The downside of popularity - Burning Man scalpers?

When one begins a social movement, things look really idealistic. A few committed souls set out to change the world, and for a brief time the world actually changes.

But the world wins in the end.

Burning Man has been around for a while. The temporary community in the Nevada desert has survived and created its micro-ecosystem which is wonderful and far out.

But something happened to Burning Man 2011. The event sold out for the first time in its history.

And now, in 2012, the demand for tickets has exceeded the supply. With predictable consequences.

While it is not clear exactly who bought up the bulk of the tickets, judging by the multitude of outraged Twitter messages, Facebook posts, blog entries and comments on online news stories, many longtime attendees did not and some scalpers did.

Tickets bought for between $240 and $390 are already beginning to show up for sale on sites like StubHub and Craigslist for as much as $5,000 apiece.

And now some, including some organizers of various Burning Man events who were shut out, are complaining. Loudly.

Well, maybe they'll move the whole thing to Las Vegas. There are plenty of hotel rooms there.