Also - I am not clueless on Greek Life. Every woman in my family who is of age is in a sorority. I knew, and still know, my grandmother's sorority sisters better than some of my cousins or other relatives.

I grew up with them ALL telling me exactly what it was like and what it entailed.
On top of that, most of my closest friends are greek in other organizations. My BFF is in another sorority; I knew what exactly happened and goes on (mostly some of the stupid fights that go on - sometimes just over the color of someone's wall decoration - not a joke).

Off topic: When did proper grammar account for anything on GC? I see you down-play my argument because my typos on a FORUM! If you need to make that excuse for making my argument invalid, then you really cannot find a real reason to prove it wrong. That goes for any topic here -- not just mine.

BTW: I'm not stupid...just absent minded... and cannot type as fast as my mind runs. Proof reading for grammar and spelling does not make sense for an online forum. I give it a glance over because this is a discussion and once something is said....it will have been said.

**A recent study came out that says a person is physically unable to use the logical part of their brain before the age of 24. If you are under 24... BEWARE...and you now have an excuse...**

The source of the "Logic Study"???
 

Deep, very deep. What is the source of this amazing study on the logical part of the brain? I'd like to think that I'm not stupid, too-every time I post I try to type everything just right- if I'm off by even one letter it bothers me. But sometimes I can look over a post several times and still not catch little things, and I'm over 24, so I guess that I really don't have a valid excuse.

Wow this thread is so fun...

[quote=DSTRen13;1496326]In some crazy upside down world yes!

Excellent.

I love your posts. It's really that simple.

It is known that it it is hard for people to proof read their own writing. The mistakes don't always stand out to you, because you wrote them. That is why authors use proof readers. It takes another objective person to do so.

It is silly to condemn someone for their spelling and grammar mistakes on a message board unless they are so extensive that the message is lost and the writer's credibility is questioned.

But then on the other hand who can explain Earpisms? LOL

As a former aspirant who became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho by gleaning information from these boards, I recommend not only using discretion but also take time to read and absorb FIRST before you blab, blab, blab. When I joined GC a few years ago, I never made a "I wanna be an SGRho post as my introductory thread". Hell, SisterGreek Crimson Tide (of DST) even remarked that I keep my interest real quiet when she congratulated me on becoming a member. That is because (1) I read the stickies so based on that I knew most membership inquiries were frowned upon and (2) I could actually learn alot about how members interacted with sorors, fellow Greeks and non-affliated folks without screaming "Hey pick me, pick me!!!".

I think the frustration alot of BGLO members on GC feel is when an aspirant not only doesn't read the stickie threads which guide them to membership information via IHQ websites but there is this general disregard for learning how to properly become apart of an online community. Though online, it's still a community and there is a general vibe and it takes time to learn personalities, what's appropriate and to learn which member might be open to answering membership questions via PM. You wouldn't walk up to a group of Greeks on the yard and say "I'm gonna be your frat or soror soon!!!" so why do you think that's remotely okay online? I know online communication has retarded some of our abilities at social interactions but the least you can do is read the STICKIES and sit back and feel things out before you put your foot in your mouth.

PhDiva

Thank you for your wisdom and discretion but a central fact that needs to be considered in this forum GC is this: it is NOT the "real world." Nor should it be. People come here evidently b/c they feel they can voice their opinions and interact with and ask questions of those people in organizations they don't have access to or may not feel comfortable in doing so in the "real world." That's the point--and the genius of GC. The fact that we have these tete-a-tetes should be seen as the fulfillment of the goal of a real type of community, where you have a real diversity of people according to Greek affiliation, ethnic/racial group, Greek councils, geographic location,vocation, age, life and Greek experience, political affiliation, sexual orientation and religious commitment. Basically,you don't find this type of interaction in the real world! It's refreshing and gives me hope! If it's messy and frustrating at times, then so be it. This is a healthy alternative to Greeks and non-Greeks being reinforced with all kinds of prejudiced and preconceived notions about other Greeks, and harboring ways of thinking that don't consider other's opinions and how other organzations operate,etc. b/c they are only interacting with like-minded people whom they feel comfortable with or have a particular Greek council affiliation with.

Until we can get ourselves together off line and accomplish this in the "real world," we should not try to enforce a type of uniformity of engagement on GC. Our experiences are different! If I would err, I would err on the side of generosity.

^^We are not trying to enforce a uniformity. From reading this thread, it sounds as though NPHC fraternities have a different edict concerning discussions of membership via the internet. If that is the case, run with it. But as Soror AKA_Monet and ladygreek have pointed out, that is not the case with NPHC sororities. We have particular protocols to follow too, and they will be followed in our specific forums and by our members, whether that makes us seem insular, secretive, or whatever.

Also, I think that PhDiva's point stands. If aspirants come here, read the POW (or comparable TOS for each forum), it immediately becomes clear what kinds of questions will or will not be entertained in those forums. Regardless of whether this is the "real world" or not, it is just plain frustrating when we say again and again that we will not answer membership questions and aspirants again and again post them. Those same aspirants learn valuable lessons about how to display their interest in the real world by the responses they receive here. At the same time, as PhDiva pointed out, that does not preclude aspirants from seeking advice privately, and it is to each members discretion as to how they handle those private messages.

Non. It's more about the "how" and not so much the "what," thus the note of the defensiveness issue in the original post. In this forum there is the dialectic of post, response, surresponse...til people get satisfactory understanding, direction, drop the matter or action has to be taken by a moderator.This is the "self-correcting" factor in this forum, besides the basic rules. And intake questions were only a part of the issue raised in the initial post of this thread.In my reading, it was the global sense of the insularity and secrecy that was addressed, and which does resonate with me. There is plenty of bombast and immaturity expressed in the tone of some of the NPHC posts on GC.The way "stuff" is handled in some quarters today is that one of the dialogue partners would discover grass stains on their clothes after they've been body slammed on the ground. Then the happy dialogue continues.That's the real world in Greekdom, unfortunately!

OK, but I was referring particularly to membership questions, though PhDiva's response was broader than just membership issues (and her points about integrating into an online community are important); and in my reading the OP was very heavily slanted towards the membership aspects of our organizations.

Also, I think that there are a couple of different conversations being collapsed here, i.e. what happens in the "real world" with regards to membership pursuit and what happens on a message board with regards to membership pursuit; and in my experience, those are two very different things. This is, ultimately, a messageboard, not some kind of Greek utopia; though, those who are so inclined can try to make it such if they choose. People can respond or not, be kind or not, as they choose (when and where TOSs have not been established). All of the moderators of the forums that I frequent (and I have been a member since 2000) have learned lessons over the years that now direct the ways that those matters are broached (along with organization particular protocols); and as with most things, each new instance presents an opportunity to hone policy to insure the best outcome.

I do understand the need for a degree of transparency within organizations and within the NPHC--I am still learning more about how that looks and works; and I think that being in adherence with university and college policy is also necessary for those branches of our organization (and all of our organizations are comprised of more than college chapters). However, with regards to the who, what, when, where, why, and how of membership pursuit with NPHC, I am not an advocate of transparency or disclosure just so that others might feel more comfortable and reassured about our organizations. Others levels of comfort with the workings of Alpha Kappa Alpha are of no concern to me. So, we may just have to agree to disagree on that.

Everyone is secretive (to varying degrees) and everyone stays w/in their own communities usually, hence the lack of interaction.

People just feel more comfortable around those they perceive they have more in common with...it's human nature and Greek Life is not exempt from that.

The real question is, do we want to be "better" than the average Joe/Jane and try and reach out and make things better? To me, Greek Life is about commiting oneself to the ideals of your organization (you agree to follow them by becoming a member remember), and part of that committment means seeing the big picture and stepping out of one's comfort zone to interact with people that on the surface might not seem similar to you.

Black, White, Latino/a, Asian, South Asian, Multicultural Greeks...most stay within their own realms of friends.

The interesting this is with the advent of MGC's on campuses and the increased interaction between NPHC orgs and other minority Greek orgs, I feel that is going to create a lot more cultural understanding between those organizations than happens w/ NPC, NIC. In fact, I already see Latino/a, Asian, and Multicultural orgs adopting NPHC characteristics and following in their footsteps.

What does the future hold? This is going to be very contentious, but I think it means that with the changing populations of the US (re: Black, Latino, Asian populations all increasing while White population is decreasing), White Greeks are either going to have to move away from the party hard image and sorority girl image that can be true on many campuses(NOTE: I am not saying everyone is like this b/c on my campus NPC/NIC orgs are generally more involved in the community than on state school campuses - this comes from my Greek Advisor btw) or face declining numbers and the very real possibility of becoming obsolete.

NPHC orgs are having a MAJOR impact on the shaping of Greek Life. As Latino/a and Asian and Multicultural orgs grow in numbers of chapters and members, campus dynamics are going to change dramatically, and NPC/NIC orgs will face some serious challenges to being the Greek Life choice on campus.

Just my .94 cents

One difference is that those interested in our organizations don't approach members with an "exploring my options" mindset. Interested members are encouraged and will find out about their organization of choice BEFORE ever approaching the respective org.

Also, when I was in school, I always had a problem with attempts at "Greek Unity" because that just meant that non-NPHC groups wanted us to step. No groups ever approached us about a service project or a campus event. Shoot, no one ever invited us to their parties either. But they would ask us to step for them or teach them how to step. It was a slap in the face because we're sooooo much more than stepping (although my chapter was known to bring the boot down everywhere we went. ;) )


Isn't this the truth!!! My UG has a "Campus Activities" office where all of the registered organizations have mailboxes and will have a kiosk or an office Offices were awarded, after an application process, to organizations that, basically, did the most on campus. When I graduated, 6 of the 8 NPHC orgs had offices. What does that tell you? ;)

You find that within our organizations too--our organizations are a microcosm of the university so within one line you have people of different majors, ages, races and from different places. What is great is that all of these individuals have the same desire--to join a sister/brotherhood that works and is visible in our community. And let's be clear: that's not limited to Blacks. I have a Persian linesister.

I'm sure you're just being light-hearted here (at least I hope you are) but it illustrates the point I made earlier in this post.


No, it doesn't mean that a new member is stupid and isn't said to suggest so. For the same reason that parents don't allow their 1 year old to make all of the decisions in a family is the reason why new members are encouraged to gain some experience and insight into the sister/brotherhood before making a bunch of decisions and whatnot. When you have organizations with almost 100 years (and 100+ years in the case of Senusret), there is a lot to learn.

* I like working with examples and metaphors. Please do enjoy!*

When you're out and about being your fantASTic way, and someone, based on their own ignorance of you, thinks negatively of you, would you bend to become the person they want you to be? And why should the information be any more available than it already is? Rumors and hearsay? We've been around for a long time and have withstood many a rumor. If we operated by what others say and think, we wouldn't have made it past 1906.

As it has been said many, many times on GC, our organizations are lifelong commitments. It's family. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't bring just anybody into my family because they looked at me and found me interesting. They would need to get to know me, we would have to spend time together, I would have to learn to trust them...see where I'm going? I'll end the metaphor there.:o

http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/happy0159.gif

@Little32-- Good stuff, sistergreek.

Little32, you sure are one smart neo! :D ;)

Wow! While reading this article and the comments, I http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/mad0090.gif http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/mad0163.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/rolleye0014.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sign0065.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sign0004.gifhttp://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sad0006.gif