Do you think SecondLife Sororities/ Fraternities are worth the hassle?
After looking at the poll and in the light of Iota's Fall/Winter Recruitment, I decided to address the question of rather or not SecondLife organizations are worth the hassle. This question I have heard a lot in both the virtual world and in the real world, and the only solid answer I can give is... It depends. Sororities and fraternities on and off the grid are here to serve a purpose. Not all organizations are created equal, so what you may want in your ideal organization another may not. It's always important to, just like in real life, do your research!
I do not belong to a real life tradition sorority; however, I do belong to a Greek-letter organization and I am currently seeking membership to a traditional organization. I am also an active member of a Social Club, member of a little sister club to a major Car and Bike club, and a member to several academic organization. Therefore, I know how things work in real world and in SecondLife. I feel that I am qualified to touch on this subject.
Now, I have found in my research that all organizations have their good, bad and ugly. Yet, when you are considering joining these organizations, you must realize that you inherently take on the overall image of the sorority/fraternity. Rather that is being known as the lewd party girl that's always fighting, the quiet bookworm, the invisible babies, the prissy pretty girl, nasty sex crazy guy that dog women, or whatever the image is. Don't let those stereotypes define who you are and your goal for joining the organization. This is not confined to sororities and fraternities, but any and all organizations.
So, for the purpose of the question and the light of Iota, we are going to focusing strictly on SecondLife organization. First things first, you have to decide what is a hassle for you. Every organization on the grid asks for a time commitment especially during the new membership intake (pledge process). This commitment can be from a few hours a day every day, attending meeting, being visible as a member and potential member, etc. In addition to time, some also ask for a financial commitment (dues, outfits, pictures, parties, etc.). Other organizations, like Iota, look for those who are actively willing to give back to their community through volunteering their time and supporting conscious efforts. When I was on a search for an sorority in SecondLife, I looked for an organization that had an real life impact beyond financial donations. I also wanted a real sisterhood that extended off the grid. Its easy to get caught up in pixels and Lindens, but how many people who belong to an organization can say that they have a real connection to their members and can continue to nurture that lasting bound if SecondLife was to dissolve right now today? Don't worry I'll wait ..
Some girls and guys may only be looking for that groups of pretty pixel, big spenders, Linden splurges with no strings attach to real life; everything is strictly SecondLife role-play for the fun of it. If that's you then be real with yourself and those around you and voice that that is what you are looking for. Those organization exist, I'm sure. Either way, you have to come to terms with what you want and the experience you want to have. Then, seek out like minded people and organizations that fall in tune with what you seek SecondLife is place where everybody belongs and can enjoy themselves freely.
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Rather or not you thing it's a hassle, lets breath it down from both aspects:
If you believe the hassle of SecondLife sororities/ fraternities aren't worth it than that fine. Maybe you can't commit yourself mentally, emotionally, physical, nor financially to the organization both real and second life. That's fine and understandable. Yes it is virtual; yes it is "fake"; yes it may not have any real value/ position/ impact on your life; It may be all these things and some.
Lets break it down like this:
"Girl, I can pledge in real life for all this mess that y'all want me to do on a computer game."
Okay, you are so right and wrong at the same time. First off, I don't know ANY real life Greek organization who's membership process will take all of two to four weeks - start to finish. This includes research, getting to know current and pass members, application process, potential member interviews, new membership intake (pledging), test/ induction, and probate. party. The personal research (unless you are legacy and want to follow suit) takes months; even years. The planning alone for the probate is about a month long; the actual process is anywhere between two to six months long. Some sororities and fraternities on undergrad and grad level have questionable member undergo pre-processing. That's the process before the process; and that can last up to a year. That doesn't guarantee you a spot on the process line. Just because you pre-process and process doesn't mean you get your letters.
Real Life membership intake time (worst case scenario): A Year and a half
SecondLife membership intake (worse case scenario): Four Weeks
"I don't have for nobody trying to bully me and tell me what to do. It's just a game."If you are an adult, people have been telling you what to do all your life; for at least 18 years. From your elders, to your peers, and even people younger than you. So stop it with the 'I'm-a-boss-nobody-run-me' bull****. What do you think your parents have been doing, teachers have been doing, mentors have been doing .. bossing you around in their own way. Your boss/employer bosses you around. The end game is different. When parents do it, its for you to learn how to take care of yourself and not be a dependable leech or a burden to society; when teachers and mentors do it, its so you can learn how to deal with the real world and not be a illiterate to the world, when your employer does t, its to get a product out of you or you don't get paid. In an organization; its an hierarchy/ leadership to get things done. When you pledge you answer to your overseer, both SL and RL. The difference is the consequences are different. In real life, the results are limited less; SecondLife has a lot more limitations. Ultimately, If you don't like it you can log off with a click of a button, but not in real life. You have to deal with it!
There are several organization whom part take in virtual hazing ritual, financial domination, humiliation, pixel deformation, etc. I cannot speak about these organization, but I can say Iota Sigma Rho is not one of them. Iota does not tolerate hazing nor do we part taking in hazing events. If you do not mind undergoing such membership intake then by all means carry on.
As far as bullying, Iota does not condone that either. How to deal with SL or RL I cannot tell you how. That is something that you have to figure out for yourself. I do recommend that you talk it out to find the underline reason for it. It may be something personal a person have with you, it may be only apart of the hazing and intake process. Either way, if you are uncomfortable with it, don't do it period. You have the final say in what you want to deal with. Be smart, not dead. Bullying can lead to other issues. If you are not a strong minded, strong willed person to deal with the abuse, don't put yourself in the situation that you will have to encounter it, virtual or not.
"I'm not paying $500L ... $1,200L for dues. I'm not going to fund someone else SecondLife."Whenever you join a group of people with a mission, there is always going to out of pocket expenses. The purpose of dues vary. In real life they cover club attire, party entry, hosting parties, paying for security, renting venues, paying a DJ, transportation, service event ... wait its the same reason for SecondLife dues! Huh, who would have thought. Sororities in RL aren't cheap! You looking at anywhere from $1,200 USD to $3,000 for probate alone. Then, you have a month due of $250 USD. That doesn't include going to meetings, conferences, traveling to other universities to support your organization and so forth. SecondLife dues, as I said, covers the same entities as real - DJs, venue, outfit, pictures, land, etc. Now the difference is the currency.
SecondLife Probate Fee & Dues: est. total- $1,500L [converts to USD as $5.75 ]
Real Life Probate Fee & Dues: est. total - $2,000 USD [converts to Ls as $522,000L ]
Financially, SecondLife offers the less financial burden. Now lets looks at the consequences of not paying dues or probate fee. In SecondLife, depending on the organization, they are much more lenient. In real life if you don't make deadlines, you get (1) added fees, (2) put on probation with added fees, or (3) dismissed. In SecondLife, people are understanding about dues, not everyone upload Ls nor do they work. If you fall behind in dues you have time to pay it. Of course if you 6months behind then you may be stripped of your letters. Paying dues to a "bank" account is a little skeptical when you can't see where that money is going. If you are worried about that, the simple solution is to seek an organization that does not have dues or that doesn't seek financial gain.
"I just to belong and I like their letters and colors. Plus, my friend is a member and she said its easy."If your reasons for joining any organization on or off the grid is simple as you want the letters, they colors are cute, by friend is a member, or just to pass time than so be it, but honestly those are not valid reasons. When another organization comes with better colors, better letters, better style, or your friend leaves what are you going to do? What your friend sees as simple yo may not. she/he is use to putting in works whereas you are not. You have develop a more sound reason for joining these clubs. At first, my reason was to be more adventurous in SecondLife and make more friends. Then, I started to realize it has to be more to it than just that. I took a look at my personal morals and values and applied it to my reason in addition to really thinking about the purpose of these organization. Some SL sororities and fraternities put in more work that RL ones. Iota was founded by real life legacy, so we have real life purpose and goals that we want to achieve. SecondLife is just the platform we decided to use to do so.
In short, deciding rather or not these clubs and organizations are for you is something only you can answer. You have to be real with yourself and evaluate what you will and won't do; what is a hassle for you. If logging in for a few hours a week is too much than maybe these organizations are for you. If you don't want to network and prefer to be in the background instead of the foreground, these organizations are not for you. If you have no sounds reason for joining, these organizations are not for you. As I mentioned before, every organization has a purpose. Does that purpose line up with what you want? Only you can answer that!
<3 Erika Vixen La'Vine
Iota Sigma Rho SL Sorority, Inc.
Summer 2016
Rhoyally Addictive
"To be in the presence of a Woman of Integrity,
is to be in the presence of Rhoyalty"
