Crystaline, Nope that is just an urban legend.

I think the Sigma Chi one was built by a Sigma Chi who was tired of people asking him. Its all a big haha.

That's a relief. I figure most of those "secrets revealed" sites are just made up stuff anyway.

Again, IvySpice, I agree. When I said "public," I meant pretty much what you said: The documents themselves might very well have to be made public -- I have some doubts that a court would be willing to treat a ritual as a trade secret, although redaction might be a little more likely (especially if one gets a Greek judge). But even if the documents themselves are not made public or are redacted, the lawsuit would still require the fraternity bringing the lawsuit to reveal ritual secrets to the uninitiated (judges, law clerks and other court personnel, and opposing counsel) and would require that fraternity to draw (probably unwanted) attention to itself and its desire to keep its ritual secret.

Re: Re: How can people get away with revealing secrets?
 

As I read the discussion, I boil this all down to a sense of honor similar to what MysicCat81 has said above.

Think for a moment about wedding ceremonies. At most all weddings, the bride and groom take a vow in front of everyone to be faithful to one another only. Yet, look at how many people go on to committ adultery. It's as if they saw the wedding and their vows as "just a tradition" or "just a formality".

My opinion? An oath is an oath. It should be kept unless a person is released from it.


.....Kelly :)

Re: Re: Re: How can people get away with revealing secrets?
 

I think it should even go a bit further. For example, members who chose to deactivate or members who had their membership revoked. They might feel that they were released from their oath, but I disagree. Regardless if you remain a member, an oath is an oath. Even if you were at odds with the members of your chapter, that doesn't give you the right to betray your organization.

Re: Re: Re: Re: How can people get away with revealing secrets?
 

Oh yes, good point. I wasn't trying to say that members who deactivate or who have their membership revoked are therefore released from their oaths.

You know, on a positive note, think about the hundreds of thousands of people who have been members of a GLO. Of all those people, think about how many have gone out and blabbed. Very few. Overall, I think we have a pretty good track record. Then again, it only takes one person to disclose the secrets that 100,000 other members have kept to themselves....

.....Kelly :)

It is a fallacy. Here is a great website about the myth

http://mcrae.ca/greek/docs/loc.htm

DaffyKD

All the talk on GreekChat lately about ritual and secrecy has made me wonder: do you think one of the reasons behind promoting legacies is the fear that the mother or sister (or whomever) has told the pnm "things" about their ritual? Just a thought...

honeychile

The main reason that GLO's promote legacies is financial. The person that makes the individual a legacy is MUCH more likely to make large contributions.

Not to mention that someone whose legacy doesn't get in is likely to stop making financial contributions if she has in the past. If your legacy has been rejected - after you've been telling her for years how wonderful Mu Mu is - it's like, "Oh, so now my family isn't good enough for this uppity sorority anymore. Well, fine, that's the last they'll see of me." (or substitute "he" and "fraternity" for the guys.)

As for legacies, I think it is a total issue of pride and loyalty to your GLO. Having a son or daughter join your same GLO, especially your very same chapter would definitely be a very happy day for the parent(s).

The financial issue, and rekindled alumni involvement is great also and sort of comes along with the package.

As for what to do about these websites...
Is anyone here a computer hacker? It wouldn't take to much to blow these sites out of the water. Maybe have a group of hackers who are "defenders of the ritual" so to say. Sort of along the same lines as the Ebay "rescuers" who buy their GLO's pins and such so no one outside of their organization will get their hands on them.

Just a thought :) ...

Do you think anyone would admit to that on here? LOL LOL LOL

Sure, the ones who don't really know what they're talking about! :cool:

Also not to mention the fact that at least one of the bigmouths has a big tendency to want to sue anyone who even looks at her cockeyed. If her site got hacked, well..... I'm sure she'd have a few cows! One of my old roommates is in the particular group she was trying to "out", and she told me that all that stuff on there is just fabricated tripe anyway. Let the girl think she's special. It just shows how low some people will go.

it's nothing new.

Even before collegiate fraternities. The masons and other fraternal orders have problems with people trying to reveal their secrets. Most of the time the information was false in hopes of discrediting the order. But they're still goin' strong from what I see, as will Greek orgs!!!