Noise & the sd-callers Mailing list

A couple of months ago, I wrote here about my dismay with the content of the sd-callers mailing list. It's an e-mail list for square dance callers to discuss their trade so I thought it might be enlightening and educational to hear from folks who are long-time callers about how they conduct their business, market their skills, perform on stage, etc.. I was disappointed to see that it was more a venue for a handful of very loud & abrasive personalities to expound their One True Way of teaching & calling. Much smoke, little light.

Just after my initial comments in LJ on the topic, suddenly the signal to noise ratio rose dramatically. There were actually a couple of threads which were relevant to square dancing and were being conducted in a civilized fashion, so I opted to hang on, believing the more bitter ones had burnt themselves out.

The past week's traffic has definitely demonstrated I was very wrong. The level of bitterness, sarcasm and willful misinterpretation has grown to new heights so I've quietly unsubscribed. Actually, it feels more like I've escaped a dysfunctionally negative political campaign more than unsubscribed from a mailing list. I'm suddenly able to breathe after crawling out from an acrid smoke-filled room.

Dayle has been pushing Kent & me to attend the Callerlab convention next spring but I'm more afraid than ever it will be a waste of time & money. I can only imagine how loud & spiteful these people could be in person, and I really don't want to be a witness to it more than I already have.

Noise & the sd-callers Mailing list

A couple of months ago, I wrote here about my dismay with the content of the sd-callers mailing list. It's an e-mail list for square dance callers to discuss their trade so I thought it might be enlightening and educational to hear from folks who are long-time callers about how they conduct their business, market their skills, perform on stage, etc.. I was disappointed to see that it was more a venue for a handful of very loud & abrasive personalities to expound their One True Way of teaching & calling. Much smoke, little light.

Just after my initial comments in LJ on the topic, suddenly the signal to noise ratio rose dramatically. There were actually a couple of threads which were relevant to square dancing and were being conducted in a civilized fashion, so I opted to hang on, believing the more bitter ones had burnt themselves out.

The past week's traffic has definitely demonstrated I was very wrong. The level of bitterness, sarcasm and willful misinterpretation has grown to new heights so I've quietly unsubscribed. Actually, it feels more like I've escaped a dysfunctionally negative political campaign more than unsubscribed from a mailing list. I'm suddenly able to breathe after crawling out from an acrid smoke-filled room.

Dayle has been pushing Kent & me to attend the Callerlab convention next spring but I'm more afraid than ever it will be a waste of time & money. I can only imagine how loud & spiteful these people could be in person, and I really don't want to be a witness to it more than I already have.