AZcompuguy - ScottoBobScotto

A Week of Radical Self Expression

Please take the time to read the Describing Burning Man story, as it was the text that occupied this space for 4 years. It obviously gives the pre-cursor to this new prose...

Here is an interesting look back at what BM has meant to me and the lessons I have learned each year...

The first year '00 for me was the breakout year...I was always an outgoing, social person, though I found myself feeling very alone in a crowd of 26,000. I was not in a position with myself to meet people easily or to start conversations with those I did not know. On the other hand Kathe was all about everything I found not possible for me and I leaned on and depended on her very much during that week. It took me about six months after returning the first year to process all I had witnessed at BM, I knew I needed to return to be part of that awesome energy and confront some more things about myself.

In '01 the Playa had given me a relationship as we had met Theresa the year before and she moved in with Kathe & I about 2 months prior to the Playa that year. I had also taken a more leadership role in PolyParadise and found that to be the place I felt most comfortable. It was easier to have persons come to me for help because of that leadership role and then with what seemed like no effort on my part I was able to create friendships almost immediately. PolyParadise that year had several Gay or Bi men in its ranks and at the time I was not comfortable around such individuals. I was not prejudice mind you just uncomfortable, especially when I noticed them 'Noticing' me.

In '02 the stage had been set for me Pre-Playa as the relationship with Theresa was disintegrating, the Playa had me facing issues about schedules and what it means to care about a partner or friend regardless of involvement. I as well took the Lead role as Camp Daddy that year and found the outpouring of gratitude for my efforts from my fellow campers to be one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. I had found myself being much more comfortable around Gay or Bi men that year and even found myself having some of the best friendships and conversations with some of them.

Quite a shock to a guy who is 100% hetero...

In '03 as PolyParadise joined Shangri-La Village my lessons were going to be about Expectation. What it is I expect from myself as well as what I expect from others. I was severely let down by some of the Village elders as they dropped the ball on some of the things they promised to take care of Pre-Playa...I as well had several similar experiences...I had had an awesome Pre-Playa correspondence with a women about everything under the sun...I spent the ENTIRE week trying to hook up with her and was able to do so...On Friday night I caught a glimpse of her at the Western Regional Talent show and went and introduced myself and I got about 3.7 seconds of acknowledgement from her and then she was Exit Stage Left...A few months later I began to analyze what had happened and how was it I felt so let down...I came to understand a bit more about the BM Mantra...'Have NO Expectation'...I had thought that referred to only the Playa and BM in general, I became aware that it applies to people as well...I also began to understand and shed some of my own issues about 'Only' working or interacting with people for some type of GAIN, instead of just enjoying the experience or interaction, no matter how brief...

Burning Man & the Playa have allowed me to understand what Community really is and what it takes in effort to build such Community. It has shown me that there are persons all over the globe that have the same ideals, thoughts, dreams as I do and to be able to come to a place like BM to be able to share them together has been one inspiration after another. What lessons and growth opportunities await me this year have me on the edge of my seat...

Without fail, as I drive down the last miles towards Gerlach, I get butterflies in my stomach...wondering in anticipation what this year will teach me.

What I have NEVER been able to do is predict what I needed to learn...

In '04 I have realized I have truly been blessed in where I am and who I get to share it with...Thanks for being part of it

The Beginning for us...The Middle for Others

Burning Man CHANGED my life and the life that Kathe & I share together...We shall never be the same...
I have said of Burning Man..."Burning Man will change your life, You just do not know how yet"...I have always thought that this life-changing experience would always be positive....I now see that it can also be the opposite...
Burning Man is a 29-hour a day party for a week...
It is about looking at your 'Box' and deciding if it must remain a Square.
It has shown me that building 'Community' takes effort, shared effort...
Bringing multitudes of people together from divergent parts of the Globe and creating a shared safe space to learn and grow together.
The Playa is about discovery of self...
The discovery of those we just met or those we have known for a lifetime

The time I spend on the Playa is really not for me, although I have an AMAZING time, it has become a place for me to really Give & Give & Give and only expect in return that other people have fun and Learn & Grow from my efforts. I do make sure to take time for myself and get the MOST out being at Burning Man and on The Playa, but I spend a considerable time creating a Theme Camp & running a Village. Though none of that would be possible if I did not have the Help, Love & Support from my wife of 12 yrs. At my side.

She and I have taken very different routes in being part of BRC & its volunteer efforts.

I am Camp Daddy & Village Elder, I am a Muckity Muck with Greeters and do 3 Kamikaze Shifts from 2a-6a the first 3 nights....That is after staying up for a few days before getting ready and then the 20 hour drive from Phx to the Playa....I also am part of the Burning Man Web Team, a Liaison for the Extranet Project and manage 350 Users, I am the Web Master of PolyParadise & AZBurners Regional Web Sites....

Kathe on the other hand has been involved as a Manager of the Bus Depot, Stage Coordinator for the Western Region Show in Center Camp on Friday Night, Echelon with The Rangers and working with the Regional Information Booth...This year she was invited into the Inner Circle to watch 'The Man' Burn....She is the Kitchen Coordinator of PolyParadise.

Each of us in our own ways have made significant commitments to the Playa & its residents as well as BMORG and our Phoenix Burning Man Community...

As I get set to turn 40....(10/27) I am VERY Proud of who I am and what I have become....

OK Enough of that Bullshit...

Other Lessons learned....

You cannot diagnose ADD through email...

Think about that...

I do best when I lead...I believe I do better and feel better participating in activities as a Leader.
Poly Lesson learned...If as a Poly Partner you are unable to see me around other Partners, kissing or hugging or otherwise embracing other Partners, than we are not compatible...Plain and simple...I will NOT walk around with a cue card of who does not like who and who can be around when this person is here and this and that...WE ALL NEED TO PLAY NICE TOGETHER IN THE SANDBOX!!!
This being our 5th Burn, it was amazing to see BM & The Playa through the eyes of a Virgin. It was even more amazing as these Virgins were also Poly Partners or Poly Partners Significant Others.
A connection with someone does not need to go past where it starts to be a fulfilling experience or lasting friendship.
No matter how busy one might be with Playa commitments or other Poly Partners...Time with your PRIMARY Partner should not and cannot be sacrificed.
Do not internalize to your own self-destruction.

What lessons have you learned from Burning Man & the Playa?


The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.
Home Side Work Career Path Résumé Web Design Flash Burning Man AZBurners Pics, Pics & More Pics Chicken Buttz Musings Arizona Links Alternative Viewing: Fark.com Will Weaton.net Bert is Evil Power of 10 Alphabet Synthesis US Population Clock World Population Clock Very Alternative Viewing: Dear Penis Land O' Lakes Red Meat Horses Got the Blues Detecting Mad Cow 404 Research Lab History Of... Zombo.com Read All About It... Stick People on the verge of extinction Why Stick People Should NOT Ski Subspace & Warp Fields Star Trek Technology	A Week of Radical Self Expression Please take the time to read the Describing Burning Man story, as it was the text that occupied this space for 4 years. It obviously gives the pre-cursor to this new prose... Here is an interesting look back at what BM has meant to me and the lessons I have learned each year... The first year '00 for me was the breakout year...I was always an outgoing, social person, though I found myself feeling very alone in a crowd of 26,000. I was not in a position with myself to meet people easily or to start conversations with those I did not know. On the other hand Kathe was all about everything I found not possible for me and I leaned on and depended on her very much during that week. It took me about six months after returning the first year to process all I had witnessed at BM, I knew I needed to return to be part of that awesome energy and confront some more things about myself. In '01 the Playa had given me a relationship as we had met Theresa the year before and she moved in with Kathe & I about 2 months prior to the Playa that year. I had also taken a more leadership role in PolyParadise and found that to be the place I felt most comfortable. It was easier to have persons come to me for help because of that leadership role and then with what seemed like no effort on my part I was able to create friendships almost immediately. PolyParadise that year had several Gay or Bi men in its ranks and at the time I was not comfortable around such individuals. I was not prejudice mind you just uncomfortable, especially when I noticed them 'Noticing' me. In '02 the stage had been set for me Pre-Playa as the relationship with Theresa was disintegrating, the Playa had me facing issues about schedules and what it means to care about a partner or friend regardless of involvement. I as well took the Lead role as Camp Daddy that year and found the outpouring of gratitude for my efforts from my fellow campers to be one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. I had found myself being much more comfortable around Gay or Bi men that year and even found myself having some of the best friendships and conversations with some of them. Quite a shock to a guy who is 100% hetero... In '03 as PolyParadise joined Shangri-La Village my lessons were going to be about Expectation. What it is I expect from myself as well as what I expect from others. I was severely let down by some of the Village elders as they dropped the ball on some of the things they promised to take care of Pre-Playa...I as well had several similar experiences...I had had an awesome Pre-Playa correspondence with a women about everything under the sun...I spent the ENTIRE week trying to hook up with her and was able to do so...On Friday night I caught a glimpse of her at the Western Regional Talent show and went and introduced myself and I got about 3.7 seconds of acknowledgement from her and then she was Exit Stage Left...A few months later I began to analyze what had happened and how was it I felt so let down...I came to understand a bit more about the BM Mantra...'Have NO Expectation'...I had thought that referred to only the Playa and BM in general, I became aware that it applies to people as well...I also began to understand and shed some of my own issues about 'Only' working or interacting with people for some type of GAIN, instead of just enjoying the experience or interaction, no matter how brief... Burning Man & the Playa have allowed me to understand what Community really is and what it takes in effort to build such Community. It has shown me that there are persons all over the globe that have the same ideals, thoughts, dreams as I do and to be able to come to a place like BM to be able to share them together has been one inspiration after another. What lessons and growth opportunities await me this year have me on the edge of my seat... Without fail, as I drive down the last miles towards Gerlach, I get butterflies in my stomach...wondering in anticipation what this year will teach me. What I have NEVER been able to do is predict what I needed to learn... In '04 I have realized I have truly been blessed in where I am and who I get to share it with...Thanks for being part of it The Beginning for us...The Middle for Others Burning Man CHANGED my life and the life that Kathe & I share together...We shall never be the same... I have said of Burning Man..."Burning Man will change your life, You just do not know how yet"...I have always thought that this life-changing experience would always be positive....I now see that it can also be the opposite... Burning Man is a 29-hour a day party for a week... It is about looking at your 'Box' and deciding if it must remain a Square. It has shown me that building 'Community' takes effort, shared effort... Bringing multitudes of people together from divergent parts of the Globe and creating a shared safe space to learn and grow together. The Playa is about discovery of self... The discovery of those we just met or those we have known for a lifetime The time I spend on the Playa is really not for me, although I have an AMAZING time, it has become a place for me to really Give & Give & Give and only expect in return that other people have fun and Learn & Grow from my efforts. I do make sure to take time for myself and get the MOST out being at Burning Man and on The Playa, but I spend a considerable time creating a Theme Camp & running a Village. Though none of that would be possible if I did not have the Help, Love & Support from my wife of 12 yrs. At my side. She and I have taken very different routes in being part of BRC & its volunteer efforts. I am Camp Daddy & Village Elder, I am a Muckity Muck with Greeters and do 3 Kamikaze Shifts from 2a-6a the first 3 nights....That is after staying up for a few days before getting ready and then the 20 hour drive from Phx to the Playa....I also am part of the Burning Man Web Team, a Liaison for the Extranet Project and manage 350 Users, I am the Web Master of PolyParadise & AZBurners Regional Web Sites.... Kathe on the other hand has been involved as a Manager of the Bus Depot, Stage Coordinator for the Western Region Show in Center Camp on Friday Night, Echelon with The Rangers and working with the Regional Information Booth...This year she was invited into the Inner Circle to watch 'The Man' Burn....She is the Kitchen Coordinator of PolyParadise. Each of us in our own ways have made significant commitments to the Playa & its residents as well as BMORG and our Phoenix Burning Man Community... As I get set to turn 40....(10/27) I am VERY Proud of who I am and what I have become.... OK Enough of that Bullshit... Other Lessons learned.... You cannot diagnose ADD through email... Think about that... I do best when I lead...I believe I do better and feel better participating in activities as a Leader. Poly Lesson learned...If as a Poly Partner you are unable to see me around other Partners, kissing or hugging or otherwise embracing other Partners, than we are not compatible...Plain and simple...I will NOT walk around with a cue card of who does not like who and who can be around when this person is here and this and that...WE ALL NEED TO PLAY NICE TOGETHER IN THE SANDBOX!!! This being our 5th Burn, it was amazing to see BM & The Playa through the eyes of a Virgin. It was even more amazing as these Virgins were also Poly Partners or Poly Partners Significant Others. A connection with someone does not need to go past where it starts to be a fulfilling experience or lasting friendship. No matter how busy one might be with Playa commitments or other Poly Partners...Time with your PRIMARY Partner should not and cannot be sacrificed. Do not internalize to your own self-destruction. What lessons have you learned from Burning Man & the Playa?
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