[XOcrlstln]

Ok I was going to respond in a PM, and not bother the rest of this board with my comments. But then I realized this is all about whether or not this term is offensive and I would like to explain to you WHY you ARE offensive.

1) If you go back and look at my post, I also called myself a GDI at one point. But when I became Greek my definition of a GDI changed. And lets just note that no ones definition (if they use the term) of a "GDI" is the same.

You said you were once a GDI also, so does that mean that you were "close-minded and plain old Ignorant" and somehow are no longer? Oh wait, you are still being close-minded, my bad.

The point is not your personal definition, it is how you present it to others. By stating that ALL GDIs are close-minded and ignorant, you are being close-minded and ignorant. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it much if I said that ALL AGDs were slutty and stupid (not saying that any at all are!!!!! I actually have not had the pleasure of meeting any in person). But generalizations are a sign of ignorance.

2) I clearly made 3 separate classifications of people when it comes to peoples involvement or none in Greek Life. Greeks, Non-Greeks and "GDIs".

Going by everything that you said, I think its very clear to most people that you would have fallen under the definition of Non-Greek. As you said you didnt bash, you just had no interest in Greek Life at the time.

But I clearly state that I was a GDI, so therefore your nice little definition does not apply. The point is if I say that I am X, and you say that X is ignorant and close-minded, then I'm going to take it as you are saying I'm ignorant and close-minded. The way you are being offensive is to give a negative connotation to something that many people are quite proud of.

3) I am a bit confused as to how I sounded elitest when I made that statement.

You were being elitist by expressing a negative view of a term that people quite proudly use for themselves. You are saying that because they are proud of the fact they are unaffiliated (cause most GDIs are not the bashers that you like to portray them as, just not interested), they are ignorant and close-minded. This is elitist because you are giving independents the view that the greek system feels they are lesser people due to their pride in things outside of GL.

So let me just clarify by giving an example. "GDIs" would be these....
The V's- How are they ignorant? I think the other Chi-O's on this board could answer that question for you. Spreading vicious rumors (a website) about an organization that they know nothing about, and not even willing to take the time to find out. Making trouble for greeks overall on this board. I dont know about anyone else, but I consider that IGNORANT, and I am sure some ladies on this board would have a much harsher word than that for them.

And thank you for trying to educate me on MY organization. Cause I'm obviously too ignorant to know on my own. That was a direct comment because of my affiliation, you would not have made that comment if I was in any other organization.

And as for ignorance, how bout this. Neither of the V's are GDIs. Psycho maybe, but definitely not independent. Remember Kristin(sp?) is/was a XO, so I'm pretty sure that is not independent. Second, since you are so aware of the situation, you should know that her mom is also affiliated. I forget which sorority, but that has been their argument all along, that her mother was never subjected to the same types of things while she was in her sorority in college. So call them ignorant, call them anti-greeks, but definitely NOT GDI, because they lack the main characteristic of a GDI. INDEPENDENT!!!!

My close friend's Ex-Fiance- This is man who told my friend that if she ever joined a sorority he wouldn't talk to her and would dump her. Knowing that myself an another one of our close friend's are both in sororities, would tell us how he felt we were wasting our time and buying our friends and thought Greeks were snobs, etc, the list goes on. Even after explaining to him that we all dont haze and how much time we put into our charities etc. He wouldnt listen, he was being IGNORANT. I think most ppl would agree with this.

Those are Anti-Greeks, which I consider "GDIs" Poeple who have only negative things to say about Greek life and dont know what its about. They try to force the opinion that being Greek is bad and want to argue about it. I am not being elitest when I use this term to say that these people were/are ignorant, because they are in their ACTIONS.

So are they anti-greeks, or are they GDIs? Cause those are not synonymous. GDIs simply are proud of who and what they are, which happens to be independent.



And a final note. I am relaxed. Totally in fact. However perhaps you need to remember that your opinions can be very offensive and sometimes are better left unsaid. Just as someone using the f** word or the n**** word is just "expressing their views," and is extremely offensive to the majority of the population.

And overall the offensiveness lies in taking a term that is used with pride, and degrading it.

You can all flame me all you would like. You can attack me for not agreeing. Go ahead. Have fun. I will not be returning to this thread. I have stated how I view this term (which is the original purpose), I have now stated that your opinion is the first to ever make me feel offended (hoping to open your eyes, but then you had to go and tell me to relax), and now I'm done.

Have a great day all. And I hope that I've been able to open someone's eyes about degrading terms.

~C