GDI...good or bad?

Sigma Sage · #1 12-07-2002, 12:03 PM

A recent post stated that the use of the label "GDI" reflects poorly on the greek community. I know in my day, I had many friends that were "GDI's", as they called themselves, and were damn proud. I see nothing wrong with it. I am interested in what everyone thinks.

texas*princess · #2 12-07-2002, 12:37 PM

hehehe i am guessing you are talking about my post

I wouldn't think it is bad, but it all depends on the context that it is used and who you talk to.

If your friends for example, who have no problem with it and are proudly proclaiming to be GDI's, that's cool.

It's just that I have noticed on these boards it is usually used in a negative context from Greeks... when I had no idea what it meant I went to this threat to try and find the meaning:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ghlight=GDI%2A

Just don't understand why people have to label others who do not wish to partake in the fraternities/sororities that are available. Maybe they are too busy and have tough work/school schedules... why should that make them a GDI.. maybe they would like to join, but just don't have the time for it.

KappaKittyCat · #3 12-07-2002, 12:39 PM

I'm very careful about whom I call a GDI. In my mind, it's fine if people are independent. Greek life isn't for everyone. I use GDI to describe people who are independent and outwardly hostile towards the Greek system. My former roommate is a GDI. She gave me so much crap when I pledged. The night before my Initiation, she proceeded to try talk me out of it. She used every cliche reason in the book, from "it's a cult" to "you're just buying your friends," and finished up with, "I can't believe you're joining a sorority." I said, "Believe it, babe. I'm a Kappa." She was really mad. And yet the worst thing about her (and many on my campus like her) is that she condemns Greek life and then takes advantage of the many things that it provides the campus (not the least of which is parties).

So no, I don't think that calling someone a GDI is necessarily a bad thing. We just have to be careful about how we come off to the outside world. It could sound like we're condemning those who don't want to be Greek.

Somebody on here has a signature that says, "Greek life isn't for everybody, but the existance of Greek life is." That about sums it up.

(Edited for grammar and clarity.)

Sigma Sage · #4 12-07-2002, 12:42 PM

Nicely put...thank you

kateshort · #5 12-07-2002, 02:13 PM

OTOH, at Valpo it was customary for pledges to put their sorority letters in their windows (as well as often having them posted on one's door as a name tag or somesuch by the actives). So one year, some of the RA's made Gamma Delta Iota letters for those who didn't rush, and they could put *those* in their windows if they wanted to.

It was done in good fun and good spirit-- I don't think any of the sorority pledges or actives minded, and some actually loved the idea. Then again, there wasn't a huge anti-greek/pro-greek split on campus when I was there.

Valpo's since gone NPC; I don't know if new members are asked to put their letters in their windows (probably "asked" and not "required" due to hazing, etc., depending on whether new members can even have the actual greek letters displayed before they're fully initiated), but I've seen collegians of many NPC sororities displaying their letters in their windows.

UofIL AXO · #6 12-07-2002, 02:21 PM

GDI was thrown around alot freshman year and then finally I had the guts to ask someone what it meant. I feel that it's like "BS" .. which is not nearly as offensive as saying b#llsh$t. That's my take on it. Obviously if someone has a problem with it, we shouldn't label them as such.

DeltaSigStan · #7 12-07-2002, 02:27 PM

SDSU Greeks, in the years I've been here, have NEVER said GDI, I've ALWAYS heard Random.

astroAPhi · #8 12-07-2002, 02:36 PM

KappaKittyCat took the words right out of my mouth. Actually, I usually lengthen the term to "GDI til I die" when they're ungodly hostile. They are narrow-minded and cannot conceive that they are wrong. I usually just say "non-affiliated".

crystalline · #9 12-07-2002, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by astroAPhi
KappaKittyCat took the words right out of my mouth. Actually, I usually lengthen the term to "GDI til I die" when they're ungodly hostile. They are narrow-minded and cannot conceive that they are wrong. I usually just say "non-affiliated".

I think I'm confused. Here we use that term as "girls deemed independent", which I don't find offensive, and we only use it towards girls who participate in frat weeks but aren't in a sorority. Could you please explain what you mean by "GDI til I die", since obviously you're not a GDI?

Lady Pi Phi · #10 12-07-2002, 04:44 PM

I've never heard the term GDI used at my school, but maybe that's because Greek life is so small at Guelph. But I and many of my sisters have used the term Random. We don't mean to be offensive in using the term, but it some how becomes part of the vernacular.

KappaKittyCat · #11 12-07-2002, 04:56 PM

Crystalline, GDI usually stands for g--d--- independent.

OUlioness01 · #12 12-07-2002, 05:20 PM

at my school it's common to hear people not affiliated with a GLO to term thenselves GDIs. these are the people who have friends that are greeks but don't necessarily want to become greek themselves. i've never thought about it being deragatory in any way before.

crystalline · #13 12-07-2002, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KappaKittyCat
Crystalline, GDI usually stands for g--d--- independent.

ahhhhh! *light bulb turns on*

33girl · #14 12-07-2002, 05:43 PM

Kate - re the letters in the windows, everyone (pledges and actives) who lived in the dorms used to do that at my school too. It was really cool to look up and see your letters.

I think GDI usually doesn't mean the Greeks saying "damn you for being independent", rather it is the people themselves who are one saying "I am independent, damm it!"

We never used GDI in an unfriendly way, it was just shorter than saying/spelling independent. We had another name for people who were virulently anti-Greek and constantly put Greeks down with untrue stereotypes...."assholes."

AZDZetaSigma03 · #15 12-08-2002, 05:25 PM

At my school the people who are commonly known as GDIs are typically the hard-core anti-Greek people who not only do not see the point of the existence of the Greek system, but try to pressure new pledges into de-pledging (that happened to us and it sucked).