GreekChat Survival Guide: A Thread For ALL GC "Newbies" to READ, LOOK & DO NOT POST!
 

Old School GCers= ANYONE (Greek or Non-greek) who has been a member of GC AND a regular poster for MORE than 3 years.
Young School GCers= Anyone (G or NG) who has been a member of GC and a regular poster for LESS than 3 years.

Please share your experiences with our new members to GC. Also, please share any advice you feel will help them as they travel around GreekChat, USA. :D

Young School, this is a thread where YOU stop, look, and refrain from posting. :D

THE SEARCH FUNCTION IS YOUR FRIEND!!!!

There are snarky people here, get over it. If you don't want to get snarked on, don't give me...uh...THEM...ammo. :D

Keep your NPC AI story to yourself until you've got that letter of acceptance in your hand.

ETA: Introduce yourself to KABillyMac's threads - you'll be glad you did. Also, seek out lifesaver's "Ho be lookin' like a predator..." good read.

It's OK to bump ancient threads if you have something to contribute. It's not OK to pick a fight with someone who last posted 6 years ago. Actually, it is OK. It provides comedy for us.

If your post gets deleted once, don't repost it. Contact the moderator of the forum where your deleted post was and ask what you did wrong.

If you are a "long time lurker, first time poster" and your first post is VERY VERY DRAMATIC, we will question whether you're authentic. It's unfortunate, but you're paying for the sins of the trolls and antigreeks who have visited this site over the years.

If all you ever post in are entertainment threads - even if you have a GLO related name - we're going to know you're a stealth marketer. We don't like stealth marketers here. Just don't do it.

For the NON-Greeks
 

Folks are NOT here to stroke your ego. Don't expect to get answers wrapped in lollipops, rainbows, and glitter.

Don't CLAIM that you have done a search, read ALL the threads, and have been lurking for the past 10 years, only to ask a question that has been brought up and/or resolved 1,908 times before. You lose credibility and make yourself look ridiculous.

The Pearls of Wisdom, A Torch to Guide You, and other forum rules, are posted for a reason and they are VERY specific in terms of what will and will not be discussed. Regardless of how cleverly you feel that your question is disguised or how "different" you may THINK your question is, as long is it is pertaining to membership, or a derivative thereof, IT WILL NOT BE ANSWERED. Period.

If you don't like to be referred to the official, national webite for answers to your membership questions, don't ask. That's all we have for you here.

No, we cannot give you advice on how to become a member.
No, we don't know why you got rejected.
No, we cannot offer a shoulder to cry on because you got rejected.
No, we cannot point you in the "right direction."
No, we cannot and will not write you a letter of recommendation.
No, we don't know when your school will have rush.
This list can go on and on. You should get the hint....

If you have to sign on to a messageboard to ask a question about an org., the answer is 99.8% likely to be NO.

If the answer cannot be found on the national website, then the answer is NO.

Making little comments that attempt to tie you to an org. will not win you any brownie points.


I'm sure I'll be adding on to this list ;)

Likewise, if a thread is closed, don't bring that conversation to another thread, or start another thread to finish the conversation or have the last word. I know most of us are guilty of that at least once, but just don't do it.

AND making comments about one org will not win you brownie points with a 'rival' org :rolleyes:

Let's see, what else.....


RIF = READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

Step away from the keyboard before responding, esp. in a thread that has 563 posts in less than a week

Find your lane and stay in it

PM (private messaging) is your friend

Just because you READ a topic, there is no rule saying you must REPLY to it. Sometimes its o.k. to read and keep it moving :)

Be nice to people. You can disagree or question or whatever without resorting to rudeness.

If all else fails, you can also place people on ignore.

While being on a messageboard can not help your chances of becoming a member, please know that it most certainly can HURT your chances. In your quest to be cute and make yourself the best sisterfriend in the history of GC, you sometimes leave little clues that reveal your identity. So, some of you should know that we DO know who you are. (The internet is a strange invention! ;) ) So, when you try to get sporty and think you are shielded behind your computer, THINK TWICE.

Take criticism with a grain of salt. If a MEMBER tells you that something you have said is NOT appropriate, take your charge and keep it moving. Don't think that your back and forth will prove that you have (internet) "guts" or that you are standing up for your rights.

Amen!

Please don't think that everyone has to be nice and friendly to you and agree with you. Everyone isn't your friend and everyone isn't going to agree with everything you say. If you can't take criticism, you may be in the wrong place.

This has already been touched on but I want to say it again: No one owes you anything. Thinking that people do and having that attitude will only irritate others on the board.

Cross postination...
 

Refrain from CROSS POSTINATION. That sucks. You suck if you do it. Just because you did not get the answer you were looking for on MIP for AKA when you posted it on AKA Ave. or your thread on the Ave got locked down, does not constitute that you post it in another less frequented area of GC, like Social or Event... THAT IS LAME and you are lame if you do it. In my book, that constitutes you as lacking in morals and ethical standards.

There are items we will NEVER discuss. There are reasons we do not. Your reasons as to why we do not discuss it do not constitute a problem on my entire Sorority's reasons why we do not discuss it... We have lawyers, judges and liability insurance that covers us. What do you have, really? What do we owe you, really? My dues will not pay for stupidity and laziness on your part.

Another issue:

If you want references for your diatribe justifying why your are right and I am wrong because I think that the Earth goes around the Sun in 365 days, then Google and Wiki is your friend also...

Just because you failed to do a SEARCH and understand the people you are talking to here on GC, does not constitute we can actually have a logical discussion with you that is rooted in facts. It is not my OPINION that why I think 1 + 1 = 2. Unless you have a doctorate, medical degree in formal logic, philosophy and physics, I seriously doubt you can prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt in that in Euclidian math that 1 + 1 = 2. Maybe in nonlinear imaginary numbers... But in that case, we are not in the Real Variable world...

Search....

Discretion...

And....your ego will get punked very quickly.

Take some time to learn the "culture" of GC before you start posting. Most "Old School" GCers have established personalities. Some have relationships with other GCers that extend beyond the internet. Some have "beef" that extend beyond the pages of GC. Some have history that goes back to the first days of GC. Whatever the case may be, if you pay attention and RESEARCH before posting, you'd avoid getting in the middle of something that really isn't for you.

To FOUNDERS and members of new GLOs: Rep your org. as much as you would like. In fact, that's what you are supposed to do. However, DO NOT come through bashing other orgs. It makes you look like a hater, reject, etc. It also doesn't help your orgs. credibility. There's a reason that most orgs. on GC are nearly or more than 100 years old. Obviously we've been doing something right for all this time.

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!

Can't tell by some of the amusing posts in this thread.

For those who have difficulty following directions.

Old school GC here (posted just over 6 years).

And I don't have much more to offer, but I do need to reiterate that clowning other NPHC groups isn't a good look. Be secure in what you're interested in and be done with it.

hijack

So true!! Just because I'm a SGRho I still get offended when people post isht about the other D9 orgs. I have relatives and close friends in those orgs, so it still offends me.


/end hijack

Another old school GC poster here. I absolutely love this thread!!

I'm sure this point has been made already, but one more thing that really irritates me is the constant groveling. :mad: Kissing up NEVER WORKS! It is one of the first things we see through.

Also, double check your grammar and spelling before posting. If you are careless about how you present yourself on a mere message board, imagine how you will be viewed by members of your intended greek organization. :eek:

Decrepit, aging old schooler here. Total Posts: 4,383 ;) Join Date: 07-04-2001

1. Regarding looking for information about joining, specifically NPHC orgs:

When we say research, that does NOT mean 5 minutes on Yahoo or Google. Real research existed LONG BEFORE the internet. (This can apply to all orgs) Fraternities, sororities, Masonic lodges, etc. are comprised of real PEOPLE not virtual beings. Talk to the members in your community, churches, schools (on campus), government, families. The phone numbers on the inter/national websites are there for a reason. Bairds Manual of College Fraternities (even though the last edition is I believe is 10+ years old) is still useful. The Divine Nine by Frater Lawrence Ross is a good reference book as well as Black Greek 101 by Frater Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough. Don't get mad at us when we turn you down because you dont even know simple information because you didn't do the minimum work required to find out the basics you need to know.

ETA (Edited to Add)
Another great reference source, org specific, is In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement by Paula J. Giddings

I should add that the books are just a minor start of getting information.

Don't piss off OTW. If you do, she will powerdrill you a brand new a**hole and we will all watch and laugh at you.:D (I will anyway:p)

^^^Newbies: You don't believe her? Ask Tom Earp! :p

Speaking of him: Learn "Earp-speak". It is a language all its own! :D

As proven above...

Some people never learn.



Also, if you're looking into NPHC, not spesifically a research book, but I would surely add Freshman Focus by Carla Sarratt to your reading list.;):D

Soror, too funny! OTW is someone I don't EVEN want to meet. :D