i agree. that's been the etiquette for hundreds of years - you can read about it in Jane Austen [most clearly in Northanger Abbey, but also in Pride and Prejudice]. There are three choices - a) accept, b) decline because one has promised this dance to (someone else), or c) decline (because "I'm sitting this one out".) It's rude to say a simple "no" and then dance with someone else.
Now in the days of Jane Austen, men had the role of asking, ladies only had the power of accepting or declining; and once they declined they were out for the balance of the evening. These days, while anyone can ask, and you could get up and boogie in a later dance after declining for this one, it's still rude to say no and then stand up with someone else.
Human nature hasn't changed in 200 years. If you decline, you sit one out.
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Date: 2006-02-24 02:51 pm (UTC)Now in the days of Jane Austen, men had the role of asking, ladies only had the power of accepting or declining; and once they declined they were out for the balance of the evening. These days, while anyone can ask, and you could get up and boogie in a later dance after declining for this one, it's still rude to say no and then stand up with someone else.
Human nature hasn't changed in 200 years. If you decline, you sit one out.