Comments on: Cell Phones at Burning Man

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:24:45 +0000

I've got it!

Sure! Cell phone coverage on the Playa. Erect an 8 foot tower, and have coverage in a 10 foot diameter circle.

Then, put it outside the front gate. And collect all those fees for reentering.

Alternatively, put that 10 foot circle somewhere on the open playa within the BRC limits. Then it can be an art installation. We can all stand around and watch a few hundred people crowded in there, jockeying for space and signal and yelling at the others to hold it down so they can talk.

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:15:44 +0000

Probably, when that pompous buffoon Al Sharpton got a lot of racists and a few thousand fools to descend on a small town, to have a violent racist hate crime declared a civil right–PROVIDED it's perpetrated by blacks on whites.

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:33:10 +0000

Good point about the old days. The main pressure I've had to break down and get a cell phone has been from people who can never be bothered to be on time or keep their commitments; they've actually told me I should get one so they can get in touch when they don't show up.
I might get a cell phone some day, for some reason. That won't be the reason. Those people (who always know what everyone else should be doing) should try some other old-fashioned notions–following through on commitments, and just plain old good manners. That's good on the Play or off it.

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:28:00 +0000

There's also a watch. That's an easily-carried “time peace” (or, as I think I've seen it somewhere, “time piece”).
It works on the Playa. I wore mine, even when I wore nothing else. (Well, until it broke.)

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:21:13 +0000

Times have changed since we were young. A lot of parents nowadays wouldn't dream of letting their kids get on the school bus and go to school without their cell phones. Now, this thing that didn't even exist when we were in school is seen as indispensable.

When we would go to camp, we'd live in tents (or MAYBE cabins), and sometimes cook over a fire. Probably at some, they'd set aside a time when kids were supposed to WRITE LETTERS home. In case of emergency there would be a camp headquarters where contact could be made if necessary.

Now, they apparently all have themes: computer camp, camps to learn how to invest and get rich! And of course, they're all in instant communication. It wouldn't surprise me if they wouldn't allow a kid to show up without a cell phone.

Personally, I think it's pathetic.

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:09:44 +0000

Again, for the record, there has never been a restraining order against me.

And once again you've shown–even more blatantly than usual–that you don't bother to read what you're arguing against. I've heard about your vaunted communication skills from others.

By: burninggirl

burninggirl — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:00 +0000

Hmmm. Once again, you choose to spread falsities about me. I'm not the one with multiple restraining orders against me, kettle. If you bothered to read anything from the website, you would know that the phones hadn't worked in the past. No one needs people like you at Burning Man. Cry for yourself. You walk like a penguin. You waddle to your own drumbeat…and no one cares….

By: majoro4

majoro4 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:48:56 +0000

Wow! How many children does she have? When did being a black woman actually become a good thing, instead of belonging to a class of people who suck up unemployment while having illegitimate children in excess that they never intend to provide for.
Also, when did “street fighting” become something other than moral decay and criminal behavior?

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:02:10 +0000

I heard about those public sex acts, from one who allegedly did it. That would have been interesting. I really wish I could have gone sooner.

By: Stephen Kosciesza

Stephen Kosciesza — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:53:21 +0000

I've never known whether to laugh or cry over those people who claim (wrongly, but they'll never know it) to march to their own drumbeat–and then berate me for not doing things “like everyone else” in the world. Also, this last comment just shows that as usual, you can't be bothered to 1) read or listen properly before answering, 2) relate your arguments to the question, or even 3) make sense. So let me try to make it simple:
1) I ordered the satellite phone before there was any suggestion that there MIGHT be cell phone coverage at Burning Man.
2) I went to Burning Man with someone who had a cell phone. Once we got away from Gerlach, there was no signal. So it was useless.
So my choosing not to own a cell phone is completely irrelevant.