Jan. 09th, 2013- 8:50am
THE IF
Yes.... thats me (Saivee Rho-Amor), the first and only time I've ever pledged in SL. As I was cleaning out my inventory this past week, I stumbled upon a picture that was titled "When U Go Greek SL _02". I thought that it may be my greek alphabet so I opened it and re-lived the horror. I was pledging a sorority, that will not be named, for the first time. It was an experience of mutual firsts, their first line, my first everything as a non-founder. It was a particularly joyous time because my own sorority was inactive as we solidified as a family until versus an organization. However, I was hard-working and dedicated throughout the process... all 4+ months. Yes... 4 months.
THE AND
Finally, PLEDGE WEEK!! A time where you should be happy and joyous, ready to get down to that final week before crossing, right? WRONG. Stripped... down to my tangos, ao taken away, flexy hair, layered clothes, tube socks and a black mask put over my face. Nameless, faceless, breast-less. Welcome to your life when you go greek in secondlife.
Now, this might break some people but, me and my sister were strong and could handle this part. Sleeping in dark corners, fly infested pizza, taken away from my family and friends & not being able to feed our zooby babies. This was all fine. All in good RP, right? We lasted until Day 4 when we were called "bitches" by one of the founders. And not in a "haha, yea you're my bitch.." way. In a "you're my bitch and I own you from now on."
In my Huey Freeman Voice -------> "We are now entering a n*&&a moment. A n*&&a moment is caused when an act causes a person of color to becoming enraged and ignorant or erratic behavior ensues."
It's important that you weigh-in how much this is worth. "This" being your treatment of people who will potentially be your extended family and, hopefully, friends versus the way they treat you now. Needless to say, we left. Alpha Line OUT.
THE BUT
Here are the arguments(These are potential arguments from people who feel this is a Pro (good thing) or a Con (bad thing):
The treatment during pledge week if it is negative:
- Pro: They want to toughen you up. They are seeing if you can handle it because being in an org is hard! You gotta be effin tough! You can't take having you feelings hurt?! Leave then!
- Con: How they treat you now will define how you treat you later. Toughness or no toughness. After a long pre-pledge season, they should know you are the best and should be having tasks that uplift you and challenge your skills rather than being rude.
The treatment during pledge week if it is positive:
- Pro: They want to see how you interact in a setting that is both challenging and enjoyable. They want you to be relaxed and comfortable so that your true character is revealed when challenges arrive. They also do not want you to develop negative feelings toward their org.
- Con: They want you to get relaxed and comfortable to "lure" you into their sorority. Case in point: make them feel good and buy their affection.
THE WHAT IFS
So, you've had this horrible experience. You've been treated like crap at the bottom of the barrel. Or, maybe you didn't have a horrible experience and still find your way out the door due to expulsion. Either way, you're on your way out. What may happen next? We have formulated the top 4 possibilities for... WHAT IF YOU FIND YOUR WAY OUT?
- I Hate Greekdom Effect: We think this is the typical first reaction. And why wouldn't you hate it? Something really horrible happened to you and you feel very outed, duped, swindled, hoodwinked, bamboozled and just down right pissed! Whether you're mad at the org or mad at the lot of greekdom. It's perfectly fine to be in this zone.
- Pay Back Is A B!(eta): Beta, the second, the changer. Yea, we all know someone who has done or will do or is even thinking about doing it. That's right. You left took yourself somewhere else! Whether that was to your friends/sisters/cousins/brothers/baby-daddies aunt org, the fact is, you switched. It even happened in Iota! 2 gems on our alpha line, one left in the middle of our process to join another process and crossed over there. 1 Gem remained and crossed as the Alpha Ace :) This is a typical second reaction because you're still mad and you want to go somewhere were people appreciate you. Or, if you haven't been through a bad process, you simply left because you want to or you may be a sorority hopper. Either way, you're not there anymore.
- I can do this on my own!: This is why a majority of organizations are founded in SL. Because you feel you can do this better and be different than something you've already been through. Non-surprisingly, a lot of women come from the same sorority and then branch out to found other members, some times taking some members with them. And a lot of men come from the same fraternities. Sound familiar? This is another typical reaction but often ends in extreme failure. Oh sure, you may have a few members and you may be able to stay afloat for a while but, will you be successful? Will your organization be prosperous and be able to be progressive? More than likely... not so much. But, it happens!
- I left, I'm gone, I'm In a Different Org && We are Successful: Whether you've went to a completely new sorority previously founded, newly founded, reactivated or otherwise, congrats on your success! Here comes The Hater Express! Yea, if you've gone through this, you're going to have people who hate you from different sides. Your old org, your org you left, their brothers or sisters are all waiting on you to fail and you didn't! Brush ya shoulders off & keep it moving!
CONCLUSION
Not everyone's experience is the same! This post was compiled of various possibilities of the WORST POSSIBLE and yet, NOT TOO FAR REMOVED of what could happen if you go greek. We would hope that your experience would be nothing like this but, we would not want you to not be prepared. Although, we are aware that this post may ruffle some feathers... we felt that it would be important for us to post this.
With so many people crossing this winter, we congratulate everyone! Including our own Gamma Line :)
Love, Peace & Greekdom,
Saivee Rho-Amor, Founder & President
Naomi Mocha-Eternal, Founder & President
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