Code of Conduct

First and foremost, Entheos @ Burning Man prioritizes creating sanctuary community, a safe and sacred space that is home to our campers, guests and visitors on Playa. The core of this event is our community, and the core of our community is trust. We expect that most of the people at our event are worthy of that trust. However, sometimes that trust is broken, and, whether malicious or not, the resulting effect on others can be detrimental to their mental or physical state. It is in order to ensure we can effectively respond to those situations that we are laying out some ground rules and expectations around behavior.

This code of conduct outlines our expectations for Entheos participant behavior as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior.

COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES & EXPECTED BEHAVIOR

As a community event, we are dedicated to creating an environment that nurtures mutual respect among all participants by providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. (And to be clear, this list is in no way meant to be exclusive, nor complete, but instead, indicative of the inclusivity and diversity we strive to support.) Help us realize a safe and positive experience for everyone.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

We do not tolerate harassment of people at our camp or in our spaces (real or online) in any form. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Anyone violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled (without refund).

Harassment includes:

Physical and/or sexual harassment
Inappropriate physical contact
Abusive and/or derogatory verbal comments
Deliberate intimidation
Discriminatory actions
Stalking
Following
Photography or recording of people without their consent
Persistent, unwelcome sexual attention

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

If an Entheos participant engages in unacceptable behavior, whether by the letter or spirit of these guidelines, the organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including expulsion from the camp without warning or refund.

If an individual is expelled, they will be required to leave the camp as soon as it is reasonably safe for them to do so. In the meantime, they may be monitored by one of the Entheos camp Guardians until they have left camp.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS OR ARE SUBJECT TO UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

If you are subject to unacceptable behavior, notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, we encourage you to attempt to head off the unacceptable behavior before it escalates, but only if you feel comfortable/capable of doing so. Some useful questions for checking in with someone when you’re not sure the situation is cool: “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you?”

For more serious issues or any situations where you do not feel comfortable intervening, please notify one of the Entheos camp Guardians as soon as possible. Names and photos of the camp Guardians on duty will be posted at the camp entrance. They will either help you directly or help you identify the resources you need and escalate the situation as necessary. The Medical Staff are also available throughout the event, for situations that fall into their line of expertise.

What We Mean by Consent

This excellent description of consent was developed by SlutGarden, a fellow Burning Man theme camp that supports sex-positivity, respect and a culture of consent. We have adopted this description of consent as part of our effort to create a safe space for all people who are at Entheos.

Our events are sexy...

You're sexy...

Consent is sexy...

Consent should be mutually agreed upon: with a clear understanding of what is being asked for and consented to. If you want to move to the next level of sexual intimacy - ask first.

Touching someone's breasts, genitals or buttocks without their consent is sexual violence. So is making someone touch you. Any form of sexual activity with another person without their consent is sexual violence.

Consent should be freely given: it should never be coerced, be forced, involve pressure, intimidation or threats.

Consent must never be assumed or implied, even if you're in a relationship. Just because you are in a relationship doesn't mean that you always have consent to have sex with your partner. Intimate partner rape, date rape, and acquaintance rape are the most common forms of rape.

It's always OK to say No. Consent may be withdrawn at any time, and when it is withdrawn all sexual activity must stop immediately.

If you do not ask for Consent, you are at risk of doing something the other person doesn't want you to do. You are also at risk of breaking the law and facing criminal charges.

What isn't consent?

Silence, or not responding - is not consent. The absence of a No does not mean Yes ... no answer does not mean Consent can be assumed.

Lack of physical resistance does not mean Consent can be assumed. Someone threatened with violence, or intimidated psychologically, may be too fearful to resist.

A Yes is not Consent when someone is coerced, pressured, or afraid of how their partner might react to a No response: "I'm not sure if I'm ready" "I don't know if I want to" "I think I've had too much to drink" "I don't want to get an STD" "I'm scared" - all of these statements must be taken as meaning No.

Confused or unclear communication is not Consent. Sometimes we may think we mean one thing when we are actually saying something else. Typical examples that are not asking for Consent for sex are:

"Want to go back to my place?" (consent only to go to your place)

"Should we get it on?" (unclear what activity is intended)

Someone who is intoxicated from alcohol or drugs, voluntarily and involuntarily, or who is unconscious or asleep, unaware, or otherwise helpless, is not capable of giving Consent. Someone may be responsible for being drunk, or high, but they are not responsible for being sexually assaulted.

A sexy dress is not consent. Someone may dress or behave in a sexy or provocative way - but dress or behavior should not be confused with Consent. Dress or behavior is not a legal argument for sexually assault.

A minor cannot give consent to an adult. Period.

Consent is talking about sex - real, confident, open communication. The practice of consent will naturally create a more caring, more responsive, respectful interaction. And that's sexy!

Ask first. No means NO. Only an enthusiastic YES means YES. Don't be an Asshole.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1) Enthusiastic participation!

We all know that “no mean no,” but sometimes being quiet and still means “no” too. Or even saying no initially, then saying yes after being “convinced” to participate by a partner can mean “no." There are lots of non-verbal cues that indicate someone is really not into what’s happening.

Rather than relying on your correct interpretation of non-verbal cues, aim for enthusiastic consent! Yes means yes! Pay attention to your partner(s) and keep checking in. Make sure their verbal and physical cues match. Consent should be mutual and continuous.

2) Not everyone is as coherent / sober as they may appear

This is an event where people play with shifting and expanding their own boundaries. Maybe even you! So beware that when pushing your own boundaries, you may push into someone else’s. In some cases, crossing another person’s boundaries may cause them harm, whether you intended to or not.

Even enthusiastic consent with someone who isn’t sober is very risky territory, both legally and emotionally. Some people enjoy and are okay with it, but if you are interacting with someone who you just met or don’t know well, consider keeping your interactions in PG/PG-13 territories until you’re sure you’ve seen them sober and you’re sure you are on the same page. And if it’s someone you do know who is suddenly acting out of character, check in with them and try to assess what’s going on. Better to take time to be sure than to cause lasting damage.

3) Aim to understand, rather than defend and explain

Any situation involving more than one person is subject to multiple interpretations, so if an Entheos participant or Entheos Guardian tells you that you are behaving unacceptably, try to understand what they are saying rather than getting immediately defensive and explaining how they are wrong. When someone comes to you with a concern, if you tell them that they’re interpreting the situation incorrectly, it just makes them feel like you haven’t heard them and that, somehow, you believe their experience or knowledge of the situation is less valid than your own. Lose the ego, learn how your actions were perceived, and consider a sincere apology, which can go a long way toward diffusing a situation.

Watch these helpful videos to further understand Consent.

ENTHEOS WAIVER OF LIABILITY

By camping with Entheos, you agree that are personally and individually responsible for everything you do while you are at Burning Man and participating in Entheos.
Entheos is a collection of independent parties. You agree to be responsible for yourself at all times, in every regard, as you approach, once you enter, and as you leave Black Rock City. Above and beyond the provision for individual survival, you agree that you are required to help ensure our collective survival by following common sense rules relating to public safety and community well-being. You acknowledge and accept that every Entheos camp member is required to abide by these standards. Community membership in Entheos is a privilege, as is attendance at Burning Man. Violation of these requirements could result in ejection from the community. You acknowledge and accept that individuals camping at Entheos accept no liability for anyone or anything other than themselves and their individual actions, and you agree to hold camp members harmless for any actions they take or do not take. You acknowledge and accept that any financial contributions you make to camp are non-refundable. You acknowledge that the weather may be awful, nothing will ever go as planned, setup may be delayed, camp gear and your gear may break, your structure may blow away, you may not be able to replace what you forgot to bring, you may hurt yourself, your vehicle and anything you bring with you will never be the same, anything that can happen to you in a city can happen to you at Burning Man, the laws of the US and Nevada apply, you may not like your food, you may not like everyone around you, there are consequences if you do not pack what you need, you may come to the desert trying to find yourself and may not like what you find, and you accept that this is what can and does happen in the hostile Burning Man desert environment that may try to kill you. You acknowledge and accept that you do not have to camp with Entheos, and that if you do choose to camp with Entheos, you willingly agree to be bound by these terms and the terms contained in Burning Man Ticket Terms and Conditions, and that these same terms and conditions apply to Entheos.