GDI...does it bother anyone else?

Originally posted by XOcrlstln
Ok now I find that offensive.

As I said before, I am a former GDI. And I was not ignorant, close minded or bashing the greek system. I was just not affiliated, and just as proud to be not affiliated as I am now to be affiliated. I come from a greek family and even am a legacy at my own campus. I just wasn't ready for greek life for a few years.
So in the future, please refrain from making generalizations. Just as we (the greek community) hate it when people generalize us, generalizations for non-greeks are also much hated. And also remember that there are more than a few non-members who chat on this board, and probably would not like this comment much.
And btw- I am offended when you use this term because you are using it in an elitist and judgemental way. Thanks for being the first to ever offend me with this term.

No offense but I think you need to relax a little.

1) If you go back and look at my post, I also called myself a GDI at one point. But when I became Greek my definition of a GDI changed. And lets just note that no ones definition (if they use the term) of a "GDI" is the same.

Before I was Greek and gave my own definaition of the word, I called myself a GDI at times.

2) I clearly made 3 separate classifications of people when it comes to peoples involvement or none in Greek Life. Greeks, Non-Greeks and "GDIs".

Going by everything that you said, I think its very clear to most people that you would have fallen under the definition of Non-Greek. As you said you didnt bash, you just had no interest in Greek Life at the time.

Originally Posted By XOcrlstln
I was just not affiliated, and just as proud to be not affiliated as I am now to be affiliated. I come from a greek family and even am a legacy at my own campus. I just wasn't ready for greek life for a few years.

3) I am a bit confused as to how I sounded elitest when I made that statement. So let me just clarify by giving an example. "GDIs" would be these....
The V's- How are they ignorant? I think the other Chi-O's on this board could answer that question for you. Spreading vicious rumors (a website) about an organization that they know nothing about, and not even willing to take the time to find out. Making trouble for greeks overall on this board. I dont know about anyone else, but I consider that IGNORANT, and I am sure some ladies on this board would have a much harsher word than that for them.
My close friend's Ex-Fiance- This is man who told my friend that if she ever joined a sorority he wouldn't talk to her and would dump her. Knowing that myself an another one of our close friend's are both in sororities, would tell us how he felt we were wasting our time and buying our friends and thought Greeks were snobs, etc, the list goes on. Even after explaining to him that we all dont haze and how much time we put into our charities etc. He wouldnt listen, he was being IGNORANT. I think most ppl would agree with this.

Those are Anti-Greeks, which I consider "GDIs" Poeple who have only negative things to say about Greek life and dont know what its about. They try to force the opinion that being Greek is bad and want to argue about it. I am not being elitest when I use this term to say that these people were/are ignorant, because they are in their ACTIONS.

I am sorry if you were offended, but I think you read my post the wrong way.

Did anyone get what I was trying to say though?

[aephi alum]

I never heard the term GDI until I came to GC. It wasn't used on my campus. Unaffiliated people were just that... unaffiliated people, or independents. And we were all unaffiliated at some point

UMgirl has a point. There are independents who can take or leave the greek system, along with independents who are interested in becoming part of the greek system but it hasn't happened yet. These folks should not have the GDI label applied to them unless they choose to apply it to themselves (possibly tongue-in-cheek). Then there are those independents who, for whatever reason, take every opportunity to bash the greek system... the type of people UMgirl is calling GDI's.

I have referred to my husband on a few occasions as a GDI. He is one of those people who can take or leave the greek system - it just wasn't for him. He doesn't mind the term, and, well, it *is* quicker to type GDI than independent... guess I'm just lazy But he's definitely one of the "good" sort of independent.

[Thrillhouse]

Originally posted by UMgirl


No offense but I think you need to relax a little.

1) If you go back and look at my post, I also called myself a GDI at one point. But when I became Greek my definition of a GDI changed. And lets just note that no ones definition (if they use the term) of a "GDI" is the same.



2) I clearly made 3 separate classifications of people when it comes to peoples involvement or none in Greek Life. Greeks, Non-Greeks and "GDIs".

Going by everything that you said, I think its very clear to most people that you would have fallen under the definition of Non-Greek. As you said you didnt bash, you just had no interest in Greek Life at the time.



3) I am a bit confused as to how I sounded elitest when I made that statement. So let me just clarify by giving an example. "GDIs" would be these....
The V's- How are they ignorant? I think the other Chi-O's on this board could answer that question for you. Spreading vicious rumors (a website) about an organization that they know nothing about, and not even willing to take the time to find out. Making trouble for greeks overall on this board. I dont know about anyone else, but I consider that IGNORANT, and I am sure some ladies on this board would have a much harsher word than that for them.
My close friend's Ex-Fiance- This is man who told my friend that if she ever joined a sorority he wouldn't talk to her and would dump her. Knowing that myself an another one of our close friend's are both in sororities, would tell us how he felt we were wasting our time and buying our friends and thought Greeks were snobs, etc, the list goes on. Even after explaining to him that we all dont haze and how much time we put into our charities etc. He wouldnt listen, he was being IGNORANT. I think most ppl would agree with this.

Those are Anti-Greeks, which I consider "GDIs" Poeple who have only negative things to say about Greek life and dont know what its about. They try to force the opinion that being Greek is bad and want to argue about it. I am not being elitest when I use this term to say that these people were/are ignorant, because they are in their ACTIONS.

I am sorry if you were offended, but I think you read my post the wrong way.

Did anyone get what I was trying to say though?

We got what you are trying to say but I always thought that GDI's are people that have nothing to do with greek life. Seeing it used here, means to me...only greeks use it. Why would I label myself a GDI when I have nothing to do with greek life as it is? I am just an average joe, and very happy with that.

[dekeguy]

My Dad tells me that back in the early 60's the terminology was a little different. One spoke more of Fraternity Men and Sorority Women and less of Greeks. More of Fraternity life and less of Greek life. GDI was a general, humorous, and not unfriendly term that was often used to refer to non-Fraternity members who were friends of the house, as in, "Great party last Friday, we had the whole house there, a bunch of the usual GDIs, some guys from a couple of other houses, and the the girlfriends were here in force with lots of their friends. The band was great and played past their contract time till about 2:30! Even the Dean of Men had a blast, and he stayed real late with us"
It was not seen as unfriendly or elitist. It probably started that way sixty or seventy years ago but had changed meaning by the 1960s.
My experience is similar in that GDI was used more as a joke than an insult and was not all that much used anyway. You might hear it in the context of a greek roommate to his nongreek roommate along the line of 'Hay, you get along real well with the guys and the guys think you are OK, so, when you going to quit being a GDI and rush XYZ?'

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by dekeguy
GDI was a general, humorous, and not unfriendly term that was often used to refer to non-Fraternity members who were friends of the house

This is somewhat how I think of GDIs. To me, they're the people who claim to want to be independent but hang around Greeks. IMO, this can be an ironic but humourous nickname to those who are friends of the people in a specific GLO, or it can be a more of a put down to groupies and people who bash Greeks but want to hang out at their parties. It's all in the context one uses it.

[Sisterplum]

Wow....so y'all use that to refer to non-greeks?! I know on my campus, they use it to refer to locals...which is why I hate the term! My brother used to call me a GDI all the time and it would piss me off so much! It made me feel as though I was less of a greek than he was just cause I was in a local and he was in a national.

I guess hearing how the term is used in the States makes it less annoying for me...but I know how everyone back home uses it....and it still annoys me!

[FuzzieAlum]

I've never heard it applied to locals before, Sisterplum, but I can see why if that's how it's used up there you wouldn't like it!

On my campus GDI was generally applied only to those few students who were very vocally anti-Greek - those who wouldn't go into a fraternity house if they were meeting a study partner who was a member. Not to someone who just was not a member.

[XOcrlstln]

Ok I was going to respond in a PM, and not bother the rest of this board with my comments. But then I realized this is all about whether or not this term is offensive and I would like to explain to you WHY you ARE offensive.

1) If you go back and look at my post, I also called myself a GDI at one point. But when I became Greek my definition of a GDI changed. And lets just note that no ones definition (if they use the term) of a "GDI" is the same.

You said you were once a GDI also, so does that mean that you were "close-minded and plain old Ignorant" and somehow are no longer? Oh wait, you are still being close-minded, my bad.

The point is not your personal definition, it is how you present it to others. By stating that ALL GDIs are close-minded and ignorant, you are being close-minded and ignorant. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it much if I said that ALL AGDs were slutty and stupid (not saying that any at all are!!!!! I actually have not had the pleasure of meeting any in person). But generalizations are a sign of ignorance.

2) I clearly made 3 separate classifications of people when it comes to peoples involvement or none in Greek Life. Greeks, Non-Greeks and "GDIs".

Going by everything that you said, I think its very clear to most people that you would have fallen under the definition of Non-Greek. As you said you didnt bash, you just had no interest in Greek Life at the time.

But I clearly state that I was a GDI, so therefore your nice little definition does not apply. The point is if I say that I am X, and you say that X is ignorant and close-minded, then I'm going to take it as you are saying I'm ignorant and close-minded. The way you are being offensive is to give a negative connotation to something that many people are quite proud of.

3) I am a bit confused as to how I sounded elitest when I made that statement.

You were being elitist by expressing a negative view of a term that people quite proudly use for themselves. You are saying that because they are proud of the fact they are unaffiliated (cause most GDIs are not the bashers that you like to portray them as, just not interested), they are ignorant and close-minded. This is elitist because you are giving independents the view that the greek system feels they are lesser people due to their pride in things outside of GL.

So let me just clarify by giving an example. "GDIs" would be these....
The V's- How are they ignorant? I think the other Chi-O's on this board could answer that question for you. Spreading vicious rumors (a website) about an organization that they know nothing about, and not even willing to take the time to find out. Making trouble for greeks overall on this board. I dont know about anyone else, but I consider that IGNORANT, and I am sure some ladies on this board would have a much harsher word than that for them.

And thank you for trying to educate me on MY organization. Cause I'm obviously too ignorant to know on my own. That was a direct comment because of my affiliation, you would not have made that comment if I was in any other organization.

And as for ignorance, how bout this. Neither of the V's are GDIs. Psycho maybe, but definitely not independent. Remember Kristin(sp?) is/was a XO, so I'm pretty sure that is not independent. Second, since you are so aware of the situation, you should know that her mom is also affiliated. I forget which sorority, but that has been their argument all along, that her mother was never subjected to the same types of things while she was in her sorority in college. So call them ignorant, call them anti-greeks, but definitely NOT GDI, because they lack the main characteristic of a GDI. INDEPENDENT!!!!

My close friend's Ex-Fiance- This is man who told my friend that if she ever joined a sorority he wouldn't talk to her and would dump her. Knowing that myself an another one of our close friend's are both in sororities, would tell us how he felt we were wasting our time and buying our friends and thought Greeks were snobs, etc, the list goes on. Even after explaining to him that we all dont haze and how much time we put into our charities etc. He wouldnt listen, he was being IGNORANT. I think most ppl would agree with this.

Those are Anti-Greeks, which I consider "GDIs" Poeple who have only negative things to say about Greek life and dont know what its about. They try to force the opinion that being Greek is bad and want to argue about it. I am not being elitest when I use this term to say that these people were/are ignorant, because they are in their ACTIONS.

So are they anti-greeks, or are they GDIs? Cause those are not synonymous. GDIs simply are proud of who and what they are, which happens to be independent.



And a final note. I am relaxed. Totally in fact. However perhaps you need to remember that your opinions can be very offensive and sometimes are better left unsaid. Just as someone using the f** word or the n**** word is just "expressing their views," and is extremely offensive to the majority of the population.

And overall the offensiveness lies in taking a term that is used with pride, and degrading it.

You can all flame me all you would like. You can attack me for not agreeing. Go ahead. Have fun. I will not be returning to this thread. I have stated how I view this term (which is the original purpose), I have now stated that your opinion is the first to ever make me feel offended (hoping to open your eyes, but then you had to go and tell me to relax), and now I'm done.

Have a great day all. And I hope that I've been able to open someone's eyes about degrading terms.

~C

[AOX81]

In the area that I went to school most non-Greeks referred to themselves as either "GDIs" or "Independents". They did not consider it derogatory. When they are asked are you in a fraternity or sorority most will reply with "no, I'm a GDI"

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by XOcrlstln
Ok I was going to respond in a PM, and not bother the rest of this board with my comments. But then I realized this is all about whether or not this term is offensive and I would like to explain to you WHY you ARE offensive.

XOclstln,

I think you misinterpreted UMgirl's comments. I really don't believe she was trying to offend anyone. The problem is that you and she simply have different definitions of "GDI".

Whereas you consider a GDI to be someone who is unaffiliated with Greek organizations, and is happy not being Greek, UMgirl takes the definition a step further to define a GDI as someone who is unaffiliated with Greek organizations, happy not being Greek, and - also - vocally anti-Greek.

If I'm understanding y'all's posts correctly, UMgirl views non-Greeks and GDI's as two completely different types of people, whereas you view non-Greeks and GDI's to be the same type of person and have an entirely separate category for anti-Greeks.

Just wanted to clarify things a little because I honestly don't think UMgirl meant anything offensive and I hate to see bickering erupt because of miscommunication. Hope this helps a little!

Originally posted by dzrose93


XOclstln,

I think you misinterpreted UMgirl's comments. I really don't believe she was trying to offend anyone. The problem is that you and she simply have different definitions of "GDI".

Whereas you consider a GDI to be someone who is unaffiliated with Greek organizations, and is happy not being Greek, UMgirl takes the definition a step further to define a GDI as someone who is unaffiliated with Greek organizations, happy not being Greek, and - also - vocally anti-Greek.

If I'm understanding y'all's posts correctly, UMgirl views non-Greeks and GDI's as two completely different types of people, whereas you view non-Greeks and GDI's to be the same type of person and have an entirely separate category for anti-Greeks.

Just wanted to clarify things a little because I honestly don't think UMgirl meant anything offensive and I hate to see bickering erupt because of miscommunication. Hope this helps a little!

DZRose.....Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!! . That was totally my point that everyone has different defintions on what a "GDI" is and that what i wrote was my own.
XOcrlstln -- I would never try to educate anyone about their own org. From looking at the date that you joined GC and your naumber of post I didnt think you knew about the V's and figured I needed to explain it b/c I was using them as an example. I am sorry.
Am I saying that I was one of those closed-minded GDI's? No, as I said my definition of one changed when I became Greek. When I wasnt Greek, a GDI to me was someone who just wasnt affiliated with any org like most ppl have said on here. When I became Greek I noitced that people who were very anti-greek used this term more then those who were not. Therefore, I started to think of people who bash them as GDI's and those who didnt as non greeks. However, I will admitt that I was probably a little ignorant of Greek Life for the short time I claimed GDI. Nothing wrong with that it just means I didnt know about it. HOwevert the difference is that I opened my mind up to it
As I said before,s orry you took offense, but like DZRose said I really didnt mean it that way.

Leslie-- I agree with what you said also, b/c I have heard it used in that sense.

[FuzzieAlum]

You can all flame me all you would like. You can attack me for not agreeing. Go ahead. Have fun. I will not be returning to this thread. I have stated how I view this term (which is the original purpose), I have now stated that your opinion is the first to ever make me feel offended (hoping to open your eyes, but then you had to go and tell me to relax), and now I'm done.

Well, and this is just my personal opinion, but if someone writes, "Here's my opinion, and I know it's going to piss you off, and I don't even have the decency to stick around and continue the discussion in a calm, mature manner," I don't think their post deserves any responses.

I think most of the rest of us understood that UMgirl was making a very clear (and I thought plainly stated) distinction between non-Greeks who were actively anti-Greek and non-Greeks who couldn't care less.

[DeltAlum]

Dekeguy wrote:

"My Dad tells me that back in the early 60's the terminology was a little different. One spoke more of Fraternity Men and Sorority Women and less of Greeks. More of Fraternity life and less of Greek life. GDI was a general, humorous, and not unfriendly term that was often used to refer to non-Fraternity members who were friends of the house,"

Sounds like his dad is a little older than me, but I would agree with his comment. The first time I ever heard the term (I was a pledge at the time in the mid 60's) was when one of our actives said it with a big smile on his face to a mutual friend of ours, after said friend had taken a cheap shot (in fun) at something about our fraternity.

No offense was taken either way.

If the use of the word "God" offends you, use Gosh Darned.

The term GDI has been around for a long time and isn't likely to go away anytime soon.

[justamom]

GDI-never a negative term by any standard at U of H, but that was in the '70s and Greek life in general was looked down upon.
It was the epitomy of conformity in a nonconformist decade.

I had my jersey with GDI Alph Chi on it-IT WAS HUMOR-just like the Sigs who had their nicknames-Red Dog-Streak-Smokey- on the backs of their jersey. It was a way of being an individual within a group. If my shirt had offended anyone, believe me, I would have been told about it.

It seems a waste of energy to get upset over the term GDI when it obviously has so many meanings and interpretations. It has more to do with the attitude of the person HEARING the term than the person speaking the initials.

All in all, it's an extension of ones identity. Why shouldn't someone be just as proud of choosing to remain "independent" as another is of joing an organization. Just try to remember the "GDI" will last a few years, but YOUR letters will be a part of you forever. As Erma Bombeck would say, "Don't sweat the small stuff".

[AZDZetaSigma03]

I know two different types of GDI's, at my school at least:
1) The kind that don't really care about greek life, have never been interested but wouldn't necessarily discourage anyone from joining, etc.
2) The really bitter, hostile types who mock the Greek system, discourage people from joining it, and if their friend actually pledges, will try to get them to de-pledge, while saying they are "trying to be objective." I know this from personal experience, as one of my sisters depledged due a lot to pressure from GDI friends.

The second category contains the people I can't stand.