[sugar and spice]

I'm anti-names, simply because I think that some of us at GC forget that these rush stories are really for the PNM, not for us. I don't want to have it on my conscious that I begged some girl to use names just so it would be clearer for me, and then she gets cut because of it.

I think some people don't realize that what a PNM says in a rush thread doesn't have to be outright negative to get her cut. Let's say she's preffing ABC and XYZ and says in her rush thread the afternoon before pref, "ABC is my favorite." She might like XYZ fine and be perfectly willing to accept a bid from them, but if an XYZ reads that, she might think, "Oh, well, she wants ABC, why should we bother giving her a bid?" Then XYZ will put her low on the second bid list, and if ABC does the same thing the PNM could be cross-cut.

Other situations might include:

- a PNM changing her mind from the early rounds to the late rounds about a group she likes or dislikes -- but if she said something like "I just wasn't feeling it at ABC" after Round One, she might get cut after Round Two when ABC has to make more cuts, even if she had a fabulous time at ABC during Round Two

- a PNM saying, "Oh, I LOVE XYZ SO MUCH and I'd only take a bid from them." If an XYZ reads that, and XYZ has lots of great prospects this year, she might think, "Oh, well, we liked her but since we know she's suiciding us, we'll put her lower on the bid list since we know we'll get her no matter what." If they put her too low on the bid list, she might not get a bid

There are certain situations where it's safe to use names. If you've never:
-posted your full name (or just your first name if it's an out-of-the-ordinary one)
- posted what you're going to wear to rush
- posted your picture

and your rush is fairly large (at least 200 rushees) and you don't describe your rush conversations in detail ("We talked about our mutual love for Cabbage Patch Dolls," "We talked about our mutual love for Coach handbags"), you're probably safe, because they won't figure out who you are.

I think the best system is to use numbers during rush week, but to go back after rush week and tell which number was which sorority. It'll clear everything up for those of us who are reading the threads and want to know, but it'll keep the rushees safe until they get their bids.