Burn2 is burning down but it will be Ok as long as hope survives.
Hey all...
Well, it seems things might be getting even worse on the digital playa. It remains closed and while I am still not privy to most information, word has come to me about dismissals and resignations occurring in the Leads of Burn2. Even while roles and procedures are still being debated. This does not bode well.
To be clear the following is my own opinion based on the little bits of information I have available to me. Perspective can vary based on individual and what info they have access to.
Musing things over, another large failure I see that has occurred at Burn2 is Commodification and not in a way that people think about. It's commodifying the event and the culture and feel itself. In some of the leadership's minds they may feel like they Own Burn2 and that such a Burning Man experience could never happen if they weren't running it. In doing that, another principle has been pushed aside and the social web grows even more strained.. It's such a temptation to Own something. In these current times, someone's value now seems to only be their possessions, thus owning a moment in time and a culture can feel good..
However you can't really own culture.. Culture is an accumulation of passions, traditions and care, a spiritual wildfire as it were.. Sure in such an analogy there can be defensive spaces made, firebreaks, backburns. We all know what happens though when a wildfire reaches critical mass. Despite what efforts were being made it was not enough.. The fire has reached the town and is starting to burn.
The principals that have already fallen are:
Radical Inclusion: GONE
You soon must agree to the community standards set by the remaining leadership to even see the virtual playa.Gifting: REPOSSESSED
You did not like our gift of a virtual playa? well we'll just take it back then.Decommodification: SOLD
There are oligarchs of the Burn2 playa making it clear officially they OWN the event.Radical Self-expression: RESTRICTED
Don't talk bad about the Burn2 royalty! They work hard to make an event they can enjoy!Communal Effort: LIMITED
Nobody touches the playa without Lead permission and blessing.Civic Responsibility: NONE
You work for the oligarchs, be happy they allow you to stay.Participation: DENIED
The Burn2 playa belongs to a select few. If they want you to participate you can, if they don't want you around GET LOST!Immediacy: LOST
You won't find it here anymore. Maybe look elsewhere.The only principles that remain:
Radical Self-reliance: Strong
Everyone needs rely on their own strengths. Just because some decided to stop sharing the Burn2 that they "Own" it didn't stop things from happening. The excluded have moved on to build a few things and parts of burning culture run deep in Second life itself.Radical Self-reliance was also what got us in this mess. There are clearly those in leadership that think this is the principle above all others. That you can only rely on yourself and cannot trust anyone, and thus must manipulate things for their own ends. It's a sad mentality they have gotten stuck in and a terrible price for it that is now coming due.
Leaving No Trace: The easy part in SL
Sadly as it all falls apart eventually, Deephole region will vanish. It's sad to see but it's already been gone for over a month for most of us. We will retain the memories, Pictures, and stories though and will see new ones created elsewhere.What now??
We are starting to see the final crescendo of the metaphorical burning down to the ground of Burn2.. It’s painful to watch, some good people still too close will get singed and burnt by the flames. Then embers will remain and then the dark after..
But despair will not last for long.. Those of us already driven away do have our own campfires, either already active or ready to Ignite.. Light again will appear in the darkness. Hope springs eternal. Follow the light, find the campfires. No mater how singed and hurt you are, a cup of coffee is waiting for you along with a hugging embrace to help you calm down.
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