what's so great about the greeks?

[caz815nupike]

Well, its funny...

I would say I'm pretty new to Greek Life...i pledged in January, been an active since March...

and I think another reason many Greeks choose to act so defensively or just like jerks when this stereotypical bullshnit is brought up is because it's so damn annoying, and knowing what you know about Greek life and your organization, it hurts to hear that crap!

but, think back to right before you pledged if thats not to far back...

reading greencups question kinda "took me back" a bit...because I remember very similar words coming out of my mouth right before I pledged....BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT....

but because i knew nothing! and i have a very close friend whom ive known since high school who is now a Phi Delt at La Verne whom I am still close to...and before I pledged I was asking him a ton of questions because I wanted to be sure of what I was getting myself into...the sad truth is...you will never, as a GDI, know what the hell you're getting yourself into until you actually decide to go through with it!

jeez, im appalled at the things I used to ask...though I asked them out of curiosity and with complete sincerity...

"so why pay so damn much to join a club?"

"dude...r u sure I'm not gonna almost die from trying this? cuz i've heard some stories like getting a rope tied to your penis and throwing a rock over a wall...just to see if you trust the other person to catch it....i dont need that crap!"

some teasing questions...

"So dude, I can't believe you joined a frat...i mean, why? why would u want something like that so bad you were willing to get hazed? C'mon...you got paddled and blindfolded and pushed off hills and stuff, haw?? Yea you did..."

haha, okay, I just made that up...but I know I asked dumb stuff like that...

and then there were things I thought but never said...like..

"Can't he just drink with the friends in the dorms? Why must he pay extra for it?...thats dumb..."

"He's a pretty sociable guy, I'd think he could make friends on his own..."

All in all, it's so sad that my first year in college I was so anti-greek, and in my second year I was still ignorant and pretty negative about it. But I'm glad that by the end of the year, I decided to go balls out and FIND OUT FOR MYSELF!

"Lay people" just don't realize this and won't until they decide to pledge, if so inclined...it's just the way it is...which I guess if you think about it, is in a very small way good...because you get leaders from it...i say that because it takes a leader and a chance-taker and a person with courage to say, "you know what? i don't care about stereotypes; I'm not gonna let other people and the media tell me what to believe; I'm gonna find out for myself." Right?

Yea, it hurts to see the media portray us in such a bad light, as well as every other few lay people out there...but I mean, what can you do other than shake off the dirt and try to educate them. Yea, it takes patience and swallowing your pride for a minute, but it's well worth it. Many ignorant people who then, because of your willingness to reach out and educate, have potential to be awesome additions to Greek society. I KNOW, I'M AN EXAMPLE! haha

------------------------------------------------

anyyyyywwaaaaay.....

I really didn't know what the hell was going on with all the replies; I'm pretty new and it wasn't til the end when I realized there was a reason you guys were putting troll pictures up...I just don;t know what that reason is...

WHAT'S A TROLL??

[SiKeS]

I agree w/ pretty much everything you said...

You remind me a lot of a friend of mine whos really anti-greek mostly (i think) because of ignorance... He's a hell of a guy and cool as hell so I'm really hoping he comes around like you did...

He's got a GDI older brother so I know thats gotta be influencing him...

But I think thats awesome... Takes some guts to be a chance taker when you've heard so many bad things... But big risks can mean a big payoff.

Anyway I've been in the sun all day so i don't know what the hell I'm talking about, gonna go take a nap. Great post man.

-Matt

[Tom Earp]

Welcome to the Land of Greek Insanity!

It is amazing to hear from GDIs who have come over to the Greek Life and found that Greeks are not Ogres.

Here is a young Man, Sikes, who is just beginning His Journey and will be enjoying it!

While He will not become a Member of LXA, He is joining a Fine Fraternity ( AKL ) and Proudly so.

Fresh Face and all, He is going into a new adventure. He is looking with open eyes with the hope of seeing something much better than what He might miss.

Yes, We as Greeks take a lot of Heat and deservidly so for the ignorant things that some do.

But, this does not typify what The Majority of Greeks really do.

Ignorance is not 9 10 ths of the law, it is still ignorance.

The Human Person always has the Seek and Ye Will Find!

That is what makes the difference between the primates and us!

Well, hopefully!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by greencup


So tell me, why would anyone even consider joining one?

Ummm...hello....you get to have fun, work for charity, make lifelong friends, and have nationwide (or areawide) connections FOR LIFE!!

[Tom Earp]

Well, I think that about said it all in a nut shell!

Plain and simple!

[33girl]

Originally posted by caz815nupike
WHAT'S A TROLL??

A troll is an individual who intentionally stirs up trouble on message boards.

[caz815nupike]

thanks

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Damn, I missed the party.

I hope someone already pointed out, then, that it's pretty ridiculous to come to a forum called GREEKCHAT to discuss how stupid/petty/pointless greek life is.

Kinda like going to the vet's office to talk about how much you hate animals, isn't it?

[Kevin]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
Damn, I missed the party.

I hope someone already pointed out, then, that it's pretty ridiculous to come to a forum called GREEKCHAT to discuss how stupid/petty/pointless greek life is.

Kinda like going to the vet's office to talk about how much you hate animals, isn't it?

Yes, but lots of folks feel this way. If you read this thread, you'll find that many of us who are now excellent members and alums of our GLO's once fealt the same way about GLO's in general.

It's too bad that people fealt the need to be rude.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Yeah, but it's understandable. I think it's reasonable to expect someone -- including greencup -- to be openminded about things, especially if you're going to go to a message board directed at greeks to ask about the point of greek life.

Obviously we were all openminded about greek life -- hence the membership.

[mommag2]

Ok I know that greencup has left the thread, but my question is why would anyone that is anti-greek join a website that is geared towards active/alumni greeks if they weren't interested in becoming greek. I get tired of people that are so anti-greek becoming members of greekchat just to be a troll. I know that there alot of PNM's that join seeking advice on which sororities/fraternities to rush, rec, and what to wear, and ask how competitive rush is at their perspective schools. That I understand and respect, but to come on here and be so anti-greek and then to ask the question that greencup asked without, IMO, being really open to our opinions gets me a little pissy.

I like alot of you on here at one time was a very PROUD GDI, and I did say some of the stuff that caz815nupike wrote, but that was because I hadn't found the sisterhood that was my home and once I did my view totally changed about greek life, I wouldn't join greekchat unless I was Greek or a PNM, because I probably wouldn't get all the little jokes that are sometimes posted on here and I honestly probably would think that you all were superficial and snobby....just my opinion IF I WAS STILL A GDI.

VERY PROUD TO BE GREEK

[33girl]

I don't object to people coming on here who might not be 100% behind Greek life or not understand why we like it but there's a right and wrong way to do it...

If greencup had said, I lived with a girl and she seemed to really change after she joined her sorority and I'm concerned, and our Greek system seems like they are superficial, I think everyone would have asked what happened and tried to help. People have asked similar questions and we've had good discussions and give & take. But for someone to come on and say I hate our Greek system, what's so great, why would you join....sorry but if you are that rude to others I don't know why they should be NOT rude in return.

I'd say the Greeks are pretty cool.

I mean, we were the first large Western Civilization, the Romans conquered us and copied our Gods.

We also came up with the Trojan horse thing. You gotta admit, that's pretty clever.

We like uzo, and we break plates and weddings. And dance around and say things like OPA!!

I just wish they'd change the colors of the Greek flag. The baby blue just isn't doing it for me.

Kitso
KS 361

[greencup]

I was considering it, but at the University of Minnesota they are really looked down upon. After reading these posts my view of greeks are the same. I guess I won't consider it anymore. That is why I came to the Greek Forum.

My view of academic fraternities are different than sororities. From people that I talked to and researched, academic frats seem to have a purpose. However, there was not any co-ed fraternities that had the same career interest as me.

[33girl]

So just because other people at your school have an opinion, you take it at face value?

If you came here being purposely rude to have your negative opinions validated, well congratulations, you've done so. I don't know why you think people wouldn't stick up for something they care about. If you ever want to truly discuss whatever issues your campus's Greeks have, fine, but leave the nasty attitude at the door.