I guess I just need to vent

[DS_Castro]

I don't understand why you guys are fighting her on this. As far as I can see, A sorority girl has told the rest of her 'kind' (fraternities and sororities, brothers and sisters) that she needed to vent.
The title is "I guess I just need to vent"
You clicked on it. Was it to read what she was venting about so you could just argue about her sorrows (as little as they may be). Or was it to say 'there, there.' and give a small pat on her (online) shoulder.

Come on people. Give Peace a Chance.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

Since we're on a venting spree about the recruitment threads, can somebody give me an accurate definintion of "Retro"? Being an older poster, I enjoy reading experiences similar to my own and then get upset when retro is defined by the poster as 2006. Can we please establish a clear definition for this along with the term "brutally honest"?

I think it "retro" refers to the fact that it is not "live" (happening right now) and the poster is talking recruitment before the semester we are in at that point (meaning they have either already been initiated, or they went through rush as recently as last semester and did not get a bid).

For instance, if I was a PNM, I could post my "live" recruitment story, and I would post either at night after, or the day after recruitment events. I could also post my recruitment story after the fact, but in the same semester, and that would not be retro.

However, if I were to post my own recruitment story as a member (and I won't, because it would be three lines long), it would be "Retro" - because I was initiated in Fall 2003.

That's my take on it. Maybe "retro" is not the right word to use, considering many people think of the 70s/80s when they hear it, but there ya go. It's kinda like saying "I listen to oldies" and people take it to mean "I listen to music from the 1960s."

As far as "brutally honest" - I think it might be that people are using it to cover their butts if they say something mean about a given sorority. My "brutally honest" recruitment story would go something along the lines of "I was too lazy to get out of bed for formal recruitment, so I went informal in the fall instead."

[Fawn Liebowitz]

I had rather read new "retro" threads, uninteresting, uninsightful posts, the rambling of narcissistic posters, etc., than to read posts from people who parrot the same bullshit in every recruitment thread. There are some long-time GCers who could basically copy and paste almost every one of their posts. It's not so much irritating that they say the same thing over and over, it's that their posts are in the same thread with the other "parrots".

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Fawn Liebowitz

I had rather read new "retro" threads, uninteresting, uninsightful posts, the rambling of narcissistic posters, etc., than to read posts from people who parrot the same bullshit in every recruitment thread. There are some long-time GCers who could basically copy and paste almost every one of their posts. It's not so much irritating that they say the same thing over and over, it's that their posts are in the same thread with the other "parrots".

Wow. Talk about brutally honest.

[Fawn Liebowitz]

I wasn't trying to start anything, but surely I'm not the only one who has noticed.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Fawn Liebowitz

I wasn't trying to start anything, but surely I'm not the only one who has noticed.

You're right, but I feel like a lot of the time it gets frustrating for regular GCers to answer the same question over and over again. People don't read the stickied threads - which is a shame because a lot of their questions can be answered there.

Sometimes there are unique problems, but the recruitment threads get rough sometimes because it feels like not only are the same questions asked a couple times a year, sometimes they're asked a couple times a DAY. At that point, some people copy/paste links to other threads where it has already been answered, some people copy/paste their answers from other threads. Others just don't add in their two cents or post something along the lines of "READ THE OTHER THREADS PLEASE" (and I have to admit - I've done all of these a few times).

It's hard to remain compassionate about people's recruitment problems when there's so much overlap that reading the stickied threads would solve any issues a person may have.

[jonnydrillbit]

I really really dont like the recruitment story threads. I always hope they end up getting cut from all the houses (or cars or flowers or football teams or desserts or watever they want to call them)

[TPARose]

It has always been my impression that the reason why writers of the retro recruitment threads leave cliffhangers is to mimic the true reality and excitement that is derived from reading real time recruitment threads. For me, there is a palitable excitment everytime that you open the browser as you wonder "what happened next?!".. I agree with AphiAnna's assessment that these threads are akin to reality shows like "the Hills" which find success in perfectly timed drama.

That being said, there might indeed be something narrcasstic about posting these threads. There might, may I even say, a bit of envy felt by retro posters towards their real time rushing counterparts, which spurs them to pen their own stories.

Personally, I actually like retro threads, and if someone gets their kicks off of being an internet celebrity, I could care less. Certainly not something to get your panties in a bunch about.

[Blue Skies]

To the OP, no, the cliffhangers on the recruitment threads don't bother me in the slightest. Since a typical workday for me runs 10-11 hours, I figure that other people have demands on their time as well, and it may be a week or four before they can post. Or as TPARose said, maybe the posters just want to drum up a little excitement.

My only problem is that if they take their time posting the result, being of a certain age, I tend to forget the beginning of the story. So I have to go back and reread it, in order to recollect that a certain girl just *loved* "Rum Raisin," but couldn't stand "Cherry Garcia".

Yes, a few of the posters strike me as being somewhat needy of attention. But I work with at-risk children, and for some of them, when they need attention, they throw furniture, or hit you.

So as far as I'm concerned, these posters are just *fine*.

I also think that no matter how many neatly-set up threads a board may have, there will also be lots of excited newbies with the same old questions. Let whichever experienced boardmember who happens to be feeling fresh that day answer the question politely and direct the poster to appropriate thread(s). If it's not your day/week/month/year/decade to be feeling fresh, take a pass. IMO.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by Blue Skies

My only problem is that if they take their time posting the result, being of a certain age, I tend to forget the beginning of the story. So I have to go back and reread it, in order to recollect that a certain girl just *loved* "Rum Raisin," but couldn't stand "Cherry Garcia".


I also think that no matter how many neatly-set up threads a board may have, there will also be lots of excited newbies with the same old questions. Let whichever experienced boardmember who happens to be feeling fresh that day answer the question politely and direct the poster to appropriate thread(s). If it's not your day/week/month/year/decade to be feeling fresh, take a pass. IMO.

I agree on both points! I love it when the OP prefaces her comments with, "I wanted to give Cherry Garcia another chance since last round I was so distracted by the chanting." or some other comment that reminds me of her previous opinion of that group. This saves me from going back - which I rarely do unless I am really really curious.

Also, I appreciate the "elder statesmen" on here (not by age, but by GC experience and Greeklife experience!) who tirelessly and patiently repeat information and point newbies in the right direction with links to helpful stickies and threads. It seems the best display of panhellenic spirit, IMO.