Why do Greeks always feel the need to be threatened? - Page 2

kddani · #16 04-19-2004, 04:53 PM

Reread the thread. Some people do acknowledge that some of the stories are true. But many of them are old (as in several decades ago), or very very rare.

It's fine to express your opinion. But in doing so you don't have to tell everyone else they're wrong and "prideful".

Perhaps if you don't post in such an angry manner sometimes your thoughts and ideas would get a better reception

33girl · #17 04-19-2004, 05:03 PM

The issues with the piece of crap loosely referred to as a "book" are as such:

1. She used sketchy sources.
2. She used sources that are 20+ years old and no more relevant now than a 20 year old Cobol book.
3. The "thousands of interviews with sorority members" cannot be proven or disproven as she doesn't cite actual names or campuses, and she doesn't seem to have tried to verify the women's memberships to make sure it's not just someone perping.
4. The publicity she's given for the book has been very negative towards Greeks, no matter how much she says she liked and respected the "girls" she "shadowed". It shoots her claim of wanting to do a fair and balanced book to hell.

I wouldn't have a problem if she decided to do a fictionalized book and called it thus. I do have a problem with it being presented as 100% true journalism.

and ditto what Danielle said...no one cares if you come back here or not but everything you post about Greek life is negative. It's like you are setting yourself up to get ripped on so you can justify your decision to disaffiliate from your sorority. You even tell Dani thanks for helping you "prove your point."

Lady Pi Phi · #18 04-19-2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IheartMATT806
All I did was comment on the book, which seems to be a bad thing on this site and then it stuck me, after reading all the "bad things" about this book, not one person stepped outside of the box to say "hey wait a minute, this book is true." its almost like everyone tries their hardest not to see it.

People on this site are not going to say, "oh yeah, this book is true" if they ahven't witness or experienced these things.
Her book is a blanket statement about sororities, and quite frankly it's not true...in my experience.

My sisters have never ever hurt me, physically or mentally. So no, I wasn't hazing, so no, not all sororities haze.
My sisters have always been there fore me when I needed them.
There isn't rampant drug use, we have no house (so our members are not "forced" to live together).
I have sisters that are appying to med school, alums that are now new mothers.
I cannot and WILL NOT say this book is true, when it's not!

Yes, I will admit that bad stuff happens, but it's not everywhere.

chideltjen · #19 04-19-2004, 05:43 PM

what may be true for one may not be true for another.

i have never read the book... don't plan on it either. from the "reviews" i have read on here... it already sounds like a waste of my time.

My experience in greek life wasn't all flowers and bunnies and crap, but i am not gonna agree with a book without a valid source (again, what I have gathered from reviews.)

my guess is that you had a bad time, found a book that reinforced that bad time, and now you agree with robbins' writings. Fine with me... just don't assume that everyone else is trying to cover something up.

And like those who stated above me... posts that are redundant/repeated get deleted often.

and i am spent...

ETA: because I made no sense in my original post.

XOMichelle · #20 04-19-2004, 05:46 PM

I think many people in greek orgs feel threatened when people start saying negative things about our beloved groups because we ARE being threatened. The system isn't perfect, we are humans who make mistakes, and there are tons of things that go on that aren't good. Many mothers, college students, and univerity administrators want to use each and every episode as a reason to shut everyone down. Not to evaluate how to change things to make it better, but to shut down the system, college by college. They did it at my University in the 40's, and they have done it elsewhere.

If we care about the longevity of our groups (which I do- since I had a wonderful experience, and hope to give others to have that chance as well) we need to make sure that 1) Universities see that our orgs contribute positively to our members and our communities and 2) women continue to join our groups. In order to do this we need to make sure that our chapters strive to be the best people they can be, and that people recognize this as the case. That is a hard task!! Also, press about sororities tends to be negative. Human interest stories about how an alum group found a member a good OB GYN, and put on a lovely luncheon don't make papers sell. Stories about cat fights and secret rituals are much more appealing. Unfortunately these well-selling (yet rare) stories give both the university administrators, and the potential new members a reason to want greek orgs out of schools, and not to let their daughters join. And while these unfortunate events help us to improve our systems and chapters, the public does not see it as the stepping stone for improvement, but a relic of all chapters in all places, even if there is a disclaimer.

ETA- I'm sorry you had a bad experience, and I wish it had been different for you.

XOMichelle · #21 04-19-2004, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
People on this site are not going to say, "oh yeah, this book is true" if they ahven't witness or experienced these things.
Her book is a blanket statement about sororities, and quite frankly it's not true...in my experience.

My sisters have never ever hurt me, physically or mentally. So no, I wasn't hazing, so no, not all sororities haze.
My sisters have always been there fore me when I needed them.
There isn't rampant drug use, we have no house (so our members are not "forced" to live together).
I have sisters that are appying to med school, alums that are now new mothers.
I cannot and WILL NOT say this book is true, when it's not!

Yes, I will admit that bad stuff happens, but it's not everywhere.

Whoo-hoo! I totally agree with your post.
As far as I am concerned, the book is not true

My chapter has no house (although I would love one), is very egalitarian when it comes to its business, has wonderful scholars (My pledge class has two girls in Law school, one getting her PhD in Microbiology, one studying aeronautical engineering, one MD, and many others who plan to get higher degrees in the next 3-5 years including me). We do not haze our new members. In fact, we give them a written description of hazing and tell them to tell the president, pledge educator, an advisor or their RA if someone asks them to do something they consider to be hazing. No one owns a Juicy sweatsuit. Oh and when I need someone to be there for me, I can call a Chi Omega, and I know they will help. I would do the same for them.