Greek Discrimination....

[skylark]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That's like saying it's OK for the kid outside our building selling candy bars to call me a stupid bitch if I don't want to buy one.

If you happen to be the proprietor of a McDonalds and tell the kid outside the building selling candy that the reason you don't want to buy their candy is because you don't like to support unbalanced nutrition... then yeah.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by skylark

If you happen to be the proprietor of a McDonalds and tell the kid outside the building selling candy that the reason you don't want to buy their candy is because you don't like to support unbalanced nutrition... then yeah.

I am referring to an office building, not a McDonald's.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I am referring to an office building, not a McDonald's.

Which is one reason why you're mixing apples and oranges and why your analogy doesn't fit.

Go back and read the original post and note the sequence of events:

Originally Posted by scoobis

I was going around to local businesses in our town to get donations for our annual philanthropy event and I went into a local cigar shop who someone suggested helps with charity and I walk into the store dressed professionally with a sweater, collared shirt, clean cut, kakis etc. (somthing I might wear to an interview) and i introduce myself and say i'm with Alpha Tau Omega his first words were, "i'm sorry?" so i repeat myself and he says, "no i'm sorry to hear you're in a fraternity." i didn't end up recieving a donation from this owner because he said he didn't want his business associated with under-age drinking...YOU SELL CANCER!!! I'M HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE!!! I was pretty pissed at that so I thanked him for his time and politely said, "Don't believe all the things you hear about fraternities some of us try and make a positive impact on the community."

From his description, OP was at all times polite. Even when he was pissed, he was polite and managed a smile and a respectful response. He didn't, so far as I can tell, actually say "You sell cancer" to the proprietor -- he said that to us as indicative of his state of mind, his frustration and his perception of hypocracy. As to why he might have perceived it as hypocracy, what Skylark said.

I certainly agree with what DSTCHAOS said (how could I not ) about not wanting the money of businesses that are inhumane, unethical, etc. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Which is one reason why you're mixing apples and oranges and why your analogy doesn't fit.

Go back and read the original post and note the sequence of events:

From his description, OP was at all times polite. Even when he was pissed, he was polite and managed a smile and a respectful response. He didn't, so far as I can tell, actually say "You sell cancer" to the proprietor -- he said that to us as indicative of his state of mind, his frustration and his perception of hypocracy. As to why he might have perceived it as hypocracy, what Skylark said.

I certainly agree with what DSTCHAOS said (how could I not ) about not wanting the money of businesses that are inhumane, unethical, etc. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Have you sold your soul, too?

This is where the issue of ethics is subjective. My undergrad and alumnae chapters did not, and probably will not, have alcohol or tobacco sponsors because of the conflict of interest, even if the event is filled with people of legal drinking and tobacco purchasing ages. Our events were/are mostly (legal and illegal) substance-free and the party fundraisers that were held at "clubs" did not need sponsors and were also not associated with the name of the sorority. Not everyone is a fan of seeing tobacco or alcohol sponsors listed beside sorority or fraternity's names because there is a stigma with such associations for many people. I don't know if organizations have national rules regarding this.

[33girl]

Just to make it clear, I'm not defending the store owner's actions or attitudes. But scoobis is being the equivalent of people who go through rush, don't get a bid, and then say "all the Greeks at my school are stuck up jerks/alcoholics/etc. and I am above them."

Apparently my definition of hypocrisy is different than most people's, so we might as well agree to disagree on this one.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Just to make it clear, I'm not defending the store owner's actions or attitudes. But scoobis is being the equivalent of people who go through rush, don't get a bid, and then say "all the Greeks at my school are stuck up jerks/alcoholics/etc. and I am above them."

Apparently my definition of hypocrisy is different than most people's, so we might as well agree to disagree on this one.

Um, no. Scoobis is being the equivalent of someone going through rush and getting cut because of having brown hair, when the entire chapter has brown hair.


You are completely missing what is going on.

[scoobis]

wow...i did not see this turning into a defense/attack on my integrity...(thanks for defending me though) but i just wanted to point out that it sucks being judged for the letters on my chest. Simple enough...i gave that man every reason to think i was a well-mannered young man and he was rude and a bit ignorant. It sucks, i'm not getting a $100 check from him...but the nice older women at the gift hop next door did write me one and say that it was a noble cause.

I just thought the situation sucked....enough said. I'm sure everyone here has been judged because of their affiliation...i'm sorry i opened this can of worms with san Francisco and brown haired kids and MacDonald’s...

Originally Posted by scoobis

wow...i did not see this turning into a defense/attack on my integrity...(thanks for defending me though) but i just wanted to point out that it sucks being judged for the letters on my chest. Simple enough...i gave that man every reason to think i was a well-mannered young man and he was rude and a bit ignorant. It sucks, i'm not getting a $100 check from him...but the nice older women at the gift hop next door did write me one and say that it was a noble cause.

I just thought the situation sucked....enough said. I'm sure everyone here has been judged because of their affiliation...i'm sorry i opened this can of worms with san Francisco and brown haired kids and MacDonald’s...

Threads on GreekChat tend to get that way.

Yes, it does suck to be discriminated for your letters. But it's easier to just suck it up and move on because you won't be able to please everyone. If we waste all our time trying to convince those people that we're well-mannered not at all like those Greek stereotypes, we might overlook those nice old ladies at the gift shop next door who'll actually want to support us.