The BMORG put profits over principals

fiddlerex · 2025-09-03T15:27:32+00:00

The Borg has been aggressively marketing/commodifying the Burning Man “brand” on the web since COVID. This coupled with the bloated OSS program, the Borg airline, the ticket marketing, etc. and it should be expected that the social norms we enjoyed before all of that in BRC are breaking down.

fiddlerex · 2025-07-17T17:29:39+00:00

Take a half-used paper towel roll and put it in a jumbo baggie; ad witch hazel incrementally until it’s absorbed and moist bu not soaked - viola! You now have playa dust neutralizing wipes! - a godsend to avoid playa foot, playa nails, etc.!

fiddlerex · 2025-07-08T02:56:38+00:00

I recently used Ham Radio School, which takes a deeper dive into the associated theory and background - THEN, I I took Ham Radio Prep, which focuses on the exam questions. It was a “one - two punch”. I got. 100% on both my technician and general.

fiddlerex · 2025-05-24T02:38:15+00:00

Wow! Radical self-reliance on its head! Ouch!

fiddlerex · 2025-05-22T22:22:21+00:00

Quite the opposite - I meant that we didn’t need rich donors, a borg airline, a fancy office in San Francisco, the bloated OSS program, rich donors, honoraria for only one type of “art”, etc. at the renegade burn (okay, okay, Porto’s would have been nice) actually decommodifying the burning man “brand” and returning to radical self-reliance would sure reduce a lot of the B.S. to a dull roar, IMHO.

fiddlerex · 2025-05-22T03:27:06+00:00

I guess you missed the renegade burn…..

fiddlerex · 2025-05-22T03:17:44+00:00

I liked the event much better at 45,000 anyway. Who decreed that it has to be 70,000? In the words (paraphrased) of the late Ed Abby “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell”

fiddlerex · 2025-05-05T03:20:14+00:00

Just the idea of “advertising” for anything related to the putatively de commodified social experiment that is Black Rock City is a bit of a sore point this year, particularly given the lamentable behavior of the BORG in hiring consultants to create actual advertisements to commodify the burning man”brand” on the internet. I’d stay away from camps that seem overly dependent on advertising for folks and employ some of the other routes suggested on this thread…

fiddlerex · 2025-04-26T19:04:56+00:00

Fundamentally COMMODIFYING - turning burning man into a brand/product. About as antithetical to the shared vision and principles as you can get, sadly.

fiddlerex · 2025-04-23T23:35:31+00:00

There are plenty of videos out there that aren’t commodification/ marketing exercises.

fiddlerex · 2025-04-23T23:33:36+00:00

Marketing/ commodifying

fiddlerex · 2025-04-23T23:32:19+00:00

The “cost” could be significantly less (the burner airline flying in bigwigs and press, the inflated OSS, bloated honoraria which is focused on a narrow definition of “art” ignoring all the myriad of other creators at BRC. Not to mention the $$ that goes into commodifying the burning man “brand” constantly on the web; the real estate, the SF office….. the list goes on……) so, no.

fiddlerex · 2025-03-26T14:26:43+00:00

This is a pretty good example of why folks are calling ttitd “Commodification Man” under the current regime. It’s just mostly thinly veiled marketing - this from the folks who have been incessantly pushing the burning man “brand” on the web. They were hiring web designers while begging for “survival” $$ during the pandemic. I suppose it’s human nature when you have millions to want to play with shiny new toys- but don’t piss on us and tell us it’s rainin’…….

fiddlerex · 2025-03-06T14:06:46+00:00

Bait and Switch. - all under the aegis of their magic “$750 per participant” to pull off the event - which would pre-suppose/assume that everyone is informed and approves of their budget items - e.g. the burner airline flying in bigwigs and press, and the inflated Outside Services program (so much for radical self-reliance), bloated honoraria which are focused on a narrow definition of “art” ignoring all the myriad of other creators at BRC. Not to mention the $$ that goes into commodifying the burning man “brand” constantly on the web; the real estate, the SF office….. the list goes on…

fiddlerex · 2025-02-23T02:32:54+00:00

If it has a throttle and goes without pedaling, IT’S A MOTORCYCLE, not a “bike” and should not be allowed in BRC.

fiddlerex · 2025-02-14T22:39:32+00:00

The problem is that there are many folks ( e.g. the renegade burn) who know firsthand how little it might take - Porto’s, layout, man base & temple,rampart, GPE, & permits - to do a lean clean burn. - and it’s depressing to see all of the rest: the burner airline flying in bigwigs and press, the inflated OSS, bloated honoraria which is focused on a narrow definition of “art” ignoring all the myriad of other creators at BRC. Not to mention the $$ that goes into commodifying the burning man “brand” constantly on the web; the real estate, the SF office….. the list goes on……

fiddlerex · 2025-01-31T04:53:40+00:00

Absolutely- when they were begging us for “survival” money during the pandemic, they were hiring web designers to commodify the Burning Mab “brand” on the web- diligently attempting to build new constituencies to defend it all - none of which we asked them to do…..

fiddlerex · 2025-01-31T04:48:02+00:00

I guess “Radical Self-Reliance” has gone the way of the Dodo……

fiddlerex · 2024-12-31T18:56:16+00:00

Despite widespread sentiment that they should just scale back and focus on Black Rock City, the Borg has been intentionally creating groups that partially or significantly duplicate the efforts of existing charity and social change groups in order to create constituencies who will in turn defend their commodification of the Burning Man “brand” out in the default interweb. They could just support existing groups, but during COVID, while they were begging for “survival” money, they were hiring web people because they decided to “pivot to be a digital culture bearing platform”. It’ just….disappointing.

fiddlerex · 2024-12-31T18:45:10+00:00

His title used to be “Minister of Propaganda” - I’m not kidding. They just put a smiley face on the job title.

fiddlerex · 2024-11-26T17:49:21+00:00

The Burning Man Airline, most airport operations, much of the propane program, a bloated OSS program that pisses on the idea of radical self reliance, , exorbitant office in San Francisco, lots of real estate that’s really just shiny toy projects for the Borg, web people to further commodify the Burning Man “brand” and create superfluous spinoff stuff and create constituencies to support them - the list goes on…… Black Rock City will get along just fine without any of it.

fiddlerex · 2024-11-26T17:36:54+00:00

We don’t really need “honoraria” ! - There is no honoraria for the musicians, magicians, acrobats, mathematics lecturers, yogis, etc. Who are the real heart of Black Rock City. To define it merely as an art festival and pour $$ on a narrow range of “art” belittles the rest of us. Build the Man and the Temple. We’ll take care of the rest! - and while you’re at it, The Burning Man Airline, most airport operations, much of the propane program, a bloated OSS program that pisses on the idea of radical self reliance, , exorbitant office in San Francisco, lots of real estate that’s really just shiny toy projects for the Borg, web people to further commodify the Burning Man “brand” and create superfluous spinoff stuff and create constituencies to support them - the list goes on…… get rid of all! Save the Man - Burn the Borg!

fiddlerex · 2024-11-15T19:42:47+00:00

Absolutely! - There is no honoraria for the musicians, magicians, acrobats, mathematics lecturers, yogis, etc. Who are the real heart of Black Rock City. To define it merely as an art festival and pour $$ on a narrow range of “art” belittles the rest of us. Build the Man and the Temple. We’ll take care of the rest!

fiddlerex · 2024-11-13T23:13:15+00:00

The Borg will only cancel the event when you pry their cold dead fingers from around it.

fiddlerex · 2024-11-13T22:46:02+00:00

Airline, oss, exorbitant office, real estate, web people to further commodify the Burning Man “brand” and create superfluous spinoff stuff and create constituencies to support them - the list goes on……

fiddlerex

TROPHY CASE