11 Apr
2013
11 Apr
'13
2:38 a.m.
On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 10:55 AM, Donald Perley <donperley(a)gmail.com> wrote:
While you're at it you can make them eat Brussels
sprouts and bring a white
board so you can give a calculus lesson. Both good things that everyone
should be into.
"Social Engineering" has gotten a bad rep because of its use as a term
describing "malicious and deceptive" practices, mostly having to do with
computer hacking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_%28political_science%29
Some callers use the term to belittle any of the subtle but effective
techniques that make up the toolkit of good callers.
Don't assume that "social engineering" is always used to get people to do
what they don't want to do...or what they "should" do. As a caller I try
to use all of my skills to get people to do what almost all of them already
*want *to do...even if they haven't thought it through very carefully.
(For example: People don't really *want *to rush to the center sets and
jockey to "beat" others to a good position. We all would prefer a dance
where the regulars quickly partner with the first-timers and dancing
throughout the hall is enjoyable. If I, as a caller, can "engineer" a
situation that makes center set syndrome both unnecessary and less
rewarding, then all of the dancers benefit from that--even those who say
that they "want" to compete on the dance floor.)
Anyone engaged in any effort for social change is a social engineer...and
that includes those working for acceptance of alternative sexual
orientations. As a caller I don't use up too much of my limited capital of
influence to promote social change movements. I do think it is essential
that all be welcomed and treated with respect. That's very basic to any
open, public event. It's also the law.
If I want to work against homophobia at dances I would wear a skirt and
dance with men more often than I do. I don't see this as a core purpose of
my calling , or my dancing. I sometimes dance the lady's part, and it can
be an effort to make a point. But I don't often do that at the mike unless
it becomes an issue that affects the entire community. Integrating the
first-timers into the hall is enough of a challenge.
- Greg McKenzie
*********************
On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 1:33 PM, Dave Casserly
<david.j.casserly(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote:
If men in the UK are so uncomfortable touching
another man that they
don't
want to swing (which is, in its essence, simply
placing one hand on the
man's back and one on a hand, not exactly an intimate embrace), that is
unacceptably homophobic. I know there are some on this list who don't
agree that callers have any part in "social engineering" or letting our
calling reflect our values as humans, but personally, if I were asked to
call a dance where the men were that afraid of touching each other, I
would
have no problem with challenging their
perceptions by asking them to
swing
with each other (obviously there are some people
afraid of touching other
people for other reasons, but in that case, their fear isn't gendered).
In
that situation, a little "stress" is
appropriate; I have no problem with
causing homophobic people some minor stress when it's their own awful
views
that lead to their stress.