Quote:
Originally posted by DOVE1920:
I agree with IotaNet that we should be a little bit more open to answering questions. Sometimes you can only learn certain things by ACTUALLY asking a person. And I would rather hear it from someone's mouth than reading it somewhere. I also agree that there are certain questions we can't answer but there's nothing wrong with telling someone that in a respectable manner. This uppity/untouchable attitude has to go...
|
My dear Soror Dove1920 and Iotanet I agree with you both regarding our treatment of prospectives who ask questions. Some questions are inappropriate and can't be answered and members of BGLOs should be sensitive and respectful when dealing with those types of questions.
I am a reader of many BGLO-specific chat forums (some of them I contribute to on a regular basis). I often see questions related to membership posted on those sites. Most of those questions are very chapter specific (when do chapters have rush) or not best answered on the 'Net (what are the fees, when should I submit fees, can I have the initiation fee layaway plan, etc.)
Frankly, I have never refused to discuss my membership in Zeta, the programs of my local chapter, Zeta Phi Beta's national initiatives, or my reasons for becoming a member of Zeta with any prospective (face-to-face or on the 'Net).
Unfortunately, most of what I do get are the types of questions that, in my very humble opinion, have nothing to do with the membership search. I didn't need to know the fees before I made up my mind to be a Zeta (and when I did need to know it I was told by a member face-to-face at the local chapter level). Guess what? Even with the Internet some things remain the same. Does knowing the gpa or the membership fees REALLY influence your decision to become a member of XYZ? If so, then what does that say about the organization's principles, history, programs, members?
Again, I ask what are membership questions? If I have read "The Beauty of Sorority Life according to ABC Sorority" (fictional title), observed members at Party Central University, read every BGLO chat forum on the 'Net, what more can be gained by posting questions about dues, rush dates, and local chapter practices on any chat forum that is frequented by members and prospectives? Same questions...same answers.
For more on my perspective on answering prospectives questions read the thread on The Internet Sorority Search.