Tell me about burning man??

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anna3r
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Tell me about burning man??

Post by anna3r » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:20 pm

Im a student at chico and im writing an anthro paper. I choose burning man as my topic, im very interested in the event and would like to attend next year. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to answer a few questions for my paper...or even just share with me their experience at burning man. Im very interested and all the information i can get would be incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated. If you could email me or send me a message telling me about your experience, what you feel the meaning of burning man is? Any stories or events that really stood out that would be great... my email address is [email protected].
Thanks, Anna Birch

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primate
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Post by primate » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:30 pm

Burning man sucks.
Don't go.
Don't tell your friends about it either.
Go to Coachella or somethiing, it's much cooler.
Or try the love parade in Germany, I hear that is pretty awesome too.
I came here to kick some ass and drink some Ten-high and I am almost out of Ten-high.

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Chai Guy
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Post by Chai Guy » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:34 pm

primate wrote:Burning man sucks.
Or try the love parade in Germany, I hear that is pretty awesome too.
Actually, the love parade is coming to S.F. this year.

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Chai Guy
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Post by Chai Guy » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:36 pm


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Chai Guy
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Post by Chai Guy » Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:37 pm


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Badger
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Post by Badger » Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:34 pm

Im a student at chico and im writing an anthro paper. I choose burning man as my topic, im very interested in the event and would like to attend next year. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to answer a few questions for my paper...or even just share with me their experience at burning man. Im very interested and all the information i can get would be incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated.
WARNING: Snarky Reply Ahead.

Assuming you're motivated enough to dig through the innumerable posts buried in this board you'll see that on occasion students come in here with the intent to do a project, thesis or subject paper on Burning Man. More often than not the gist of the initial post is very similar to yours. Asking people's input and opinions about an even that the original poster is clueless or unfamiliar about yet thinks in a generally subjective sort of way they'll be able to paraphrase and describe (within the minimum 1500 words) in order to get their weekly essay quota out of the way. What it sounds like you're looking for is a series of online sound bites to hammer together in order to fill your academic needs. Sorry, I can't help.

I don't do other people's homework.
Desert dogs drink deep.

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shitmouse
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Post by shitmouse » Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:52 pm

you should go first then write your paper. (do a paper on SALT instead. you'd be amazed at the facts).

-- or --

write you paper, don't turn it in, go, then re-read your paper and see how OFF it was. seriously.

no matter how much thread chewing you do, you won't get it, and you'll no doubt represent the event inacurately.

-b
=-=-= \<>/ =-=-=

M Joe Boss
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Post by M Joe Boss » Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:57 pm

If you had every person,who was on the playa this year, tell you about it,watched 200 hrs of video, and saw 10,000 pics you still wouldn't be equipped to write about it.

I am not trying to be an ass, but it is true. You should definately go before you try and write about it

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dana
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anthro-what????

Post by dana » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:56 pm

Anna,
Don't let those naysayers put you off. They're actually telling you one thing that seems to be a concern of many, which is that the event is really getting too big and becoming more of a rave scene. One thing that I'm interested in is the growth towards regional burning man events as an answer to growth. You should check out the section of the web devoted to individual camps, which will show you something of the diversity involved. Good luck.

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calsur
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Post by calsur » Thu Sep 16, 2004 11:08 pm

Dust, lots and lots of dust. PM me with an email address and I will post my picts of Center Camp when the Belly Dancers invaded. Starts out great then dust from hell and clears right up in 15 minutes.

I set my camp up on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning I was sweeping of a tarp and some gut walking by yelled "Your never going to get it clean" I yelled back "I am just trying to get rid of the drifts".

The night of the Burn I tried cleaning my camera lens 3 time before I realized that the sparks on the picture was the dust reflecting when the flash went off.

Did I mention the dust?

sfgreenfire76
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Post by sfgreenfire76 » Sat Sep 18, 2004 4:50 pm

I was also an anthro major in college. If you are planning to write an essay on BM, there is plenty of background historical information on the website. There is so much information there enough for any type of paper you want to write.

If you want to do an ethnography of the Burning man experience. You need to go. You need to go several times. Without that, from these message boards, you will think that BM sucks, has gone downhill, not the same anymore, etc etc.

Interviews are only the tip of the iceberg.

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Tancorix
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Post by Tancorix » Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:14 pm

This event requires you to go in order to truly understand. Your dilemma is similar to the press and a reporter sent by his clueless editor to cover the event. You can ask a thousand questions before you go. You can read the survival guide, first timer's guide, and study the image gallery. But...until you roll off 447 and actually experience the total immersion of the event....I doubt you will understand.

I'd find another topic and save BM for next year, after you get back. And even then, each year is different. Just because you've been to BM 2-3 or 5 times, each year offers new surprises and new dynamics to take into consideration....so again, I'd find another topic. And good luck on whatever you decide to do...but by all means if you can get out there next year, GO!

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