Hmm I see your point. The structure is up and burning and at least from my perspective, people are a bit close for my comfort.

Also being that it seems you were simply moving in and out of the perimeter before any fire stuff was going on as a courtesy, I can see how being approached and told to move back might have been frustrating. Maybe a little overzealous on the part of whatever ranger it was, but one can see how some people might be a bit nervous after past events... and yes I know that happened even after the thing had collapsed, in fact well after but memories and fears can be slow to fade.

Lars,

My understanding is that a perimeter radius of approximately 1.5 times the height of the structure (effigy or temple) was prescribed by FRT/BoD or other nefarious administrative authorities for each night. Particularly on the night of the temple, I metered out 10 generous paces from the outer base of the temple pile. Given that the temple was approximately 16 feet high, that radius is measured from the center of a circle, and given your aspirations as a mathematician, I leave it to you to determine your level of satisfaction with the perimeter that was set. If you are unhappy with the size of the circle at the temple burn, please blame me.

I'm a little confused as to how a line of tape somehow forced you to step on people, but I concede I've seldom understood your reasonings. I've recommended Richard Feynman for your reading benefit in the past to help you better understand phenomena that demonstrate probability principles, I now recommend that you read some Ayn Rand to better embrace your responsibities over your own behavior.

Cameras are not typically granted back stage passes, by the way. You could volunteer for one of the safety related roles on your next burn night to better understand the behavior of the Rangers and other volunteers.

If the Ranger who approached you used the term "stressing our perimeter" to describe your behavior as you stretched the tape line apparently believing that your camera made you special, then once again ... please blame me. Apparently we have finally met in person. To your "thanks," I offer my welcome. Because the tape we used was not actually a robust physical boundary, we relied upon the courtesy and maturity of each person who could obviously have otherwise just torn the tape. It took a physicist to point this out to you? We can tape off a special Lars play area perhaps in the future, but that area won't likely be inside the general safety perimeter at a major burn.

Unless, of course, you pursue some positive course of action prior to just showing up and expecting to be an exception to every rule and boundary. Perhaps the conclave needs an official "inside the perimeter" photographer, I understand you are skilled in photography. I have no idea who could discuss that possibility with you. In the mean time, showing up at a burn expecting to blow past every perimeter because you merely hold a camera, and trampling on your neighbors in retaliation to a volunteer asking you to respect a marked boundary simply is ... how did you put it? ... ah yes ... fucking stupid.

Cheers,
BMac

Awesome photo!