Posting restrictions coming to a GLO near you?

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by KappaKittyCat (in part)
I'm hoping that this moratorium is a temporary thing that will lift once Kappa has set up someone to monitor these boards, or once it has set up guidelines for posting, or something like that. So, my fellow GCers, I need you. All GC Kappas need you. Here's what you can do. I seem to recall KDonline posting something about KD's having guidelines for how KDs are supposed to represent themselves and the organization on public forums like this. I know that OohTeenyWahine mentioned something about Alpha Gam's monitoring such boards.

If your organization has such policies, please encourage your webmaster (or whoever) to contact Kappa and let them know what you do and how it works. . . . So it's up to us to tell them about the good things that happen on GC.

and

Originally posted by 33girl (in part)
The "Pearls of Wisdom" and "A Torch to Guide You" in, respectively, the AKA and DST forums are excellent guides as to what are and are not appropriate subjects for posts in those forums and in GC as a whole. They also make it clear that anyone who is misrepresenting the organization or perping will be dealt with quickly.

I'm sure tha KappaKittyCat and other Kappas will be letting their voices be heard by Kappa's Fraternity Council on this matter.

And I wonder -- might it help if some GC moderators wrote to Kappa's Fraternity Council about (1) the value to all GLOs and all Greeks of GC, (2) the value -- to GC and to Kappa -- of Kappa participation on GC, (3) the standards expected of those who post on GC, (4) the standards some other GLO's have promulgated to guide their members about posting on GC, and (5) offering to help Kappa in developing appropriate guidelines?

Just a thought.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by sugar and spice


The U.S. Constitution does not protect your right to free speech. The only thing that the Constitution does is protect you from the government taking away your free speech -- however, other organizations, like GLOs which are completely voluntary to join, can abridge your free speech as much as they want because they're not a part of the American government.

Sugar and Spice, you nailed it on the head.
Private organizations can set their own rules--groups like the Boy Scouts, etc have had to fight for their rules based on that distinction.

As much as I disagree w/ the decision the GLO made, I understand that they are concerned about the negative potential of open bulletin boards, just as those here are concerned about losing the positive impact.

I hope no one does anything rash about their affiliation. GLOs are supposed to be families. Families can talk to each other (I hope!) and come to some kind of understanding about how to use the new technology available today that wasn't dreamed of when Ida Shaw Martin was doing the advising.

Adrienne

[wptw]

"The right to free speech" really has no place in this argument. When you choose to maintain membership in a private organization, you give up certain rights in favor of the rules of that organization. The only right you have is the right to choose between following the rules or canceling your membership. So let's not get hung up on entitlement. Having said that...

The very existence of such a "moratorium" is much more damaging to Kappa Kappa Gamma's image than anything that one rogue sister could potentially post on an internet message board. I was really infuriated to read about this.

This is more evidence of a disturbing long term trend of established fraternities and sororities moving away from brotherhoods and sisterhoods, and toward bureaucratic risk management corporations. Policy and government of the organization, while moderated and influenced by older and wiser alums, should be firmly in the hands of the undergraduates, who are the lifeblood of the organization. Kappas, take control of your sisterhood!

wptw

[shadokat]

EXACTLY what I was thinking...

Originally posted by LindsayJean
I just don't understand how an organization can think so highly of you that they want you to be a member and trust you with their ritual and call you a sister, yet they don't trust you enough to know good from bad. We're all adults and don't need people telling us what to read, what to write, what to do. I thought this was a free country??

Lindsay

[IowaHawkeye]

Originally posted by wptw
"The right to free speech" really has no place in this argument.

i'm not saying it should be for everyone, butfor me, it has everything to do with this argument. i for one would not want to be part of a group that restricts my speech, legally or not.
it's a basic tenent of my being - the right for my speech not to be restricted by my government. there's no way i would voluntarily join something that felt the need to do that.

[nwsigkap]

Originally posted by wptw

This is more evidence of a disturbing long term trend of established fraternities and sororities moving away from brotherhoods and sisterhoods, and toward bureaucratic risk management corporations.

Bureaucratic risk management corporations...I totally hear you there. It's so sad to say that, but it seems like that's what the national councils of fraternities and sororites are turning into!

[33girl]

wptw,

you talk durn good.

[wptw]

IowaHawkeye, I agree with you - let me clarify...

Free speech is this case is not a right, but a choice. You choose free speech, possibly at the expense of your membership. My point was that speaking about free speech as a right that KKG HQ had somehow trampled upon is pointless in this particular argument.

wptw

Edit: Why shucks, 33girlie. Thankee kindly. (An' I'm purty too!)

[kddani]

Wow, I haven't been on GC all day, and i'm flabbergasted at this.

Sororities have long since had the reputations of being "controlling" and that everyone's the same, yada yada yada. This "decision" is controlling of the acts of it's members. I think most orgs have some sort of a rule about giving statements to the media and such on behalf of your org. No one has "posed" as some sort of national officer of KKG, etc. and caused any trouble. Once you intiate a person, they'll always be a KKG (unless resigned). How can you control everything that person wants to do and/or say in their life? Can these women never openly admit that they're a KKG while opening their mouths? If they're in class, wearing letters, and say a wrong answer or something stupid- does that represent all of KKG? Where does it end? It's a slippery slope!

I know i'm not expressing myself well. I just don't have words to describe how I feel about this.

If KD made this sort of decision, I would raise hell. I'd openly defy it. It's one thing to say that you shouldn't drink in your letters, etc. But to tell me where I can and cannot post on the internet? Sorry, don't think so. If they wanted to put me on probation, etc. - it would be worth it to fight for the freedoms of my sisters.

In this day and age, there's a lot worse things that sorority headquarters should be worrying about.

Would our founders think of something like this? I don't think any sorority founder ever envisioned an org who would limit a woman's freedom such as this. Most of our founders had in mind a place where women could be free to express themselves. A place for women to be strong and have a voice.

[amycat412]

Originally posted by kddani
\Would our founders think of something like this? I don't think any sorority founder ever envisioned an org who would limit a woman's freedom such as this. Most of our founders had in mind a place where women could be free to express themselves. A place for women to be strong and have a voice.

EXACTLY!!!!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I hope that KKG can come up with some guidelines regarding posting on the internet or any other public forum. In light of all of the controversy regarding MTV Sorority Life and websites where they reveal ritual secrets, I can understand KKG's concerns. I think that this should be viewed as a cautionary warning. We need to remember that we are always representing our GLOs.

On a personal note, although I don't agree 100% with you, KappaKittyCat, I will miss you and reading your posts. Sometimes you make me laugh and sometimes, think. I hope that your sorority changes this policy. I also hope that no other GLO adopts a similar policy.

Edited to add: I hope that KappaKittyCat and the rest of the Kappas can return to post on GC as soon as possible.

[madmax]

Since we're on the net, anyone who wants to cause problems can make up any name or any signature and post just about anything they want. KKG is only hurting themselves because the only people that will abide by their moratorium are the people that wouldn't cause problems to begin with.

[Hermione]

Originally posted by kddani
Once you intiate a person, they'll always be a KKG (unless resigned). How can you control everything that person wants to do and/or say in their life? Can these women never openly admit that they're a KKG while opening their mouths? If they're in class, wearing letters, and say a wrong answer or something stupid- does that represent all of KKG? Where does it end? It's a slippery slope!

Exactly what I was thinking, my dear. Example: Everyone who follows famous Greeks knows or could easily find out that Condoleezza Rice is an Alpha Chi. Now, Dr. Rice has politics that many people do not agree with. However, people do not look at this accomplished woman and say, "If Dr. Rice feels this way, then it's obvious that the entirety of Alpha Chi Omega feels this way." Nor does Alpha Chi's national governing body say, "We're sorry, Dr. Rice, but you may not speak out on controversial issues because of the way it might reflect on our organization." No. While they may not agree with her politics, I'm sure that most Alpha Chis are proud of Dr. Rice and all her accomplishments.

What would our founders think of something like this? I don't think any sorority founder ever envisioned an org who would limit a woman's freedom such as this. Most of our founders had in mind a place where women could be free to express themselves. A place for women to be strong and have a voice.

When we take our vows, we pledge to do our best to live up to certain ideals. We're all human. We all slip up. I saw something in the Delta Sigma Theta forum that said something like (forgive me, ladies, I'm paraphrasing here), "I was a person before I was a Delta." Meaning? We're all individual people, and our brother- or sisterhood does not change that.

Another thing I was pondering when this subject came up was the presence of certain threads in Chit Chat that are rather off-color. One in particular comes to mind here. Some people have called into question whether it is appropriate for Greeks to post in such forums. I know that I myself draw a distinction between posts that are explanatory and/or educational in nature and posts that are suggestive and/or erotic. The former seems quite acceptable to me, while the latter is obvoiusly not.

Just random thoughts... I'm sure I'll have more, and when I have them, y'all will be the first to know.

[amycat412]

Originally posted by madmax
Since we're on the net, anyone who wants to cause problems can make up any name or any signature and post just about anything they want. KKG is only hurting themselves because the only people that will abide by their moratorium are the people that wouldn't cause problems to begin with.

again, EXACTLY.

Sigh.

[kdonline]

I'm surprised you all are so surprised by this.

I'm not. But maybe that's because I've been on the net since 1984?!

Anyway I've been saying it for months: whenever we "wear our letters in public" -- which includes on the internet -- we are representing our GLO. Many of us include our GLO in our sig or handle, therefore, that's what we are.

As Hermione said, I don't think it's so much the revealing of ritual. I think it's more of the off-color threads.

And BTW, it's no secret that I have PM'ed members of KD about some of their msgs posted on here.

What gives me the authority? Well, let's just say that for KD, I have been an internet pioneer. That and the fact that KD HQ has continued to allow me to run a website, internet newsletters, & a KD webring for over 8 years, because they know I adhere to the policy...

A few years ago, KD established an internet policy, which probably your GLOs also have. KD's is posted here: http://www.kappadelta.org/National/national.htm

And believe me, I have had my own words w/ HQ regarding free speech.

The bottom line is this: you're wearing your letters in GC. So act like it, or else, deal with your HQ.

And finally... once you're alum, these rules don't seem to apply as strictly, but it doesn't give you full reign to post however you want.