I've Had It!

[Star Turtle]

Now,

all ya'll that know me know that I don't get angry bout too many things, but this has to be said - even if it makes a few of my favorite gc'ers angry.


ENOUGH OF THE SIGMA BASHING!

I'm not even gonna pretend that I agree with everything that is shown on that stupid television show, but we as a greek community MUST stop bashing each other! NOW!

How dare we think that just because ALL of that chapter's dirty laundry is being aired nationwide that they are terrible, among other things that I will NOT repeat. How do you think a nation would judge you if all of YOUR chapters bad days, dirty little secrets, and nights out at the local club were out for everyone to see? I can lay money on the fact that many of the people who do the most bashing have done several of these events more than once.

We don't know thier ritual (yet, anyway) and we don't know WHY they do the things they do. One thing I am SURE of, things at UC Davis will be very different next year, for the Sigmas, every other local, and all NPC, IFC, and NPHC groups who are there.

I can't believe the filth that is on this chat board over this group of girls. We, as greeks, should be able to point out the wonderful things this chapter is doing.


I apologize for the meanness in this post, and if the moderator sees fit, I will not take offense to it's deletion.

[KappaTarzan]

i do understand what you are saying. i empathize and i even relate and feel the same way- to a point. my main objection, however, is that they knew that they would be on national television with their "dirty laundry" (LOVE that termonology actually ) and they chose to go ahead and film the show anyway. Yes, it is true, MTV is conniving, BUT they had the benefit of past reality shows such as real world and road rules to know that MTV twists and distorts everything, and will always show the controversial parts to the best of their ability. Hell, i'm not gonna lie, MTV probably made it seem 10,000x worse than it was. BUT they still chose to be on that show... but i'm rambling here.
Moving on, i really do believe the statement "no matter the letter, we are all greek together". It is true, we the minority and must bond together, but that is why the community balked at the idea that some of our own would do this MTV show, thus giving MTV the oppurtunity to give greeks (specifically SORORITIES) a WORSE name when we were *just* starting to rise above the stereotypes... I can't even tell you how many times i have heard "so in your sorority do you guys all dance like those two on that mtv show did at the club? they were all over each other" or "so no pledges takes those rules seriously when they say no drinking, huh?". Alot of us ARE serious, and do not wish for the stereotype to be forced upon us.
so in summary i do understand both sides. It's a tough situation and no matter what the girls of sigma *will* take some flack for it. They do have to be admired for holding up as well as they have, however. Cross you fingers for the rest of the season!

[josh8o]

i agree. we should embrace them...not bash them.

[PiKA2001]

I don't see anything wrong with bashing them. They chose to be on the show and exploit themselves. If they weren't expecting this negative reaction, then they are as stupid as mtv makes them out to be. And if you've ever noticed, the whole reality tv genre(personalities) is notorious for getting bashed, so it's not surprising to me at all that the sigma's are getting theirs. By the way, does anyone think people will take that sorority serious now that they've done the show, or do you think they will forever be known as the " fake stupid mtv sorority"?

[SATX*APhi]

It is okay to express your negative opinion about the show, but repeatedly? Day after day?

I have had the opportunity of talking to Mara and she is super awesome, totally down to earth and very sweet. She has explained a lot to me (although she isn't a sister who "voted" to let MTV film the recruitment). She has told me how they have gotten so much crap from NPC members about being filmed and such. There is nothing that can be done to change the situation. Yes, the "sisters" chose to be filmed, but what's done is done. They realize that they may have made a mistake, but there is no turning back.

We do all have opinions, and I understand that, but why does everyone have to be so negative all the time?? What good does that do?? None!

(I am sorry if any of you become upset by my post, but I am a very optimistic person.)

[theta sig agd]

I actually have to agree with the negatives here. Im all for greek unity, but like every other show that airs dirty laundry, if you dont want negativity dont show it on tv!!!

Im sorry, but i dont see the show as a positive thing for the greek community and I dont mind expressing it!!In fact I think we have a duty to!!

I wont attack the people personally i just feel they were stupid, misguided, however you want to put it, for doing the show.

[librasoul22]

Originally posted by theta sig agd
I wont attack the people personally i just feel they were stupid, misguided, however you want to put it, for doing the show.

LOL! Does this even make sense?

Whatever the reason for bashing them, I still say get over it. You can complain in GC til you have Carpal Tunnel, but the show is still gonna be on every Mnday with new atrocities. As a matter of fact, complaining on GC is kinda preaching to the choir, wouldn't y'all say?

[kdonline]

When you put yourself in the public light, you are opening yourself up to criticism. (Journalism majors - check out the "public figure" laws.)

So yes, the Sigmas - and all people involved - are asking for it, and everyone in the world is allowed to criticize them.

This is one of the reasons why people should truly think about putting themselves in the public light. (Even you all who want to do those "house makeovers")

Now, as fellow GREEKS, perhaps we should hold Sigma in a different light. When they agreed to do the show, they had sincere intentions & figured it would do their sorority a lot more good than bad.

But seeing the result, well, what is good to the Sigma's is not good for MTV...

I would be curious to see how Sigma is going to survive now, in the future. What kind of pledges are they going to get now? What contributions will these pledges we are "following" make towards the chapter? Will any be officers? Will Sigma colonize new chapters on other campuses because of "Sorority Life"? These are things I look forward to finding out, not "Oh, gee, will the girls get Sigma tattoos on the next show..?"

[librasoul22]

Originally posted by kdonline
When you put yourself in the public light, you are opening yourself up to criticism. (Journalism majors - check out the "public figure" laws.)

So yes, the Sigmas - and all people involved - are asking for it, and everyone in the world is allowed to criticize them.

This is one of the reasons why people should truly think about putting themselves in the public light. (Even you all who want to do those "house makeovers")

Okay, see I get kinda tired of this argument. Not you personally, kdonline, but everyone has pretty much used this as an excuse to bash away.

I mean really. What GOOD does bashing them do? Can anyone tell me that?

Because from my standpoint, bashing them on GC seems to serve no other purpose than to show everyone that "you told them so," thus reinforcing your (general you, not anyone in particular) self-importance. If you don't like the show, then do not watch it religiously and come on here to gripe about it. If you don't like the CONCEPT of the show, then try to do somethign with YOUR org that negates the stereotypes. Sorry, I still don't see what good it does to come on GC and whine and complain.

[UCD Greek]

As a greek for UC Davis you'd think I'd be all about bashing the Sigmas. I'm not. They are part of our greek community and part of panhellenic and wether or not we agree with their decidion we need to stand by them and help them get through this. And I'm sick of one more thing. Im tierd of everyone refusing to face th fact that most of the things that go on with Sigmas go on in our houses (though we don't ask about religion or have a pledge house). I believe that most of us would be lying if we didn't admit that we've problems PMN's drinking, disrespecting rules or eachother. We've probably all had to sit down at one time or another and discuss our "concerns" lke the Sigmas did. I defenitly agree that Sorority Life doesn't do a fair job of awknowledging all of the facets of sorority life but most of what on there are problems and situations most of our organizations have faced at one time or the other. And it may be hard to watch Sigma "air their dirty laundry" but i think in a lot of ways its hard because we are watching our own problems and fears, because one some level we all knwo this part of sorority life. We need to stop pretending all sorority life is philantrophy, study hours and sisterly bonding, what we are seeing with sigma is part of it too, though I for SURE wish they'd show more of the other stuff (which, by the way I know the sgimas do a lot of). Im sorry if this comes off as harsh or mean but i had to speak my mind.

[Eirene_DGP]

Originally posted by UCD Greek
As a greek for UC Davis you'd think I'd be all about bashing the Sigmas. I'm not. They are part of our greek community and part of panhellenic and wether or not we agree with their decidion we need to stand by them and help them get through this. And I'm sick of one more thing. Im tierd of everyone refusing to face th fact that most of the things that go on with Sigmas go on in our houses (though we don't ask about religion or have a pledge house). I believe that most of us would be lying if we didn't admit that we've problems PMN's drinking, disrespecting rules or eachother. We've probably all had to sit down at one time or another and discuss our "concerns" lke the Sigmas did. I defenitly agree that Sorority Life doesn't do a fair job of awknowledging all of the facets of sorority life but most of what on there are problems and situations most of our organizations have faced at one time or the other. And it may be hard to watch Sigma "air their dirty laundry" but i think in a lot of ways its hard because we are watching our own problems and fears, because one some level we all knwo this part of sorority life. We need to stop pretending all sorority life is philantrophy, study hours and sisterly bonding, what we are seeing with sigma is part of it too, though I for SURE wish they'd show more of the other stuff (which, by the way I know the sgimas do a lot of). Im sorry if this comes off as harsh or mean but i had to speak my mind.

I totally agree with this!!!! I do wonder why Sigma allowed certain parts to be filmed, hopefully they were given the opportunity to decide which parts would be filmed and which parts left out.

[sugar and spice]

As somebody who's not yet Greek, I'm going to throw out an opinion.

I don't think the Sigmas are making Greeks look trashy. As a long-time fan of "The Real World," I know the extent to which MTV edits its reality shows -- they do it much more heavily than most of the other networks because they've had a much longer history with reality TV and they've realized what sells best. They had about twenty seasons of reality TV ("Road Rules" and "Real World" combined) before the big craze even started. That's a lot of time to experiment. And so I don't blame the Sigmas for "Sorority Life." Do I think they were misguided to go on it? Sure. But if it hadn't been them, it would have been some other organization. The blame for more bad publicity for Greeks should fall almost solely on MTV's shoulders, because they're the ones who decided to show the slapping-sisters-and-drinking side of sorority life, rather than the actual sorority side.

However, you know what DOES make Greeks look trashy? The fact that a bunch of them get on this board and pretend like they're all for Greek unity, but then turn around and bash these girls on MTV. I've read some anti-Sigma posts that are so vehement that I've just started wonder, "Wow, does she realize how insecure and ridiculous and downright RUDE she sounds?"

I know you guys realize that hazing gives you a bad reputation, I know that you realize that drinking in your letters gives you a bad reputation, etc. What some of you don't seem to realize is how snotty the Sigma-bashing sounds, and how that could just as easily give you a reputation too.

You don't have to like the show. I certainly don't. But it would be nice if you could keep all the cattiness in check -- it doesn't reflect well on you, your GLO, or the Greek population at large.

[Thrillhouse]

This show makes greek life look like a soap opera and it isn't. I don't care about what people say about creative editing, storylines had to happen for mtv to work with.

[moe.ron]

The concept of Reality TV is beyond my grasp. Isn't that an oxymoron (sp?).

[Serenity]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
As somebody who's not yet Greek, I'm going to throw out an opinion.

...You know what DOES make Greeks look trashy? The fact that a bunch of them get on this board and pretend like they're all for Greek unity, but then turn around and bash these girls on MTV. I've read some anti-Sigma posts that are so vehement that I've just started wonder, "Wow, does she realize how insecure and ridiculous and downright RUDE she sounds?"

I know you guys realize that hazing gives you a bad reputation, I know that you realize that drinking in your letters gives you a bad reputation, etc. What some of you don't seem to realize is how snotty the Sigma-bashing sounds, and how that could just as easily give you a reputation too.

You don't have to like the show. I certainly don't. But it would be nice if you could keep all the cattiness in check -- it doesn't reflect well on you, your GLO, or the Greek population at large.

Keep this in mind come Fall Rush. "Sorority Life" may not be solely responsible for poor numbers....