Noise & the sd-callers Mailing list

[bjarvis]

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.

Comments

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Going to CALLERLAB in Reno was NOT a waste of time for me. Andy Shore had suggested for many years that attending CALLERLAB was worthwhile. The year I attended, there were about a half-dozen or so GCA callers. I thought I wouldn't know anyone there except Andy & Kris & Rich Reel, but I ended up spending most of the banquets at tables with Bill Eyler, Vic & Debbie Ceder, Barry & Pam Clasper, Ken Sale, and many other callers who are familiar and comfortable with the LGBT dance community. I had a great time!

I wrote up the experience in an article for the GCA newsletter. The article can be found at:

http://www.danceinfo.org/articles/firstcl.html

Some of the information I gleaned from that CALLERLAB was priceless, and couldn't have been found anywhere else. For example ... Wade Driver did an incredibly good session on singing calls, with information I've never heard anywhere else (and should have).

One thing to be aware of: You & Kent will need to get used to being called "youngsters". ;) But I do encourage you to attend CALLERLAB at least once.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

One thing to be aware of: You & Kent will need to get used to being called "youngsters". ;)

You do realize you've undermined your otherwise encouraging note with this, right? :-)

I'll take a look at your article later today... I'm still half-asleep at the moment. At least the convention is driving distance from home so getting there (and escaping if desired) will be relatively easy. It will take some shuffling of our limited vacation days to make it possible though.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

I'm known for being truthful, not diplomatic.

You and Kent put together will be the youngest person in many of the sessions.