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Originally Posted by 33girl
MC, I was hoping you would lane swerve. I only suggested Dale Carnegie because I believe they have options for one on one instruction and thought maybe it could be tailored. My whole point was, no matter who you are or what disability you do or don't possess, joining a sorority to, in effect, use it as a means to your personal end is not cool. Like I said though, I hope she didn't mean that quite as coldly as it came out.
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Thanks 33girl (and AOIIAngel) for not minding my butting into an NPC recruitment thread.
As I think about it, perhaps a Dale Carnegie-type thing might be useful for some people,
if the instructor has real knowledge of Asperger's. That's key, I think, because it really isn't just a matter of social skills
per se, it's a matter of experiencing the world in an entirely different way.
I see your point about the "coolness" aspect, as it were, but I think I can see where she was coming from, too. (And personally I doubt she meant it as bluntly as it came across to you.) To some extent or another, we all I think join groups like GLOs with two things in mind -- what we have to offer the group and what we hope to get out of the group. For some people, what they hope to get out of the group is simply fun or good times, but I'm betting lots of us have a more basic desire to belong somewhere. We tout GLO membership as a way to learn things like leadership skills, and there actually was a time in the not so distant past when GLOs were touted as places to learn social skills (manners and the like). I don't think it's surprising that some people would see GLOs as a place to learn to be more comfortable in social settings. Part of the total package, I think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AOII Angel
Bookworm . . . If you really want to make greek life part of yours, meet some sisters. Get to know them one on one. There may be other ways to join a sorority on your campus that don't require you to make such quick impressions that would put you at a disadvantage.
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If I were to offer advice to someone in her position, I think this is the advice I would offer. Again, speaking from personal experience, I know that the times my son is most successful is when has become good friends with one or two kids who then can provide some entré to (and security in) the larger group. To go back to my earlier comparison about being dropped down somewhere where you don't speak the language, it's like having a guide/interpreter to help you along until you're ready to take it on yourself.
Again, good luck bookworm!