Nevadans Hate / Love Burning Man
HATE
We always hear about those in Nevada who hate Burning Man and all it represents. While I can understand the residents around Gerlach being annoyed with all the hubbub (and with the less than considerate attendees’ moop drop offs) each year, there are others who would piss on anything given the chance.
The Scathing Op Ed
Case in point is this acidic barfing by a tired old chap named Guy Farmer for the Nevada Appeal. Apparently, this represents his usual grumblings. It’s full of the turned-nose sarcasm and the tight-assed, old-timer ranting that reminds of some WWI era grandpa wheezing about when the conservative world was a righteous and perfect place. Yawn…
Pounce!
Farmer greedily jumps on the issues concerning the “sell out” of Green Man (and he should well know about selling out!) with commercial green interest entering the Playa and throws in the John Law backlash for good measure. To him, these issues must confirm his precious ire about the downfall of Burning Man and those who make it. Of course, he tries to paint a corrupt picture of the organizers as cash thieves, hiding behind a non-profit ruse. Someone in the comments points out correctly that Burning Man has always been designated as LLC. That means it’s a business like any other.
Waaaaaa…
Of course, there’s no mention of any number of positive elements of the Burn. And you just know he’s never been. It’s sad and amusing at best to have to look down upon somebody as he wallows in his own bile. A toddler in a delirious tantrum from too long without a nap, stubbornly moaning on the ground with dirty tears upon the cheek, is easier to deal with than the same in the shape of a grumpy old fart.
Some people just gotta find a crutch to piss on regardless of what or where they find it and whether or not they really know anything about what they pretend to!
LOVE
Then there are those, like Nevada Magazine, who love it. Well, maybe not quite that far. Bizarre colorful picts of nutty burners and fire sculpture makes for great copy in glossy travel magazines looking to capture the RV casino set with a few minutes between gambling bouts in the hotel room and, of course, to sell some ad space.
Still, they have some good shots in there that make me pine even more. Just a week or so until the action begins…!!
