Tales of climate refugees, natural disasters and mass exodusThe original exodus is a journey described in the Old Testament. Led by Moses, the Israelites escape from enslavement in Egypt. They wander the desert for 40 years until God appears on Mount Sinai and offers them a home in return for the promise that they will worship him forever. This story is central to Judaism, and the word has also become a metaphor for any great journey undertaken en masse. are a staple of our news cycle. We are used to devastating images of impoverished and displacedForced to leave their homes people fleeing from floods, fires, cyclonesA rapidly spinning storm that forms over tropical oceans. , and hurricanes.

Rarely do such tragedies inspire laughter. We view them with fear about what could await us if we fail to avertStop or avoid. the climate catastrophe.

But the extreme rainfall that hit the Nevada wilderness last weekend was received more with humour than horror. The Burning Man festival, which takes place every year in the Black Rock desert in Northern Nevada was flooded, with festival-goers left stranded in a "sea of mud".

More than 70,000 attendees were stuck over the course of the weekend, forced to ration their limited supplies of food and water and told to refrain from showering, dishwashing or even using the festival's portable toilets.

The news seemed to verge on farceAn absurd situation, or an absurd and comic play. . Outlets reported that previously dormant three-eyed dinosaur shrimp were awakening in the wet festival mud. Rumours surfaced that the camp had fallen victim to an EbolaA highly infectious disease causing internal and external bleeding. A vaccine against it has recently been developed. outbreak.¹

The festival, which was first launched on a San Francisco beach in 1986, was founded as a gathering for anti-capitalistsPeople who believe in or take part in an economic system based on private ownership of businesses and goods. and activists. Nowadays, however, critics say it is a gathering of the ultra-rich which has a disastrous effect on the environment.

For some, the humour of the situation is obvious. In fact, there is a term to describe just this emotion: SchadenfreudeLiterally means "harm-joy". Schadenfreude is a German word that describes someone deriving pleasure from another's misfortune., meaning pleasure derived from the misfortune of another person.

Though we use the German word, schadenfreude is a universal emotion. The Japanese say that "the misfortune of others tastes like honey". And the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said that "to see others suffer does one good".

But some say that we are missing a lesson in human resilienceThe quality of toughness and flexibility that enables you to bounce back after setbacks.. After all, the festival-goers defied expectations of human nature: there was no violence, selfishness or greed. In fact, the attendees assert that there was a heart-warming display of generosity, selflessness and solidarityShowing support for others, particularly members of another group. as the disaster went on.

It is a side of humanity that we rarely see, and often refuse to believe. But maybe it is our cynicism that gets in the way of making it a global reality.

Yes: Social media was swamped with posts speculating about the antics of the stranded festival-goers last weekend. But the reality is that people helped each other where they could, showing the best of the human character.

No: Regardless of whether everything turned out right, it is still inevitably funny to gloat at the wealthy elite getting stranded by a climate-related weather event.

Or... Both of these things can be true without contradicting each other. It is nice to see an example of stranded people creating a supportive community - but the ironies of the situation are still unavoidable.

Exodus - The original exodus is a journey described in the Old Testament. Led by Moses, the Israelites escape from enslavement in Egypt. They wander the desert for 40 years until God appears on Mount Sinai and offers them a home in return for the promise that they will worship him forever. This story is central to Judaism, and the word has also become a metaphor for any great journey undertaken en masse.

displaced - Forced to leave their homes

Cyclones - A rapidly spinning storm that forms over tropical oceans.

Avert - Stop or avoid.

Farce - An absurd situation, or an absurd and comic play.

Ebola - A highly infectious disease causing internal and external bleeding. A vaccine against it has recently been developed.

Capitalists - People who believe in or take part in an economic system based on private ownership of businesses and goods.

Schadenfreude - Literally means "harm-joy". Schadenfreude is a German word that describes someone deriving pleasure from another's misfortune.

Resilience - The quality of toughness and flexibility that enables you to bounce back after setbacks.

Solidarity - Showing support for others, particularly members of another group.