Paul Addis

[gyre]

That year still counts as two burns.

I would never have gotten up for that, if I hadn't been sleeping on the esplanade.
I didn't believe anyone saying the man was burning until I saw it.

People that were there say that Paul and others warned them before and after the fire started to get out of the structure.
I'm not sure how the structure was configured, but it seems the law was misapplied, being intended for people deliberately or carelessly trapping people in a building, which does happen.
It seemed many people were very upset about the value of things in the base that weren't supposed to be in a burn.
I've heard conflicting things about the church.
Never assume you have the truth from news reports of a court case.

I never met him that I'm aware of, but I think he was around back in the nineties.
He seems to have at least wanted good things for burning man, however misguided.

The jail sentence pretty much guarantees that if it happens again, they won't hang about warning anyone.

It just seems sad all around that things didn't turn out better.

[knowmad]

Anyone who would set an occupied structure on fire would be considered mentally ill.

No, some people are just that nasty. And others can do all sorts of vile stuff in wartime. (And maybe they come out of that mentally ill, but maybe not.)
As for the rest, I think you really did not understand what I was saying, but I don't want to argue the point...

Knowmad, will you give me a hug?

((((Fishy, I Hug you!))))

I have been dealing with this in my mind all day long. Compassion and empathy; Differ in magnitude from passion and sympathy. where one is able to feel sympathy and describe it to others passionately and the other Compassionately shares their Empathy for the subject and those affected but are in a heartplace where words fail. your pain is my pain and I feel it I also feel the Paul's the fear, guilt and loneliness he must have felt as his train pulled into the station, The EMT's Like Sailman that deal with the morbid every day occurrences. and those that can see the coarseness of public discourse and feel frustrated in not being able to evoke empathy or change. so yeah fishy I know what you are saying.

[Corvus]

People that were there say that Paul and others warned them before and after the fire started to get out of the structure.
I'm not sure how the structure was configured, but it seems the law was misapplied, being intended for people deliberately or carelessly trapping people in a building, which does happen.

I was not on playa so have no personal knowledge, but people I trust say that was not the case. One said a person in the pavillion had to be roused from deep sleep and another dragged out unconscious (from being altered, not from smoke or anything). No attempt by Paul or his friends to warn of the danger was in evidence.

[aserendipity]

Dear knowmad,
we all want some part of ourselves to mean something...his was personal until he extended to shift out hurtfully.

So because it seemed necessary to make a cross generational effort I read the "hungergame" stuff and the concept of survival in varied arenas is pervasively present. I look about and think of our issues now.

[gyre]

I was not on playa so have no personal knowledge, but people I trust say that was not the case. One said a person in the pavillion had to be roused from deep sleep and another dragged out unconscious (from being altered, not from smoke or anything).
No attempt by Paul or his friends to warn of the danger was in evidence.

I wasn't out there, so it could be wrong, but I was told this by more than one person that was there.
They couldn't identify Paul as they didn't know him, but the description fits.
The warnings came from people in distinctive outfits.
Some saw him start the fire after the warnings.
After it started, the alerts could come from anyone, of course.

All very weird.

[theCryptofishist]

People that were there say that Paul and others warned them before and after the fire started to get out of the structure.
I'm not sure how the structure was configured, but it seems the law was misapplied, being intended for people deliberately or carelessly trapping people in a building, which does happen.

I was not on playa so have no personal knowledge, but people I trust say that was not the case. One said a person in the pavillion had to be roused from deep sleep and another dragged out unconscious (from being altered, not from smoke or anything). No attempt by Paul or his friends to warn of the danger was in evidence.

That's my understanding as well...

[Shambala]

I wasn't there at the start of the fire, but I know for sure that there was no love (by the org) for this man, after his willful destruction of the cornerstone symbol of Burning Man. They were going to charge him with the strongest message that they could get across.

[TomServo]

DPW wasn't too thrilled either.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

the bigger question is who was his Handler.

[Mojojita]

My heart goes out to his mother and family. I guess I want to emphasize that there are many, many people with BiPolar Disorder that lead very productive, crime-free lives. I have an ex that is one of those. I am still in awe of how much courage it took sometimes for him to just get out of bed in the morning.

But everyday I see people who have run afoul of the law as a result of mental illness that has altered their brain chemistry. Many amass tickets for sleeping in city parks because they have no where else to sleep.

[Bob]

Call me puzzled at the flood of crocodile tears over a psychopath.

[Mojojita]

Call me puzzled at the flood of crocodile tears over a psychopath.

Yup - I actually edited the crap out of my post, pretty much gutted it before posting. What I said I still believe to be true, but not the only truth in this circumstance.

[Rice]

My point was: Someone took their own life. That person had family, friends. Regardless of what he did, his final action will negatively affect many.

Suicide should not be an option for anyone. Maybe I have a bleeding heart, but FUCK!!!

[Ugly Dougly]

Amen, Stretch.

[BBadger]

I really only pity the people who were attached to Addis--that he selfishly left behind.

[Rice]

I really only pity the people who were attached to Addis--that he selfishly left behind.

Suicide makes me mad. That selfish act that affects so many. Family, friends -
Public servants, EMT personnel, bystanders - having to deal with the gruesome results of his suicide. FUCK.

I hope he got what he wanted.


--

I cannot deal with subject right now. Brings back too many feelings I have worked years to overcome. Life is too precious to be squandered.

[jkisha]

It was performance art of the highest order. Give credit where due.

[theCryptofishist]

Call me puzzled at the flood of crocodile tears over a psychopath.

I think what I hold most against Mr. Addis is those horrid on-line conversations I had with people who thought he had dealt some sort of blow against what many saw as the no-longer anarchic spirit of the burn. I still miss Spectabillis--although I have him plonked... (I think, I may not have had occasion to re-plonk him post upgrade.) And I cannot be anything but chilled that he played with the lives of anyone in the man base that night.

But I"ve been at the front row of the sagas of destruction of the personality of sufferers from mental illness to be willing to just toss around "psychopath" and write him off completely. Not that I would have given him a box of matches, mind, but It seems completely possible to me that the man in the center of that may have suffered more than anyone else near him, even before his final irrational act. I find that the hate people have given voice to is just as misplaced as the sentiment that he was a hero.

[knowmad]

Call me puzzled at the flood of crocodile tears over a psychopath.

Puzzled? really? not too hard to figure out. The "Psychopath" was a person. the same sickness that caused him to act "Psychotic" was the same sickness that caused him to suicide. Any human with the smallest bit of compassion would figure it out, sorry you lack that insight Bob. And just so you know some people have the same Sickness; and when they read callous words like yours they feel like they are the next target of meanness. So you may not have liked him, I might not like you, but you can count on me not to laugh at your demise.

[aserendipity]

FIshy,
you got it so right !

[TomServo]

He's dead. He finally got the attention he wanted. So, mission accomplished! This is starting to reach dead horse (no pun intended) status.

[Shambala]

Why is it so difficult to muster a shred of compassion and empathy in a case where someone was so distressed that they took their own life? Why?
I was not very happy at the early burn, and the smiling, painted mugshot didn't help garner any sympathy for his cause. It much more than extreme performance art that took place that fateful night, it was extreme mental distress.

We all get just one shot at this amazing thing called life. It's a smörgåsbord filled with colors, smells, visions and tastes that no one should want to cut short. When this happens to someone, it's just a very tragic situation.

From any angle you look at this, I really hope his soul is at peace.

[TomServo]

Why is it so difficult to muster a shred of compassion and empathy in a case where someone was so distressed that they took their own life? Why?
I was not very happy at the early burn, and the smiling, painted mugshot didn't help garner any sympathy for his cause. It much more than extreme performance art that took place that fateful night, it was extreme mental distress.

We all get just one shot at this amazing thing called life. It's a smörgåsbord filled with colors, smells, visions and tastes that no one should want to cut short. When this happens to someone, it's just a very tragic situation.

From any angle you look at this, I really hope his soul is at peace.

Because, people commit suicide every day. Many, I'm sure, hoping for the sympathy they felt they never received in life. What a selfish load of shit! I, for one, cannot afford to sink into depression or melancholy, every time someone plays this selfish and idiotic hand. I'll acknowledge that he was disturbed, and that he needed help...but that's about it.

[wh..sh]

I am not sure why we insist that everyone must empathize.
Empthy only comes through some form of similar, emotional experience. It cannot be taught.
Until each of us have experienced somethings for ourselves, we will only have sympathy.

That said -
I see no merit in judging someone who is dead and calling him names. It's appalling! As I see it, none of you knew him personally.
As tempting as it might be, sometimes it's OK to NOT have an opinion about every single, damn thing in the world.

[BBadger]

I am not sure why we insist that everyone must empathize.
Empthy only comes through some form of similar, emotional experience. It cannot be taught.
Until each of us have experienced somethings for ourselves, we will only have sympathy.

That said -
I see no merit in judging someone who is dead and calling him names. It's appalling! As I see it, none of you knew him personally.
As tempting as it might be, sometimes it's OK to NOT have an opinion about every single, damn thing in the world.

But you just did: you passed sympathy on this person's case. You've judged it as something worthy of an emotive response.

The dead are not above judgement. The fact that someone is dead doesn't change what he/she has done. Addis did roughly two things that most people are familiar with: arsoned the man, and killed himself by throwing himself in front of a train. Concentrate on the former and "psychopath" is an appropriate label; the latter, and maybe sympathy is in order. They're not even mutually exclusive.

What's more important is to have a truthful dialog about what people are feeling with regards to this event. In that regard, both you and Bob capture the same kind of message: don't pollute the air with empty sympathy/empathy. It doesn't mean that judgement--negative or positive--must or even should be withheld, but it should come from qualified reasons, not just to make a statement.

[aserendipity]

Okay

Qualified reasoning ?

plain old personal passion is being expressed
you are all perfect and doing your best

[5280MeV]

I didn't know this person, so I have nothing really to add, and would not post, but I was up late last night suffering from jet lag and ran across this article in the 8/31/2006 edition of the Black Rock Beacon:

As Internet rumors go, it was pretty ominous. A Tribe.net poster with the prosaic moniker “1 Man, 1 Gallon” called for a “spontaneous” mob of jades and firebugs to turn out Wednesday night, each armed with a galllon of ad-hoc accelerant, soak the Man down and burn him in advance of his scheduled immolation on Saturday. This “people’s movement” would return Burning Man to its roots in raw anarchy and primordial chaos while cocking a populist snook at the “Disneyized” nature of the event. If an artist, Ranger or beer-addled ticketholder got cooked in the carnage, so much, it would seem, the better. Last night’s duststorm lent cover to the death of this Internet insurrection. At the appointed hour last night, BRC Rangers were more concerned about trying to get a satellite fix on the all-but-invisible Man, than in protecting the structure from a horde of yahoos sloshing buckets of paint thinner across the playa. There was a local lightning-suppression water truck on hand and Ranger Marker assured the Beacon that his organization “always takes these threats seriously.” The Man will burn on Saturday night as scheduled. No time for Gonzo.

- Rockstar, http://www.blackrockbeacon.org/archive/ ... y_Fear.pdf

I only add this to the discussion because it was interesting to me, not being there, to hear that the 2007 early burning of the man was something that had been discussed, perhaps as a joke, perhaps not, for over a year. I didn't appreciate this fact before. Not sure if this is really meaningful here, but it would be interesting to hear from people who were there.

[Kinetik V]

Arson is still arson.
The State of Nevada made sure justice was indeed served and that Mr. Addis served an appropriate sentence.
As a Nevada taxpayer, I consider the cost of his 3 hots and a cot a worthy expense and good use of my tax dollars.

As for his state of mental health, yes it's a shame he committed suicide.
It's also a damn shame he put a commuter rail line out of service impacting hundreds to possibly thousands of people.
It's a shame he traumatized others over and over and over again all the way to the end.
It's a damn shame the man didn't take advantage of the many mental health resources that are out there. There is help. Been there, done that, and so I can speak from experience. You can turn things around, get your head out of your ass, and rebuild your life.

While I have sympathy for his family and the private hell they are going through, I can imagine that more than one of them is feeling a sigh of relief that their nightmare is over.

Goodbye Mr. Addis. And good riddance.

[BBadger]

Arson is still arson.
The State of Nevada made sure justice was indeed served and that Mr. Addis served an appropriate sentence.
As a Nevada taxpayer, I consider the cost of his 3 hots and a cot a worthy expense and good use of my tax dollars.

As for his state of mental health, yes it's a shame he committed suicide.
It's also a damn shame he put a commuter rail line out of service impacting hundreds to possibly thousands of people.
It's a shame he traumatized others over and over and over again all the way to the end.
It's a damn shame the man didn't take advantage of the many mental health resources that are out there. There is help. Been there, done that, and so I can speak from experience. You can turn things around, get your head out of your ass, and rebuild your life.

While I have sympathy for his family and the private hell they are going through, I can imagine that more than one of them is feeling a sigh of relief that their nightmare is over.

Goodbye Mr. Addis. And good riddance.

+1000

[Bob]

Nothing to add at the moment, other than that a friend of a friend who was in the station at the time reported that the odor of Addis' bowels having exploded all over the trackway was rather overwhelming.

Oh, and you ghouls typing about "peace" -- you're assuming he was looking for that?