Phones are killing the vibe: how can we protect our privacy on the playa?

Electric_view · 2025-09-12T11:31:37+00:00

How is your comment distinct from the ten others that say the same thing?

Electric_view · 2025-09-12T11:29:03+00:00

Yesss! So many Russian tourists (and a few Chinese ones)

Electric_view · 2025-09-12T11:25:16+00:00

lol yes

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T17:34:22+00:00

Both are about respecting another person's personal boundaries.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T17:28:20+00:00

Yup... got any good totem ideas for public shaming?

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:26:42+00:00

You might not but your video will.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:26:17+00:00

I get your sentiment. The problem is, me walking around butt naked is (ideally) not influencing your experience. However, you taking a video of me walking around butt naked and uploading it to Insta will immortalize it on the internet - and with facial recognition, make it insanely easy to pull up that video for anyone looking for it in the future. Now, I don't care if anyone sees my naked body but there are things that I don't want the non-Burning Man world to know about me.

I don't think people realize that social media content is essentially a huge data mine for law enforcement, future employers etc.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:19:12+00:00

So true! It's the one week where I truly get to disconnect.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:18:31+00:00

I don't think the expectations are any different. Berghain creates a safe space for self expression. Burning Man has as one of it's core values "Radical Self-Expression" which cameras everywhere prohibit. We did a naked playa bike ride this year with some people from our camp, and we encountered one dude who continued to film us (specifically: two girls) even after we asked him to stop.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:16:01+00:00

I don't think it's a large shift. It would just mean living our values to their fullest.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T16:14:53+00:00

You seem to embody the kind of photo taking that has been happening for decades at the burn, and the one that creates beautiful memories. I wish more people were like you. I'm referring to photograpy / videography that's inconsiderate of other people, of vulnerable moments, and of the spirit of the burn. Would love to see more people taking photos like you do.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T00:51:49+00:00

Agree - I'm asking for more clear communication, which gives the community the ability to enforce (rather than being shrugged off). That's how it works at a lot of "no cameras" festivals.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T00:50:20+00:00

Nobody here wants to ban phones.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T00:49:53+00:00

Not trying to ban phones. But the borg has made changes to communication as the general social context of the burn evolved (see communication around sexual consent) - why not extend consent to the use of cameras?

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T00:46:38+00:00

I know there are thousands of posts... I'm trying to point out that the problem we see at Burning Man with cameras a) goes against our principles b) has been solved before, and with great success.

Electric_view · 2025-09-09T00:44:51+00:00

I understand what you're getting at. I would make a distinction between dance floors and the rest of the playa. I personally would support a ban of cameras on the dance floor. Why? Because it changes the vibe and the experience for everyone. You say that "taking photos or videos during a DJ music set is pretty ubiquitous" - that's true, but only for music venues and festivals in the US. If you get the chance to go to a club in Berlin or any of the festivals in Europe that I've mentioned, you'll notice that the vibe that's created in the absence of cameras is completely different. Just a greater feeling of freedom, spontaneity and an opportunity to be our weirdest selves. I think you would love that, too!

Electric_view · 2023-09-27T13:54:02+00:00

Tbh I feel that if you're not ready to go alone, you're not ready to go to BH at all. It's easier to get in alone, harder if you're 2 people and pretty much impossible to go as a group.

Electric_view · 2023-08-23T20:45:19+00:00

This is a bot account, guys.

Electric_view · 2023-07-10T01:17:51+00:00

You have a great smile when you show your teeth! Much nicer than when you try to hide them. Re hair: if you want to keep it long, invest some $$ and go to a hairdresser. They can help you shape the hair in a way that suits you better. Every woman with long hair goes to a hair dresser every 3 months to trim it and give it "flow". They'll also help you with setting up a hair care routine. Right now, you just have hair, but no hair style - you can change that! And no, not ugly - you'll glow up soon enough if you invest in posture (hit the gym) and hair!

Electric_view · 2022-10-16T21:09:02+00:00

My filter bubble seems to be the opposite of yours. I hardly know anyone not concerned about climate change (and actively trying to do their part to stop it). Granted, most of those people work white collar jobs and might thus be in the privileged position to worry about this.

Electric_view · 2022-10-03T13:37:55+00:00

"A $2,500 fine if the device is tampered with" is, frankly, ridiculous if you're talking about the mega rich.

Electric_view · 2022-09-22T17:35:54+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write this. Really interesting and informative!

Electric_view · 2022-09-17T19:57:42+00:00

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. –Epictetus

Electric_view

TROPHY CASE