regardless of what you hear, or think you see, people (and i mean like 99% of people) go to exchanges to dance. period. even LOLX. shocking right? even people who drink, dance blues, hook up, or do body shots are there to dance. everything else is just an aside.
i mean how stupid does it sound to say that exchanges are all about eating late at diners? we are all hungry, we have been dancing all night, and there is a group of people who do it at like every exchange. i mean why dont people bitch about us eating so many carbs before going to bed?!?
im my experence at exchanges and exchange after parties and even non party "debatchery" sessions at hosts places, NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS!! there is no stripping, nudity, oral sex, sex, or mass orgy. noone puts bottles in undescribed places, or strapes on a strap-on. 2 people may end up in a shower together in the morning, but who knows what goes on in there. i expect that our imaginations run far wilder then reality. group things have not progressed passed licking alchol off of peoples hipbones, or people kissing in mass. blahblahblah.....i mean my parties in highschool had more going on. weve been over that i know, sorry.
so why did i start another thread? ummm... oh yeah. bitching about what goes on at exchanges has been previlant lately. have we really forgotten about the dancing? are exchanges not about the people? give me a break. before you open your mouths why dont you look at what actually goes on, not what you imagin, or what you have heard about 4th or even 2nd hand. people do go to exchanges to dance.
Devona rulez, and absolutely right. We both stayed at the so-called "OrgyHouse" at Soflex, for example, and only engaged in 3 or 4 orgies the whole time!
But the analogy about eating is a good one. People sometimes meet other people at the gym and like, get phone s and dates and stuff, but is going to the gym really primarily about hooking up? Nah. Of course not. It's about making a fool of yourself because you can't figure out how to work the nautilus machines.
Honestly I vary. Sometimes it's pure dance, other times it's a seriously because of some folk I want to see. The last boston exchange was almost entirely to chill and see people I knew. SoFlex, I thought because I was so rusty with the dance thing I was going to end up chilling most of the time, but it turned out I was there purely because of dancing.
yeah well they are supposed to be about dancing, but everybody has different motivations for dancing in the scene. If you dance so you can meet and hook up with people, then in essence, your dancing is about hooking up and since exchanges are about dancing then you follow my logic right?
that's my take on the whole "fluid exchange" phenomenon.
for some people:
dancing = hooking up
and
exchanges = dancing :: exchanges = dancing = hooking up
sigh! I remember when exhcanges were more innocent and had a lot to do with small group social fun (1998). It then became large group social fun (2000). And then the hooking up became more obvious to all as old skoolers stayed in the scene and everyone got better at blues, drinking and not being a social misfit.
Then the binge (2001) and other very obvious (and internet aided) debauchery and mirth became almost a part of the mainstream.
But, ultimately it's still about connecting with something or someone else. So, in one sense it hasn't changed at all.
"Im going to SomeXchaange because so and so will be there and I want to hit that"
Of course, maybe i should stop hanging around phil
You friggin' kock suhkah!! I'm definitely not letting you sleep on my bed after this. And when I did end up in a shower with somebody, it was with a guy!!
But in all seriousness, exchanges are always about dancing. No matter how much flirtation goes seen or unseen, my ass is always around to dance. It's my friggin' passion!
I have to disagree slightly. Exchanges were (and are) about experiencing a different dance scene and all it has to offer. That means the dancing (obviously), but also the night life of the host city, it's culture, it's food and sometimes hooking up with the opposite sex. I love dancing too, but it's not the only reason I spend the the hard earned cash to go travel to another city.
Devona,
The question is not to discuss why there is not more debauchery, but what you can do at the exchanges you attend to encourage and create carnal thoughts. That is the real question that comes to mind. I know you can do it girl!
I see nothing wrong with exchanges because about hooking up, hanging out with friends, drinking, eating (sometimes good food places are part of the deal), seeing the town AND dancing. Why should I limit myself to just the dancing?
What is the difference between all these exchange threads anyway? Can somebody sum them up for me?
I think the problem with some scenes now is people who think dancing is just about the dancing. It's always been able having little communities, hanging out, and having fun. An exchange should be no different.
Quoted from "ricki" I see nothing wrong with exchanges because about hooking up, hanging out with friends, drinking, eating (sometimes good food places are part of the deal), seeing the town AND dancing. Why should I limit myself to just the dancing?
What is the difference between all these exchange threads anyway? Can somebody sum them up for me?
I think the problem with some scenes now is people who think dancing is just about the dancing. It's always been able having little communities, hanging out, and having fun. An exchange should be no different.
Exactly. Don't assume that I dance for the same reasons you do. Or I have the same level of obsession with it as you.
I have to agree with Devona. But she is a smart girl, so no surprise there ;)
I think for the most part the average dancer (big generalization here folks) that travels is NOT out to hook up as a primary motivation, no matter how often people refer to exchanges as a three day hookup or a fluids exchange. Are friendships made? Yes, but that is usually a by-product of the type of people that lindyhoppers are. Just think about this...have you slept with everyone that you met at an exchange? Even if you tried? :) Most people aren't into doing things THAT intimate with people that they don't know, dancer or otherwise. For some, dancing is plenty intimate enough.
Personally I think you see way more interesting things happen in a movie theatre, on the beach or in a regular club, than at an exchange at a dance.
Typically, most people have that strong sense of personal space. Many studies have been done on it. Americans tend to take up the most space. Hence 4 ppl in an elevator migrate toward the corners. Dancers on the other hand are different in that they allow others to invade their personal space on a regular basis. They also tend to be outgoing, and a bit more "crazy" in public. Just look at some of the pix that are posted. But I didn't see any nudity in any of them..and i was looking really hard for it. closest thing were some shots at the pool or in a jacuzzi, and everyone had on something that covered up all the important parts :)
As an organizer for SoFLeX, I would be very upset to hear that the event me and my collegues spent all year planning was reduced to debauchery and hooking up. In fact we went to extra lengths to ensure that this type of behavior isn't encouraged at the dances. As an example, from last year, and in some other places i have visited this year, I have heard the comment "the blues room is too dark". Since generally I don't frequent the blues room, it wasn't something I picked up on. This year it wasn't so dark. Did people notice? Not sure. I didn't frequent there myself. Perhaps someone who spent significant time in there can state what really went on.
What ppl do after they leave the dance is their business. And generally I think they have enough sense and respect to keep it their business and move things that might be a bit more intimate to the after after parties. But I think most organizers have it in their best interest to make things fun for all that are there.
And yes I have also heard many of the stories..and like most, they tend to be exaggerated, or harmless fun. And if you don't want to be a part of it. Then a) leave the room b) say "i don't want to be hosted in a party house and c) travel with people YOU are comfortable hanging with and have the same sense of fun/tolerance that you do.
Does it happen? I am sure. Does everyone do it? I don't think so, judging by the fact that there are an awful lot of folks on the dance floor, and very few making out in the dark corners of the room. And more than likely they would have done that if they were sitting in the diner, so what does that tell you.
If people wanted to go and hook up, I would think it would be easier to do that at a regular club, where MOST of the ppl there are looking for a hookup, rather than driving/flying all over the place and claiming "I go just for the dancing".
We had over 200 people come in from out of town this past weekend Thank you all for coming ;) Most of them had to fly here to get here. I think the 250 they spent on their plane ticket could have been better spent closer to home if it is all about hooking up. I think they came here for the dancing and their friends and to have fun and meet new people. Judging by the posts I have seen, I think we here at SwingAffair did a great job meeting the needs of the people ;)
Hope that we can make SoFLeX 2005 even better then 04.
Rob,
I'm with you on this one. Yeah, things might happen at the after-after hours places, I wasn't there so I don't know. I spent the better part of Sunday night in the Blues Room and we kept it well-lit...just took out the flourescent lighting for the time we were in there so we had at least some atmosphere. Unless wild & crazy things happened the few times I stepped out, it was at most a laid-back setting.
On the whole "hooking up" thing; I made several new friends this year that I'm keeping in touch with. Even the SoFLeX page mentions "the incredible friendships", etc. And that's a large part, as you said, of what dancing is about.
People will talk, stories will be told, etc. In the end, for me, SoFLeX (and dancing in general) is all about doing something I enjoy in the company of good friends. What happens when the music stops...well, to each their own. My "late late night" activities included breakfast, driving home, and sleeping. And, of course, our gathering on Monday for the game & dinner (and Tina's most-excellent party); a perfect end to a perfect weekend.
this thread poses a really good point. Just as certain events such as competitions have the misjudgement of only attracting snobby lindy hop nazis, exchanges have a bad rap for attracting the dancers who are interested in only socializing and debauchary. I think these types of people from each type of event tend to be the most accessible to intrigue and gossip because they put themselves out there to be seen and noticed in the scene.
I think its important to know that all types of people go to all types of events. Dont be so quick to judge. Some crazy phucked up [bleep!]e happens at competitions and at the same time lots of people only go to exchanges to listen to music and dance.
Quoted from "ricki" I think the problem with some scenes now is people who think dancing is just about the dancing. It's always been able having little communities, hanging out, and having fun. An exchange should be no different.
People look for different things in exchanges. Sometimes they find what they want, other times they don't.
If every organizer listened to every complaint then we would have really generic, boring, events and no one would travel because nothing would really be different. Seen one, you seen 'em all.
As far as food goes, if I'm in Maine, I'm having seafood, if it's the midwest I'm having steak, and in Ithaca its hippy-food. That's part of the fun. Finding a good diner in every city you visit is, I think, a worthy goal to have in life.
During the last Boston exchange there were people who just went to a few dances and the rest of the time the hung out with friends and enjoyed the city. People had cookouts, parties, and created smaller events outside and around the exchange and it all worked out great. Dancing is defnitely a priority for me but, as Ricki said above, its also about communities, friends, meeting new people. I hope to meet someone special dancing, don't we all? With something that consumes so much of our time and passions, wouldn't it be great to find someone who felt the same and understood that?
So, yeah, we want to meet people. Sometimes we want to hookup with those people, sometimes we want to lick chocolate off them. Sometimes Phlurg licks chocolate of Phil. So what? I have never been to an exchange where there weren't many opportunities to do different things. Dance, check out the city, go to a diner, go to an afterparty, get Phil and Falty stinking drunk and take pictures...get a bunch of folks together and go and do your own thing. The parties are usually pretty obvious, if you don't like 'em, do something else.
The experience is always what you make of it. I don't expect anything to be provided to me by an exchange except a variety of music and lots of opportunities to dance. I'll take care of my own fun the rest of the time and I don't force anyone else to come along for the ride (except for that one time, Phlurg), so my fun should not ruin anyone else's good time. (again, except for that one time, Phlurg) :wink:
Also, in my experience with exchanges, it is very rare that the most controversial happenings are exchange-sponsored. Usually it is an afterpaty or other event at someone's private home or apartment. So it is hard to say that an event is all about anything besides dancing from an organizational point of view.
I'm also one of the lucky ones to crash at the infamous "Orgy-House", and just like the rest of the people said- nothing happened. I'm from Tampa Bay, we had a whole bunch of people go, and I never heard a single one of them mention anything about going for the food or hook ups. People go to exchanges to dance, and have a good time, for the opportunity to meet and dance with some absolutely incredible people. :D
Very nice, Devona. It does seem that the trend lately is for people to focus on what went down (no pun intended) at exchanges instead of the music, the dancing, the people or the sight-seeing. Granted, a lot of people prefer "Who did what with who?" over "How's the weather?"-type conversations, and the lindy scene parallels to high school will still hold, but I think we're going to see this swing (again with the puns!) back the other way. We've seen now how debauchery can tear apart scenes and ruin reps and it's unfortunate, as well as detrimental, to the one thing that we are ALL about...dancing. Yeah, we know it will happen, biological urges and exhibitionists and all, but rumor and innuendo can be a LOT more interesting than video tapes and digital polaroids, so...let's cross our fingers and hope for some mystery.
if you have more than two people in any given place, there will be rumours. People like to talk sh!t. The "oh my god did you hear that Eff is addicted to bashing penguins over the head with a baseball bat?" kind of conversations are just what everyone wants to hear. Or at least it seems that way, other wise why would we have the "problem" of rumours?
that being said, you can't make the swing scene perfect. you can just do your own thing, not listen to the bullsh!t and just avoid spreading gossip, but that wouldn't be very interesting....
lol. and i wouldn't worry about it so much. People will talk. They do. Just relax adn do your thing. If you want to go to an exchange to hookup, do it. If you want to go just to dance, do it. Don't expect other people to have the same ideas, morals, etc as you. Dancing doesn't have to be an oral conversation.
Quoted from "BocaLindy01" Rob,
I'm with you on this one. Yeah, things might happen at the after-after hours places, I wasn't there so I don't know. I spent the better part of Sunday night in the Blues Room and we kept it well-lit...just took out the flourescent lighting for the time we were in there so we had at least some atmosphere. Unless wild & crazy things happened the few times I stepped out, it was at most a laid-back setting.
i too spent a lot of time in the blues room at soflex (while i love to lindy, it was a lot cooler and less crowded in the blues room). i'm still learning how to blues and what i saw and experienced was some great dancing and no debauchery as far as i could tell. as a matter of fact, for a while there were children dancing in there with us - i'm talking 9 or 10 year-olds :o . i don't know if they were hotel guests that just happened by and decided it looked like fun or if a dancer actually brought their kids. but they did not appear to have been scarred for life by the experience.
my daughter and i have attended a number of exchanges and workshops together and we avoid the late-late night affairs but still have a wonderful time - dancing and visiting and getting to know other dancers from around the country and beyond. we have yet to experience something untoward during the sponsored events, but i have to say that if this occurred, i would probably refrain from attending future said events. it's just not my thing. my 2 cents.
Quoted from "HotLindyLove" lol. and i wouldn't worry about it so much. People will talk. They do. Just relax adn do your thing. If you want to go to an exchange to hookup, do it. If you want to go just to dance, do it. Don't expect other people to have the same ideas, morals, etc as you. Dancing doesn't have to be an oral conversation.
that being said, you can't make the swing scene perfect. you can just do your own thing, not listen to the bullsh!t and just avoid spreading gossip,
and i wouldn't worry about it so much. People will talk. They do. Just relax adn do your thing. If you want to go to an exchange to hookup, do it. If you want to go just to dance, do it. Don't expect other people to have the same ideas, morals, etc as you. Dancing doesn't have to be an oral conversation.
D2k2 I absolutely right! Exchanges are about dancing.
Even LOLX. ;) And this year it will be much more about dancing.
But anyways... IMHO, the part about the socialization is due to the fact we all just get along. It is just a side effect of good people making friends. There just isn't many groups that travel like we do.
I was just talking to a friend that has a Hot Air balloon, and they travel all of the nation to meet with other hot air balloonists. As my friend discribed the engagements between balloonists, it kind of reminded me of Lindy hoppers.
So, like I said, it is just a side effect of good people sharing something together.
Dancing is what we are about, and so Exchanges are about dancing.
ok really people. exchanges ARE about dancing!!!
mme cartier
regardless of what you hear, or think you see, people (and i mean like 99% of people) go to exchanges to dance. period. even LOLX. shocking right? even people who drink, dance blues, hook up, or do body shots are there to dance. everything else is just an aside.
i mean how stupid does it sound to say that exchanges are all about eating late at diners? we are all hungry, we have been dancing all night, and there is a group of people who do it at like every exchange. i mean why dont people bitch about us eating so many carbs before going to bed?!?
im my experence at exchanges and exchange after parties and even non party "debatchery" sessions at hosts places, NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS!! there is no stripping, nudity, oral sex, sex, or mass orgy. noone puts bottles in undescribed places, or strapes on a strap-on. 2 people may end up in a shower together in the morning, but who knows what goes on in there. i expect that our imaginations run far wilder then reality. group things have not progressed passed licking alchol off of peoples hipbones, or people kissing in mass. blahblahblah.....i mean my parties in highschool had more going on. weve been over that i know, sorry.
so why did i start another thread? ummm... oh yeah. bitching about what goes on at exchanges has been previlant lately. have we really forgotten about the dancing? are exchanges not about the people? give me a break. before you open your mouths why dont you look at what actually goes on, not what you imagin, or what you have heard about 4th or even 2nd hand. people do go to exchanges to dance.
pdxbabs
What she said!
Phlurg
Devona rulez, and absolutely right. We both stayed at the so-called "OrgyHouse" at Soflex, for example, and only engaged in 3 or 4 orgies the whole time!
Heh. No, alas, there were no orgies.
Phlurg
But the analogy about eating is a good one. People sometimes meet other people at the gym and like, get phone s and dates and stuff, but is going to the gym really primarily about hooking up? Nah. Of course not. It's about making a fool of yourself because you can't figure out how to work the nautilus machines.
falty411
Ive never heard anyone say
"Im going to SomeXchange to eat really good food"
I definitly have over heard people say
"Im going to SomeXchaange because so and so will be there and I want to hit that"
Of course, maybe i should stop hanging around phil
mme cartier
actually i said "i wanna go to kclx for those awesome ribs" fckin yummy yo.
falty411
See what I mean! Phil is ruining lindy hop for everyone!
Signet
Psssh people talk about looking forward to good eatin at exchanges all the time. But you're right, they never talk about food...
- James
NEON
Honestly I vary. Sometimes it's pure dance, other times it's a seriously because of some folk I want to see. The last boston exchange was almost entirely to chill and see people I knew. SoFlex, I thought because I was so rusty with the dance thing I was going to end up chilling most of the time, but it turned out I was there purely because of dancing.
VLG
:lol:
james, have i mentioned that i heart you recently?
HotLindyLove
yeah well they are supposed to be about dancing, but everybody has different motivations for dancing in the scene. If you dance so you can meet and hook up with people, then in essence, your dancing is about hooking up and since exchanges are about dancing then you follow my logic right?
that's my take on the whole "fluid exchange" phenomenon.
for some people:
dancing = hooking up
and
exchanges = dancing :: exchanges = dancing = hooking up
Larry
sigh! I remember when exhcanges were more innocent and had a lot to do with small group social fun (1998). It then became large group social fun (2000). And then the hooking up became more obvious to all as old skoolers stayed in the scene and everyone got better at blues, drinking and not being a social misfit.
Then the binge (2001) and other very obvious (and internet aided) debauchery and mirth became almost a part of the mainstream.
But, ultimately it's still about connecting with something or someone else. So, in one sense it hasn't changed at all.
nurseboy
I have to disagree slightly. Exchanges were (and are) about experiencing a different dance scene and all it has to offer. That means the dancing (obviously), but also the night life of the host city, it's culture, it's food and sometimes hooking up with the opposite sex. I love dancing too, but it's not the only reason I spend the the hard earned cash to go travel to another city.
cerberus
Devona,
The question is not to discuss why there is not more debauchery, but what you can do at the exchanges you attend to encourage and create carnal thoughts. That is the real question that comes to mind. I know you can do it girl!
T
ricki
I see nothing wrong with exchanges because about hooking up, hanging out with friends, drinking, eating (sometimes good food places are part of the deal), seeing the town AND dancing. Why should I limit myself to just the dancing?
What is the difference between all these exchange threads anyway? Can somebody sum them up for me?
I think the problem with some scenes now is people who think dancing is just about the dancing. It's always been able having little communities, hanging out, and having fun. An exchange should be no different.
nurseboy
Exactly. Don't assume that I dance for the same reasons you do. Or I have the same level of obsession with it as you.
whatsalindy
I have to agree with Devona. But she is a smart girl, so no surprise there ;)
I think for the most part the average dancer (big generalization here folks) that travels is NOT out to hook up as a primary motivation, no matter how often people refer to exchanges as a three day hookup or a fluids exchange. Are friendships made? Yes, but that is usually a by-product of the type of people that lindyhoppers are. Just think about this...have you slept with everyone that you met at an exchange? Even if you tried? :) Most people aren't into doing things THAT intimate with people that they don't know, dancer or otherwise. For some, dancing is plenty intimate enough.
Personally I think you see way more interesting things happen in a movie theatre, on the beach or in a regular club, than at an exchange at a dance.
Typically, most people have that strong sense of personal space. Many studies have been done on it. Americans tend to take up the most space. Hence 4 ppl in an elevator migrate toward the corners. Dancers on the other hand are different in that they allow others to invade their personal space on a regular basis. They also tend to be outgoing, and a bit more "crazy" in public. Just look at some of the pix that are posted. But I didn't see any nudity in any of them..and i was looking really hard for it. closest thing were some shots at the pool or in a jacuzzi, and everyone had on something that covered up all the important parts :)
As an organizer for SoFLeX, I would be very upset to hear that the event me and my collegues spent all year planning was reduced to debauchery and hooking up. In fact we went to extra lengths to ensure that this type of behavior isn't encouraged at the dances. As an example, from last year, and in some other places i have visited this year, I have heard the comment "the blues room is too dark". Since generally I don't frequent the blues room, it wasn't something I picked up on. This year it wasn't so dark. Did people notice? Not sure. I didn't frequent there myself. Perhaps someone who spent significant time in there can state what really went on.
What ppl do after they leave the dance is their business. And generally I think they have enough sense and respect to keep it their business and move things that might be a bit more intimate to the after after parties. But I think most organizers have it in their best interest to make things fun for all that are there.
And yes I have also heard many of the stories..and like most, they tend to be exaggerated, or harmless fun. And if you don't want to be a part of it. Then a) leave the room b) say "i don't want to be hosted in a party house and c) travel with people YOU are comfortable hanging with and have the same sense of fun/tolerance that you do.
Does it happen? I am sure. Does everyone do it? I don't think so, judging by the fact that there are an awful lot of folks on the dance floor, and very few making out in the dark corners of the room. And more than likely they would have done that if they were sitting in the diner, so what does that tell you.
If people wanted to go and hook up, I would think it would be easier to do that at a regular club, where MOST of the ppl there are looking for a hookup, rather than driving/flying all over the place and claiming "I go just for the dancing".
We had over 200 people come in from out of town this past weekend
Thank you all for coming ;) Most of them had to fly here to get here. I think the 250 they spent on their plane ticket could have been better spent closer to home if it is all about hooking up. I think they came here for the dancing and their friends and to have fun and meet new people. Judging by the posts I have seen, I think we here at SwingAffair did a great job meeting the needs of the people ;)
Hope that we can make SoFLeX 2005 even better then 04.
'Nuff said.
BocaSwing01
Rob,
I'm with you on this one. Yeah, things might happen at the after-after hours places, I wasn't there so I don't know. I spent the better part of Sunday night in the Blues Room and we kept it well-lit...just took out the flourescent lighting for the time we were in there so we had at least some atmosphere. Unless wild & crazy things happened the few times I stepped out, it was at most a laid-back setting.
On the whole "hooking up" thing; I made several new friends this year that I'm keeping in touch with. Even the SoFLeX page mentions "the incredible friendships", etc. And that's a large part, as you said, of what dancing is about.
People will talk, stories will be told, etc. In the end, for me, SoFLeX (and dancing in general) is all about doing something I enjoy in the company of good friends. What happens when the music stops...well, to each their own. My "late late night" activities included breakfast, driving home, and sleeping. And, of course, our gathering on Monday for the game & dinner (and Tina's most-excellent party); a perfect end to a perfect weekend.
Amy
this thread poses a really good point. Just as certain events such as competitions have the misjudgement of only attracting snobby lindy hop nazis, exchanges have a bad rap for attracting the dancers who are interested in only socializing and debauchary. I think these types of people from each type of event tend to be the most accessible to intrigue and gossip because they put themselves out there to be seen and noticed in the scene.
I think its important to know that all types of people go to all types of events. Dont be so quick to judge. Some crazy phucked up [bleep!]e happens at competitions and at the same time lots of people only go to exchanges to listen to music and dance.
Ogden
People look for different things in exchanges. Sometimes they find what they want, other times they don't.
If every organizer listened to every complaint then we would have really generic, boring, events and no one would travel because nothing would really be different. Seen one, you seen 'em all.
As far as food goes, if I'm in Maine, I'm having seafood, if it's the midwest I'm having steak, and in Ithaca its hippy-food. That's part of the fun. Finding a good diner in every city you visit is, I think, a worthy goal to have in life.
During the last Boston exchange there were people who just went to a few dances and the rest of the time the hung out with friends and enjoyed the city. People had cookouts, parties, and created smaller events outside and around the exchange and it all worked out great. Dancing is defnitely a priority for me but, as Ricki said above, its also about communities, friends, meeting new people. I hope to meet someone special dancing, don't we all? With something that consumes so much of our time and passions, wouldn't it be great to find someone who felt the same and understood that?
So, yeah, we want to meet people. Sometimes we want to hookup with those people, sometimes we want to lick chocolate off them. Sometimes Phlurg licks chocolate of Phil. So what? I have never been to an exchange where there weren't many opportunities to do different things. Dance, check out the city, go to a diner, go to an afterparty, get Phil and Falty stinking drunk and take pictures...get a bunch of folks together and go and do your own thing. The parties are usually pretty obvious, if you don't like 'em, do something else.
The experience is always what you make of it. I don't expect anything to be provided to me by an exchange except a variety of music and lots of opportunities to dance. I'll take care of my own fun the rest of the time and I don't force anyone else to come along for the ride (except for that one time, Phlurg), so my fun should not ruin anyone else's good time. (again, except for that one time, Phlurg) :wink:
Also, in my experience with exchanges, it is very rare that the most controversial happenings are exchange-sponsored. Usually it is an afterpaty or other event at someone's private home or apartment. So it is hard to say that an event is all about anything besides dancing from an organizational point of view.
Obsidian
I'm also one of the lucky ones to crash at the infamous "Orgy-House", and just like the rest of the people said- nothing happened. I'm from Tampa Bay, we had a whole bunch of people go, and I never heard a single one of them mention anything about going for the food or hook ups. People go to exchanges to dance, and have a good time, for the opportunity to meet and dance with some absolutely incredible people. :D
LilLindyHopper
Very nice, Devona. It does seem that the trend lately is for people to focus on what went down (no pun intended) at exchanges instead of the music, the dancing, the people or the sight-seeing. Granted, a lot of people prefer "Who did what with who?" over "How's the weather?"-type conversations, and the lindy scene parallels to high school will still hold, but I think we're going to see this swing (again with the puns!) back the other way. We've seen now how debauchery can tear apart scenes and ruin reps and it's unfortunate, as well as detrimental, to the one thing that we are ALL about...dancing. Yeah, we know it will happen, biological urges and exhibitionists and all, but rumor and innuendo can be a LOT more interesting than video tapes and digital polaroids, so...let's cross our fingers and hope for some mystery.
HotLindyLove
if you have more than two people in any given place, there will be rumours. People like to talk sh!t. The "oh my god did you hear that Eff is addicted to bashing penguins over the head with a baseball bat?" kind of conversations are just what everyone wants to hear. Or at least it seems that way, other wise why would we have the "problem" of rumours?
that being said, you can't make the swing scene perfect. you can just do your own thing, not listen to the bullsh!t and just avoid spreading gossip, but that wouldn't be very interesting....
lol. and i wouldn't worry about it so much. People will talk. They do. Just relax adn do your thing. If you want to go to an exchange to hookup, do it. If you want to go just to dance, do it. Don't expect other people to have the same ideas, morals, etc as you. Dancing doesn't have to be an oral conversation.
JMatthew
I will definately go back to the Seattle Exchange for Nellie's resteraunt. No joke. Coolest place in the world. And really good, cheap food. :)
Next time we just have to remember to "Call ahead if [we] are bringing more than 6 people." Like 25 is that much more than 6 really.
LilLindyHopper
or not sigh
elursrehtom
i too spent a lot of time in the blues room at soflex (while i love to lindy, it was a lot cooler and less crowded in the blues room). i'm still learning how to blues and what i saw and experienced was some great dancing and no debauchery as far as i could tell. as a matter of fact, for a while there were children dancing in there with us - i'm talking 9 or 10 year-olds :o . i don't know if they were hotel guests that just happened by and decided it looked like fun or if a dancer actually brought their kids. but they did not appear to have been scarred for life by the experience.
my daughter and i have attended a number of exchanges and workshops together and we avoid the late-late night affairs but still have a wonderful time - dancing and visiting and getting to know other dancers from around the country and beyond. we have yet to experience something untoward during the sponsored events, but i have to say that if this occurred, i would probably refrain from attending future said events. it's just not my thing. my 2 cents.
LindyChef
If exchanges weren't about the dancing any more, then why would people go?
rolls eyes
When did lindy become some sort of free love commune? I want to know because I hate hippies ...
BocaSwing01
Amen to that.
jadeking
Yep, yep. I 2nd that emotion.
Captain Morgan
D2k2 I absolutely right! Exchanges are about dancing.
Even LOLX. ;) And this year it will be much more about dancing.
But anyways... IMHO, the part about the socialization is due to the fact we all just get along. It is just a side effect of good people making friends. There just isn't many groups that travel like we do.
I was just talking to a friend that has a Hot Air balloon, and they travel all of the nation to meet with other hot air balloonists. As my friend discribed the engagements between balloonists, it kind of reminded me of Lindy hoppers.
So, like I said, it is just a side effect of good people sharing something together.
Dancing is what we are about, and so Exchanges are about dancing.
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