MovieChat Forums > Spark: A Burning Man Story (2013) Discussion > Ugly, smug, and completly out of touch

Ugly, smug, and completly out of touch

posted 10 years ago by wardevil360
3 replies | jump to latest

Trust fund hippies / hipsters have somehow tricked the masses into thinking this event is something other than what it expresses to be. Once you hear people talking about an event and using words like " social capital," and " transformative" you have to question what exactly they mean. Transformative in the fact that you can have the children of the well off ( but who pretend to be involved in the struggle ) mingling with the tech world rich with their catered camps, rv's with every amenity and desert Sherpas. All while pretending to spend the week "rebelling against the system" cheering as bank of unamerica burns, yet totally invested in this very system to their very core. Burning the "man" yet leaving the desert in their private jets to go to their job where they personify the very essence of "the man."

"Artists" spending countless hours on projects with god knows how much money invested only to destroy half of what they have created in a event to feed nothing other than their ego. Lights and masses everywhere to trick you into thinking your involved in something soooooo special and life altering. Yet all it took to be involved was a spare $400 bucks and luck to be chosen in the entry lottery. I wonder what society would be like if instead of having a guy like otto waste his time doing this ego masturbation he actually did something to help people in our society with his carpentry skills, building something for someone who had nothing. You know something that someone appreciated and wouldn't torch to the ground while thousands sit around jerking off to the destruction. Maybe the 60 thousand people taking what was there entry fee and doing something that help progress the future of our society. You know something actual hippies would do. Instead they toss their money into the pot , go party and thumb their noses at those who are not in their faux culture.

[–] TxMike 10 years ago

I can understand where you are coming from, and much of it was my reaction too. But when we think further about the general issue...

Suppose all fisherman who do it for personal fun would sell their boats and instead of fishing would donate the saved money to various charities?

Or what about the millions of golf memberships, golf clubs, balls, bags, gloves, etc. Get everyone to quit playing golf and use the saved effort and money to make a positive difference in the world?

To me the 60,000 people who spend $500 to $1000 each on the "event" are doing it as part of their personal entertainment for the year. If you or I fly to Europe and take a cruise ship vacation it costs a lot more than that.

What about people who take their family to theme parks? Is the money to construct those parks any different from what is spent to build the Burning Man temporary city each year?

Or how about all the money spent on professional sports each year, including the stadiums that communities build to host professional teams?

I believe our world and our society would be better off if we didn't have such a high regard for things to "entertain" ourselves, instead spend 90% of current "entertainment" money worldwide on productive things. Can't we people get along on just 10% of what we do for "entertainment"?

Unfortunately most of us are spoiled. We want what we want and if we can afford it, we spend it. "Wardevil" maybe you are one of those rare people who tries to spend every extra buck you have on making the world a better place, but the truth is most people are too spoiled to do that.

TxMike
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.

[–] wardevil360 10 years ago

tx, I get your point of view. As entertainment burning man is great. I spend my fair amount on things I find fun and entertaining, Just like going to a ball game if thats your thing or going on a golfing trip. Again its about the mindset behind the event that is completely out of touch. No one pretends to get a religious, transformative or otherworldly expierience from golfing, watching the game, or going on a trip somewhere.

How can you go out to an event that runs by these 10 "principals" yet your entire existence outside of black rock city is the antithesis of these rules. I don't go root for "my" team on sunday and then leave the stadium to rally against the nfl and all it stands for monday through saturday. I cant be both..

There is a census ran on burning man every year and the average household income of those who attend is on par with those who golf. 85-100k a year. So what is it that gets Will smith out there in a segway with an entire security staff around him that on anyway represents a rally against the system.. It has become a party for those who have but i guess because of the dust and heat and weirdness it somehow is in touch with.......

[–] TxMike 10 years ago

Sure, but I was commenting mainly on this statement of yours:

" Maybe the 60 thousand people taking what was there entry fee and doing something that help progress the future of our society. "

And I believe you agree, it isn't that simple. We have to separate the actions from the motives. If you believe your statement then you must believe it for all other ways that we spend our money to entertain ourselves rather than help future progress of society. And there is no indication that we as a society are on the verge of doing that.

TxMike
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.