Approximately 70,000 people from all over the world have gathered for the annual Burning Man festival, which is taking place in the Black Rock Desert. But crowds were horrified when one reveller made a beeline for the giant wooden effigy and was engulfed by the flames....It's not surprising, really. Isn't the whole thing designed to produce a mental break from reality and weird ideation around spectacular fire?
September 3, 2017
"Emergency personnel gather in a huddle after giving up their pursuit of a participant who ran into the flames at the Man burn."
Burning Man (Daily Mail).
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89 comments:
Taking it a too literally, perhaps.
Or a great publicity stunt?
Drugs are as common at that thing as fire.
The two got together.
So what? All cultures are equal.
Do they have any idea who he was so his next of kin can be notified?
They create a festival where they burn a giant in effigy, in a conscious mirror of ancient pagan ceremonies that featured human sacrifice.
This was inevitable, right? Because someone has to appease the goddess to avert global climate change.
"This was inevitable, right?" That's what I'd try to figure out how to say if I were filing the wrongful death lawsuit.
Only one? Statistically, this must be the safest venue for drugs and partying ever invented. Also, there is no distracting dead body hanging around to ruin the happy atmosphere. Who the hell called the paramedics anyway, and why? He got exactly what he wanted without making a mess. He's a role model for all aspiring suicidals who screw up things by shooting their family, their church, a post office or a school in the process. Well done, my good man!
Now he is one with Ahura Mazda.
Doctrines of Demons won another convert.
Ann wrote: "This was inevitable, right?" That's what I'd try to figure out how to say if I were filing the wrongful death lawsuit.
I'd love to see the argument that this was an "attractive nuisance."
I can't believe Burning Man is still a thing. I can't believe hundreds of people don't die of exposure, dehydration, overdose, etc., every year. As bagoh points out, if deaths really are this rare, Burning Man is extraordinarily safe.
Is there anything more uniquely and intrinsically human than building and watching a fire burn. It is what we do, and I'd argue the first time was what sent us on the human path, separate from the rest of the flora and fauna of earth . I love the idea of burning man, the huge fire part, anyway. The rest with all the hype and the crazy new-age leftist bullshit riding on top of pure capitalism while disparaging it has kept me away.
This doesn't happen at a Juggalo event.
I am Laslo.
Why didn't the news report make note of his marshmallow loin cloth?
Once they find his body, maybe his photo can be used in future promotional activities.
@bagoh20:
Who the hell called the paramedics anyway, and why?
Nobody called them. Paramedics, firefighters, and security are on hand routinely for a safety precaution. And the man did not die on the scene. He was airlifted to a medical facility.
Althouse said...
That's what I'd try to figure out how to say if I were filing the wrongful death lawsuit.
Well, at least the "Burning Man" Festival doesn't have to worry about being sued for false advertising.
There seems to be some difference in the reporting:
The festival said in a statement: ‘At approximately 10.30pm Saturday evening, a male participant at the annual Burning Man event in Northern Nevada broke through a safety perimeter and ran into a fire.
‘Black Rock City fire personnel rescued him from the fire.
‘The individual was treated on the scene, transported to the on-site medical facility and airlifted to a burn treatment center.’
Man dives into the flaming effigy at Burning Man festival, suffering serious burns
Have I gotten something wrong?
I'm beginning to think America is NOT great. That such nonsense is not ridiculed and condemned across the land tells the story.
"Paramedics, firefighters, and security are on hand routinely for a safety precaution."
Seems like we could use them more at an Antifa "rally". Or the hood in most cities.
"And the man did not die on the scene. He was airlifted to a medical facility."
Now that was just cruel.
The man running into the flames is an idiot and deserves to die. Instead he lives and wastes resources on his stupid selfish antics. Resources that should be used to help people who need real help. The people who are putting their lives into danger to save the idiot are entitled to not save him and feel bad about the idiot.....but not that bad.
The "Burners" drive through our area each year to this ridiculous, self absorbed event. You can tell who they are> We are grateful that they are traveling through and not stopping. Morons.
Eh. People jump off bridges, too. So what?
I guess not a publicity stunt. Unfortunate.
Ann Althouse said...
"This was inevitable, right?" That's what I'd try to figure out how to say if I were filing the wrongful death lawsuit.
I predict the plaintiff's attorney will claim he was involuntarily dosed with or sold a hallucinogenic drug and argue the festival breached it's duty to prevent the entry, sale, distribution, presence and use of such contraband when it knew or should have known of the risks.
Burning Man Survival Guide Prohibited Items
You may be denied entry if you bring any of the following:
Explosives, aerial flares, rockets and fireworks
Firearms of any kind including BB guns, air rifles and paintball guns
Hand-held lasers (all other lasers must be registered)
Items that cause MOOP: wood chips, loose feathers, tubs of confetti, etc.
Anything that will break up and/or blow away in the wind
Unregistered Mutant Vehicles
Plants, living or dead
ATVs and scooters
Motorcycles that are not a participant’s transportation to BRC
Animals
From what I've read, there are some pretty amazing things done at Burning Man, some really innovative ideas and experiments in logistics, temporary infrastructure, and other challenges. It's mostly harmless in effect except for a lot of the stupid ideology that gets spread around. And everybody loves a party, with nobody to say "get of my lawn you dirty hippy", because there is no lawn.
Plants, living or dead
???
Define dead plants. Dried basil? A bale of hay? Is this to prevent seed from invasive plants sprouting?
The rest of the list I agree with. But WTF anyway.
"Plants, living or dead"
No wood? I always bring wood.
Geez Bags...enough about your sex life already ;-)
Plants, living or dead
What no pot? The organization is The Man. Burn it!
You may be denied entry if you bring any of the following...
Items that cause MOOP
Maybe that's a misprint, and because of the campfire they meant to say "SMORES."
Mothman
The technohippie vibe has never appealed to me, but I have to admire the organization and hard work that makes it all possible.
He got ahold of some bad moth balls.
It's not surprising, really.
I see you've adopted the code of the mainstream media: always overgeneralize wildly from a single data point.
My first Burning Man: confessions of a conservative from Washington by Grover Norquist
Evolution in action.
"Hold my moth balls and watch this!"
I'm surprised more didn't follow him in. In
Joan of Arc was unavailable for comment
@EDH, MOOP is "matter out of place." The idea is to leave the desert as you found it. No dumping the grey water or nasty black water from your RV's holding tank. No used (or even unused) toilet paper on the ground. Absolutely no litter.
Moloch smiles.
a safety perimeter
Lawyers ruin everything
Something like this has happened before, and ended in death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBYr5z_4e0E
I lived an hour south of the Reno airport for most of 5 years, and could definitely tell when they were in town. Motel I would routinely stay in by the airport would jack their rates every year to cover the extra cost of showers for BM guests and their friends, and getting all the sand out of everything. They mostly didn't shower at BM, and needed to before getting on the plane home.
Always wanted to see it. One of the other attys in the office would go, and had a lot of fun there with the crazies over the years. Ditto the air show. And, then I left. One of those regrets in life.
Poor guy is going to be on the back burner for a while. Toxicology screen should be interesting. Not sure if EMTs and airlifts etc mesh well with with the self-reliance mantra.
I like what Burning Man, Inc has done to uphold the boots, bandana and bikini look: Cow-kini
I deleted my posts because they - and I! - were mixed up with a very similar incident in 2014. D'oh!
Nicolas Cage and Edward Woodward were unavailable for comment.
That's actually kind of funny. But sad and tragic - not least of all because it's something that was still on my bucket list and I hope this doesn't lead to its end. But kind of predictable. As Bill Maher said of fraternities, and the deaths among them that regularly occur when the "hilarious dangle the pledge into over wood chipper prank" goes awry: Some things are just inevitable. Psychic breaks taking place near deadly things will lead to deaths. Sucks.
Oh BTW: Fuck Grover Norquist and the tax break he rode in on.
Grover Norquist is an open borders fanatic. He would fill the country with illegals, if he could. It's a business principle called "cost sifting." You privatize the wealth created by low cost employees, and push their health & welfare costs onto the government.
The Ba'al is back!
"Fuck Grover Norquist and the tax break he rode in on."
Words of wisdom from Ritmo.
I was going to delete in, Rabel. But I can't retract your confusion of a minor snipe with great wisdom. That will apparently now have to remain written in stone, it seems. No minor complaints are allowed if one is to become wise, saith Rabel.
Ritmo loves to pay taxes! Loves, loves, loves to pay taxes!
I'm pretty sure I could spend your money better than you can, Ritmo. Send some my way, please!
I have no idea what that meant at 1:41 but: Let it Be. Let it Be.
I have no idea...
People on your side of the aisle usually don't.
But don't worry. Help is available!
Lewis loves to do free politicking for billionaires. Free free free politicking for billionaires! They own him. Or so he wishes.
Thanks for your offer of help. May I respond in kind.
bagoh20 said...
Is there anything more uniquely and intrinsically human than building and watching a fire burn. It is what we do, and I'd argue the first time was what sent us on the human path, separate from the rest of the flora and fauna of earth . I love the idea of burning man, the huge fire part, anyway. The rest with all the hype and the crazy new-age leftist bullshit riding on top of pure capitalism while disparaging it has kept me away.
Well, that and the dust.
The Toothless Revolutionary said...
"That's actually kind of funny. But sad and tragic - not least of all because it's something that was still on my bucket list"
Hey, bring yourself, and I am sure a number of us here will supply the wood and the matches- we might even bring gasoline.
It's called Burning Man. One = Fail.
So aside from stoking death wishes upon and fatal conspiracies against people peacefully attending a celebratory testament to clean living, do you have any actual talents in life, Yancey Ward? Any skills?
Anything of any redeeming social or moral value to offer?
How typical.
That is just so funny coming from you, Toothless
Regarding the substance of this neo-pagan festival which celebrates the burning of a human being, how is this any different from say, Hanging Man, where they would have a simulated lynching by a group of equally moronic, but far less genuinely threatening pathetic idiots?
Is an Unregistered Mutant Vehicle a real something, or just a little humor?
Sure. You mock and scoff at the man now.. But if Hurricane Irma doesn't make landfall for some reason then you'll be singing a different tune.
Looking at the photos of the crowd, they do seem awfully monochrome.
According to the "Black Rock Deacon," Burning Man's own newspaper there have been other deaths at the festival. Someone allegedly ran into the flames back in 2001. This list does not cover the first 14 years of the festival. It is not believable that no one died from an overdose in decades at an event dedicated to heavy drug use .
http://www.blackrockbeacon.dreamhosters.com/2014/08/a-history-of-deaths-at-burning-man/
how is this any different from say, Hanging Man . . . ?
Burning man wants to burn. Hanging man doesn't want to hang.
According to the "Black Rock Deacon," Burning Man's own newspaper there have been other deaths at the festival.
In any given week in any community of 70,000 people, someone will die.
Michael K said...
"Drugs are as common at that thing as fire."
Reminds me of the time JFK was so hopped up on meth he was running thru the halls of the Carlyle Hotel buck naked. Thank God for the Secret Service.
bagoh20 said...
"Paramedics, firefighters, and security are on hand routinely for a safety precaution."
Seems like we could use them more at an Antifa "rally". Or the hood in most cities
Of the 3, security in the form of police is present at "Antifa" rallies. And in the past have and orders from DEMOCRAT mayors to stand down and do nothing to prevent violence. Except in Charlottesville, where apparently they were under orders to herd the two opposing groups together to create violence.
Mark,
Some color for ya:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/73/61/84/736184dbec60174b9203fe613585aa2d--hottest-women-green-man.jpg
I've attended Burning Man twice with some SV associates. It took a while to acclimate to the event and the surroundings, but I ended up being a fan, provided that reality didn't interfere, but I'll get to that.
I met some interesting people and saw a shit-ton of seriously attractive young women running around with minimal clothing. I got to know a few of them much better when -- in the spirit of "gifting" -- I shared some of the 200g (dry) of Psilocybe caerulescens I was wise enough to pack for the trip.
Twice is probably enough. In spite of some unique sights, grabbing some excellent pussy, and spending my waking hours tripping balls, I got pulled into a few business meetings -- seriously -- the last time, and that's bullshit. A buzzkill, too.
It's a cook book!
Apologies to anyone else that made the Outer Limits connection.
I went to Burning Man some years ago. It's very safe, very white, very affluent. It's extremely expensive to get there and you have to carry and all your stuff. It's the party that all the campus protesters throw. And it's so remote that no riffraff can get in. I pity that guy. He's about to learn that actions have consequences. and I'm under the impression that he is not dead
He died. I should have checked that before I posted a comment
I would be all over this event if I was 30 years younger and could stand both desert heat AND crowds. I love huge, outdoor art installations - bonus points for anything using neon or other light for maximum nighttime effect.
Thankfully, I can have some of the experience via YouTube and the many photographs posted on the internet. I've seen several pieces I would love to have in my backyard.
Spain is getting ready to enter the 20th century:
"The animal died at the burning bull festival in the small town of Foios, 10 miles north of Valencia in eastern Spain."
Aleister Crowley dramatized/fictionalized portions of Frazer's "The Golden Bough" in his book of short stories, "Golden Twigs".
One of these, "The Burning of Melcarth", provides a close and entertaining/interesting analogue to the Burning Man fellow's endeavor in mounting the flames the other night.
See https://hermetic.com/crowley/international/xi/10/the-burning-of-melcarth
A worthy, and quick, read.
(p.s. author credit to "Mark Wells" is peculiar, given Crowley's the author)
Design a hedonistic drug fueled counter culture meeting with pagan rituals and they are shocked with it gets weird, deadly weird. Jim Jones call your office in hell.
"You may be denied entry if you bring any of the following:
Explosives, aerial flares, rockets and fireworks
Firearms of any kind including BB guns, air rifles and paintball guns
Hand-held lasers (all other lasers must be registered)
Items that cause MOOP: wood chips, loose feathers, tubs of confetti, etc.
Anything that will break up and/or blow away in the wind
Unregistered Mutant Vehicles
Plants, living or dead
ATVs and scooters
Motorcycles that are not a participant’s transportation to BRC
Animals"
Note the word, 'may'. See they don't own the desert and CCW is quite legal as well as open carry in Nevada now. And if you have the means to grease their palms I doubt you will be denyed entry, even if you bring a Sherman tank.
1) The guy lived in Switzerland but travelled to Burning Man in order to suicide. There surely were cheaper (and less painful) ways to kill himself; apparently he wasn't interested in any of them.
2) The first picture at the linked article shows he's carrying (or has dangling from him) a water bottle. a) What's in it? b) What was he thinking when he brought it along?
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