My good friend Peter Ruprecht was recently forced to defend himself on the Facebook unofficial Burning Man group, for this photo:
photo by Tomas Loewy
Burner Joshy Neurotic is obviously a hater:
segways on playa = instant douche… unless its a mobility issue…
Burner Nillabear McHuggles is the voice of reason – isn’t this all about “radical” inclusion? ie. everyone is welcome?
I know some people don’t care for segways themselves but I think some of you are missing how radical inclusion works. Accept people for who they are, even wealthy people.
Burner Doug Goldfluss is not just a hater, he is actively trying to promote haterism:
Sending good vibes to you Maria!!! But BM is not all about Love! We need to balance all the love with a little bit of hate…… this discussion has been a topic here once or twice before. http://blog.burningman.com/2011/11/culture-art-music/too-much-positive-energy/
Entitlement? Is that on the banned list now, like feathers? What exactly does Gabrielle think Segway drivers are entitled to?
Here’s Pete defending himself in his own words
Burner Indy and several others … I am one of the people in that photo that you so eloquently called a rich kid. Sad as it is to think that you are a simple minded person looking to jump at the easiest conclusion you can come to, in order to maintain your collection of negative opinions of others, or it might be a more complex case that you are somehow affected from some sort of childhood trauma that enables you to feel ok with making completely false statements as fact when they are indeed your erroneous opinions. SO in order to educate you a little bit, should you care to know anything about the people you insult semi anonymously… ill tell you…. I am a professional photographer….i have shot burning man imagery for years…if you care to see…check out www.peterruprecht.comand go to the experimental section. however this year i decided to give a little extra back to the community, so i took it upon my self to bring $25k of studio lights out to the playa and create an opportunity for ANYONE who wanted to come have their photo taken by me under cool lighting conditions to do so. It was MY gift to the playa…and TONS of people enjoyed it….you can go and see some of the photos I GAVE the community here..AGAIN if you care to know ANYTHING about the people you insult…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.380933885310399.84400.150082065062250&type=3
and I used the SEGWAY to move equipment that weighed HUNDREDS of pounds…so next time if you want…ask before you make outlandish proclamations and then hopefully i wont have to make wild presumptions that you are a simple minded jerk
Who cares what he needs a Segway for? Why do people automatically scream “douche” if they see a Segway at Burning Man? Do they scream the same thing to people in wheelchairs? Is it just because the Segway is not decorated like an art car? Or is it just jealousy – like, some people have to assume that the driver of a Ferrari is an asshole, rather than facing their own failings that they lack the talent and ingenuity to ever be the driver of a Ferrari.
Peter Ruprecht has made a huge contribution to Burning Man, and I know a number of people who were beneficiaries of his free photo shoot this year who felt that it changed their lives. Keep coming Pete, and keep shooting!
Here’s Pete’s Stop Motion Videos of Burning Man from 2012 and 2009.
2012:
2009:
In 2011 we watched in dismay as his photo shoot went up in flames – perhaps the magickal wrath of Burners directed against his Segway?
