It's also those damn Fanta Fantana commercials. What's up with them?

So are you saying that you get angry anytime people have different opinions and post them on a message board?

I trust that everyone here can protect their letters from "unauthorized use" within reason. I have no problem with that.

However, I do take issue with Greeks who worship their letters to the point that a nonmember can't use a pen or umbrella, or even drive a car that has the Greek letters or org's name on it. To those Greeks, I say, "Get over yourself; it's not that big of a deal"

That, IMHO is outright idolatry, and at that point, you are not protecting your letters, you are worshipping them almost as if the letters were a god itself.

I suspect that at least one poster in this thread (one of the most outspoken ones at that), is worshipping her letters and is curious why everyone else isn't doing the same.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.



*But I doubt it* :p :D

No, I get amused when you post to me.

So how are you any different from some of the other people in this thread? What you consider "idolatry" another org may consider "correct protocol".

How about everyone follow their org's protocol, and then everyone will be happy.

You are evil and you must be stopped. :o

Okay but I'm still fascinated by the wearing-your-boyfriend's letters thing. I understand that it's a traditional thing for some. But what does it MEAN to those who do it?

That's what I'm still curious about.

I don't think it necessarily means anything. I wore my ex-bf's fraternity letters for no real reason.

I guess part of it was the same reason I always wore the little ring that he gave me for Christmas one year... Because I was proud of him and proud to call him my boyfriend. I guess it was a way to feel connected to him. And yes, that could be done without letters too (as it often did), so it wasn't necessarily about the letters but about HIM.

But, there are some girls who just wanted to wear fraternity letters to show that they have some kind of connection to that fraternity. And there are guys who do the same thing with sorority letters.

Depending on what the "correct protocol" may dictate, I would still call it idolatry. At least the National officers admits their letter worship to some degree, which in some respects is redeeming.

Ex. If protocol dictates the prohibition of non-members wearing the letter or sheild, then that IMHO is not idolatry.

If protocol dictates the prohibition of non-members touching or using non-clothing items adorned with the letters or shield, that that is idolatry.

I do believe in a balance and a reasonable "use of 'nalia by non-members" threshold.

The tradition as it was on my campus is that you Lavalier a girl or pin a girl if it's pre-engagement. She should only be wearing your letters if she's been lavaliered or pinned. You love this girl so much that you put her on par with your brothers. You want her to wear your letters so she knows that she is just as important to you as those letters are to you.

It's a HUGE deal at Butler and at Wabash, generally the guy gets beat up over it or humiliated by his brothers and the girl has a candelight where he shows up with his brothers and presents the lavalier or pin.

Have you seen anyone state that their organization's protocol is this extreme?

The idolatry, if this word must be used at all, comes on the part of individual members and their extremist tactics.

Simply put, Jubilance1922 stated that (paraphrased) one man's idolatry is another man's protocol, and protocol trumps all, including what may be perceived as idolatry. Thus, whether or not anyone explicitly states that their protocol is this extreme is irrelevant.

I agree with you. Furthermore, yes, the word idolatry must be used because that is oftentimes what this whole debate boils down to, protocol aside.

In other words:

(A) I call 'em like I see 'em.
(B) If the shoe fits, wear it.

'Nuff said.

If you like it, I love it.

At the end of the day, I doubt that anyone is going to change their opinions or disregard their org's protocol based on the opinions of those on GC. As long as YOUR org's position on letters works for you, it doesn't matter what the other orgs are doing. That was my entire point. If XYZ is cool with "idolatry" as you call it, then what they do shouldn't matter to you.