Burning Man Suicide: statement from camp in which it took place
Here's a statement from a group of Burning Man participants known as The Comfort & Joy Family, sent to Boing Boing by Kitten Calfee. Statement continues after the jump.
On the morning of Thursday, August 30th a young man from Colorado chose to end his life in the rafters of a public tent at the Comfort & Joy Burning Man theme camp.Though he was unknown to us, in the wake of his passing we're learning from those who knew him that he was creative, kind, unconventional and smart, and that he was regarded with affection by many.
His final act, committed in solitude, has one lasting effect as it brings us together to mark his passing. To all who have offered our camp their sympathy and support during this time, thank you. To all who knew him, please accept our sincere condolences.
It is estimated that there was an one hour interval between the last visit to the tent by a camp member, and the discovery of the body by a second camp member. It is believed that the tent was unoccupied during this time, and that there were no witnesses to the suicide.
One other individual, not associated in any way with the camp, was in the tent at the time the body was discovered. Emergency personnel were immediately contacted by camp members. Authorities responded within minutes and closed the scene upon arrival.
The Black Rock City Rangers, Sheriffs and other law enforcement officials who assisted us with this incident were very professional, supportive, and helpful to us at a difficult time. We are grateful for their services. We are also thankful for the warm and organized support we have received from the grief counselors from the Black Rock City Mental Health Team. They helped us openly discuss what had happened and come to a shared understanding of the morning's events.
Much of our camp was quarantined while the coroners did their jobs and we canceled that day's events (a yoga class, a queer discussion group, glitter body painting and a watercolor painting workshop).
As a camp, we decided to make a contribution to David Best's Temple of Forgiveness, where people can mourn, remember, write messages and leave items to be ceremonially burned on Sunday night. We felt the rope the young man used represented the terrible violence he committed upon himself and the people around him. By sending the rope up in flames, we hoped to allow some of that pain to disperse. None of us believe that this young man wanted to trouble us with his actions.
The members of Comfort & Joy extend their deepest sympathy to all who knew this young man. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and special people in his life. Although we will never know or understand him the way you did, he indeed touched us as well, made us grow, and hopefully become better individuals. May the rest of his journey be peaceful and lead him to the joy we all seek in our lives.
We look forward to continuing our mission of creating positive, warm and supportive queer community both in Black Rock City and the Bay Area.
With love and respect,
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I am reminded of how ultimately selfish suicide is.
May I be the first to comment on the irony of a suicide at the "Comfort and Joy Camp".
If only he'd known there was going to be glitter body painting, maybe he'd have changed his mind.
@mattymatt
As someone who was watching the revision process of this statement on the Comfort and Joy email list, I was really hoping they would omit the part about the glitter body painting. I don't think anyone really needed to know about that.
Regardless, your comment is hilarious.
I've met C&J folks as they hosted one of the stops on the bike ride & pub crawl. Y'all are some of the nicest, kindest people. My heart goes out to all of you. Take care, gents.
It would seem obvious that someone who committed suicide in a public place did want to trouble other people with his actions, however much we would want to believe he didn't.
The description of the day's planned events in irrelevant detail seems like a shameless plug for the camp. That is sickening.
It's a beautiful sentiment. Kudos to the Comfort & Joy camp for handling this delicate situation in a caring and sensitive manner.
I don't think that including the day's activities is any kind of "shameless plug" for the camp. Please. This statement was released after Burning Man was over and they don't stand to gain anything by it. At the worst, they are guilty of including some extraneous details. Personally, I think it just gives a little more information about the venue in which the man chose to end his life.
Thank you Comfort & Joy camp for handling this with dignity, respect and sympathy.
To me the really sad thing when someone kills themselves is that we've lost someone who's sensitive enough to be driven to suicide, but the heartless, soulless bastards of the world just go on and on.
In response to the comment about the "selfish" nature of suicide: There is some irony in that statement. In that statement one is contemplating the psychological and spiritual effect of the suicide upon oneself. Let's not forget that many who choose suicide have often been the victim of others' selfishness, their lack of empathy, compassion, and sensitivity. Those that choose suicide feel they have no other way to cope, despite what the objective observer may feel.
Rather than damn the suicide as "selfish", instead consider the motivation. Think of how you could have, in your life, pushed another person to that end. Or vice versa. Imagine that moment of insight when you might have actually listened to a family member or loved one and realized how much pain they were in, and could have taken steps to help them.
And never forget that at the far end of medicine's ability to cure, there is a limit, beyond which there is only one final step that can end the interminable and insurmountable pain and suffering of the afflicted and their friends and family, short of natural death.
I think it's completely appropriate that you cancelled that days glitter body paining session.