Facebook - Privacy Violation?

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by MandyPepperidge

I haven't read through the entire thread, so I might be repeating...

Our chapter, and also the Panhellenic Council, has been adamant about what is appropriate and not appropriate for Facebook. This stems from wanting to avoid perpetuating the "drunk Greek"-stereotype and also because a number of chapters have been targeted by their Nationals for showing underage drinking, drinking in letters, and so forth in their pictures.

My chapter has been pretty vigilant about calling people out for inappropriate pictures, but we have also been reasonable if people are of age. For example, I could have a picture with a wine glass or even a beer probably, but I could not have a picture of myself funneling a beer or doing a body shot.

That's perfectly reasonable. I think people should just take into consideration what is appropriate to polite society, because when they want to get a "real" job, they're going to have to behave like they're in polite society. No future employer is going to be impressed by funneling skills or law breaking.

[Thetagirl218]

I think the whole point is that your facebook or myspace may be a reflection of who you are to the outside world. If you have pictures of you drinking on one section of the page, and on the other side have a section for "A proud member of XYZ!" it sends a mixed message!

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

I think the whole point is that your facebook or myspace may be a reflection of who you are to the outside world. If you have pictures of you drinking on one section of the page, and on the other side have a section for "A proud member of XYZ!" it sends a mixed message!

I don't think that is the whole problem so much...if you are of legal age there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking. The problem is when people drink too much. Not saying I've never done it, but it's not all that classy and we all know it.

Like I've said, it's in our code of standards that we can't associate our letters with alcohol. I understand this, even for those of legal age, because of the stereotypes surrounding greek life. It's one way of combating those. So our solution is to say that if you've got alcohol on your page, you have to remove your letters. Of course, no one is going to choose the beer bottle over the letters. Problem solved.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I don't think that is the whole problem so much...if you are of legal age there's absolutely nothing wrong with drinking. The problem is when people drink too much. Not saying I've never done it, but it's not all that classy and we all know it.

Like I've said, it's in our code of standards that we can't associate our letters with alcohol. I understand this, even for those of legal age, because of the stereotypes surrounding greek life. It's one way of combating those. So our solution is to say that if you've got alcohol on your page, you have to remove your letters. Of course, no one is going to choose the beer bottle over the letters. Problem solved.

OK, but what if you have an album of your vineyard trip to France or Italy (which happened WITH YOUR PARENTS) and then a sister writes on your wall, reminding you of a meeting? Does that count or not? What if you mention communion wine or the alcohol in medication?

By the way, I'm pretty sure alcohol and letters rule is an active thing and does not apply to alumnae.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

OK, but what if you have an album of your vineyard trip to France or Italy (which happened WITH YOUR PARENTS) and then a sister writes on your wall, reminding you of a meeting? Does that count or not? What if you mention communion wine or the alcohol in medication?

By the way, I'm pretty sure alcohol and letters rule is an active thing and does not apply to alumnae.

Technically that falls into the category and shouldn't be posted. Though I doubt anyone is going to report someone to EC for being around a bunch of grapes. Why in the world would you be writing about communion wine or alcohol in medication on facebook or myspace?

I never said it applied to alums.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Technically that falls into the category and shouldn't be posted. Though I doubt anyone is going to report someone to EC for being around a bunch of grapes. Why in the world would you be writing about communion wine or alcohol in medication on facebook or myspace?

I never said it applied to alums.

1. I think it's sad that it technically shouldn't be posted because it's really a cultural and educational experience (I've never been to a vineyard in Europe, but did go to one in the Niagara area in Ontario). In many ways, not allowing it is a form cultural discrimination (e.g. a girl talking about joining the "grown up table" at the age of 16 and being offered a glass of wine while visiting relatives in the "old country" where it's perfectly legal for a 16 year old to drink), but that might be taking it too far. Trips to vineyards and drinking responsibly with family in the old country are very different from boozing at a party.
   
2. Maybe someone volunteers at a church and talked about how communion wine is prepared.
   
3. You never said it didn't apply to alumnae either.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

1. I think it's sad that it technically shouldn't be posted because it's really a cultural and educational experience (I've never been to a vineyard in Europe, but did go to one in the Niagara area in Ontario). In many ways, not allowing it is a form cultural discrimination (e.g. a girl talking about joining the "grown up table" at the age of 16 and being offered a glass of wine while visiting relatives in the "old country" where it's perfectly legal for a 16 year old to drink), but that might be taking it too far. Trips to vineyards and drinking responsibly with family in the old country are very different from boozing at a party.
2. Maybe someone volunteers at a church and talked about how communion wine is prepared.
3. You never said it didn't apply to alumnae either.

Before you twist your panties further, look at the facts. Factually, that IS against the code of standards. It is worded so that alcohol cannot be associated with our letters in any way. It doesn't have a, b, and c for exceptions. Do I think anyone is going to turn a girl into EC for being in a vineyard with her parents? No. That's just the way it is...personally I don't have much patience for people who get so worked up about that. It's not a big deal to just leave alcohol out of the picture. There's a reason for it...unfortunately the bad eggs ruined it for the rest of us.

I don't see why someone would have the desperate need to discuss that on a facebook or mypace. It's a personal thing, but with me I don't discuss things so important on a facebook. If they chose to, again, I doubt they'd be turned in. But yes, that's technically against the code of standards as well. I can't see a situation in which it is absolutely essential to post something like that online.

Ok. Wah.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Before you twist your panties further, look at the facts. Factually, that IS against the code of standards. It is worded so that alcohol cannot be associated with our letters in any way. It doesn't have a, b, and c for exceptions. Do I think anyone is going to turn a girl into EC for being in a vineyard with her parents? No. That's just the way it is...personally I don't have much patience for people who get so worked up about that. It's not a big deal to just leave alcohol out of the picture. There's a reason for it...unfortunately the bad eggs ruined it for the rest of us.

I don't see why someone would have the desperate need to discuss that on a facebook or mypace. It's a personal thing, but with me I don't discuss things so important on a facebook. If they chose to, again, I doubt they'd be turned in. But yes, that's technically against the code of standards as well. I can't see a situation in which it is absolutely essential to post something like that online.

Ok. Wah.

People always put vacation pictures on Facebook and MySpace. That's just the way it is. And if the entire trip to France or Italy was about touring vineyards, then you're going to have pictures that are alcohol related.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

People always put vacation pictures on Facebook and MySpace. That's just the way it is. And if the entire trip to France or Italy was about touring vineyards, then you're going to have pictures that are alcohol related.

Why is it such a big deal to you? So get them printed and make a really cool photo album to use on your coffee table instead of a generic book. If your facebook and myspace are THAT important to you...well...that's an issue outside of greek life.

[SWTXBelle]

I just can't see it being that big of a deal. Touring vineyards shouldn't be a problem - just don't post pictures of you downing the fruit of the vines. Vines - yes. Glasses of wine - no.
I've never seen not taking pictures with alcohol as being a great burden. I just put down the glass before the picture. It seems a small price to pay to insure that I am not contributing to a stereotype that is detrimental to GLOs.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I just can't see it being that big of a deal. Touring vineyards shouldn't be a problem - just don't post pictures of you downing the fruit of the vines. Vines - yes. Glasses of wine - no.
I've never seen not taking pictures with alcohol as being a great burden. I just put down the glass before the picture. It seems a small price to pay to insure that I am not contributing to a stereotype that is detrimental to GLOs.

Exactly. It's very simple.

[Tom Earp]

Those sites are open for everyone to see.

If you do not want anything known, simple, don't put it there!

Maybe that is to much to think about?

[nittanyalum]

Or, completely disassociate yourself from your GLO in your profile. Life is full of choices.

[bluefish81]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

this is just coming up with your chapter? numerous chapters of all npc sororities have been policing facebook for several years now. usually the executive officers divide up the chapter and are responsible for periodically checking a certain number of the members facebook accounts.

many npc sororities have national policies concerning what is appropriate to post on facebook,myspace, etc. yours may too.

protest if you want, but you are probably beating a dead horse. since you are 22, you may be approaching the end of your college career and it might be time to do some facebook housecleaning, in case a potential employer makes a habit of checking facebook accounts of prospective employees.

I agree with many of the previous posts but picked this one. I'm also surprised that this is just now coming up. I was dealing with this back when I was advising eons ago.

Also, I'd highly recommend either cleaning those pages up or making them private. It only took one meeting with a vp of my company, where he casually mentioned that he'd been checking out MySpace because of his teenage daughter. That was an easy lightbulb that upper management looked at the site. I made my page private put a boring pic and boring quote up and went on. I don't cry because I can't have a picture of me with alcohol looking all trashed even though I'm (now) 28. Looking like an alcoholic on the internet probably won't get me very far.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Before you twist your panties further, look at the facts. Factually, that IS against the code of standards. It is worded so that alcohol cannot be associated with our letters in any way. It doesn't have a, b, and c for exceptions. Do I think anyone is going to turn a girl into EC for being in a vineyard with her parents? No.

Unless it's a sister she's feudiung with who wants her to get kicked out.

Unless it's someone that has a grudge against the sorority.

And then the HQ kind of is backed into a corner because they made this stupid, ridiculous, all-encompassing rule. Unless they want to appear to be playing favorites, they DO have to discipline someone for something as lame as a pic of them at a winery with their parents.

Then again, in a few years we'll probably be compelled to share our entire medical history with companies we're interviewing at (think Gattaca) so I guess this is kind of small potatoes.