I read the 1996 Wired article, then went to Burning Man's Black Rock City in Nevada 10 years in a row, from 1999 to 2008, and was active in many regional Burner communities years afterwards (Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Austin, San Francisco, LA, Vancouver, etc.).
For some it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that just so happened to occur every year. For some it was a party thing. For some it was regional community. For some it was a year-round lifestyle. I was in deep in the "non-cult cult" where you could take/make of it whatever meaning you wanted to. It only required self-inclusion - you decide you're part of aspects of it, no one else does.
I learned a lot about all sorts of "fringe" things there - anarchism, autonomy, community, drugs, "freaks", limits, organizing, radical self-expression, responsibility, self-reliance, sex, sustainability, "ten principles", travel, etc.
In 1999 it was dominated by drum circles, fire-play culture, and freedom with some lasers and el-wire. By 2004 techno and lights had taken over. By 2008 they had the Internet in the middle of the desert and more rules and regulations than you can imagine (the lame/stupid "yahoos" compelled the lame/stupid management to implement common sense bureaucracy to fuck freedom up for everyone). It evolved and changed for better or worse. From thousands of miles away online I can see that SF, BRC, and BM are not what they once were, for better but mostly worse IMO. I too was a different person then with very different priorities - before the 2008 crash and "anti"depressants, conspirophilia, Occupy, COVID, Truth-Freedom-Health, a different economy, and without a soft animation career. My animation industry and "medical" perspectives have "gifted" me an early taste of what problems are coming for everyone with A.I., politics, and more.
Since becoming aware of the ruling class' corrupt matrix of rigged systems and occult darkness, real or imagined, I can never have as much fun as I once did knowing that not even in the desert can we escape globalist manipulations. As a poor zippie without access or privilege I can only speculate about the tentacles of evil that may or may not have influence over the Burner experience.
Exceptional expensive resources required will keep me away, better spent on more important things critical to actual freedom - so a return is not on my bucket list.
I really wanted to attend, many years ago, when I was a different person.
I have a feeling that now I would more likely be disgusted by the people I encountered there.
The desert requires fortitude, including patience. Add to that patience for the "disgusting" people and it might actually be a good place for Truth-Freedom-Health outreach. There certainly were a bunch of pastors who went, kindly but never obnoxiously trying to reach people - though I suspect they just wanted to test themselves, see titties, and/or have fun. No one does what they do not want to do. Most folks had open minds to some degree.
Depending on what you consider disgusting, I suspect much of the controversial stuff is still not open. There was nudity but open sex was never allowed. It was always patrolled by 3 counties' sheriffs, BLM and other feds, narcs, etc. plus the Black Rock Rangers.
IMO new things that might disgust me: 1) fatter people since the 90s (myself included), 2) excessive decadence and waste, 3) willful ignorance, 4) woke politics and bureaucracy however it might be expressed, and as always 5) bad art.
In 1999 BRC was 19+K people. In 2008 BRC was 55+K people. Even then it was easy enough to simply walk/bike/ride past whatever you didn't want to engage in and I can't see how that would change.
( * Black Rock City is the 3rd largest city of Nevada for the one week a year, in the Black Rock Desert, named for the geological features long before Black Stone existed, and since Black Rock and Vanguard bought the world. )
Hadn't heard of any orgy dome, but it wouldn't surprise me. Can't imagine the practical organizing logistics of that or how it could be managed. Bigger because it's excitingly engorged or because everyone is overweight?
Among many The Temple Of Opulent Joy was a very cool space to visit, and IIRC it was a huge geodesic dome that someone decided to hang themselves in. Don't know if that was a rumour (unlikely in this case) or someone actually ruined it for everyone. If it's the place I'm partly recalling they had some intermittent sex parties but to my chagrin I only ever heard about it after. NYC and Vegas are cities of extremes, but they pale to BRC in many ways. It will fortify or destroy relationships over endless reasons.
One year there was a large boxy house-sized structure covered in fun-fur with halls and doors. Exploring the playa alone at that time folks were rude when I tried to peek in, "What do you think is happening?" and slammed the door. Assumed something sexy but I didn't know what - it could have been an art gallery, chill lounge, or whatever like anywhere else.
Jiffy Lube was a very gay camp for most if not all the years I attended. Them/They/Their (actually before pronouns were a thing) slogan was, "Get in, get off, get out." I always meant to wander through to see what was what there, but never did. Also never did get around to visiting coffee enema camp (yes, real). Probably for the best as some things you can never unsee/unsmell. Never got to see half the stuff most years. Top priorities usually got visited, but not always. A very random adventure to explore. Not the best place for those suffering from FOMO.
BRC has a high sexual energy and everyone else seems to get it more than you. Some years I did well, some not. It was never enough though, even the good years. Didn't actually attend any sex parties at BM (I did elsewhere) other than the one I started my second year with a girl friend. I was the Great Canadian who hosted the Great Canadian Beaver Eating Contest for 8 years. I haven't been back to see who or how some folks picked up the idea years later to make it their own.
Log in
I read the 1996 Wired article, then went to Burning Man's Black Rock City in Nevada 10 years in a row, from 1999 to 2008, and was active in many regional Burner communities years afterwards (Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Austin, San Francisco, LA, Vancouver, etc.).
For some it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that just so happened to occur every year. For some it was a party thing. For some it was regional community. For some it was a year-round lifestyle. I was in deep in the "non-cult cult" where you could take/make of it whatever meaning you wanted to. It only required self-inclusion - you decide you're part of aspects of it, no one else does.
I learned a lot about all sorts of "fringe" things there - anarchism, autonomy, community, drugs, "freaks", limits, organizing, radical self-expression, responsibility, self-reliance, sex, sustainability, "ten principles", travel, etc.
In 1999 it was dominated by drum circles, fire-play culture, and freedom with some lasers and el-wire. By 2004 techno and lights had taken over. By 2008 they had the Internet in the middle of the desert and more rules and regulations than you can imagine (the lame/stupid "yahoos" compelled the lame/stupid management to implement common sense bureaucracy to fuck freedom up for everyone). It evolved and changed for better or worse. From thousands of miles away online I can see that SF, BRC, and BM are not what they once were, for better but mostly worse IMO. I too was a different person then with very different priorities - before the 2008 crash and "anti"depressants, conspirophilia, Occupy, COVID, Truth-Freedom-Health, a different economy, and without a soft animation career. My animation industry and "medical" perspectives have "gifted" me an early taste of what problems are coming for everyone with A.I., politics, and more.
Since becoming aware of the ruling class' corrupt matrix of rigged systems and occult darkness, real or imagined, I can never have as much fun as I once did knowing that not even in the desert can we escape globalist manipulations. As a poor zippie without access or privilege I can only speculate about the tentacles of evil that may or may not have influence over the Burner experience.
Exceptional expensive resources required will keep me away, better spent on more important things critical to actual freedom - so a return is not on my bucket list.
You'll have to be more specific.
All I know is @JasonCarswell is the expert.
Was an expert. Much has changed.
I really wanted to attend, many years ago, when I was a different person.
I have a feeling that now I would more likely be disgusted by the people I encountered there.
The desert requires fortitude, including patience. Add to that patience for the "disgusting" people and it might actually be a good place for Truth-Freedom-Health outreach. There certainly were a bunch of pastors who went, kindly but never obnoxiously trying to reach people - though I suspect they just wanted to test themselves, see titties, and/or have fun. No one does what they do not want to do. Most folks had open minds to some degree.
Depending on what you consider disgusting, I suspect much of the controversial stuff is still not open. There was nudity but open sex was never allowed. It was always patrolled by 3 counties' sheriffs, BLM and other feds, narcs, etc. plus the Black Rock Rangers.
IMO new things that might disgust me: 1) fatter people since the 90s (myself included), 2) excessive decadence and waste, 3) willful ignorance, 4) woke politics and bureaucracy however it might be expressed, and as always 5) bad art.
In 1999 BRC was 19+K people. In 2008 BRC was 55+K people. Even then it was easy enough to simply walk/bike/ride past whatever you didn't want to engage in and I can't see how that would change.
( * Black Rock City is the 3rd largest city of Nevada for the one week a year, in the Black Rock Desert, named for the geological features long before Black Stone existed, and since Black Rock and Vanguard bought the world. )
The only thing I've heard about Burning Man this year is that the orgy dome will be bigger.
Hadn't heard of any orgy dome, but it wouldn't surprise me. Can't imagine the practical organizing logistics of that or how it could be managed. Bigger because it's excitingly engorged or because everyone is overweight?
Among many The Temple Of Opulent Joy was a very cool space to visit, and IIRC it was a huge geodesic dome that someone decided to hang themselves in. Don't know if that was a rumour (unlikely in this case) or someone actually ruined it for everyone. If it's the place I'm partly recalling they had some intermittent sex parties but to my chagrin I only ever heard about it after. NYC and Vegas are cities of extremes, but they pale to BRC in many ways. It will fortify or destroy relationships over endless reasons.
One year there was a large boxy house-sized structure covered in fun-fur with halls and doors. Exploring the playa alone at that time folks were rude when I tried to peek in, "What do you think is happening?" and slammed the door. Assumed something sexy but I didn't know what - it could have been an art gallery, chill lounge, or whatever like anywhere else.
Jiffy Lube was a very gay camp for most if not all the years I attended. Them/They/Their (actually before pronouns were a thing) slogan was, "Get in, get off, get out." I always meant to wander through to see what was what there, but never did. Also never did get around to visiting coffee enema camp (yes, real). Probably for the best as some things you can never unsee/unsmell. Never got to see half the stuff most years. Top priorities usually got visited, but not always. A very random adventure to explore. Not the best place for those suffering from FOMO.
BRC has a high sexual energy and everyone else seems to get it more than you. Some years I did well, some not. It was never enough though, even the good years. Didn't actually attend any sex parties at BM (I did elsewhere) other than the one I started my second year with a girl friend. I was the Great Canadian who hosted the Great Canadian Beaver Eating Contest for 8 years. I haven't been back to see who or how some folks picked up the idea years later to make it their own.
I guess it got a little cramped in there. Images of people being smothered like it's a Haj to the borg cube in Mecca.