Utilizing this bridge to the outside world, I want it to be known that there is a code I want to co-opt to foster this nonexistent community or at least be a reminder to myself since this has greater utility for regular life too. So, in honor of Bonnaroo this year here I am sharing with you the Bonnaroovian code:

  1. Prepare Thyself: In the context of Bonnaroo, this is to be as best prepared for a 4-day festival camping experience. For the context of this blog, I mean an earnest effort from me to be as faithful to the truth and shared reality. I’ll try to do my best with the information that I have on hand, but that does not mean I am always right or all-knowing so please critique/correct me. I live on a simulated island, of course, the isolation means I have blind spots, biases, and ignorance.
  2. Play as a Team: We are all strangers who live in a strange world and lack actual genuine interactions through this medium. It is easy to fall into the fallacy of us versus them, me versus you, and love versus hate. A quote I overheard that I appreciate dearly to effect immediate introspection in oneself is “It is much easier to hate someone when they are not in the room.” All this goes to show we are all going through hard lives, so why make it worse by turning it into an individual competition when it’s not against the rules to band together?
  3. Radiate Positivity: This point is my favorite tenant to try my best to live by. I don’t want to be preachy, and everyone has their outlook on how to radiate positivity. I just want to simply state kindness is free, and small acts go a very long way so don’t be toxic or stingy with the positive vibes you radiate.
  4. Respect the Farm: While this is not a farm, you get the gist.
  5. Don't Be That Person: AKA dont be a phallus, I mean seriously don’t be. There is enough of that energy in real life, so dont bring it here. Not to mention it would mean you are already past 3 strikes from the previous tenants of the code listed above. If you are going to be that person, at least make it creative or entertaining for the rest of us, and if you were that person it is never too late in life to course correct even in the smallest of ways.
  6. Stay True Roo: Not be all culty, but at the moment I am talking to a void so bear with me. I am hoping that there is a way to make an impression that can leave the virtual and improve the physical. I cannot say it any better, but pull from the source of Bonnaroo, “Bring the spirit of Bonnaroo with you out into the world, and let's make life on this floating space-marble we call Earth just a little bit better for everyone.”

Now from the depths of my diaphragm HAPPY ROO!!!

Stay Weird, Dont be too serious, Keep the stress to a minimum, and see you all soon ❤ CAL