I know I already apologized for being one of the three (and more for my comment afterwards then the actual asking), so I won't again. I'll do my best to respect the role you've chosen to dance on a given evening in the future, and ask when I'm not sure.
I suppose as a) a relatively new person in the dancing community and b) someone who shares your sentiments on just wanting to -dance-, the whole issue of having Clearly Defined Gender Roles at a dance seems, and you'll pardon my bad teenager accent and pun, "Sooooo last century." We're there to dance, so sticking in arbitrary rules (and they were arbitrary back then too, "just because something is time-honored tradition doesn't make it Not Stupid!") that just lead to some people not dancing is completely counter-productive. If they (the ambiguous they) want period accuracy, then I will learn the ladies part, put on a most -lovely- gown and dance with style. I mean, I'm wearing a dress, I can't possibly confuse the new folks! (*beep* sarcasm warning). Which is as j7y said a dumb argument, because ladies get to dance together and also because people should learn to dance their steps and get to know the folks they are dancing with, not just idly slot them into preconceived roles based on something so silly as - the particular spot they are standing in -.
So far as asking you to dance (and this is meant in a general sense as well as the specific), my sentiments echo j7y again, both in trying to remember to ask what role my friends who are dancing may be using (as appropriate) and that I may forget in the future >.> (Apologies in advance). Besides it being -complete scandalous to certain parties, I'd also echo sparr here, and ask if I can ask you to lead as the gent, given of course the fact that it wouldn't otherwise raise a hew and cry.
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I suppose as a) a relatively new person in the dancing community and b) someone who shares your sentiments on just wanting to -dance-, the whole issue of having Clearly Defined Gender Roles at a dance seems, and you'll pardon my bad teenager accent and pun, "Sooooo last century." We're there to dance, so sticking in arbitrary rules (and they were arbitrary back then too, "just because something is time-honored tradition doesn't make it Not Stupid!") that just lead to some people not dancing is completely counter-productive. If they (the ambiguous they) want period accuracy, then I will learn the ladies part, put on a most -lovely- gown and dance with style. I mean, I'm wearing a dress, I can't possibly confuse the new folks! (*beep* sarcasm warning). Which is as j7y said a dumb argument, because ladies get to dance together and also because people should learn to dance their steps and get to know the folks they are dancing with, not just idly slot them into preconceived roles based on something so silly as - the particular spot they are standing in -.
So far as asking you to dance (and this is meant in a general sense as well as the specific), my sentiments echo j7y again, both in trying to remember to ask what role my friends who are dancing may be using (as appropriate) and that I may forget in the future >.> (Apologies in advance). Besides it being -complete scandalous to certain parties, I'd also echo sparr here, and ask if I can ask you to lead as the gent, given of course the fact that it wouldn't otherwise raise a hew and cry.