[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by dnall

Fundamentally though, I have to ask... what is the purpose of different sections within the forum? That's not rhetorical. I actually want to hear what you think their purpose is.

Organization. They're there to organize the threads, so that threads on particular topics or sbjects of interest will be in forums appropriate to that topic or subject. They're not there to limit who should or shouldn't post. At least that's how I've seen it work in almost 9 years posting here.

There's really no need to get pissed off -- all anyone is trying to do is to explain the dynamics of this site, which can be different from the dynamics of other sites.

I can understand why you would say:

I would never post in another org's section unless it was appropriate to the conversation AND I was giving outside perspective on what I always assume is their internal discussion.

All we are are trying to say is that, as odd as it may seem to someone new, that's not how things typically work here. We tend to assume it's not an internal discussion unless it's explicitly stated or it's clear from the context otherwise. People post in forums of other orgs all the time without giving it a second thought, and have done so as long as I've been posting here. To be honest, this may not be as noticeable in the ATO forum because there haven't been that many ATOs here, so this forum isn't as active as some others.

As a rule, if a thread is for members only it will say so, either in the opening post or in the title. Also as a general rule, if a conversation is clearly more specific to a particular organization, others still will post in it if they have something to add (or ask) but will start by saying they're "crashing" (like LucyKKG did in this thread) or "lane swerving." But the bottom line is that pretty much anyone will feel free to post in any thread in any forum unless the specific thread says otherwise. That's why people often pay no attention to the forum a thread is in when they click on "New Posts" -- it usually doesn't matter because people post in each others' forums all the time. (And if it's clear the poster is out of his element -- like an old NIC fraternity alum trying to explain how NIC recruitment or NPHC intake works -- it will be suggested to him that he "stay in his lane.")

All of this is why, when blanket statements about fraternities or Greek life in general are made in a group-specific forum, most regular GCers (1) will not interpret the statement as organization specific and (2) will feel free to comment.

And one more time: Nobody is telling you that you

shouldn't have a conversation about anything broader than [your] org (or possibly song identification)

What people are telling you is that even if you are in a group-specific forum, if you make blanket statements like

Originally Posted by dnall

I don't know how many "pacific" chapters you've visited of any fraternity, but they are just not the same. Greek life in a lot of places in those regions is not strong.

Originally Posted by dnall

Greek life in the west sucks.

people are going to assume you meant what you said and you are talking about all fraternities/Greek life in general, not just about your own organization. And they'll call you on it if they think it's an overgeneralization or just plain wrong.

And glad you liked the Otter reference. One of my favorites.