Greek Chat - should membership be closed?

[Jen]

Tons of people have managed to find their way to GC and become part of the community over the years. Those that find it easy to mesh with the GC culture are people who have thick skins, know their shit and either lurk for a long time to get the feel of the place, or they do their searching and research so they avoid posting things we've all seen a million times.

My advice for newbies - lurking is the best advice that I can give outside the words USE SEARCH. If I was showing up as a newbie, I'd try and watch the atmosphere, suss out what the place is like, then start posting on a few innocuous social threads in Chit Chat before I'd jump into serious conversation that I might not realize the history to in this place.

If you're coming on here because you have a specific question, make sure it hasn't been answered before (it mostly likely has; be creative with searching). Be polite when you ask. If you get snarked at, ignore it - even better, check yourself. You might be a trainwreck waiting to happen.


*Use of the word 'you' is strictly for demo purposes only. No specific 'you' is being addressed. If you think you're 'you', then you're mistaken. You're not 'you'.*

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Jen

If you think you're 'you', then you're mistaken. You're not 'you'.*

You've just trigger an existential dilemma for me.

Generally, you're right, but I still think we could be nicer to new folks.

And Lisa's point about dropping back and using google to search may finally mean I can actually search GC with some success. Usually my results have no connection to my search terms when I use the GC search button.

[mystikchick]

Originally Posted by Jen

Tons of people have managed to find their way to GC and become part of the community over the years. Those that find it easy to mesh with the GC culture are people who have thick skins, know their shit and either lurk for a long time to get the feel of the place, or they do their searching and research so they avoid posting things we've all seen a million times.

My advice for newbies - lurking is the best advice that I can give outside the words USE SEARCH. If I was showing up as a newbie, I'd try and watch the atmosphere, suss out what the place is like, then start posting on a few innocuous social threads in Chit Chat before I'd jump into serious conversation that I might not realize the history to in this place.

If you're coming on here because you have a specific question, make sure it hasn't been answered before (it mostly likely has; be creative with searching). Be polite when you ask. If you get snarked at, ignore it - even better, check yourself. You might be a trainwreck waiting to happen.


*Use of the word 'you' is strictly for demo purposes only. No specific 'you' is being addressed. If you think you're 'you', then you're mistaken. You're not 'you'.*

Truer words were never spoken. I realize I haven't been registered here for a long time, but I lurked for a good year or something like that before joining to ask a question. Before I posted that question, I did my research, went to the website in question, sent an email, and THEN came and posted. What was the result? I got support and extremely helpful advice about how to proceed. No snark, no nastiness, nothing.

It's not necessarily that people are mean, but when you (again, a GENERAL you) come on, post something that could easily be answered by a search, don't take the time to browse around the site but leap straight to posting your new thread, and compound those sins with unintelligible grammar and attitude when called out on stuff instead of attempting to explain yourself in a clearer, more reasonable manner, well, you're asking for it. And for pete's sake, don't take things so personally. It's the internet.

ETA: Clearly this thread has gone other places since Jen posted, but I wanted to get in my two cents.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Honestly, I remember helping hand you your ass. And you got the message, and I can now say that you are one of my favorite posters. Above being a good example of why.

And that is why you are one of the Special G C Posters.

Thank You for just being you!

[tld221]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Honestly, I remember helping hand you your ass. And you got the message, and I can now say that you are one of my favorite posters. Above being a good example of why.

So should she call you Big Sister AlphaFrog now?

[cuteASAbug]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

And you got the message, and I can now say that you are one of my favorite posters. Above being a good example of why.

I thought I was your favorite poster.

[DaemonSeid]

and as a 'newbie'...may I ask the damning question...

Slylark since u are so new....who are you to say that the folks running this board need to change membership policies?


Just thought I would ask....

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

I thought I was your favorite poster.

I said "one of". You and 33 automatically tie for #1. tld221 and CT4 tie for #2...they'd be up there too, except they're SisterGreeks instead of just plain Sisters.

[tld221]

while i could be mad for being #2, it truly is an honor to even be nominated.

::sniffle, sniffle, breaks crown in half to share with CT4::


ETA: i already know what rashid looks like...

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I said "one of". You and 33 automatically tie for #1. tld221 and CT4 tie for #2...

Aw man.... shot down. And by my own BigSis-ass-hander-AF. What a load of crap.

GC really needs to monitor its membership more closely. Grrrrr

[Xylochick216]

It's the same on any internet message board. Newbies who dive right in without knowing the posting climate/knowing how to search/having completely correct information are flamed. We were all new to GC at one point and asked questions that have been asked a million times and are easy to answer now. Just sit back, search, and you'll see how GC operates. Most posters observe and get involved in chit chat first before diving into extensive Greek threads. Many posters on GC have learned a lot from each other and can answer questions quickly and efficiantly.

If you don't like it and don't want to get flamed, don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you

[Senusret I]

Power of Shadows.......send this thread to the Phantom Zone!

[skylark]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Power of Shadows.......send this thread to the Phantom Zone!

I agree... I honestly wanted to have a more meaningful conversation about online decorum and what unintended effects well-meant "corrections" might have on newbie-posters, but it is obvious that everyone just wants to re-hash what happened in another thread and prove to me the error of my ways. I erred in my choice of words and admitted it -- that wasn't the point of this discussion though (or at least my intent in starting it). I just hoped that maybe this thread would caution people from unnecessarily being too harsh to people who are just getting started here.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by skylark

I agree... I honestly wanted to have a more meaningful conversation about online decorum and what unintended effects well-meant "corrections" might have on newbie-posters, but it is obvious that everyone just wants to re-hash what happened in another thread and prove to me the error of my ways. I erred in my choice of words and admitted it -- that wasn't the point of this discussion though (or at least my intent in starting it). I just hoped that maybe this thread would caution people from unnecessarily being too harsh to people who are just getting started here.

You want meaningful discussion? Shall we dredge up the Primavera thread?

Seriously, if you thought you were going to get a favorable reaction, and people were going to jump in on your side, you thought wrong. If you want to stop re-hashing the other thread STOP BRINGING IT UP. Let it go.

[DaemonSeid]

dude...u knmow what..u are ragging on your own 'newness'

it's like you are waering your very own kick me sign...


do you do this when you are out in public?

"Hi I am a n00b...kick me"