4 ms·

What a tricky situation. I personally like the idea of 1 Percent'ers mingling with the other 99% of the population more, but they need to do it in a hyper-aware

What a tricky situation. I personally like the idea of 1 Percent'ers mingling with the other 99% of the population more, but they need to do it in a hyper-aware, super self-critical approach or backlash (as mentioned in the article) will occur and tensions will arise. The privileged need to be aware of their privileges, especially when those privileges can be so apparent to others. High walls, exclusive bars and paid workers doesn't seem to mesh with some of the tenants of burning man. But I really like the idea of the wealthy spending money to make a community of disparate peoples more enjoyable if it's for the entire community. That idea seems to fall in line with many of the burning man principles.

slamdesu 12y ago
I think most Burning Man attendees are in the top 2-5% and are already in quite a privileged position
- noname123 12y ago
  Yes. Anecdotally, the people I know of who do go to Burning Man are either techies or lawyers with upper-middle class income with liberal/progressive ideas or grad students whose socio-economic circumstances are well off enough to allow them to pursue graduate education in the first place.
- netinstructions 12y ago
  Purely anecdotally, but I can think of many friends and relatives who have gone to burning man in the past and are nowhere near the top 2-5%. Last I checked, my dear sister (a self described burner) is living out of a van and selling jewelry at concerts/shows to make a small income. Also anecdotally, those same burners have mentioned that they are less and less interested in going to burning man based on their recent (negative) experiences in the last 1-2 years and are doing more burner-like things locally.
- sirwolfgang 12y ago
  Your perception is wrong. Every year they do a census. Of the people who filled out the survey most earn under 100k a year, with the average being around $40k. To be 5% of the US you need to be earning 188k a year. http://feralgraphing.blogspot.com/2011/08/income-distribution-burning-man.html http://feralgraphing.blogspot.com/2011/08/income-distributio... http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/15/business/one-percent-map.html http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/15/business/one-p...

slamdesu 12y ago

I think most Burning Man attendees are in the top 2-5% and are already in quite a privileged position

noname123 12y ago
Yes. Anecdotally, the people I know of who do go to Burning Man are either techies or lawyers with upper-middle class income with liberal/progressive ideas or grad students whose socio-economic circumstances are well off enough to allow them to pursue graduate education in the first place.
netinstructions 12y ago
Purely anecdotally, but I can think of many friends and relatives who have gone to burning man in the past and are nowhere near the top 2-5%. Last I checked, my dear sister (a self described burner) is living out of a van and selling jewelry at concerts/shows to make a small income. Also anecdotally, those same burners have mentioned that they are less and less interested in going to burning man based on their recent (negative) experiences in the last 1-2 years and are doing more burner-like things locally.
sirwolfgang 12y ago
Your perception is wrong. Every year they do a census. Of the people who filled out the survey most earn under 100k a year, with the average being around $40k. To be 5% of the US you need to be earning 188k a year. http://feralgraphing.blogspot.com/2011/08/income-distribution-burning-man.html http://feralgraphing.blogspot.com/2011/08/income-distributio... http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/15/business/one-percent-map.html http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/15/business/one-p...