I've always been amazed, in fact, at how much people "let go" at mardi gras and how much of a yearly catharthis it is for them. The quote, "I'm not wearing a bra. That's not something I'd ever do except at Mardi Gras..." rings in my head from a woman who upon further questioning was found to be a self-professed devout christian (of some variety that escapes me these years later) and who felt the freedom to let go only once a year, in one special place. The difference is that Burning Man is theoretically safe -- safe in that everyone has almost signed a pact -- no matter what we do here, we'll be considerate of our fellow person.