Dancer Archive

After a conversation today thought I'd throw something out. And interesting (to me) thought I had today about morality.

And NO it's not about lap dancing or table dancing or anything of the like except peripherally. If you want to lap dance or table dance or provide more ..intimate... services for pay fine and good. I have no moral position on that on that one way or the other. If it hurts no one then why not? I PERSONALLY choose not to but that choice is ONLY relevant to ME not anyone else.

But I got in a couple conversations with some girls today about that subject. And tried to point out that MOST of the Cantinas condone that kind of activity which is just fine.

But I asked WHY shouldn't there be ONE Cantina in the Galaxy where adults can sit around and heal and talk without having wade through the immature and juvenile hormone talk?

The response was what got me to thinking.

It seems almost like if a dancer can look and see that EVERYONE is doing it in EVERY Cantina then its okay to say "Well everyone else is doing it so I can too." and suddenly
there is a moral precedent to follow and don't have to make your own moral choices.

I've had one dancer come in to the Keren Cantina and tell me that in a few days or a week ours will be just like all the others. I asked her WHY she would want that. Whether variety wasn't better. She said "Thats the way it is. Why should you be any different?"

If someone want to engage in what I would consider immoral behavior FOR ME that's fine, but WHY is there what seems to be a strong DRIVE to get everyone to move to the lowest common denominator? If there is some kind of moral scale why force everyone to the bottom?

Is it some kind of idea that if everyone else is doing it then I don't have to feel any guilt or shame if I do it TOO?

Any ideas?

Do your own thing, if someone says that things are going to change just because that's what they've seen happen, then tell them they're wrong. You have control over what happens to your character and if you work in a cantina full of people that you call your friends, people that you know and know you, then what on earth is going to change anything? You have control, nobody else has control over you. Things won't change just because they change elsewhere, that's not how it works. As for the morality, if you've built a reputation in a particular cantina, and people have high respect for you, I doubt you have to worry about anything. Personally, I would have told that girl she didn't know what she was talking about. I think we are beyond the days of following the crowd, do your own thing, if people don't like that, they can go to a different cantina. It's that simple, don't be a follower, be a leader

Its not so much FOLLOWING the crowds that I'm talking about. It more like this attitude that I want to do something and if I can GET the crowds to do it too then I suddenly have a sort of twisted moral sanction.

Like if I can get everyone else to descend to MY level then I don't have to worry about anyone else being able to take any moral high ground and condemn me.

Like I said its a subtle impression and I could easily be wrong.

I made some remarks to one girl and she reacted like I had just accused of being a child molestor. It was defense through Strong offense and I looked back several times at what I said and I still can't see how she construed any of it as critical of Her.

Its almost as if some individuals respect the same moral code that I do but want to find a way to get out of it. And if they can get ME to do what THEY do then if I say anything, they can immediately point out that I'M in no position to pass judegement. Like a way of avoiding any open mention of morality. If no one SAYS I'm being bad then I don't have to think about it. And if I can attack the person saying something and make THEM feel guilty then I'm safe.

I would say that each cantina's atmosphere will be a reflection of the regular group performing and their regular customers. Each cantina will/should have it's own personality and... level of service.

And things will be different in player-run cantinas, when those are finally up and running. They will be as seedy or high class as the operators want them to be.

Personally, I don't see why I can't be both an entertainer and a Lady. I won't drop my standards that I've set for myself and follow the rest downtowards the gutter. As long as we hold on to what we value as moral, we'll influence those around us more positively,I truly hope, at any rate.

In our cantina we have a group of regular preformes that have been there since beta and after sever launced.

We have a regular tailor that keeps us in interesting clothing and we have a ball together.

The problem has been the customer that doesn't spend hours a day coming in then going in there undies not joining the troupe that has been there and then advertises /sing watch me

we have seen this daily, and normaly they are macroed not talking to the crowd and stand in front of the preformers that are there much of the time.

Since most of us reached apprentice or novice we can leave the cantina go to the areas we want to go to.

But i thought it interesting they would come into a place go afk with macros and disturb other players.

Most of our "regulars watch us not the afkes" but again if the naked girls responded they could have ended up with a wonderful full wadrobe from a great tailor

remember the way some folks want to roleplay is to bug others

Private cantinas will solve this issue completely. The more adult entertainers will go to private cantinas where they can control the behavior, whether they want to promote an immoral place or prevent such an environment.

Peer pressure is alive and well everywhere. The young are especially prone to this. However, you finally reach a place where you no longer care if you do what others are doing and can appreciate the uniqueness not only in yourself, but in others. And most importantly, you respect other people's right to make decisions regarding their own level of comfort. You know longer have the need to be like everyone else or make them like you.

I detest peer pressure and I laugh at it when it occurs. But not everyone can do that. I suggest that you find a group of entertainers out there, and there are many, who will share your same views. Then take over a cantina, a hotel, or make a private cantina.

Soon, if people want see good shows and higher level entertainers, they will be forced to go other places than the popular venues.

It's easy.

People condem those that have standards higher than them. Eventually, they hope to bring them to their own level. THis saves them from watching someone with higher standards, since that's generally insultive and painful to them, but that's another issue.

Do your thing, dont let anyone else change how you act.

BTW Flawed, what's your PC's name? I frequent the Cantina on Keren now, but I dunno if I've ever met you.

Hatch I'm dancing in Coronet on Corellia now with my Sisters.

You won't hear any more speeches from me about..Morality and all that stuff. Falling down off your High Horse is painful. Not so much the fall but the sudden stop at the end. Leaves bruises on the soul.

Me..I'm gonna just stay in the back, dance and keep my mouth shut. When I open it I usually end up with my foot in it up to the knee.

If you happen to pass through Coronet drop in and see me if you want. If I'm not there right then say hello to Chastaty and Catre. Their my sisters.

Two words.

Player Cities.

Once those are in we'll have cantinas with their own flavor, since they'll be privately owned and bouncable. Not only for patrons, but also dancers who do not contribute to the desired atmosphere. There will be everything from brothels to upscale night clubs. *sighs* It will be wonderful.

Roleplayers shouldnt be held to any type of morality. This isnt real life. Im not a fan of the lap dances etc but we need to realize cantinas arent coffee houses

My first character was on another server and was a dancer. I was so excited at the possibilty, and was looking so forward to the higher level moves. The first night was great fun. We had a huge dancing wookie, a couple of musicians, and a couple of dancers. I have never stayed up all night on a game, not in 2.5 years of EQ, and 1.5 in DAOC, but that night I did. I never looked at the clock once, cause we had so much fun!

The second night was another story. I had a guy come in and instantly stand in front of me saying "Hey Baby, heal me good!" That didnt bother me until he kept spamming "Shake that ***" , and it went downhill from there. Other patrons began to join in the fodder, and turned something that was fun, beautiful and social into nothing but a simulated strip club. I dont mean to be sqare, but I am a 29 year old married woman, and I felt like this was abuse. I left, and went to another server to start an artisan.

I am now a novice tailor, and love making clothes for my dancer customers. It pains me when I make a delivery to a cantina and see people asking for private lap dances and saying demeaning things to the girls. I understand some of the girls dont mind, and chuckle at the thought that they may not even be girls...but it still troubles me.

I totally agree there should be a different place where that behavior is forbidden. There are strip clubs, and Ballets, and both venues are already availble to patrons. I took up entertaining on my tailor after reading this post. I have decided to do what a few people do, and go to the theatre and dance all alone if I have to. The atmosphere there is beautiful, and the only thing lacking is the social fun of grouping with other entertainers.

That first night was magical, I hope to have that much fun again Either way, I will keep making tasteful clothing for the hard working entertainers out there!

I have my main on bloodfin, a tailor that is an entertainer. I am the same as you in this regard. Prudish may be the correct word for me however. I may stop at formal and just dance in theatres as well, I had not thought of this. However the real sadness is that someone's enjoyment of something was ruined.

I hope you realise it again.