Why are peolpe on Greek Chat so rude?
 

I am constantly shocked by the mean, rude and ugly comments made on Greek Chat, belittling other people's opinions and thoughts. Are all chat rooms like this? As members of organizations which all claim to have such high moral and humanitarian objectives, you would never know it from some of these remarks. Is it because everyone can anonymous? I cannot imagine making such vile statements in a face-to-face converstion with someone (or if you do you must get a lot of fat lips!). Let's pray that not many potential members check out this site as this behavior will surely chase them away from Greek life.

This board is TAME compared to some others that I belong to.

If people are going to be discouraged from going greek by just reading a message board, they probably are not the type of person who should join anyway. You've got to have thicker skin than that.

Again, I am Rashid Darden. Ask about me.

How's the NPHC research coming?

Wah.

This is a message board so people feel free to say whatever they want and this board is nothing compared to others out there. Also, you can't be sure who anyone is since you can't see them so using a message board to determine if you will or will not seek membership in an organization is just stupid and silly.

I LOVE ERIC CLAPTON
 

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?


I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.


Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?


I'll find my way
Through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven.


Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please, begging please.


Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven.


Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?


I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.

This song always makes me cry.

I have yet to read anything that I can't imagine someone saying face-to-face.

Ever been in a heated discussion, debate, or even argument in real life? Apparently you haven't.

I find it amusing that the person who likes making assumptions like "Schools with Phi Beta Kappa chapters have the kind of students we all want in our orgs" (thereby implicitly disparaging the fraternities & sororities who aren't as prevalent at these schools) is accusing anyone of being rude.

If rude means not patting you (a general you) on the back and not accepting your posts unquestioningly, then yes, there are rude people everywhere and GC is tame.

On other boards, people flame just to flame; on GC, the challenge is most often couched terms of inquiry and intellectual curiosity.

You know what they say: If you can't stand the heat....

Yep.

And when it comes to just talking trash or having a smartassy tone just because you feel like it, people do that in real life, too. :)

GC is like a bowl of mixed nuts. All of us with different backgrounds and experiences; different ages and races. It makes it interesting and sometimes frustrating, but I do enjoy the overall experience.

oldu, I hope you'll stick around because someone with your wealth of knowledge and experience is valuable.

Don't let the turkeys get you down.

I have yet to see his wealth of knowledge and experience but that's all a matter of perspective.

What "turkeys" are you talking about?

General statement:
It's interesting when people want different experiences and points of views to be respected but they are quick to label those who take a different approach as them. I'd rather people acknowledge that they aren't openminded than pretend that they are. I acknowledge that I'm not openminded when it comes to many things, have a clear understanding of what I consider "idiot/idiotic" and am quick to call it as such. :)

Excuse me! I LOVE Greekchat. I love the intellect...and the Bvllshit!

I love the challenge and the agreement. I love the discourse laced with occasional profanities. I love it!!!

I think it is an acquired taste!

I don't think that people on Greek Chat are any ruder than people in real life. I say snarky smart ass things in real life, just as much, if not more than on Greek Chat.

I also think that we live in a cynical society, and today's standards are a lot different than even 30 years ago. We don't respect authority just because we are told to, and for the most part the people on Greek Chat are well-educated and well-written. (Although that doesn't apply to trolls.) You don't get my respect just because you post here, you get my respect by the things you post.

Some posts you make, especially the one about Phi Beta Kappa come off as condescending. I'm not one to say "all glos are equal," but there are different criteria for choosing candidates for all glos even on the chapter level. Your posts seem focused on numbers and I don't think being Greek is at ALL about numbers. To me it's about bonds, and history. I'm proud of my sisters at every chapter, even the tiniest. I'm proud of the rich history and tradition of my sorority, and of other GLOs. I find NPHC history FASCINATING, along with the history of all GLOs. Each and every one has a story to tell, what makes it unique and different.

That's just my 2 cents.

Rude? Moi?
I'd say 98% of the people on GC are not rude - the other 2% is made up of morons and trolls - neither of which merit losing sleep over. There are without a doubt those on GC who are opinionated and brash - but as has been pointed out, "rude" behavior is often simply disagreeing on a topic, or commenting on another post. I like to think I'm not rude, but on occasion I have been, shall we say, straight forward in explaining why I felt someone's post was indicative of a lack of intelligence or excessive self-absorption.

Because hastily-typed, not-proofread and misspelled-for-all-eternity thread titles really get me chapped.

He was mad.

No excuse. ;)

DUH. I'm being amused by his emotions.

Yes, I know. Me too.

Too bad the detractors followed you over from the Phi Beta Kappa thread. I totally agree with your observations. I lay part of the blame at the feet of MTV and rap music. Kids listen to incredible garbage today and are completely desensitized to words and language that we never would have considered using.

I do think, despite Mr. Darden's chest-thumping identity revelation, that typing away at a remote computer instead of speaking face to face with someone makes bullying and poor manners even easier. My kids have shown me some of the things that their friends--who I actually thought had pretty decent language and behavior--have typed on facebook and instant messaging. It is sometimes shocking.

Culture and society have definitely coarsened. That makes me sad. Now I will await the flurry of snarks that will undoubtedly follow.

PS I do visit two other chat boards that have much better manners. One is a financial site--pretty neutral topics ie budgeting etc.--but the other is political. Even there people don't make the mean-spirited, personal jabs that they do here.

Quotes like this:

(from the PBK thread)

tend to rub people the wrong way. So does saying some groups are more elite than others based on some totally random cross listing.

OK, come on, DITY, because this CAN'T be real.

You have all of 6 posts. So either you're some random person whose opinion we shouldn't care about, or you're a sockpuppet. If you're a random person, way to join a message board then just start bitching about it and its members. If you don't like it, why did you come here. If you're a sockpuppet, well then hope you like that keyboard courage.

Oh please. No one made any personal jabs at oldu (at least not until he called everyone angry and rude); they merely called into question the argument that s/he seemed to be making. If it is unconditional acquiescence s/he searchs for, s/he will not find it here (and maybe its best that s/he goes elsewhere). Disagreement does not automatically equal rudeness.

ETA: If society has indeed coarsened--which, if the biography I am reading about Elizabeth I is at all accurate, it hasn't really; it's different, but certainly no more coarse--then I mostly blame the parents, not the TV.

Sorry I LOVE this song too! I remember all those I have lost and look forward seeing them again in heaven.

http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_...movie_roar.jpg

ooo ooo ooo ooo

aah aah aah!

LOL!

Ohhhhh, was this thread intended to be invisible? For shame!

He made a thread to cry about his other thread. Those will always get the same response.

Please don't assume that all the regulars on gc are "kids" because they are not and quite a bit of intelligent conversation goes on but if you just started posting recently, I doubt you've had time to peruse the thousands of threads yet.

What? LOL.

Upon reading this I initially thought I had lots to say, but DSTCHAOS brilliantly summarized it with this post. So for now I'll just say that I agree 100% with this post. :)

I've lurked around GC for a while, and I wouldn't say that any one on GC is flat-out rude. If someone gets snarky, there's a reason for it.

I read most of the Phi Beta Kappa thread, and there weren't any personal disses. There were people who disagreed with your conclusion, and there's nothing wrong with that. If you can't handle it, then...

Greek Chat is not rude. Snarky, yes. Rude, nope. You want rude, go check out some of the message boards with Moms of small children-- those are some rude people. Most of the time here, it's because someone disagrees with what is written- not just being rude for the sake of being rude.

And OldU, I actually like most of the threads that you post. It seems to me that you are an admirer of the gentleman that you wrote about in one of your previous posts, the guy that would compare and rank all of the GLOs and then send out those reports. And most of your posts are in the same vein- you are comparing the historically white GLOs based on criterea that you feel is meaningful. But just because it is meaningful to you, doesn't mean it is for everyone. So no one was being rude, just stating that they didn't find it meaningful or didn't think the exclusion of other GLOs was appropriate.

I want my!! I want my!! I want my MTV!!!

The 80's was a great time.

Is that a good read?

Older people always want to pretend that "things aren't what they used to be." Things change form more than they change altogether. I even find myself telling undergrads and much younger people how things were "when I was their age." It makes me feel important, experienced, and like they should defer to me mostly for absofreakinlutely no reason. :D

wah.

Fair point. I did not mean that all the regular posters were kids. What I did mean was that younger people have grown up with gutter language thrown at them from TV and the internet. I do think that affects the language that some of the current posters (maybe in their 20s) use.
I have also read several other threads--certainly not thousands--and some of the discussion is intelligent as you say. Sometimes, however, it does seem that some of the regulars like to inject comments, even accusations at times, just for the sake of controversy.

I've lurked for a month or two before joining; I don't know if that makes me a random person or not. I am an alumni member of an NPC GLO. I didn't know that longevity here was a prerequisite for participation. Obviously a few of you spend a LOT of time here. (6,000 to 17,000 posts? Where do you find the time?) I know I only have *now 7* posts, but if all you want are your own opinions, why not close the chat room? oldu asked a question and I gave my opinion.

BTW, I thought the gorilla picture was great.

HDL66, WELCOME! So far, I like your style. Hope you join us when you can. :)