Facebook - Privacy Violation?

[MandyPepperidge]

I haven't read through the entire thread, so I might be repeating...

Our chapter, and also the Panhellenic Council, has been adamant about what is appropriate and not appropriate for Facebook. This stems from wanting to avoid perpetuating the "drunk Greek"-stereotype and also because a number of chapters have been targeted by their Nationals for showing underage drinking, drinking in letters, and so forth in their pictures.

My chapter has been pretty vigilant about calling people out for inappropriate pictures, but we have also been reasonable if people are of age. For example, I could have a picture with a wine glass or even a beer probably, but I could not have a picture of myself funneling a beer or doing a body shot.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by MandyPepperidge

I haven't read through the entire thread, so I might be repeating...

Our chapter, and also the Panhellenic Council, has been adamant about what is appropriate and not appropriate for Facebook. This stems from wanting to avoid perpetuating the "drunk Greek"-stereotype and also because a number of chapters have been targeted by their Nationals for showing underage drinking, drinking in letters, and so forth in their pictures.

My chapter has been pretty vigilant about calling people out for inappropriate pictures, but we have also been reasonable if people are of age. For example, I could have a picture with a wine glass or even a beer probably, but I could not have a picture of myself funneling a beer or doing a body shot.

That's perfectly reasonable. I think people should just take into consideration what is appropriate to polite society, because when they want to get a "real" job, they're going to have to behave like they're in polite society. No future employer is going to be impressed by funneling skills or law breaking.

[Thetagirl218]

I think the whole point is that your facebook or myspace may be a reflection of who you are to the outside world. If you have pictures of you drinking on one section of the page, and on the other side have a section for "A proud member of XYZ!" it sends a mixed message!

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

I think the whole point is that your facebook or myspace may be a reflection of who you are to the outside world. If you have pictures of you drinking on one section of the page, and on the other side have a section for "A proud member of XYZ!" it sends a mixed message!

I don't think that is the whole problem so much...if you are of legal age there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking. The problem is when people drink too much. Not saying I've never done it, but it's not all that classy and we all know it.

Like I've said, it's in our code of standards that we can't associate our letters with alcohol. I understand this, even for those of legal age, because of the stereotypes surrounding greek life. It's one way of combating those. So our solution is to say that if you've got alcohol on your page, you have to remove your letters. Of course, no one is going to choose the beer bottle over the letters. Problem solved.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I don't think that is the whole problem so much...if you are of legal age there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking. The problem is when people drink too much. Not saying I've never done it, but it's not all that classy and we all know it.

Like I've said, it's in our code of standards that we can't associate our letters with alcohol. I understand this, even for those of legal age, because of the stereotypes surrounding greek life. It's one way of combating those. So our solution is to say that if you've got alcohol on your page, you have to remove your letters. Of course, no one is going to choose the beer bottle over the letters. Problem solved.

OK, but what if you have an album of your vineyard trip to France or Italy (which happened WITH YOUR PARENTS) and then a sister writes on your wall, reminding you of a meeting? Does that count or not? What if you mention communion wine or the alcohol in medication?

By the way, I'm pretty sure alcohol and letters rule is an active thing and does not apply to alumnae.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

OK, but what if you have an album of your vineyard trip to France or Italy (which happened WITH YOUR PARENTS) and then a sister writes on your wall, reminding you of a meeting? Does that count or not? What if you mention communion wine or the alcohol in medication?

By the way, I'm pretty sure alcohol and letters rule is an active thing and does not apply to alumnae.

Technically that falls into the category and shouldn't be posted. Though I doubt anyone is going to report someone to EC for being around a bunch of grapes. Why in the world would you be writing about communion wine or alcohol in medication on facebook or myspace?

I never said it applied to alums.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Technically that falls into the category and shouldn't be posted. Though I doubt anyone is going to report someone to EC for being around a bunch of grapes. Why in the world would you be writing about communion wine or alcohol in medication on facebook or myspace?

I never said it applied to alums.

1. I think it's sad that it technically shouldn't be posted because it's really a cultural and educational experience (I've never been to a vineyard in Europe, but did go to one in the Niagara area in Ontario). In many ways, not allowing it is a form cultural discrimination (e.g. a girl talking about joining the "grown up table" at the age of 16 and being offered a glass of wine while visiting relatives in the "old country" where it's perfectly legal for a 16 year old to drink), but that might be taking it too far. Trips to vineyards and drinking responsibly with family in the old country are very different from boozing at a party.
   
2. Maybe someone volunteers at a church and talked about how communion wine is prepared.
   
3. You never said it didn't apply to alumnae either.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I don't think that is the whole problem so much...if you are of legal age there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking. The problem is when people drink too much. Not saying I've never done it, but it's not all that classy and we all know it.

Like I've said, it's in our code of standards that we can't associate our letters with alcohol. I understand this, even for those of legal age, because of the stereotypes surrounding greek life. It's one way of combating those. So our solution is to say that if you've got alcohol on your page, you have to remove your letters. Of course, no one is going to choose the beer bottle over the letters. Problem solved.

I agree with you...in the fact that if the rules say so, we have to do it. What I disagree with is the fact that even if your profile is set to private, you STILL cannot have them up.

And I fail to see the point of the rule if it's okay for alumnae to do it; I know it's only because we can't really police alumnae like we can actives, or hold their membership up for behavior, etc, but it just seems like trying to fix the stereotype won't work if the majority of Greeks can still drink in letters and put alcohol pix on Facebook.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

I agree with you...in the fact that if the rules say so, we have to do it. What I disagree with is the fact that even if your profile is set to private, you STILL cannot have them up.

And I fail to see the point of the rule if it's okay for alumnae to do it; I know it's only because we can't really police alumnae like we can actives, or hold their membership up for behavior, etc, but it just seems like trying to fix the stereotype won't work if the majority of Greeks can still drink in letters and put alcohol pix on Facebook.

Private profiles don't do any good. Most of the time, the picture wasn't posted by the person with the drink in hand, but by someone else and was tagged. Unless they can get their friend to remove the photo, it's up their for all of THEIR friends to see. Private profiles are also only as good as the friends you add. Pictures can just be reposted somewhere else. And last but not least, you're supposed to be in Recruitment mode year round. Unless your ONLY friends are in your sorority, it's likely a PNM will see the pictures. Why is it such a big deal? PUT THE BEER DOWN. Wah.

I have no idea what the rules are for alums in my organization. I'm not one and I have a year left. But it doesn't miss the point at all. The REASON that organizations have these all encompassing rules is that COLLEGIANS tend to binge drink and drink under age. It's a problem for all college students...I don't buy that it's a Greek issue, but the rules are a necessary response to show the world that our organizations don't support these behaviors. As a college graduate and an adult, people are much less likely to comment on your behavior in that manner.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Private profiles don't do any good. Most of the time, the picture wasn't posted by the person with the drink in hand, but by someone else and was tagged. Unless they can get their friend to remove the photo, it's up their for all of THEIR friends to see. Private profiles are also only as good as the friends you add. Pictures can just be reposted somewhere else. And last but not least, you're supposed to be in Recruitment mode year round. Unless your ONLY friends are in your sorority, it's likely a PNM will see the pictures. Why is it such a big deal? PUT THE BEER DOWN. Wah.

I have no idea what the rules are for alums in my organization. I'm not one and I have a year left. But it doesn't miss the point at all. The REASON that organizations have these all encompassing rules is that COLLEGIANS tend to binge drink and drink under age. It's a problem for all college students...I don't buy that it's a Greek issue, but the rules are a necessary response to show the world that our organizations don't support these behaviors. As a college graduate and an adult, people are much less likely to comment on your behavior in that manner.

The beer may be down, but there still might be alcohol in the picture. In fact, it might not even be in your place setting.

Maybe I was brought up with a different outlook on alcohol. Alcohol was and still is considered a "grown up" drink in my family, but it was never condemned or considered a bad thing. I watched my parents drink wine at dinner and I was given a wine glass with grape juice or apple juice so I could be "just like the grown ups." When I turned 19 (the legal drinking age here), the juice was replaced with the real thing. My official 19th birthday was wine and dinner with my family. I don't understand why other people weren't brought up the same way. Maybe if people thought about things this way, we'd have fewer problems.