i have to agree that cooler raiding is definitely stealing, how hard is it to ask somebody for something? What's the worse they will say? No? I second the comment here that people usually just give you stuff if you are A) nice and an outgoing person, B) have something to trade, or C) happen to come across one of the people that likes to bring extra to SHARE!

These 2 people must have problems making friends, or their friends deny them frosty beverages and treats because they are so tired of them abusing the generosity and not returning the favor by providing an occasional 6-pack when chillin outside of the event scene.

public outcasting shouldn't be necessary. if the offenders you're talking about have any respect for themselves, they will change their behavior. If not, then mark them as the Cooler Pirates.

***cross posted reply***

I can see how there MAY be some misunderstandings as far as coolers or trash disposal goes. Someone MAY think that a cooler in an open party area is intended to be fair game or that a trash bag in a communal area is fair game for disposal. I would still hope that our friends would posses the decency to ask on both occasions, but i can understand if there is some confusion or ignorance surrounding the matter. The BLATENT thievery, on the other hand, is intolerable and inexcusable. peoples bags and tents being ransacked is absolutely unacceptable and, quite frankly, a great shock to me coming from this community--but its apparently happening. I heard more about theft from this party than from every other community event Ive been to in the last 4 years combined. Its truly disheartening. One of my friends had his tent ransacked and his bag was removed. the next day, his bag was leaning against a tree near his site, minus certain party favors. He was happy, despite this, due to the fact that he now had his wallet, money, and car keys--but the whole experience ruined his Friday night. Apparently, the thief decided to be "honorable" and only take expendable items and return the bag. we got a chuckle out of it but in reality its still disgusting behavior. Ill tell you one thing, I feel VERY sorry for anyone I catch rifling through my stuff--especially if I don't know you and there is no good explanation. first, I will probably be the first person at a burner event to fucksmash someones face, then Ill make sure EVERYONE knows who you are. I know some of you will cringe at this statement, but it is a reality. I have no tolerance for this type of predatory behavior and i WILL protect myself. I had virgins with me, and one of the things they felt was so amazing is the trust we all had with each other and in leaving our belongings unattended at our campsites. I was VERY disappointed to find that there was quite a bit of theft taking place.

This all being said, I have devised some small changes in MY behavior that I found really helps. First and foremost, keep your stuff zipped up in your tents or in your car. bags and interesting items sitting strewn about a campsite may be just too tempting for a would-be thief. Second, I try to keep my coolers together in an out -of- the- way spot and NOT right in the middle of camp--especially if you have a large communal area. I tell my friends and neighbors to help themselves but also to keep an eye on stuff. Finally, after leaving WAY too many burner weekends with 4+ bags of trash, I have STOPPED putting trash receptacles in public area around my camp. This is especially true if you have a communal area. I have no problem telling people to take their trash with them or calling them out if they try to just leave it laying around. Its basically like the cup thing--self-reliance. people have no problem telling you that you need your own cup so why do they have a problem telling you to deal with your own waste? Now, I know that there will be some problems after a big shabang or after a meal serving a ton of people, but in the everyday normal swing of things this is manageable.

I was attracted to this community because I agree with a lot of the principles it was founded upon. First and foremost, RESPECT. This is a big one for me and I found it here on levels that far surpassed that found in the default world gatherings. TRUST, see respect. RADICAL SELF RELIANCE, not unabashed entitlement. LEAVE NO TRACE, pretty self-explanatory. Im not psycho about it and i WILL use public receptacles if provided, but i am ALWAYS very careful about tending to my own trash and leaving my site cleaner than when I arrive which, incidentally, isn't too hard to do at this location. these are principles that define us as a group and separate us from most of whats out there. lets try to remember this so were not just a bunch of self-righteous, funny dressed, hypocrites.

My opinion on this lies between Cogs statement and Storms statement. Cog my Friend, you are way kind, and thats why everyone who meets you, digs you. You are one of the kindest, generous people I have ever met in this community, and thats why I am so happy you and beautiful Arell grace us with your presence at Eon. Eon is very fortunate to have you guys!
Storm...ha, well you really appeal to my "no bullshit", "hey!...get the fukk out of my cooler you thieving piece of shit and get the fukk out of my camp!!" side. I can't stand moochers, and ESPECIALLY moochers who hide behind and abuse the "burner cloak". I had a guy at last years Elysium bring a bunch of people into the Eon camp, he obviously thought there was no one in the camp and did not know that there were eyes upon him, when he stated to his friends "just take whatever you want, help yourself to whatever is here"...fukking dickhead.
But the good peeps like Storm and Cog greatly outweigh the dickheads we have to deal with.

As I said in Mr E's blog, this is shameful. I just don't understand a person
thinking they have a "right" to take whatever they want from someones cooler
or anywhere else in their camp. We always try to put out something to gift
in our camp, and usually, we bring beer to share too. But in the past we've
had things stolen from our cooler too. That seems to be better when we
put the cooler out of sight and/or cover it up. It's sad that we have to do that.
But I find it really bad that people who work to make something happen are
the ones victimized. I hope the people who do this think about their behavior
and change it. There is only so much you can take from "friends" before you
choose to not include that person in your circle.

if anyone knows who did the cooler raiding, why not call them out publically?
Public humilation is a great deterrent to crime.
Make them wear a funny shirt/costume or sharpie all over their torso they are cooler raiders at the next event - make fun of them while still giving them a chance to make it up. Just a silly idea for some pretty crazy perople on the fringe of society. Dunce caps are easy to make as well.
Most likely they are drunks that just were looking for more beer to keep their buzz going, which isn't cool unless you admit to taking the beers to the person that brought them, ask for them first or offer to purchase them.
I did not come prepared, I thought I did but gave some away and found myself with no beer by Saturday night. I asked friends for beers, knowing I would catch up to them next time we hung out or saw each other at an event. It is that easy and everyone is nice about it as long as you ask. Raiders and theives simply sux and should be dealt with accordingly.