The Death of the Festival • Hacker News Board

Re: The Death of the Festival

#51

Post by InitialLastName » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 7:25 PM UTC

spurgu wrote: post #39

derekp7 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a really good reason for stopping fully at a stop sign. If your speed and that of the cross traffic vehicle is matched appropriately, the vehicle will occupy the same position (remain stationary) in your field of view. That can cause you to miss seeing the car. By stopping then looking, the car will appear in motion against a still background making it much more likely to stand out.

Sure, that's a good point, but it also applies to crossings without stop signs. :)

At least where I am (NE US), there are very few intersections that are uncontrolled in all directions.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#52

Post by jostylr » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 7:35 PM UTC

It reminds me of the discussion of forest fires and whether to let the smaller fires burn to avoid the big, devastating fires. And then there is the question of intentionally starting fires to do the role of the smaller ones.

Given how that debate is not even agreed upon, it is hard to believe that one could come to much of an understanding of the Festival and its need with humans.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#53

Post by ethn » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 7:50 PM UTC

Or consider Wittgenstein. Maybe people attend festivals just because it’s fun.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#54

Post by enkid » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 7:55 PM UTC

tolbish wrote: post #50

enkid wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The period directly before the fall of the Soviet Union was one of liberalization and opening up. If any thing, the history of the Soviet Union was on of decreasing repression (in fits and with some set backs) after Stalin's death. You also have to be really careful of historical predictions. Lots of people make lots of predictions. Most of them are wrong, and most of them aren't remembered.

Liberals cause communism, liberals cause the end of communism—it's just hard to keep these vague political bogeymen straight sometimes.

Liberalization in this context has nothing to do with the current usage in American politics.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#55

Post by senkora » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 8:46 PM UTC

derekp7 wrote: post #35

spurgu wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> > We know the rules of society are arbitrary, set up so that the show can be played out to its conclusion. > This seems wrong to me. Most society rules have a reason to exist. They do have a reason to exist but that doesn't mean the rules are not arbitrary. Stop signs for example. They actually indicate that extra caution should be taken at the crossing. Actually stopping is rarely a necessity unless you want to ob…

There is a really good reason for stopping fully at a stop sign. If your speed and that of the cross traffic vehicle is matched appropriately, the vehicle will occupy the same position (remain stationary) in your field of view. That can cause you to miss seeing the car. By stopping then looking, the car will appear in motion against a still background making it much more likely to stand out.

Bicycles can also be completely blocked by the car pillars due to this effect.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#56

Post by sunshineforever » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 8:48 PM UTC

golergka wrote: post #30

I spent 4 marvellous days at a semi-private psychedelic trance festival in deep Russian woods this June, and I couldn't disagree more. I felt as if I witnessed an event of similar cultural significance as british late 80s raves were back in their day, but the one that nobody outside of the community really knows anything about. The festival culture is alive and well, it's just got a little bit private, as it tries to…

Can I ask, would a transgender person who speaks some Russian be able to reasonably safely go to Russia? I've practically almost been lynched in the USA so I am wary. I carry a gun and would feel pretty naked without it.

Pro: I used to live on the street so I don't think I would be too phased by anything like average Americans.

So, you think it's a good idea?

Re: The Death of the Festival

#57

Post by pugworthy » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 9:15 PM UTC

As a fairly seasoned burner, I really had to shake my head at this article.

I found it really odd that the only mention of Burning Man is how the online version attempts last year didn't work so well. No mention of how Burning Man fits into this "death spiral" idea - or how Burning Man fails to fall into that spiral.

In particular, it makes this one comment stood out...

> A true festival is not a tame affair. It is a suspension of normal rules, mores, structures, and social distinctions. Girard explains:

OK yes, that sounds like Burning Man. But then it follows up with this part of Girard's explanation...

> As one might expect, this destruction of differences is often accompanied by violence and strife. Subordinates hurl insults at their superiors; various social factions exchange gibes and abuse. Disputes rage in the midst of disorder.

Violence and strife? Raging disputes? Hurled insults? (OK well there are those megaphone people.) Seriously, the author has never been to Burning Man. Or if they did go, it was a hugely different experience than what I and a lot of other people ever had.

Maybe Burning Man just isn't a festival. Or maybe burners just festival differently. Or maybe the author is talking about something else.

Re: The Death of the Festival

#58

Post by seph-reed » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 9:28 PM UTC

pugworthy wrote: post #57

As a fairly seasoned burner, I really had to shake my head at this article. I found it really odd that the only mention of Burning Man is how the online version attempts last year didn't work so well. No mention of how Burning Man fits into this "death spiral" idea - or how Burning Man fails to fall into that spiral. In particular, it makes this one comment stood out... > A true festival is not a tame affair. It is a…

There's a lot missing in the article.

In particular, self-expression (IMO) has advanced a little bit. Hurling insults doesn't really mean much anymore, you can do it on any forum. But creating your art... that means something. Something that can't be said with words.

It's really amazing how different peoples experiences can be though. Even going to the big burn, many never reach that "escape velocity."

Re: The Death of the Festival

#59

Post by tolbish » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 9:29 PM UTC

enkid wrote: post #54

tolbish wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Liberals cause communism, liberals cause the end of communism—it's just hard to keep these vague political bogeymen straight sometimes.

Liberalization in this context has nothing to do with the current usage in American politics.

Liberalization was blamed both before the Soviet Union was established, and again when it was dissolved. You should be thinking of the former usage of both "liberals" and "liberalization".

Re: The Death of the Festival

#60

Post by spandrew » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 9:37 PM UTC

When all one has is a hammer (Girardian festival analogy) all of the world's problems begin looking like nails... (socially engineer-able solutions)

I can't really tell, but I think this article is arguing that the carbon crisis would be solved so long as the smelly privileged are allowed to have orgies in fields.