Ok You guys figure this all out.

[DVD Burner]

This is a big issue amongst everyone everywhere.


http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... highlight=

http://uspolitics.tribe.net/thread/aa5b ... d4b5d4e8a3


BM could have avoided this many many years ago when I tried to make it a point they should be green a loooong time ago in person.

I also tried to tell them about so many things.


http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0


A few people tried to tell the org.........

Now it is an issue.

I think everyone can and needs to do many things to make the concept of BM relevant in this world. It's that important.


What say you?


I think BM can do so many things to make the world better. It's up to everyone that attends the event.

If it does have the most intelligent folks attending the event, it's time to do not just something, it's time to do it.

BM has the power.

Again, what say you?

[DVD Burner]

BM needs to be the ultimate leader.


There is no one else.

This is a fact.


It can be done.


I know this to be a fact.

[EB]

BM needs to be the ultimate leader.


There is no one else.

This is a fact.


It can be done.


I know this to be a fact.

There's an old Saturday Night Live sketch with Chevy Chase and Lorraine Newton where the argue over whether the upright canister on the kitched table was a dessert topping or a floor wax. Chevy thought it tasted great on his ice cream, while Lorraine remarked at how shiny it kept the floors.

Dan Akroyd burst in as a huckster and proudly proclaimed directly to the camera that it was, indeed, both and floor wax AND a dessert topping. Laughter ensued.

I think of this when you bring up the question of what should Burning Man Be and how it can change our society. It's a valid question and one I've ruminated over while sitting in the Center Cafe or walking the back F/G/H streets at night. The place is so unlike any place else I've ever seen that I wish I could bring it home with me (and judging from the playa dust that inhabits every square inch of my garage, I'm well on my way there.) But can Burning Man exist in the default world? Even the tiniest piece? I don't know. It's a construct built on a nexus of specifics:

1. It's a temporary event last one week.
2. It abhors (at least in theory) advertising and commerce and encourages community and human interaction.
3. It's physically seperated by a great distance from the nearest default places.

Without any of these, Burning Man ceases to be, well, Burning Man. It needs all of them to survive and that's what makes it special and delicate. It's our tempermental orchid growing up from the dust, change the water or the sunlight or even breath on it funny and it dries up and blows away.

The call to action you pose, BM must lead is where I part company. There seems to be a restlessness within some who've been associated with the event (either in management or as a long timer) to turn the event into something more. Like the event itself is no longer enough, it has to be a beacon for others, a way of showing them an alternative way to live their lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

But it's not the thing *I* want from the event. The magic I feel from the playa is such because I know I won't feel it anywhere else in the world. And that's okay with me. I don't want the event to feel the need to diversify and grow (though, yes, I'm familiar with the popularity of the regionals (having attended one, too.))

Without deining to define the event (no faster way to go down in flames on this board, pun intended) I'll say that Burning Man is very good at being Burning Man. It doesn't need to be anything more than it is, because, that's the well spring. If the main event ceases to be the main event, I predict the regionals and everything else will dry up and blow away like that orchid.

Sometimes its best to just keep your floor wax and dessert topping seperate.

[Eric]

The call to action you pose, BM must lead is where I part company. There seems to be a restlessness within some who've been associated with the event (either in management or as a long timer) to turn the event into something more. Like the event itself is no longer enough, it has to be a beacon for others, a way of showing them an alternative way to live their lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

But it's not the thing *I* want from the event. The magic I feel from the playa is such because I know I won't feel it anywhere else in the world.

I couldn't have come up with a better way of saying how I feel, so I'm just going to tack on a "yeah, me too" to EB's post.

[Ugly Dougly]

At what point does going to burning man stop being any different than staying at home? I got community at home, I can run around naked in my own apartment, if I want to burn something in the backyard I still have to get permission from the fire department.

Oh, yeah. It's hot and dusty. Those are pluses.

[Archantael]

At least for me that long drive out and back is a plus. I get to see some very beautiful territory and I've met some very interesting characters. Then there's the logistical challenge of hauling everything out there and back...there's some satisfaction gained from pulling it all off.

[Captain Goddammit]

"Jane you ignorant slut... "

Burning Man as an "ultimate leader"? That would REALLY suck.
Burning Man is just a fucking camping trip with lots of cool art.
It isn't a sustainable way of being out in the rest of the world.

Jesus, have some fun, lighten up, and when they screw it up with commercialism, it's over and forget the whole thing.

And when that happens, check the "land yacht" in my ID picture, it runs great, I'll make you a great deal on it.

[Box Burner]

BM needs to be the ultimate leader.


There is no one else.

This is a fact.


It can be done.


I know this to be a fact.

Well That may be true. But the moment that Burning Man decides To be the leader it will fail.

What makes it work is that everyone finds their own way. It is a do-ocracy.

There is a Buddhist saying that I think applies here.

"If you meet Buddha on the Path, Kill Him."

What this means is that everyone walks their own path and finds their own way. No-one can guide you. You must find your own way and break your own trail. The best way to lead is not to. So you think that the world needs to be more green? Great. Encourage the citizens of BRC to be more green and they will do it on their own without corporate help. Radical self reliance, It cannot be done at the corporate level. It only works on an individual basis. The goal is to be self reliant and sufficient. You can only do that yourself.

Nuff for now. I gotta go.

[Lassen Forge]

Burning Man as an "ultimate leader"? That would REALLY suck.

That would be really, really scary. Like having Dubya re-win the white house with a resounding 12% of the vote. Or better, the next conservative religious wakjob they appoint through the fraudulant election process.

Burning Man is just a fucking camping trip with lots of cool art. It isn't a sustainable way of being out in the rest of the world.

Wish we could all remember this. Myself (especially) included. Amazing how worked up over BS we can get, eh?

Jesus, have some fun, lighten up, and when they screw it up with commercialism, it's over and forget the whole thing.

And when that happens, check the "land yacht" in my ID picture, it runs great, I'll make you a great deal on it.

WANTED TO BUY - 20 acre plot of land in the vicinity of Blackrock Desert, prefer with buildings, in-place infrastructure desired, will review all potential offers under $10K, Please send correspondence to the editor of this article.

As soon as someone comes through with the above for me, I will take it off your hands,. Tho you may not want to get rid of it at that point...

bb