[Callers] Jets / rubies genderfree terms redux: gems?

[Erik Hoffman via Callers]

It's funny, but there's a part of me that finds all of these different 
words a little weird. In a way, I'm not sure I like any of them. But I 
do like the sense of liberation they give -- the level of comfort that's 
appearing at dances for people dancing with anyone. In my area, the SF 
Bay Area, men are definitely getting more comfortable dancing with men. 
Around here -- as opposed to outlying areas -- there has always been a 
level of tolerance, but the level of acceptance is growing.

I think my sense of weirdness -- slight discomfort -- comes from both 
working to change my habits, and from the sense of the terms being 
contrived. OK, my thought/feelings are changing, and my mind is starting 
to think of this use as being creative rather than contrived. Also, use 
is working in my favor: the more I call using Larks and Ravens, the more 
comfortable it's getting for me, and I'm feeling it's less "contrived." 
But it has been a bit of a hurdle for me to overcome.

As for liking jets & rubies, I have the same problem many do: the 
multiple meaning of the word "jet." OK, I can be told it's a jem, but a 
machine to fly, developed by the military, designed for aggressive 
fighting, then given to the public for high-carbon footprint travel is 
my first thought -- extremely masculine.

Second thought that comes to an old geezer like me is a gang in New 
York's West Side, about which there is a story, which is also masculine...

Jet as a gem would be slow to replace the other two. So, were I to try 
these, I'd go for gems & rubies. But we'll stick with Larks & Ravens for 
a while...

~erik hoffman
     oakland, ca

On 5/28/2015 12:30 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers wrote:
>
> For those interested in gender free contra dance terms:
>
> 1. Do you like or dislike jets / rubies ?
> 2. How would gems / rubies compare?
>
> In dance,
> Ron Blechner
>
>
>
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