Fake Rangers - Health and Safety Risk

[sweetn8]

After comparing stories with other Burners who have had issues with "Fake Rangers" (people dressed similarly to Rangers, but who give out wrong information and/or harass random Burners) I am curious as to what the official Burning Man position is on this.

When you have people getting wrong information for medical emergencies, it goes beyond "not getting the spirit of the event". Radical Inclusion? Let everyone participate? Okay, but what about communal effort? Where is the civic responsibility? Is this the kind of participation we should emulate? Is this making Black Rock City a better place?

[Eric]

Hello new poster.

Do you have any specifics beyond "comparing stories" for this? Especially about the medical emergency part?

I've been going since '03, I've worked for a very popular paper out there, and we have contacts with lots of departments - while I've heard of people dressed "like rangers" (how hard is khaki to pull together?), I've never heard of a incident where someone gave false information in a medical emergency - doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but you need to put up a little more than vague references to "stories".

[Roark]

Eric: Since I've never been to BM (YET! heheheh), a serious question for you or anyone who isn't a comlete 'Noob like me: Do the Black Rock Rangers carry or display any type of an "official" credential? In other words, assuming this is even a problem, is there an instant way to tell?

Or is this really just one of those "out there" issues that don't need "fixing"?

[theCryptofishist]

Black Rock Rangers have laminates. They don't necessarily show them to you, but I suppose if you asked. (They are worn around the neck anyway, as far as I remember). If they are on duty one of the pair, at least one of the pair, will carry a radio.

Luckily radio and laminate technology has not found it's way into the hands of the spoofers.

[Bounce530]

Also luckily, nobody has ever sold Ranger shirts on Ebay, either.

[Savannah]

After comparing stories with other Burners who have had issues with "Fake Rangers" (people dressed similarly to Rangers, but who give out wrong information and/or harass random Burners) I am curious as to what the official Burning Man position is on this.

When you have people getting wrong information for medical emergencies, it goes beyond "not getting the spirit of the event". Radical Inclusion? Let everyone participate? Okay, but what about communal effort? Where is the civic responsibility? Is this the kind of participation we should emulate? Is this making Black Rock City a better place?

If you have had issues with Rangers, or are not sure as to whether the people you were encountered were Rangers (or just random jerks in khaki) you should visit the Ranger website, ask questions, and give your feedback. The same goes for anyone else with concerns about Rangers. Genuine Rangers know exactly where Emergency Services locations are.

http://rangers.burningman.com/

There is contact information on the site.

[Canoe]

... Do the Black Rock Rangers carry or display any type of an "official" credential?...

Yes.
But you have to lift the utilikilt to see it.

[theCryptofishist]

... Do the Black Rock Rangers carry or display any type of an "official" credential?...

Yes.
But you have to lift the utilikilt to see it.

Nope, that's DPW again. And if they find out you confused them with Rangers, your days on this playa are numbered.

[Canoe]

... Do the Black Rock Rangers carry or display any type of an "official" credential?...

Yes.
But you have to lift the utilikilt to see it.

Nope, that's DPW again. And if they find out you confused them with Rangers, your days on this playa are numbered.

Thanks for the heads up.
I'd have felt really stupid finding out I'd joined the Rangers for the wrong reason.

[trilobyte]

Moving this over to Experiences At Burning Man, since that's a better fit. If you want to raise the issue with representatives of the Black Rock Rangers or the staff at Burning Man, please visit the appropriate page on the main site and contact the department directly.

[Elliot]

.
A few years ago, maybe 2006, there was a group of street performers who dressed up similar to BRC Rangers and accosted people with some sort of harassing stunt. I remember feeling confused and uncomfortable until I finally realized it was "performance art".

As in most U.S. jurisdictions, BM has a rule against Mutant Vehicles resembling emergency vehicles. I don't know if we have a rule against "impersonating an officer" as it is usually called, but I would be in favor of it. The work that Rangers and law enforcement do is too important to fart around with -- "crying wolf" and all that.

[9ah]

Never seen it happen... I know people set up shop at Playa Info at night and give out misinformation (unless it's a genuine emergency... Not a lost hat, more like an injured person or missing kid).... I mean if you don't bother to look up the PI hours of operation what do you expect....

I'm hoping folks that give out misinformation don't do it in real life safety issues.

[The CO]

I've been mistaken for a ranger multiple times, once by an actual ranger. 2012 was the first time in 6 years that it didn't occur.

[Ugly Dougly]

There are undercover Rangers, and they will administer playa corrections on False Rangers.

[theCryptofishist]

You make it sound so kinky, Dougly.

[JaronK]

Real rangers have clothing that actually says "Black Rock Ranger" on it and have laminates (which are on their necks). They've also got official event radios. Fake ones have names like "Black Rock Strangers" or "Black Cock Rangers" and don't have laminates or radios.

As for safety... well, the Black Cock Rangers stopped doing it because they started getting real emergency calls and realized they couldn't handle those. So it's an issue. But as long as the person is clearly joking, it's not against any rule to be a fake ranger. It's probably not a very good idea though.

[Ugly Dougly]

Plenty of people wear khaki shirts, shorts and boonie caps. When they offer advice (or whatever), most sparkle ponies don't look for a Ranger Badge.