What to do if you spot a random guy wearing your letters?

MysticCat · #1 08-02-2007, 02:19 PM

I certainly wasn't going to accuse you of being too apathetic or passive.

You ask: "What should we even demand from them? Tell them to take off the shirt? Tell them to return it to us? Or just educate them about the Greek system and that it is extremely disrespectful to wear our letters."

My thinking is that if you do any of these things, it is you who will appear to any observer to be extremely disrespectful. It certainly won't add to any positive public vibes about Greeks.

As for threatening legal action, good luck with that.

You said it yourself -- these people probably brought the shirts, and they probably have no idea where the shirts came from or what the letters on them mean. They're just glad to have some shirts that didn't cost them too much.

Be glad you can afford to buy some new shirts and move on.

nwu43 · #2 08-02-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I certainly wasn't going to accuse you of being too apathetic or passive.

You ask: "What should we even demand from them? Tell them to take off the shirt? Tell them to return it to us? Or just educate them about the Greek system and that it is extremely disrespectful to wear our letters."

My thinking is that if you do any of these things, it is you who will appear to any observer to be extremely disrespectful. It certainly won't add to any positive public vibes about Greeks.

As for threatening legal action, good luck with that.

You said it yourself -- these people probably brought the shirts, and they probably have no idea where the shirts came from or what the letters on them mean. They're just glad to have some shirts that didn't cost them too much.

Be glad you can afford to buy some new shirts and move on.

No the beating up and legal action thing was a joke.

fantASTic · #3 08-02-2007, 03:51 PM

Heh..to add my own story, I work with several students in a research lab. One day, they were all talking about some "totally stereotypical frat guys behind [them] on the bus. They were wearing polos and khakis and were talking about Star Wars and how cool it is!"

First off, not only did they think a stereotypical frat guy is obsessed with Star Wars, but even though they knew I'm Greek they spent over half an hour talking crap about the system. THEN...the next day one of the girls came in wearing an NPC Recruitment shirt from Florida State! I asked her where she got it and she said, "I found it at a thrift shop in Florida. Why?"

The irony was astounding.

adpiucf · #4 08-02-2007, 03:57 PM

I think when you see someone wearing your letters who is more than likely not a Greek-- you let it go.

And then you go back to your chapter and remind members not to give away letter items to non-members or Goodwill. In the case of your house being broken into, there's little you can do except to take precautions like locking doors and setting alarms--- and making sure members keep their personal items safe.

And then maybe you hold a clothing drive and donate all that gently-used non-letter clothing to a local shelter.

UGAalum94 · #5 08-02-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

I think when you see someone wearing your letters who is more than likely not a Greek-- you let it go.

And then you go back to your chapter and remind members not to give away letter items to non-members or Goodwill. In the case of your house being broken into, there's little you can do except to take precautions like locking doors and setting alarms--- and making sure members keep their personal items safe.

And then maybe you hold a clothing drive and donate all that gently-used non-letter clothing to a local shelter.

I like that you added the note about the clothing drive because as much as I value Alpha Gamma Delta, if it came down to it, I'd rather people in need have clothes to wear more than I'm worried about who might end up wearing my 1992 crush party t-shirt. So, with your plan, you can do both things: provide clothes for poor and request members not give away lettered clothing.

AlexMack · #6 08-02-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwu43

No the beating up and legal action thing was a joke.

Shame, you should have laid the smack down.

LPIDelta · #7 08-02-2007, 05:12 PM

I think its dangerous to make assumptions about who may or may not be a member. I understand your situation may be a little unique, but in general, I think you let things go, as other have said.

LatinaAlumna · #8 08-03-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwu43

No the beating up and legal action thing was a joke.

I wouldn't even be joking about getting into a physical altercation over a fraternity matter at this particular point in time, but that's just me.

I agree with some of the other posters--just let it go. The people you described most likely are unfamiliar with greek life and didn't know they were doing something offensive.

nwu43 · #9 08-03-2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

I wouldn't even be joking about getting into a physical altercation over a fraternity matter at this particular point in time, but that's just me.

I agree with some of the other posters--just let it go. The people you described most likely are unfamiliar with greek life and didn't know they were doing something offensive.

Whether they know it's offensive or not is only one part of it though. I already said in my original post that I realized it wasn't their fault. But the point is they're still wearing our letters, and in principle if we are good lambdas we should find a solution..

It actually seems now that Senusret and snuknight's ideas are much better than just "letting it go".

LatinaAlumna · #10 08-03-2007, 01:53 AM

Quote:

It actually seems now that Senusret and snuknight's ideas are much better than just "letting it go".

Okay, so now you have options next time it happens, right?

macallan25 · #11 08-03-2007, 02:05 AM

Evidently I'm the only one who thinks this thread is absurdly ridiculous yet insanely hilarious at the same. I'm pretty sure I just read a post by someone suggesting that they incinerate their clothing so as to not let it "fall in the wrong hands".

MysticCat · #12 08-03-2007, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

Evidently I'm the only one who thinks this thread is absurdly ridiculous yet insanely hilarious at the same..

LOL. I just find it baffling that anyone would expend any energy at all worrying about something like this, or about what to do "next time."

AlphaFrog · #13 08-03-2007, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

I'm pretty sure I just read a post by someone suggesting that they incinerate their clothing so as to not let it "fall in the wrong hands".

We would never incinerate our letters.

The catsuits on the other hand....

ETA: You're right, this is a totally ridiculous LOL thread.

AlexMack · #14 08-03-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

Evidently I'm the only one who thinks this thread is absurdly ridiculous yet insanely hilarious at the same. I'm pretty sure I just read a post by someone suggesting that they incinerate their clothing so as to not let it "fall in the wrong hands".

No, I thought that beating someone up for wearing letters was hilarious. So I encouraged it.