Probates!

[christiangirl]

Wow, I never knew the terms meant anything different at all. Thanks!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Wow, I never knew the terms meant anything different at all. Thanks!

They don't anymore. Colloquially, it's been twenty years since true probates have been banned, but we're still using the term, so yeah..... in 2010, it's a probate.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

They don't anymore. Colloquially, it's been twenty years since true probates have been banned, but we're still using the term, so yeah..... in 2010, it's a probate.

You're so "it is what it is." There's a reason why the word is still being used and it isn't because most post-1990 members don't know the difference. Afterall, older members were/are still around.

As for what's in the youtube videos, as I said before, only those who know, know whether the people in the videos have actually "crossed." Generally speaking, those are "coming out shows" on youtube. But, I say that out of generalized assumption and habit because I don't know 95% of the (usually younger membered) chapters who care enough to put videos on youtube. So, I don't know whether all were initiated at the time of the show or whether some were to be initiated right after the show. The same goes for "coming out shows" that aren't on youtube.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You're so "it is what it is." There's a reason why the word is still being used and it isn't because most post-1990 members don't know the difference. Afterall, older members were/are still around.

As for what's in the youtube videos, as I said before, only those who know, know whether the people in the videos have actually "crossed." Generally speaking, those are "coming out shows" on youtube. But, I say that out of generalized assumption and habit because I don't know 95% of the (usually younger membered) chapters who care enough to put videos on youtube. So, I don't know whether all were initiated at the time of the show or whether some were to be initiated right after the show. The same goes for "coming out shows" that aren't on youtube.

I think this is an accurate general assumption since most would not dare put a true probate online and if you read the comments of most videos, you can tell that members have "crossed."

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I think this is an accurate general assumption since most would not dare put a true probate online and if you read the comments of most videos, you can tell that members have "crossed."

And don't get started on crossing Nationally and crossing chapter(for those chapters that still hold to that tradition). That definitely throws a wrench in what you might be watching.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

That definitely throws a wrench in what you might be watching.

Yeah my point is that we don't always know what we're watching in some cases.

I rarely watch those shows on youtube (only stepshows should be on youtube as far as I'm concerned) and I definitely don't read the youtube comments.

[preciousjeni]

For the record, there are schools that not only allow, but regulate above-ground pledging, including surfacing. Granted, these schools are mostly in the northeast as far as I know.

I attended a public surfacing this past spring for which the Greek Life director had sent out a mass email invitation to the campus Greeks letting them know they were welcome to attend. Based on attestations by the organization itself as well as the pledge-like behavior of the individuals for some time after the show, it was understood that they had not yet been initiated.

Then, there's another organization on the same campus that surfaces their pledges, but not openly. They invite select people to attend.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

They don't anymore. Colloquially, it's been twenty years since true probates have been banned, but we're still using the term, so yeah..... in 2010, it's a probate.

Since there is a distinct difference between a probate and a coming out show, and many undergrads do know the difference, the two terms continue to exist currently and not everyone uses them interchangeably.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Since there is a distinct difference between a probate and a coming out show, and many undergrads do know the difference, the two terms continue to exist currently and not everyone uses them interchangeably.

Most do.