I like being a "darkwad"

[BBadger]

Everyone has the right to not be lit up and visible.
Everyone has the right to laugh at darkwads when they get hit by bikes or art cars.

If people don't have any sense of self-preservation, that's cool with me.

Yeah, but the real problem is not self-preservation, but being a hazard to other people -- specifically, other people riding the bikes. It's not the safety of the darktards that anyone really cares about.

[The CO]

Sure, like I said we all have the right to point and laugh.

I just don't understand taking pride in the choice to add to ones own risk.

[The Hustler]

That is why red light is used to light astronomical observatories.

At the dawn of history, they used the red light in darkrooms...

But that's not why, because it makes no sense. Great, something else to keep me up at night.

Red lights are used in a black and white darkroom because the paper isn't sensitive to it. Color paper is and ALL undeveloped film is.

It's two unrelated uses for red lights.

[The Hustler]

love these! and they aren't moop you can replace the batteries.

Of course, there are disposable look alikes, so be careful.

Some of them even have free replacement batteries for all eternity, or something like that. I have one or two that offer free replacements.

They're not the best lights, but not the worst. They double as regular flashlights as well and they're not expensive. They make a good backup or spare light.

[The Hustler]

The dark wad mentality extends here in Austin, which is about 1,800 miles from Black Rock City. I don't get it, it seems like a strong majority of people don't ride with lights at night (or stop at red lights, et cetera)

I couldn't make it to the playa in 2013, but the two years before I almost hit a few illumination-challenged people. I think the darkwadier people are, the more aimlessly and zombielike they stumble.

I used a headlamp to ride or walk around and a BRIGHT red and amber blinking light on my bike or water pack and a bright blinking white light on my handlebars (the one I use for riding the rest of the year), but I was still able to see in the dark beyond my little sphere of illuminated darkness. Maybe it's from actual bike riding at night, I don't know. I found (or was given) some finger lights, which illuminated the ground under the center of my bike as I rode. I still have them and may do that again.

Also, I think many of the burners only ride a bike on the playa and not the rest of the year, so they're not very good at it and don't know how to ride in crowded places. That adds a layer of entertainment or difficulty.

[Simon of the Playa]

you know my stance on this issue.


i reserve the right to disappear at any moment at night while on playa...i suggest that YOU be lit up for safety but i prefer to live dangerously.

so suck it all of you who would deny me that right....a darkwad i am and a darkwad i shall stay.



again, i do not recommend it for the general population, it's just something i prefer.

[Sham]

Darkwads having a deathwish is one thing, but the poor person who hits and kills these dimwits (wow, that works) have to live with blood on their tires for the rest of their lives. Maybe all artcars should be required to have cow catchers on them.

[Simon of the Playa]

oy, not the guilt argument...


it doesnt work for grandma, why do you think it would work for you?


i am what i am.

[Captain Goddammit]

I'm gonna be an odd-man-out MV operator who doesn't have issue with Simon.
I can't seem to find it now but there was a line in the DMV guidelines saying an MV should have a clear view for the driver in the direction of travel.
That's why I put the driver's position right out front on mine.
I've got plenty of lights and can see just fine day or night.
If someone runs over Simon and gets blood on their tires it's just as much their own fault for not looking where they are going and/or going when they can't see if they have a clear path.

This year one biker yelled at me for having lights on and "ruining his night vision".
Fuck him. You choose to be dark and fast moving, I choose to have bright lights so I don't ruin your skull.

[Simon of the Playa]

just to be clear, i do NOT let my GF or anyone else in our party travel without illumination, because it is dangerous.


i am a schmuck that way, and will not change my preference.


and trust me, no one will end up with MY blood on their tires unless that was their intention to begin with....and they better be real good.

[Simon of the Playa]

i was thinking about this while i was out at the public market.

i want to re-iterate, i DO NOT ADVOCATE DARKWADISM.....

it's stupid and could get you hurt.

i was just being honest about my burn...i am a darkwad, i can't justify or rationalize it, i just am, and will remain so.

but please, don't try this at home, i am not a good role model, and i think you should be lit up at night as to avoid collisions with other burners.

it's not cool or hip or burnier than anything else, it's just something i prefer.

[BBadger]

Darkwads having a deathwish is one thing, but the poor person who hits and kills these dimwits (wow, that works) have to live with blood on their tires for the rest of their lives. Maybe all artcars should be required to have cow catchers on them.

Well the thing with art cars is that they should be aware of unlit road hazards anyway regardless of whether they're humans or not. My real beef is when I'm on a bike, and when I have an equal chance to have my own blood on my tires if I hit a dark'tard. It's hard enough to see bumps in the playa with my flash-blindness due to the headlamp I use, let alone some idiot without lights. That's when I start wishing for a dark'tard catcher or thresher to protect against these bicycle hazards.

[Captain Goddammit]

I think the whole "darkwad" thing is somewhat valid but generally blown out of proportion.
When the moon is full you can see like broad daylight, and when it's not, it's never that dark, and a goddamm light on your bike or MV pretty much solves the issue.

[BBadger]

Well not on the bike. It's not a headlight on a car. Most headlights don't have much throw, and you're often concentrating on the immediate vicinity of your bike to avoid bumps, especially out in the areas where dark'tards like to congregate. Coupled with trying to pedal fast to keep momentum over drifts, avoiding these black ghosts is often an emergency dodge procedure. The white light also hurts night vision; so outside that cone of light, it's difficult to make out unlit shadows that might be silhouetted against the background. There are even other threads talking about how people on bikes have even nearly collided with MVs because of the viewing conditions, object-perception, and the way MVs are lit up. Imagine that kind of thing with someone without any lights at all.

The worst hazards, however, are those unlit bikes that assholes abandon in the middle of the fucking playa. What the hell is wrong with the people who do that?!

[Captain Goddammit]

Ha! That reminds me of a time several years ago late at night. Some friends (one of them R.I.P. since then) had this huge whale MV… we were both heading to his camp to make margaritas but first we took a cruise around the playa, doing some big circles as we went.
My buddy on the front deck says "Hey look out for that bike on the ground"… I said "I see it!"… he said "You didn't last time!"
It did look pretty bent up…

But like I said earlier, that was half my fault for not seeing it. oops.

[The Hustler]

Darkwads having a deathwish is one thing, but the poor person who hits and kills these dimwits (wow, that works) have to live with blood on their tires for the rest of their lives. Maybe all artcars should be required to have cow catchers on them.

Or maybe reactive armor. Make it a bit of a show when they grease an non-illuminated hippie.

[Simon of the Playa]

Darkwads having a deathwish is one thing, but the poor person who hits and kills these dimwits (wow, that works) have to live with blood on their tires for the rest of their lives. Maybe all artcars should be required to have cow catchers on them.

Well the thing with art cars is that they should be aware of unlit road hazards anyway regardless of whether they're humans or not. My real beef is when I'm on a bike, and when I have an equal chance to have my own blood on my tires if I hit a dark'tard. It's hard enough to see bumps in the playa with my flash-blindness due to the headlamp I use, let alone some idiot without lights. That's when I start wishing for a dark'tard catcher or thresher to protect against these bicycle hazards.

if you have THAT many problems riding around at night because you can't see then YOU ARE THE IDIOT AND ARE DANGEROUS TO OTHERS, perhaps you should stay in at night.….

BTW, you won't hit me, i'll see you or hear you coming long before you even know I'm there, but evidently i and others have to watch out for your blind ass.

[Sham]

Some of the artcars have a bit of an obstructed view, just by nature of what they are. Add lots of dust and darkness to this and there could be a problem. Then you got some chemically impaired pedestrians moping along the playa in a trance, wearing dark clothes and no lighting. There are spotters on most artcars, and hopefully the pedestrians will be paying attention too, but the more lights the better.

[BBadger]

if you have THAT many problems riding around at night because you can't see then YOU ARE THE IDIOT AND ARE DANGEROUS TO OTHERS, perhaps you should stay in at night.….

It's not unreasonable to expect people to be lit up in the dark where there is vehicle traffic anymore than cars on a highway.

[FossaFerox]

if you have THAT many problems riding around at night because you can't see then YOU ARE THE IDIOT AND ARE DANGEROUS TO OTHERS, perhaps you should stay in at night.….

BTW, you won't hit me, i'll see you or hear you coming long before you even know I'm there, but evidently i and others have to watch out for your blind ass.

You need to remember that not everyone is as skilled/aware/considerate as you are. In fact some are quite the opposite. Most nights I went out on foot, but one of the nights I did go biking (Thursday before the CORE burns) I realized that not only are Darkwads a very real problem, a lot of them are ALOC and move TOWARDS your headlights like moths to a fucking candle.

"What's that pretty blue and white glow coming our way? Let's move directly into it's path as quickly as we can!"

[Simon of the Playa]

again, for the third time, i do not want to foment DarkWahadism or anything of the sort.


It's just how i roll at night, and will continue to do so. It is my choice, and i know the playa well enough that it's not a hazard to myself or others.


if you don't like it, i'm sorry that you feel that way.

[BBadger]

again, for the third time, i do not want to foment DarkWahadism or anything of the sort.

I've gotta use that term some day.

[FossaFerox]

again, for the third time, i do not want to foment DarkWahadism or anything of the sort.

if you have THAT many problems riding around at night because you can't see then YOU ARE THE IDIOT AND ARE DANGEROUS TO OTHERS, perhaps you should stay in at night.

You may not be advocating darkwahadism, but you are defending other, less capable/considerate darkwads.

[Verve]

by Captain Goddammit » Sun Dec 08, 2013 4:07 pm

Ha! That reminds me of a time several years ago late at night. Some friends (one of them R.I.P. since then) had this huge whale MV… we were both heading to his camp to make margaritas but first we took a cruise around the playa, doing some big circles as we went.
My buddy on the front deck says "Hey look out for that bike on the ground"… I said "I see it!"… he said "You didn't last time!"
It did look pretty bent up…

But like I said earlier, that was half my fault for not seeing it. oops.

Captain, oddly enough I was reading some older posts in the Q&A today, when I happened upon one from a guy talking about how his bike was run over by a boat. I figure it must have been you.

[Captain Goddammit]

BTW, you won't hit me, i'll see you or hear you coming long before you even know I'm there

Lol is that a challenge?

The captain considers a new flat-black paint job… heh heh heh

[FossaFerox]

Hey look at that, we finally found a reason to use electric motors of gas. Stealth mode engage!

[tatonka]

Simon had no lights on the night I met him on the playa , yet I seen him

[Savannah]

BTW, you won't hit me, i'll see you or hear you coming long before you even know I'm there

Lol is that a challenge?

The captain considers a new flat-black paint job… heh heh heh

In my mind, I just heard the theme from Jaws . . .

[BBadger]

[Sham]

Simon does give off a luminescent glow wherever he goes.