Kyanite wrote:Thank you to everyone who responded! This thread has actually been really useful because now I am going to make sure that I include a section in my thesis that explains how impossible it is to write a full, complete and accurate depiction of Burning Man without having experienced it first hand. This is a very important bias in my paper that I had already planned on addressing but I'm glad that you all brought it up (some in nicer ways than others) and explained just how important it truly is.
Just to clarify, I am only writing my thesis on this topic because I find it incredibly interesting and have wanted to go to Burning Man since I first heard about it. I figured if I'm going to have to spend countless hours reading about, researching and generally becoming obsessed with a certain topic, it might as well be something I like and am interested in. My paper is not going to get published and I have no plans to pursue this research any further.
I don't want any of you to write my paper for me or even give me straight up answers to my question. I was hoping to start a discussion on the topic of spirituality just to see people's points of view. Perhaps it was wrong of me to ask for specific experiences that you may have had. I really just wanted to observe eplaya's discourse on the topic.
Something else that I should've said: the very act of trying to write or explain an experience one has had @ the Burn can fill a person with anxiety. What if something that happened to you doesn't translate? What if you try to explain something that markedly changed your life, and no one understands? What if some spiritual realization or change that blew the top of your head off with it's profundity, some 10-out-of-10 realization, only comes out of your mouth as a 4 out of 10, because the person listening has no frame of reference, or doesn't know you, or is really really different from you? The disconnect one might feel at that point--the abject disappointment--might be painful. I can only speak for myself, but it would really bother me. And for what? To entertain someone else, or provide fodder for their studies? Not worth it to me. This is not to say that I don't share stories. I do! But they usually come out for a reason, and to close friends or fellow Burners. Folks who either 1) know me, or 2) know the Burn sufficiently to have a head start at understanding.
I've suddenly got an analogy about this that amuses me. I once torqued my left knee trying to show "pigeon pose" to someone before my muscles were warm. In the act of trying to show off--which is SO not what yoga is supposed to be about--I fucked myself up, and the injury lingered for a long time.
In doing something for the wrong reasons, I got hurt, and I only had myself to blame.
I'm also not trying to make overall statements about Burning Man, in fact one of the main points of my paper is that Burning Man is completely subjective and that each person has a different experience there. I cannot tell you how much I wish that I had been to the event, but it has not been possible for me until the up coming year. I'm really excited to meet some of you and perhaps continue this discussion in person.
Thanks again for all the input, it really did make a difference.
Come to the ePlaya Meet & Greet.
Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro (exact address TBA; near 3:30 & E St probably)
6pm til at least 9pm
Wednesday of the Burn
It's a potluck, so food, drink, or ice is welcome, but don't let a lack of contribution keep you away (seriously, people who stay away for that reason are shaken by their collars later on). I don't know if folks will want to be interviewed, but you'll have a good time. You'll be shocked by how nice most of us are.
If you keep posting here, people might recognize your nickname. If they don't, no biggie; you're welcome anyway.
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