Re: [Callers] Shadow swings and Irrational Hypocrisy

Thanks Amy, well written! John McIntire, Unity ME "Here's my take: I have BEEN one of those "oh god my ex is here and I REALLY don't wan't to get stuck in a swing together" people, and, well, I always figured it was MY business to keep a buffer zone, not the caller's. Shadows are usually someone in close proximity - the next opposite gender person down the line - and people who have hugely hairy issues usually stay further apart than that - like, separate sets. If it's not your ex that you're "stuck with", but just someone who swings badly or who had garlic/gorgonzola/sardine salad for dinner, well, at 120 bpm a balance-and-swing takes, what, 8 seconds? Times, say 20 times through the dance? Fergoshsakes, people, it's less than THREE MINUTES out of your life. I've had SUBWAY rides that've gotten WAY more personal than swings, and lasted a LOT longer. When did it start to be the caller's job to provide a customized Peak Experience for every dancer in the hall, every minute of the night? Maybe it's part of the same consumer mentality that makes us want perfect, uniform fruit in our grocery section -- which is why you can now buy the same three tasteless (but shiny and pretty!) varieties of apples in every store -- and the weird looking heirloom ones that actually taste strong and unique and, oh, I dunno, PERSONABLE, are harder and harder to come by... cheers, Amy"