Some of these threads are really depressing me.
 

Okay, I understand the desire to discuss chapters of different sororities at different schools. I can also understand discussing honestly which houses on one's campus are strong or weak or whatever. However, I'm about to go to the fridge and pour a saucer of milk, because some of this stuff is just downright catty.

This "Oh, ABCs are ugly and fat" on my campus stuff is just shallow and judgmental. Let's say that I am a senior in high school, interested in rush and reading these threads. Here is what I'm learning about life at college:

-It is okay to make fun of people and call them "pig" if they are overweight.

-If you don't have the best looking women in your house, you will be called "dogs" and people will make fun of you. What this is really saying is that women are only worthwhile if they are attractive.

-If you are sexually free, you will be referred to as a slut, and your house will have a "bad reputation," whatever that means. In a broader sense, as a women, you are judged by everyone (but especially other women), by your sexual habits.

-Even if you are gorgeous, you can't win, because then you are a snob and think you are too good for everyone else. People will be very shocked if you are actually a nice person.

-If you are fashionable, you are a "daddy's girl" and shallow.

This all reminds me of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I have a dream that one day women will not be judged by their weight, attractiveness, hair color, sexual habits and fashion sense, but by the CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. Isn't that what "greek life" is supposed to be all about -- building character through sisterhood so that sorority members can develop into mature, caring, intelligent and well-rounded women? Damn, whatever happened to SISTERHOOD?

I think there are better ways of stating these things. You can objectively say that a chapter is weak, didn't make quota, etc. without saying they are ugly or dorky. You can say that a chapter only mixes with certain fraternities without saying they are snobs. Let's try to take the edge of competition out. If you want to report what you see, that is fine, but don't be so crass.

For a long time I was really wary of rushing/sorority life because of the obsession with looks and that being related to whether or not a sorority is "good" or not posted everywhere. Along with some of the other things mentioned.

Damn, we get enough judgement from the opposite sex, do we really need to do it to each other, too?

Re: Some of these threads are really depressing me.
 

Couldn't agree with you more!!!!!!

I'm with you, valkyrie... I was gone all weekend and opened up the Greek Life forum to see a mile long list of "What do you think about (insert sorority name here)?" :rolleyes: I think it's safe to say that chapters are different everywhere and that no sorority has 100% perfection in every one of its chapters.

With that being said, if people want to give their impressions of certain groups, then so be it. Lots of people enjoy reading and contributing to these types of threads and I think that I even posed the same type of question about Delta Zeta when I was relatively new to GC. However, after seeing how petty some of these threads have gotten in the past, I've developed an aversion to them and don't choose to read them often.

My only advice is this: Thread-starters, don't be surprised or get defensive if someone makes a negative comment about your group. After all, you opened the can of worms! :D And, to those of you posting negative comments about the chapters, keep in mind that your sorority may have a chapter of ill-repute somewhere nearby also.

Just my .02! :)

big kudos.

Actually I've been quite impressed with the way that most of the members have responded to all the "what's XYZ like?" posts. I'll admit I haven't read all of them but the ones I've seen seemed to point out positives in even weak chapters and talked about weak points in a mature way. But maybe I just missed the worst of them! (Not that I'm wanting to find them!) :)

Thats fine if you want to post it under the specific GLO's, but PNM's can see them there too.
I just don't understand why people are getting SO defensive. After I was honest about a reply I made about an organization on my campus, and also added that it was just my opinion, i got slammed with emails calling me a b***h for saying that i thought a GLO was annoying. Thats my opinion. I know my GLO has chapters that aren't great, that are ANNOYING to other organizations, and i am ok with that. I mean you can jump up and down and point that out to me, and it really doesn't make me "depressed" or angry or want to call anyone names or harass them with obnoxious emails. They are still my sisters, i still love my organization.
So why is me calling some members of another organization Annoying, wrong or "depressing"? And why is it wrong for a PNM ro read that? I mean, if they haven't went through recruitment yet and they are on that campus, they probably already know what the greek life is like there, who gets along with whom, and they have their own opinions about all the sororities.

Wow, this is sure becoming a hot issue. I agree with many of the points brought up above, but if you want to know exactly how I feel, check out my post on the second page of "Perception of your GLO." However, I don't agree with the statement that sexual activity is not part of the content of someone's character. I believe that if you go parading yourself around and sleep with everyone and let everyone know it, you are of bad character. Maybe that's just the way I was brought up, but I have always considered myself to have high moral character and would NEVER conduct myself in this manner. Someone who does this obviously has no respect for themselves. I realize that sometimes there are people and/or groups that are labeled this way unfairly, so I am not saying that just because someone says they are sluts that it is true. I'm just simply stating that this behavior does reflect your character.

Some of the posters are so vehament about their dislike of certain sororities that I tend to think it is because they were cut by them and they see this open forum as a place where they can take out their hostilities.

Two young ladies from ASU posted on a few of the "What do you think of..." threads and had absolutely nothing nice to say about two sororities there that I know to be perfectly acceptable houses.

Everyone just take things with a grain of salt because you have no way of telling where these people are coming from!

That is so true!! I really got that feeling from those girls, and find that the sort of bitterness which motivates some of these "ABC's SUCK" posts can only come from being released or rejected by them during rush. It's sad but true.

I'm not offended by posts that tell the truth, however, and I am always sure to highlight the positive in what I say about other groups. Honestly, every GLO in our system has something it brings to the table that no other group does, no matter its size or 'reputation. I really respect that, and people who can share the facts tactfully.

well said valkyrie! i agree!

I'm with ya - I've replied to a few of those threads, and I try to keep my criticisms constructive. I would hate to see something like "The AEPhi's at my school are a bunch of skanky ho's!" so I wouldn't say that sort of thing about the other sororities represented at my school even if it were the case. Besides, by saying this sort of thing you come across as catty - and that reflects badly on you and on *your* GLO (if applicable).

Just my $0.02 :)

Edited to add: Apparently even my slight criticisms have rubbed a few people the wrong way...

I think it is a good idea to get a feel for what chapters are like at different schools, but their is a difference b/w honesty and being just plain rude.