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The Blog That Burns

You Get What You Give

9/12/2016

 
Note: This is a guest post from one of my campmates this year, Jeremy Gaston, the Kansas Burning Man Regional Contact, Vice President of Midwest Burners, and co-founder of the orphan burn, This Event is Cancelled. He has been burning regionally since 2009. All opinions are his, not Burn.Life's (although we mostly agree).
​A lot of drama coming out of the Gerlach Regional (aka Burning Man) this past week. If you missed it, a larger, more funded camp was the victim of vandalism. A lot of finger pointing has been made, but the truth is there isn’t any. No arrests have been made, no motive has been released. Everything you hear is speculation.

What isn’t speculation is a vocal portion the burnersphere has jumped on the opportunity to point the finger at those who have more of the one thing that doesn’t buy anything in Black Rock City (except iced
lattes, of course). I’ve seen richer celebrities blamed for everything from ruining the burn to avoiding the exodus. (I’d also like to point out for you that haven’t been to an airport lately that planes wait in line, too.)

I also sat with a guy on the bus coming in from the airport who wouldn’t have been able to experience the burn (his first) any other way. He lived in South Bay five years, had immediately drunk the Kool-Aid and was finally making the journey.

If you’re sitting at home talking about whether Burning Man is inhabited by the proper ratio of rich and poor people – the have and have nots as I’ve heard them called plenty in the last few days – then you’ve completely missed the point.
Picture
Jeremy Gaston. Photo: Me.
​Burning Man (and burner culture, which I’ll use synonymously from here out) isn’t about what you have, it’s about what you bring. I’ve seen huge contributions this year from those with very little, and clever, subtler conversations from those who had quite a bit more. Both of which we among my favorite additions to the burn.

Much of the art comes from smaller groups, and even a lot of the bigger art is volunteer based – the majority of those building volunteering. From deep playing pieces to the temple itself, it’s a labor of love.

Many of the biggest camps are out there to create the party. To bring something bigger and better to the burn. One of my favorite things about theme camps, art cars and art pieces is competition to out clever and out do the next piece. To bring the biggest plane, or the lighthouse with the most character.

Burners need only look to their neighbors to set the next bar, which is what we should be doing. This world spends too much time focusing on what we have and what we don’t, lets leave that out of the place where we’re all much closer to equal.

In Black Rock City, or whatever regional you may reside on a given weekend, we’re rich in so many ways that matter so much more – in cleverness, in ideas, in inspiration, in happiness, in love. Remember these are the things that are invaluable even in the places where money exists.
JV
9/16/2016 03:38:36 pm

"I also sat with a guy on the bus coming in from the airport who wouldn’t have been able to experience the burn (his first) any other way. "

At this point, I just don't care if people can't make it. The event sells out in seconds, we don't need any more people, and we sure as hell don't need to make it easier for some people. If someone really wants to go, they'll get there, just like always.

Dr. Yes link
9/16/2016 03:55:07 pm

It'll never happen, but to be honest, I'd have no problem with -severely- restricting the airport to essential services. That by itself would lock out a bunch of the tourist types who aren't willing to endure any discomfort to get to the playa. Like you say, there are more than enough people to come. If one person can't come, 5 others will be glad to take her place.

Chowski
9/20/2016 03:11:06 pm

Is the BMORG paying you to parrot this year's Art Theme, "Kiss Rich People's Ass"? If I have to hear "but she wouldn't have been able to make it without the airport" one more time. GOOD! We don't want you here. if you fly in with a bikini and a feather headdress, and nothing else, you have brought nothing. You are an observer, paying some Commercial entity to provide a Burning-Man-Themed-Premium Experience. Your hotness is not a gift.


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    I'm Dr. Yes. I run this site,  lead a theme camp called Friendgasm, and make Burning Man videos. Just say yes, folks, and help keep Burning Man weird!

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I'm Dr. Yes, a fan of Burning Man, Burners, and Burner culture.

Burn.Life is a non-commercial, hobbyist website  and no commerce, ads, paid endorsements are involved.  Any products mentioned or linked to are done so because I or people I trust have used them and I view them as reasonable recommendations. You can email me here: yes (-at-) burn (-dot-) life.
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Year by Year HIstory
    • 1986 -1990: The Early Days
    • 1991-1996: Hypergrowth
    • 1997-2000: Maturation
    • 2001-2010: Graceful Aging
    • 2011-2015: The Age of Scarcity
    • 2016-2020: The End?
  • Preparing/Attending
    • Getting Tickets
    • Preparing >
      • Tents and Shade
      • RVs
      • Food and Water
      • Clothing & Costumes
      • Bikes
      • Cameras
      • Lag Screws 101
      • Burning on a Budget
      • Packing List
    • Getting to Burning Man (Entry)
    • Being There >
      • Adventuring on the playa
      • Art
      • Music
      • Poopin' on the Playa
      • Leave No Trace
    • Leaving Burning Man (Exodus)