[Callers] Etiquette of refusing an offer to dance

[Kalia Kliban]

On 12/16/2017 12:01 PM, Alexandra Deis-Lauby wrote:
> This is Cdny’s etiquette page. It addresses saying no but not in great 
> detail in terms of historical practice.
> 
> http://cdny.org/what-is-contra/contra-etiquette/

And I hadn't realized until this conversation with my dance friend just 
how problematic that earlier etiquette practice was for folks who really 
wanted to be considerate of the other dancers on the floor.  If they 
were, for whatever reason, concerned that someone might not want to 
dance with them, the mere act of asking that person to dance put the 
askee in a bind.  So those who started dancing in the time period when 
that rule was the norm have carried that dilemma with them through the 
years.

Those of you who are organizers and who deal with setting standards of 
conduct for your communities, what are your thoughts about this?  Has 
that rule completely fallen by the wayside?  If so, have any of you 
specifically addressed its demise?

Kalia