Comments on: BlinkTag returns from burning man, tips for cities from the Nevada desert http://blinktag.com/blinktag-returns-from-burning-man-tips-for-cities-from-the-nevada-desert/ Tue, 18 May 2010 16:12:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brendan Nee http://blinktag.com/blinktag-returns-from-burning-man-tips-for-cities-from-the-nevada-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Brendan Nee Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:02:43 +0000 http://blnktag.com/?p=488#comment-140 Good points Jay, Cars aren't all bad, so carfree isn't the way to go, in many places moving form 100% auto dependent to 90% auto-dependent would be a significant improvement. Good points Jay,

Cars aren’t all bad, so carfree isn’t the way to go, in many places moving form 100% auto dependent to 90% auto-dependent would be a significant improvement.

]]> By: Jay http://blinktag.com/blinktag-returns-from-burning-man-tips-for-cities-from-the-nevada-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Jay Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:25:45 +0000 http://blnktag.com/?p=488#comment-139 Not all communities can effectively ban the automobile. Minneapolis, for one, is struggling to get public transit functional on a scale that applies to most people. Until that is done, there would be no way to get around. Though the "spontaneous mass transit" that Burning Man has with the art cars is not too different from the various car-pool programs that exist. Self-reliance is hard. Leave no trace is easy to do when you have a specific start and end point in time; you know how much trash you need to be able to haul with you, and you minimize your waste to fit that. How do you encourage a community, with no defined end-time, to minimize waste the same way? The best example I've heard is a few community driven compost piles- the neighborhood recycles with the city provided services, but then takes all organic waste to a compost pile. The communities that have done this have not only drastically reduced their waste, but they also have the "chat around the water cooler" effect, which strengthens some of the bonds between neighbors. I was kind of surprised that Larry didnt mention the commerce that inevitably happens at burning man. Its not money exchanging hands, its done in the form of barters, trades, and good will. Can you buy supplies with good karma? Where Im from, only credit will do, but karma works well at a place like burning man. I think with the recession we have going on now, we are likely to see bartering make a comeback. It would be nice to see cities open up a little for some projects- like a new community center building can be built by *gasp* the community! The total overall cost wont change much, Im sure, but the effect that has on the community will be profound. Throughout history, shame has been a vital part of community building. He is just one of the few to speak so candidly about it. I think our justice system could use shame much more effectively; many people are far too willing to pay a fine, than be publicly humiliated. All places need art. But I cant help but think about where I went to school. In the middle of double digit percentage tuition increases, budget and service cuts, they decide to build an artsy thing on the corner of a busy street where no one walks. And spent $1M to do it. People were not pleased. Not all communities can effectively ban the automobile. Minneapolis, for one, is struggling to get public transit functional on a scale that applies to most people. Until that is done, there would be no way to get around. Though the “spontaneous mass transit” that Burning Man has with the art cars is not too different from the various car-pool programs that exist.

Self-reliance is hard. Leave no trace is easy to do when you have a specific start and end point in time; you know how much trash you need to be able to haul with you, and you minimize your waste to fit that. How do you encourage a community, with no defined end-time, to minimize waste the same way? The best example I’ve heard is a few community driven compost piles- the neighborhood recycles with the city provided services, but then takes all organic waste to a compost pile. The communities that have done this have not only drastically reduced their waste, but they also have the “chat around the water cooler” effect, which strengthens some of the bonds between neighbors.

I was kind of surprised that Larry didnt mention the commerce that inevitably happens at burning man. Its not money exchanging hands, its done in the form of barters, trades, and good will. Can you buy supplies with good karma? Where Im from, only credit will do, but karma works well at a place like burning man. I think with the recession we have going on now, we are likely to see bartering make a comeback. It would be nice to see cities open up a little for some projects- like a new community center building can be built by *gasp* the community! The total overall cost wont change much, Im sure, but the effect that has on the community will be profound.

Throughout history, shame has been a vital part of community building. He is just one of the few to speak so candidly about it. I think our justice system could use shame much more effectively; many people are far too willing to pay a fine, than be publicly humiliated.

All places need art. But I cant help but think about where I went to school. In the middle of double digit percentage tuition increases, budget and service cuts, they decide to build an artsy thing on the corner of a busy street where no one walks. And spent $1M to do it. People were not pleased.

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