the term hijack is your friend for example
hijack/I can't believe I've been on Greekchat more than 3 years

end hijack

If you are going to debate, argue with the FACTS, not with your EMOTIONS. That is the number one reason why threads degenerate into flame wars and get locked/deleted.

If you are coming from a message board(s) are that are unmoderated or loosely moderated, do not bring the reckless abandon for respect and decorum that comes with those boards here to GC. You will be "sent back" to where you came from; that sort of foolishness is not welcome here.

If you have little or no tolerance for Greeks of cultures other than the one that you are accustomed to, don't post.

If you are in middle school or high school, look but don't post. Your lack of knowledge about Greek life often triggers what is considered by some to be inappropriate questions, and you may be mistaken for a troll, which brings me to.....

TROLLS: If you come to an org-specific board bringing inappropriate posts or questions, you may be subject to an all-out [insert org here] RIOT, one of the few times a moderator lets such a thread get "krunk" before locking/deleting it. And the only reason for that is because you are getting ripped a new one by everyone else here. How's that for schadenfreude? (then I gotta break my 4 x 6 blue--or whatever colors the org reps--index cards *lol*

Christians: from one Christian to another, if you post here to minister to us Greeks, while most of us have no issue with being ministered to, the key is to CONVICT, not CONDEMN. If you come at us sideways and get greasy with your ministry, it will not be welcomed here and you may be banned.

Don't resort to name calling if a discussion gets a little heated, it makes you look like Edna/Parnell from those "In Living Color" skits. This forum is for adults. Step your verbal game up!

The internet does not hide your identity

Greeks are simply people (great people, but people) they can be helpful, protective, funny, mean, intelligent, etc remember that

A private message can be so much easier than a long drawn out thread which can go a direction you never intended

You can learn so much by researching old threads

There are countless SF's who became Greeks on here, common thread: HUMILITY

Not every question has an answer for you

Your campus/community is one small section of a large organization in every way

Don't get offended if your PMs or emails are NOT answered quickly, or AT ALL.

:D:cool:AMEN!

YAAAY-men!!! :eek: :D ;)

If you venture beyond your respective affinity group, and post demeaning things or information contrary to popular belief, you will be clowned severely. And if you are a member of an organization, your own members may not feel the need to support your endeavor for venturing outside your own box.

If you choose to make an adult decision, because this is an adult board, then you do so at your own intellectual peril.

There are a lot of us old enough to do a lot of things... Mainly things like mortgage, estimated taxes and brokerage accounts. If you lack these items, then your obsolence toward us will make you look childish and ignorant.

I'm an old-school GreekChatter - woohoo!!!

To all the GC "newbies", please take heed to what my fellow old schoolers have posted. That is all.

Aaaahhh, so many good pieces of wisdom have been given.

Discretion and the value of the Search function are def. my top two.

Beyond that:

#1. Don't take ish personal...it's really just a message board.
#2. Don't let e-courage or "group think" push you towards unnecessary cruelty.
#3. Try to avoid reducing a thread to an argument btwn you and one other person...that's what PMs are for.
#4. Take some time to observe...learn the tone of the board...note the trolls and trouble starters...THEN jump in the mix.
#5. If you just became a member of your respective org a day ago...at least give it a month (or maybe until you make it to a conference or something) b4 you get to trying to regulate ish.
#6. Don't look for validation here.
#7. Although many wonderful ppl post in all areas of the board, and some wonderful 'alliances' have been formed, for the most part the NPC/IFC posters and the NPHC posters just think a little different from one another. It is what it is. Again, don't take it personal.
#8 The Ignore button can do wonders for your posting experience.

I think that's all for now. ;)

FYI: I'm changing the title of the thread.

ETA: Dang, Marie! :D

*sigh*

This is worth reiterating....

I was wondering what moderator would have to "sigh!" :):p

And be careful when entering a Specific Groups forum. Sometimes, like now, the topic is a very open one (sort of Chit Chat/Greek Chat related).
However there are times when the topic is just for members of that group and anyone else should stay out of it.

As a GC old-timer, I agree with the advice my fellow old school GCers have provided so far.

Thank you, AKA2D'91 for starting this thread. I really hope the newbies learn something from it!