Every year, more than 50,000 participants, or "burners", build a temporary city in the desert to celebrate community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. This is Black Rock City, the location of Burning Man. It has been described as looking like a Mad Max theme-party thrown by freaks, punks, hippies, and ravers, at a refugee camp for homeless carnies, somewhere in the Sahara Desert. Yet it’s much more than that.
Burning Man used to be just a few hundred "insiders" each year. It grew by word of mouth until in 1996 there were 8000 people on the playa, and not enough organization to keep people safe. Several people were seriously injured. Someone died. The anarchists insisted the event must end--it was too big to operate on anarchist principles. Others insisted it could grow and flourish, but would need essential organization and structure. The organizers were right. Today over 50,000 people experience this amazing event each year, and have their minds blown by the freedom, generosity, and creativity they share with friends old and new. Many new participants will leave Black Rock City changed forever by immediate, profound experience. Witnessing Black Rock City proves something important about all of our potential as human beings.
All are welcome to participate at Burning Man. There are no prerequisites for inclusion. It is a do-ocracy... if you want to participate, if you want to help, sign up and help. But be careful: Burning Man may change your life.
Burning Man used to be just a few hundred "insiders" each year. It grew by word of mouth until in 1996 there were 8000 people on the playa, and not enough organization to keep people safe. Several people were seriously injured. Someone died. The anarchists insisted the event must end--it was too big to operate on anarchist principles. Others insisted it could grow and flourish, but would need essential organization and structure. The organizers were right. Today over 50,000 people experience this amazing event each year, and have their minds blown by the freedom, generosity, and creativity they share with friends old and new. Many new participants will leave Black Rock City changed forever by immediate, profound experience. Witnessing Black Rock City proves something important about all of our potential as human beings.
All are welcome to participate at Burning Man. There are no prerequisites for inclusion. It is a do-ocracy... if you want to participate, if you want to help, sign up and help. But be careful: Burning Man may change your life.
(Before Burning Man...)
Billy: Hey Fred, let's take a week off from being Investment Bankers and go to Burning Man and get fucked up. I hear it's full of hotties!
Fred: Yeah! Naked hotties!
(After Burning Man...)
Billy: Fred, I've started painting with oils, I'm quitting my job, moving to Portland, and opening a small gallery with some friends I met at the Temple.
Fred: I hear you brother. I quit last week, I'm learning Yoga, and the girl I met on Tuesday at Astral Headwash has asked me to move out to Denver and work with her on an art project for Apogaea.
Billy: Hey Fred, let's take a week off from being Investment Bankers and go to Burning Man and get fucked up. I hear it's full of hotties!
Fred: Yeah! Naked hotties!
(After Burning Man...)
Billy: Fred, I've started painting with oils, I'm quitting my job, moving to Portland, and opening a small gallery with some friends I met at the Temple.
Fred: I hear you brother. I quit last week, I'm learning Yoga, and the girl I met on Tuesday at Astral Headwash has asked me to move out to Denver and work with her on an art project for Apogaea.
by Dr Opinion November 24, 2012
When a dude attends Burning Man, is naked most of the time and discovers that his dick is sunburned.
by Party Crashers September 12, 2009
Where, for the simple price of admission, anyone can purchase 7 days of a product called 'freedom'. It is not like the film West Word - it IS the film West World.
To face what Burning Man is, is to face the harsh & stark demand for the what it is supplying: Freedom to the slaves, in a neat week-long holiday package.
This would be fine if the product was honestly packaged by the supplier; the company that produces the event. Rather than admitting that what they're selling is a packaged version of a lifestyle owned by freed slaves, the company sells it as the lifestyle itself... This is the offense this is Burning Man.
To face what Burning Man is, is to face the harsh & stark demand for the what it is supplying: Freedom to the slaves, in a neat week-long holiday package.
This would be fine if the product was honestly packaged by the supplier; the company that produces the event. Rather than admitting that what they're selling is a packaged version of a lifestyle owned by freed slaves, the company sells it as the lifestyle itself... This is the offense this is Burning Man.
by penttbom January 15, 2010
The Burning Man Project is an experiment in social transformation. Once a population of self-sufficient and socially minded participants, it has been systematically turned upside down. The ridiculously massive infrastructure is set in place to 1) make real self-sufficiency unnecessary, 2) give purpose to the volunteers within the infrastructure itself.
Participation has come to mean volunteerism, and vise versa. This volunteerism created a social system based on two classes, 1) the volunteers, 2) everyone else. The volunteers exist to build the infrastructure for everyone else, and everyone else exists to be dependent on the infrastructure.
The notion that everyone could be a participant (or volunteer) as it once was, no longer exists. And the Burning Man Project is in place to secure this separation, because without it there would be no need for the Burning Man Project.
This antisocial divide was not created accidentally or as a byproduct of necessity. In the absence of a dragon to slay, this overladen quasi government can only exist by protecting the individuals from themselves. Thus the need to attract more and more clueless spectators who will hail their providers' sacrifices in laboring to build the infrastructure that they are so willfully dependent upon.
Blame it all on the various types of antisocial personality disorders in which people will do anything for attention, and for the feeling that they are better than other people.
Participation has come to mean volunteerism, and vise versa. This volunteerism created a social system based on two classes, 1) the volunteers, 2) everyone else. The volunteers exist to build the infrastructure for everyone else, and everyone else exists to be dependent on the infrastructure.
The notion that everyone could be a participant (or volunteer) as it once was, no longer exists. And the Burning Man Project is in place to secure this separation, because without it there would be no need for the Burning Man Project.
This antisocial divide was not created accidentally or as a byproduct of necessity. In the absence of a dragon to slay, this overladen quasi government can only exist by protecting the individuals from themselves. Thus the need to attract more and more clueless spectators who will hail their providers' sacrifices in laboring to build the infrastructure that they are so willfully dependent upon.
Blame it all on the various types of antisocial personality disorders in which people will do anything for attention, and for the feeling that they are better than other people.
Susie: I volunteer at Burning Man. I'm sooo important there.
Jake: Sorry, I don't date psycho bitches from hell.
Jake: Sorry, I don't date psycho bitches from hell.
by mikeTjones December 29, 2010
When you completely drench your body and ignite yourself whilst fucking the partner of your choice doggy style. Not to be confused with the burning clam.
by Mr. Milkman Jones July 3, 2016
Contrary to the shit-talk it has been getting, the Burning Man festival is now mainly just a 3-day festival where everyone dresses up in odd fasions (fun) and trip out on weed, psychedelics, and a helluva lot of beer.
Its origins started in Pagan times when the Celts would burn a wooden effigy of a man to convey repentence to their gods in the idea of giving a false sacrifice.
Thankfully, we've disgraced it to the point of where it's just like a 72-hour shroom trip.
Its origins started in Pagan times when the Celts would burn a wooden effigy of a man to convey repentence to their gods in the idea of giving a false sacrifice.
Thankfully, we've disgraced it to the point of where it's just like a 72-hour shroom trip.
"Dude, are you going to Burning Man this year?"
"Yes, a bunch of naked, tripping, and rolling weirdos who just want to rub up next to you and say 'Will you be my Buffy-Bear?'. What are we, twelve?"
(Quoted from American Dad (not exactly as said, though))
"Yes, a bunch of naked, tripping, and rolling weirdos who just want to rub up next to you and say 'Will you be my Buffy-Bear?'. What are we, twelve?"
(Quoted from American Dad (not exactly as said, though))
by Gigolo June 8, 2012
The spouse, partner, or lover of someone who attends the annual Burning Man event in Black Rock City, NV that happens the week before, and including, Labor Day. As the event approaches, the spouse, partner, or lover feels increasingly abandoned while the crazed Burner becomes consumed with preparation for the event. The Burning Man widow eventually gives up all hope of making contact with the crazed Burner, even though they may live in the same house.
The average Burner can be gone anywhere from three days to three weeks. When the Burner returns, it pees itself blathering on and on about what happened at the Burn, while already making preparations for the following year. The Burning Man widow listens patiently (for the first couple of weeks), while trying to prevent their eyes from glazing over, but eventually becomes indifferent or irritated by the constant mention of the Man. Every conversation is peppered with obscure references to various theme camps, art cars, playa foot, the Temple, and port-a-pottie signage.
Oh boy, I can't wait until next year to hear the Greeters say "Welcome Home"!!!
The average Burner can be gone anywhere from three days to three weeks. When the Burner returns, it pees itself blathering on and on about what happened at the Burn, while already making preparations for the following year. The Burning Man widow listens patiently (for the first couple of weeks), while trying to prevent their eyes from glazing over, but eventually becomes indifferent or irritated by the constant mention of the Man. Every conversation is peppered with obscure references to various theme camps, art cars, playa foot, the Temple, and port-a-pottie signage.
Oh boy, I can't wait until next year to hear the Greeters say "Welcome Home"!!!
by thatsbennett2u October 3, 2009