uninformed

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Burning Man : One Thread

I have yet to find anything on this site that can describe this experience that is supposed to take place at this event. Can someone help me out?

-- gpzzx9@aol.com (allenj@reu2.relteccorp.com), November 24, 1998

Answers

I have not gone to buring Man yet, But I am going this year. There is a ton of information out on web pages that I have looked at, of people's own experiences and photos and art. I have heard my frineds tell me stories of what has happened to them there, and as far as I can say, there is no real anser to that question. Burning Man is completly different in some ways for everyone that goes. the only way to really know what it is is to go and find out for yourself. After I go, I'd be happy to tell you what I think burning Man is. But for right now, I think Burning Man is whatever you want it to be.

-- Karrin (pinkubus@earthlink.net), May 28, 2000.

An aquaintance of mine describes it as being reduced to a puddle of desire with legs and having all the means available to satiate the desire.

It is extremely harsh in many ways. Being an utterly blank canvas, the only things out there are what we bring out there, physically, mentally and spiritually. On the flat, dusty white playa, there is nothing to hide behind.

It's an unspeakable spectacle of creativity and intensity, but it takes a lot of dedicated crazy people working their asses off for months or a year, each spending a small fortune, designing and building theme camps, art installations, giant vibrating penises, etc.

But seriously: no answer you get will convey it. In the mundane "real world," the dreary forces which shape our society convince us that everything can be packaged, marketed with a 15 second sound bite, and consumed, empty of meaning or joy.

In Black Rock City, we each find that we can build a world where transcendence of the mundane is not only possible, it is unavoidable.

-- 655321 (655321@disinfo.net), February 24, 2000.


Mostly, it's a bunch of people from california looking for an excuse to party and get naked and think it makes their lives more meaningful. There is a remarkably cooperative and friendly vibe to the place--unless you start saying or doing anything unpleasant, in which case the Brown Suede Secret Police kick your ass out. Fortunately, there are interesting people there too, and I had a great time.

-- Robert Holder (bedlam@crystalnight.com), September 09, 1999.

Hmmm... pretty hard to describe. Oh that sounds like a cop out, but there are some things you just have to experience. I went for the first time last year, and was skeptical beforehand. Suffice it to say, I am returning this year. It's a retreat in the desert. It's a campout with friends. It's a giant party. It's a trip to another planet, just for a week (or weekend). It's fun. Everyone needs a little fun every now and then.

-- Steven Gorman (sgorman1@juno.com), June 25, 1999.

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