“Don’t bring your iPad” – Burning Man gives advice to “n00bs” that make up 70%+ of this years’s party

You know that Burning Man has changed when the warnings have gone from “Warning: YOU MAY DIE” to “we suggest you don’t bring your new iPad”.

It’s good that Burning Man feels some obligation to prepare the Burgins, Birgins, or “n00bs” as they are now called. After all, they deliberately decided to give at least 40% of the tickets to them in the lottery, and as it has worked out it seems that even more are landing in their hands.

iPad at the DMV

BMorg’s advice is basically “you are the star” and “be a guide, not a tourist“.  As usual from BMorg, this makes little logical sense – how can someone attending the party for the first time, contribute to others as a guide?

This infographic may be more useful for first time Burners to know what they may have to prepare themselves for. Out of 50,000 attendees in the permit, 4, 461 of them needed medical treatment in 2009 – that’s almost a 9% chance. The closest hospital emergency room to Burning Man is in Reno – a long way to go in an emergency, even by helicopter. Fortunately, your ticket comes with medical insurance – all treatment you receive on site at Burning Man is free. The medical center is staffed by volunteers from all over the country – ironically, you probably have a better chance of getting treated rapidly and properly at Burning Man than just walking into an ER in a major city.