and arrived on monday morning with my mate and everything we needed for a week of fun and play. Though we prepared all year, mostly out of impatience and anticipation, we were struck down by many bad things. By Monday night our bikes were stolen, by wednesday the perspex rings of saturn (beautiful el wire project) were nicked out of the truck (and replaced with some other camp's garbage), our tent we bought online was not dust proof (the Survival Guide REALLY needs to warn people of non air tight tents) and the relentless weather and crappy tent with torn airbed caused us to throw in the towel on friday afternoon this year. We came all the way from England and are still coping with our disappointment. As we left, we promised to try again, but maybe thought arriving later in the would guarantee our stamina level would have a better chance, maybe arriving on a thursday again. Now we fear that wse will be grouped in with the yahoos if we do.
Unfortunately I was also very aware a type of non participant that arrived late to the party. I was in the walk in area and across Sedna street from us was a large camp of "Rent a Burning Man Experience" campers. They paid a company to set it all up. Tents, meals, showers, everything. All they had to do was arrive, get shit-faced and gawk. It reminded me of a Club Med type experience. In the few times we were able to sit outside the tent and enjoy the surroundings, we were always met by these campers just strolling across Sedna about ten meters into the Walk In Area and taking a piss in front of us. I politely said that using a piss bottle was the way to do it and all we got were Chill Out, man replies. We used our piss bottles this year, but still felt pissed upon.
I was so sorry to make the decision to leave early, but our mental and physical health collectively demmanded it. I have come to grips with my BM 2004 experience, but my lovely mate is still smarting. He had been looking forward to this for about 7 years. Maybe the numbers of participants should just be limited full stop? Maybe we will go to Spain next summer.
We are not anti burning man, in fact, I am still dreaming about it now. The effect is there, it is just not the same dazzle I had last year. We feel like real veterans now that could handle just about anything!
Dammit Bonzo, your experience sucks for you! I hate the theives and the Spring Breakers that have infiltrated our beloved city. The numbers tell the truth people, Last Burning Man Ever! There are more of them than us, and let me tell you, that is what makes the art so damn minimal and un-inspired. That is what makes people walk down the streets of Black Rock City (the greatest place on earth) and NOT look each other in the eyes. That's what happens when ass jacks hire artists to create their "theme camp" and pay $7 an hour to manual labor to set up and tear down. The dream is over...unless...the crusty ol' veterans return enforce and take back the city...or...the ORG. can put in place some sort of screening process with ticket purchase, and those that fail must all camp together in the dustiest zone on the playa, way the f!ck out there, know what I mean?
Bah! Psshhh!