Advice to rush thread addicts

A remember a few rushes ago, we had a GCer who helped several PNMs in securing recs for their rushes. These PNMs were going through rush at fairly large and competitive southern schools -- and each had a chapter of the GCer's sorority.

Fast forward through rush, and about one or two of these PNMs never really bothered to update their stories past Round One. It would probably be safe to say that rush simply didn't work out for them or she just didn't feel like posting on GC.

THIS GCer PUBLICLY POSTED THIS (or something along the lines of this):

"OH...I'LL JUST TRY AND GET A HOLD OF MY CONTACT AT XYZ UNIVERSITY AND I'LL FIND OUT WHERE SHE WENT."

Sometimes these girls don't post for a reason -- and it's one thing to sincerely be curious as to where she wound up (if anything), but it was plainly obvious (especially from other posts) that she was just a rush addict F-R-E-A-K. Put it this way, she needed help.

Thankfully she hasn't been online for a bunch of rushes now, and I really hope she stays the hell away.

[tinydancer]

I agree - I think it's creepy to call up the chapter and nose around.

[jharb]

Originally posted by tinydancer
I agree - I think it's creepy to call up the chapter and nose around.

Plus it might weird out the chapter and affect the girls chances at recruitment if you're that crazy alum harassing them about the PNM!

[Jen]

I know I may get ripped for this, but my biggest pet peeve on all of GC is the infamous "Good luck!" post.

If I have to read through another "good luck", "have a great recruitment", "follow your heart" or "keep an open mind" I think I will throw up.

I'm sort of hoping that when recruitment begins I'll read a recruitment story thread and hear....I don't know....their recruitment story maybe? But somehow I doubt it.

[adpiucf]

Aries, you forgot to include in the consolation prize category:

Oh, it's ok--- you can always AI.

*Kidding, kidding, people!

[midwesterngirl]

I love the new signature, Aries!

[Jen]

LOL...yeah I thought about including "there's always AI" but I'm afraid people might actually take my sig seriously.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by adpiucf
Aries, you forgot to include in the consolation prize category:

Oh, it's ok--- you can always AI.

*Kidding, kidding, people!

**pounds head into the monitor until it bleeds!**

[ADPiSAI]

ariesrising, you are awesome!

I'm ok with the initial good luck posts, mostly... But when you have to go back and wish them good luck every time they post something new, that's ridiculous. And when they're updating WHILE they're rushing, there's no need to wish them good luck again every day. Your good luck wishes don't expire after every round.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by sageofages
quote:

ACTUALLY, I don't know about other NPC groups, but in Phi Mu it is the collegiate chapter that RECEIVES the recommendation to let the "recommender" know the outcome of the "recommendee's" recruitment experience. There is a form that says essentially "thank you for the recommendation for SUZIE SORORITY WANNABE. She (check one) - has joined Phi Mu. - pledged *any other group*. - declined to complete Recruitment" etc etc etc

That way you don't have a bunch of alums calling an already overwhelmed membership director for information. Very handy and very much like a thank you note (with additional information) for the recommendation.

Yep that's how our USC (CA) chapter does it. I received a nice note telling me where one girl went and that the other diidn't pledge..........

[adpi*violet]

Originally posted by ariesrising
I know I may get ripped for this, but my biggest pet peeve on all of GC is the infamous "Good luck!" post.

If I have to read through another "good luck", "have a great recruitment", "follow your heart" or "keep an open mind" I think I will throw up.

I'm sort of hoping that when recruitment begins I'll read a recruitment story thread and hear....I don't know....their recruitment story maybe? But somehow I doubt it.

I wish there was a way to narow down a thread to just the posts by the PNM. That way you get their story and not the extra stuff.
I know I've posted good luck statements to PNMs before. I can think of many reasons why people like to do it, the biggest being to subscribe to the thread. It is possible to just subscribe to the threads without posting something on it though. Maybe if we all did that then the threads could be kept for the Recruitment stories themselves. Then again, if nobody responded to a post, the PNM may never post again, because she does not feel validated or wanted or whatever.
I guess we're stuck between a rock and hard place. Maybe someone could come up with a standard post that says something like...
"All the GCers from many different GLOs who read your thread are silently wishing you luck with your recuritment process and are hoping that you find a chapter of a sorority (or fraternity, though that's rare on here) that you can call home. We will all be reading whatever updates you give us and cheering you on. Just becuase we do not respond, does not mean we are not interested in your story. Just check out the number of times your thread has been viewed and you will realize you have many, many people hoping you have a successful and exciting recruitment period."
What do you all think?

[Jen]

I was thinking one big giant "Good Luck Etc" post at the top of the recruitment stories thread would be great. People could go in there and say as many good lucks as they wanted to whoever they wanted as many times as they wanted=)

And I really wish you could filter threads by poster, that would be awesome and solve many of my GC problems.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by ariesrising
I was thinking one big giant "Good Luck Etc" post at the top of the recruitment stories thread would be great. People could go in there and say as many good lucks as they wanted to whoever they wanted as many times as they wanted=)

And I really wish you could filter threads by poster, that would be awesome and solve many of my GC problems.

AHhhh I was just thinking the same thing!

Can this thread be posted at the top of the forum? I haven't even read the last few years' stories because there are way too many BS posts to go through before you actually get to the PNM's posts.

OR how about those who pic a favorite thread because they like the category that was used to name the campus chapters? WTF? Or "Oh I like Orange, because I like oranges. Good luck with orange! WOOHOO!"

[Indie_Superstar]

I think a good rule is, well, you wouldn't just go up to some random rushee you just met and follow her around perpetually asking her "What sorority do you like best? Are you going to be an XYZ like me?!?!? Come on, which one are you going to pick?!?! Don't leave ME hanging!!!!"; so it probably isn't okay to do it on the Internet either. If Susie Rushee volunteers something like, "Today I visited ABC, XYZ, and MNO, and I had fun at all the houses, but I'm leaning towards ABC because I seem to have a lot in common with the girls," then it's fine to offer your opinions, advice, support, congrats, etc., but it's really all about letting Susie initate it herself, and not pressuring her. It's not about your need to get your rush thread fix, it's about Susie finding a group that's right for her, and getting support and encouragement along the way. Don't get me wrong, I like reading these things as much as everyone, and I love it when the stories have happy endings, but I also think that the increasing popularity of the Internet has made people a little less aware of boundaries, I mean, since it's so easy for Sally Sister from Ole Miss to post in Susie Rushee from UCF's thread, or PM her, or whatever, then Sally's more naturally inclined to do so. Oh, and another thing.....if a girl gets cross-cut, much as people want to help, it might be a good idea to confine responses to virtual hugs, or stuff like "Sorry it didn't work out," or "Have you considered looking into the BlahBlah Club, or the Whatsit Society?" It's never a good idea to give someone false hope, because in all honesty, COB/second round of rush/AI might not work out either. I guess what I'm trying to say is, good intentions are wonderful, but it's best not to let them run amok.

[ADPiSAI]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
OR how about those who pic a favorite thread because they like the category that was used to name the campus chapters? WTF? Or "Oh I like Orange, because I like oranges. Good luck with orange! WOOHOO!"

Yeah, really... I kind of thought that one of the points of having the nicknames for the chapters was to avoid people saying "Oh, I think you should go ________!" The nicknames take away a LOT of the pressure from the PNMs... but picking favourites, even if you don't know what chapter it is, can put it right back on.

And if I posted something like, "Ewww, don't go orange 'cause I'm really allergic to citrus and that would be horrible!" I'd get people attacking me for it, I'm sure.