Low Income Ticket Program

[H.G.Crosby]

BTW you're lucky you're a gal otherwise simon would have been a REAL asshole...


count yer blessings.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

yeah, he's old school sexist.


he holds the door open, and always pays for dinner....he's such a pig.

[inthecolumbiagorge]

to cry poverty while sipping champagne is at the very least, in bad form..

And if the champagne was a gift we should just pour it out into the dust because we are not wealthy enough to pay for it on our own? Ridiculous! Luckily eplaya does not decide who gets the LIT tickets or any of the tickets for that matter.

but by announcing your good fortune you have brought this upon yourself

Oh come on! Seriously? She is happy, feels very fortunate and was sharing her happiness here with supposedly like minded people. Is that really too much for some of us here to deal with? Is the message you are trying to send, "Do not announce your good fortune...we only want to hear your bad fortune if it deals with ticketing???" She did not write the rules people. She did not game the system. Complain to those who do write the policy instead of the ones following the rules that are fortunate enough to get a ticket, and give the lady a break. Apparently a person has to be so poor as to be starving to death, no roof over their head and living in an underpass for some here to think they are worthy of a LIT? BMORG made the system how it is, made it so that there is a LIT program. Send your whine to them if you have to vocalize it. Only they can change it, not Incubus who did what she was supposed to. I do not like how the BMORG picks and chooses either but I am not going to attack those fortunate enough to get a ticket in the crazy ticketing this year, by whatever means they got it, especially when they have nothing to do with the policies in place that provide it to them.

[Simon of the Playa]

right.

so those that game the system are not to blame.

yeaaaaaah.

keep telling yourself that.

[wandergirl]

so I suppose when I'm gifted champagne on the playa, I should say NO THANK YOU?

judgy people are judgy, internet anonymity makes people mean, and I'm with BBadger & inthecolumbiagorge. I check this thread because I have a couple friends in low-income who haven't heard back yet, and am appalled at how everyone jumped on this girl. I feel like I've stepped into a GOP debate. sure, it was a silly, thoughtless comment. but nobody knew her actual circumstances, which she's now explained -- but of course, that's not good enough. she should be dropping off job applications instead of going to a concert, right? slaving in a factory making bootstraps, perhaps?

unless you live in, like, Gerlach, attending Burning Man costs a ton. tickets are only a portion of it.

we're all upset this year, and we all have friends who aren't gonna make it. it sucks, it really sucks, but let's please not forget what being a burner is all about.

p.s. inthecolumbiagorge: what's your makeover camp called? I'll have a couple newbie campmates I'd like to steer your way...

[Simon of the Playa]

it has nothing to do with this poor girl, no pun intended, i feel bad for her too.

again, i re-iterate.

perhaps there is someone out there who is on say, a fixed income, or disabled, or both...

i think the low-income tickets should be reserved for those who are truly low-income, not those who can show on paper that they are, if that was the case, i'd win instantly, for i make no money whatsoever.

now...with that in mind let us consider the notion of radical self-reliance.

who does this apply to?

what does it mean?

i'll leave it at that, i'm sorry incubus is upset, but thats the way it goes, i'm not going to pussyfoot around with my opinions nor do i hide behind internet anonymity.

everybody knows who the fuck i am and where to find me on playa and off.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

let's please not forget what being a burner is all about.

oh, thats precious...


please, tell us what it is.....i'm waiting on pins and needles...

[inthecolumbiagorge]

Sorry for the thread drift:

Our camp is Black Rock City Parks and Recreation and the makeover is just a part of the camp which for the most part is a family oriented playground but will have a "booth" there doing the makeovers. My daughters and I have been remaking clothing for over a year for playa wear to gift and my oldest daughter is a crazy good artist with makeup, body painting and hair styling. The Makeover Mechanix booth at Coachella blew our minds when we first saw it in 2010 and their statement " We give radical makeovers that expand the imagination and liberate the souls of our clients!" really resonated with us. A number of our camp mates got makeovers there and they were incredible and they felt so good about themselves so we have been following their work and felt it would be perfect for the burn. Anyone that wants a makeover or is good with hair-styling or makeup are welcome to help us transform others or take advantage of the services yourself. We have not been placed yet, may not be as we are virgins, but we will be there in our virgin force regardless:-)

Now back to the normally scheduled broadcast about low income ticketing.

[wandergirl]

everybody knows who the fuck i am and where to find me on playa and off.

I don't! but then, I'm only a third-year and an eplaya newbie, so. nice to meet you!

I agree with what you said, by the way. but how can people prove it remotely, if not on paper? which is why I also agree the system is particularly broken this year. if somebody's pretty damn near poor but could scrape up the funds for a lower-tier ticket -- but didn't win the lottery or make it into STEP -- most will have thrown in for low-income this year. because otherwise, they're not going. the same thing that'll drive other people to scalpers. I'm not excusing it, it's shitty -- but tickets are scarce and people are hungry to go.

I'm also leaning toward the one-price model, PLUS low-income at the same time the main sale opens.

inthecolumbiagorge: sounds awesome, and good luck on placement!

[wandergirl]

let's please not forget what being a burner is all about.

please, tell us what it is.....i'm waiting on pins and needles...

apparently for some people, it's about being an asshole.

[H.G.Crosby]

dude, do a bong hit already, today is not the day to dig in your heels.

[Simon of the Playa]

yes, agreed, all three of us, H.G. roberto and I...(we are one in the same BTW eplaya newb) feel bad it has devolved into this, and it is unfortunate that feelings were hurt.

it is not my intention.

and yes, sometimes being an asshole is "burny"....ever talked to naked bob....nuf' said.

i will be the first to apologize if i have said anything wrong, most people who know me will agree.

i am not dumping on this girl to dump on her, i am dumping on the notion of what people think is poor, and what is possible if one applies oneself and just tries a little harder.

no, i do not know this girl's financial position, but by what was presented to us, we were making reasonable assumptions about who and what should be claiming poverty.

that is all, and i will remain solid in this until maybe a few more bong hits.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

...

[Just_Joe]

it is not my intention.

Lone Ranger- "Tonto, try to stay out of trouble."
Tonto- "Trouble find Tonto even when he not look for it."

[catinthefunnyhat]

H.G. roberto and I [....] we are one in the same

Wait... really? I mean, I know you have a reputation for doing, er, things with socks, but... really? H.G. and Roberto? I'm pinballing between skeptical and impressed.

[Simon of the Playa]

Word, Kimosabe.

[lemur]

that is not an accurate depiction of female sexuality, Roberto

[H.G.Crosby]

it's true.


Just be Glad you have not met Liz Estrada.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

yes, his female persona is a bull-dyke who was previously married to erik estrada....evidently Larry was better.

[5280MeV]

that is all, and i will remain solid in this until maybe a few more bong hits.

Impressive, I can't even hold a position on an issue while sober.

[vargaso]

Income and socio-economic status are not necessarily the same thing. Her dad paid for her Coachella trip, probably pays for lots of other things, like any good dad with the means to do so would do for a kid in his/her early 20s. She ain't "low income." And that's fine. Neither was I in my early 20s, I was just broke. Not the same thing as poor. Low income for me is more like either fixed income or single parent. But then all of this is impossible to parse through in an application, which is why the low income tickets need to go.

[Simon of the Playa]

well said, except i disagree with the elimination of LIT.

it's kinda throwing out the baby with the bath water...

on the same note, i would NOT want to be the people TRYING to parse all of this info and decide, there is no Solomonic way here, it is subjective and to each applicant, deeply personal too.

but i also think that we need to assist in any way, those that wish to participate, and can and will, but because of reasons BEYOND their control, financially they cannot.

how this criteria is made, and the screening process is probably where changes should be made, but it also implies a bigger staff, and more resources to carefully consider each applicant, slightly counter productive, but maybe necessary to avoid issues like this in the future.


ok...that was the straightest answer you'll get from me for the rest of the day, i've got an appointment, and after that, i've got an APPOINTMENT...

talk amongst yourselves.

[ApolloPan]

Dusty as it makes me feel, I have to disagree with Simon. 14 years ago for my first Burn, my father and I had very little money & even less idea what to expect on the playa, so I saved up spare change for a year before getting tickets & gear. Storing all your quarters in a hatbox by your bedroom door adds up over 12 months, enough to easily cover a ticket. Even in years when I've been unemployed & destitute, BM was the one shining oasis I knew I had to get back to, so I did. When your wages are at or below the poverty line, it's a matter of what vacations/extras you don't need that you're willing to sacrifice in order to hit the playa. There are certainly exceptional cases that need assistance; I've financed many a friend or a lover's tickets over the years. Seems more like we, the community should step in to help out such special cases ourselves to me.
Perhaps that's not the best idea I ever had, but it's how I feel.

[incubus_pantomime]

right.

so those that game the system are not to blame.

yeaaaaaah.

keep telling yourself that.

You know what, I'm done. I was trying my best to stay positive and not try to take all of this seriously, but this is it. I did not "game the system." I am also not going to apologize for the way I choose to live my life. Coachella is so not the point -- it's the way that Burners are treating other people that they don't know the slightest bit of information about. I am essentially gifted my Coachella experience every year, but BURNING MAN IS A COMPLETELY DISPARATE EXPERIENCE. I have been attending Coachella for years with my father as a way to bond over a mutual interest. Shame on you for judging me. My brother and I are 100% responsible for every last penny that will need to be spent to attend BM this year. My daddy is not paying for any of this because I actually give a damn about the 10 principles, INCLUDING radical self reliance.

When I look at the cost of BM, I consider the entire list of expenses as one entity (including tickets). Trying to save up somewhere between $2,000-$3,000 (by my calculations) for EVERYTHING -- plane tickets, event tickets, rental car/rideshare cost, gas, food/water, incidentals, etc. -- is really difficult for two students working part-time, minimum-wage jobs and paying for school at the same time. Yes, I said WE PAY FOR SCHOOL. My daddy doesn't pay a cent. $40,000 of student loans for my undergraduate education were in my name, and I am solely responsible for the payments that have started to roll in. My graduate school loans (all $20,000 of them) are also in my name. BUT, I should not have to explain any of this to a single one of you.

So, I reiterate. I DID NOT CHEAT THE SYSTEM. The documents I provided my 2011 tax return, my bank account statement, and my student loan balances and payment schedule (which has already begun). Again, I should not have to explain this to ANYONE, but if that's what it's going to take to direct the hate and snark somewhere else, then I guess that's what I have to do.

Now, I'm going to try and wash away all the negativity and stay positive. I really do wish that everyone could experience the playa this year, and I have only happiness and good vibes to send to each and every one of you, including those that insist on lambasting me and misdirecting their frustrations about the ticketing fiasco on me. I wish you all the best of luck, and I'm hoping that I can meet all of you and prove to you that I am just as deserving as any other person who is waiting for a ticket.

[knowmad]

right.

so those that game the system are not to blame.

yeaaaaaah.

keep telling yourself that.

You know what, I'm done. I was trying my best to stay positive and not try to take all of this seriously, but this is it. I did not "game the system." I am also not going to apologize for the way I choose to live my life. Coachella is so not the point -- it's the way that Burners are treating other people that they don't know the slightest bit of information about. I am essentially gifted my Coachella experience every year, but BURNING MAN IS A COMPLETELY DISPARATE EXPERIENCE. I have been attending Coachella for years with my father as a way to bond over a mutual interest. Shame on you for judging me. My brother and I are 100% responsible for every last penny that will need to be spent to attend BM this year. My daddy is not paying for any of this because I actually give a damn about the 10 principles, INCLUDING radical self reliance.

When I look at the cost of BM, I consider the entire list of expenses as one entity (including tickets). Trying to save up somewhere between $2,000-$3,000 (by my calculations) for EVERYTHING -- plane tickets, event tickets, rental car/rideshare cost, gas, food/water, incidentals, etc. -- is really difficult for two students working part-time, minimum-wage jobs and paying for school at the same time. Yes, I said WE PAY FOR SCHOOL. My daddy doesn't pay a cent. $40,000 of student loans for my undergraduate education were in my name, and I am solely responsible for the payments that have started to roll in. My graduate school loans (all $20,000 of them) are also in my name. BUT, I should not have to explain any of this to a single one of you.

So, I reiterate. I DID NOT CHEAT THE SYSTEM. The documents I provided my 2011 tax return, my bank account statement, and my student loan balances and payment schedule (which has already begun). Again, I should not have to explain this to ANYONE, but if that's what it's going to take to direct the hate and snark somewhere else, then I guess that's what I have to do.

Now, I'm going to try and wash away all the negativity and stay positive. I really do wish that everyone could experience the playa this year, and I have only happiness and good vibes to send to each and every one of you, including those that insist on lambasting me and misdirecting their frustrations about the ticketing fiasco on me. I wish you all the best of luck, and I'm hoping that I can meet all of you and prove to you that I am just as deserving as any other person who is waiting for a ticket.

Ok, I only gave your "Story" a one word Negative response,. Based on some information about you that you wrote. and I did the most human thing, I formed an opinion and a visual image of you. People Judge People. it's a fact of life. I can't be Shamed to that, anymore than if I should be shamed for any of my body functions.

I could soften my position to that of Simion's
Distasteful. None of us deserve a thing! No entitlements!

[Simon of the Playa]

i cant argue with the blind, they refuse to see the point.

go have your hissy fit honey if it makes you feel good.

have fun at coachella too.

some of us have more expenses and less resources yet we manage to make it, somehow.

and for a first timer, we sure are uppity, now aren't we.

im not asking you to change your lifestyle, just look at your dancing shoes before you claim to have no feet.

oh, and BTW, fuck yer day, darlin'....

[Roberto Dobbisano]

i love it when you use the word 'Uppity"


it's so Uppity...

[knowmad]

i love it when you use the word 'Uppity"


it's so Uppity...

[lemur]

this aint no love-in

[vargaso]

right.

so those that game the system are not to blame.

yeaaaaaah.

keep telling yourself that.

You know what, I'm done. I was trying my best to stay positive and not try to take all of this seriously, but this is it. I did not "game the system." I am also not going to apologize for the way I choose to live my life. Coachella is so not the point -- it's the way that Burners are treating other people that they don't know the slightest bit of information about. I am essentially gifted my Coachella experience every year, but BURNING MAN IS A COMPLETELY DISPARATE EXPERIENCE. I have been attending Coachella for years with my father as a way to bond over a mutual interest. Shame on you for judging me. My brother and I are 100% responsible for every last penny that will need to be spent to attend BM this year. My daddy is not paying for any of this because I actually give a damn about the 10 principles, INCLUDING radical self reliance.

When I look at the cost of BM, I consider the entire list of expenses as one entity (including tickets). Trying to save up somewhere between $2,000-$3,000 (by my calculations) for EVERYTHING -- plane tickets, event tickets, rental car/rideshare cost, gas, food/water, incidentals, etc. -- is really difficult for two students working part-time, minimum-wage jobs and paying for school at the same time. Yes, I said WE PAY FOR SCHOOL. My daddy doesn't pay a cent. $40,000 of student loans for my undergraduate education were in my name, and I am solely responsible for the payments that have started to roll in. My graduate school loans (all $20,000 of them) are also in my name. BUT, I should not have to explain any of this to a single one of you.

So, I reiterate. I DID NOT CHEAT THE SYSTEM. The documents I provided my 2011 tax return, my bank account statement, and my student loan balances and payment schedule (which has already begun). Again, I should not have to explain this to ANYONE, but if that's what it's going to take to direct the hate and snark somewhere else, then I guess that's what I have to do.

Now, I'm going to try and wash away all the negativity and stay positive. I really do wish that everyone could experience the playa this year, and I have only happiness and good vibes to send to each and every one of you, including those that insist on lambasting me and misdirecting their frustrations about the ticketing fiasco on me. I wish you all the best of luck, and I'm hoping that I can meet all of you and prove to you that I am just as deserving as any other person who is waiting for a ticket.

For what it's worth, I don't think you gamed the system, you probably do make under a certain amount. That's not the point, of course. For that reason, I think the LIT program is broken. Nobody's fault, really. And if you can't see how mentioning your weekend in Coachella and your winning a LIT in the same post might grate a little, well, I'll chalk it up to youthful entitlement.