The Burning Man Fiasco: A Tech Culture Clash and Schadenfreude

The annual Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert is experiencing a clash between long-time attendees and tech bros, celebs, and influencers who expect a weeklong Coachella in the desert. The event's core principles of self-reliance and decommodification are being challenged by the growing piles of debris left behind and the festival's impact on climate change. Social media has played a role in spreading misinformation and distorting the perception of the event. While some argue that Burning Man's tenets worked during this year's rain-induced fiasco, others point out that not all attendees followed the principle of decommodification.