My Greek Adventures

Fraternities in Second Life are a relatively unique experience.  I could be wrong, but I don't know of any sorority-based issues with men behind female avatars, or at least any issues that severely divide the community like what happens with Fraternities.  A lot of Fraternities in SL seems to place a huge emphasis on who you are behind the avatar, and for some that even dictates whether or not you can join/pledge.  Because of this divisive nature, reaching out to a Fraternity for this project was a bit terrifying to me (Tivi).

I'm not the most well-versed in who has issues with what when it comes to Fraternities in SL, and so when I saw the list of participating Fraternities, I didn't really know what to expect.  Let me tell you, though, the Brothers of Omega Xi Nu almost immediately put any of my worries at ease.  These brothers are some of the most laid-back, open, hilarious people I've ever met in Second Life.  And I've been here for coming up on 11 years.

As y'all saw from the last two Greek Adventures tasks, we hung out with Sororities.  Bonding with other women is a little bit easier, at least for me, and planning for that was pretty easy too.  However, when we knew we wanted to reach out to a Fraternity for this week's Adventure, my first question was, "Uh... what do we do with them?"

I am a platform hermit by nature, and so I'm not exactly well-versed in everything SL has to offer.  For example, I went looking for paintball and couldn't find a decent one, but some of my other line sisters took another Frat paintballing and had a great time.  So for me, this task was intimidating from the get-go.  But we found something.... Zombie Hunting.

I don't think I've ever laughed so hard since we started pledging than I did when we were with the brothers of Omega Xi Nu.  Between them yelling at each other, reminiscing about the last time they were at this particular sim, and listening to Marie yell at all of them trying to get everyone in a picture... whew, lord.

Hiding in the safe zone and winding down.

Overall, this definitely gave me a more positive outlook on Fraternities in SL.  Not that I hated them or anything, because I don't.  But it increased my faith in the grid's ability to get through this divisive nature that drama-filled people like to perpetuate and just come together as a Community again.  They showed up for us, and they made sure we had a good time, even if it was a 'task'.  They shared with us why their brotherhood was important to them, and I can't thank them enough for the time they set aside in their evening to make sure we could hang with them.

Even if Cre was high as fuck.  xD

Hey look, we actually managed a picture!  xD

Like I said in last week's entry, sororities in Second Life are an interesting thing.  I'm reminded of this as we were coordinating this activity with Xi Delta Psi.  Their Founder, Kisha, and I pledged another organization on the same line as one of my own Founders, Big Sister Spellbound.  It's interesting to look back now, a few years later, and see where everyone is at now.  Second Life is such a transitive place.

Anyway...

Today's activity, I (Tivi) was super excited about.  I was super excited for the ladies of Xi Delta Psi to see what we had planned for them - i was excited for my sisters to see the skybox when it was done - and even now as I write this, I'm super excited for the Big Sisters to see and hear about what we did today.

We decorated Christmas trees!  And I mean legit... like... custom-decorated trees... not just rezzing pre-decorated ones.  Let me explain...

I live in the community of sims owned by the Creator of the store GEL.  Now, typically, most of the furniture I get from GEL is more... kinky... in nature.  But last week, a notice dropped in the group advertising Decoratable Christmas Trees, and I had an actual moment.

You can toggle the light strand, the tree skirt, the ribbon, and the star on top of the tree.  Once you toggle the lights on, you can choose between multiple light patterns, colors, and turn them on and off.  You can rez any number of 6 types of ornaments... but here's the best part of that... the ornaments will rez literally where you click on the tree and tell it to "Add" the ornament!  O.O

I know, right?

Don't judge me.  xD

Kisha & Leah of Xi Delta Psi along with Tivi, Marie, and Majesti

Overall, I was grateful for the experience.  I'm always down for time hanging out with my sisters, but it was really cool to get to see my former-line-sister/always-heart-sister in this new light, watching her grow and flourish as a Founder of her own organization, and see her draw in the type of amazing energy that she projects out into the world.

I'm just so glad to see her happy and flourish.  ♥

Sororities in Second Life are an interesting thing, as we are all learning through this process.  There are generally two types of people in Second Life - those who live for the drama, and those who avoid it like the plague.  Sororities are a mixture of the two, and I think that's what can make the environment so tumultuous at times.  This can make reaching out to another sorority to bond with a scary experience.

The ladies of Chi Gamma Psi that joined us this evening were nothing short of amazing.  President Jordyn, Vice President MJ, and pledge Juels were open to hanging out with us, fun to be around, and when asked about why they each decided to pledge the Beta Nu chapter of Chi Gamma Psi, they were each open with their own, unique experiences.

Big Sister Spellbound and Big Sister Foundation can probably remember that Chatterbox is my (Tivi) personal favorite way to get to know other people.  For those that remember Truthball, I own one and that was my go-to, get-to-know-you activity in the past.  Chatterbox having allll these categories is, like, heaven for me.

However, as soon as the Ludo table came out of Marie's inventory, the Cheesy and Trouble competitive spirit in Jordyn took over, and our gears switched.  We chose to play a group game of Ludo for the time that we had, and just chat and generally get comfortable with each other.

The "Cheesy/Trouble champion" Jordyn was so confident she was gonna school us.  Except that, "Ludo is different so y'all might get me."  The table must've heard her because she lived in the Start space foreeeeeeeever.

But the fun part about Ludo is that there are hazards, and of courrrrse Marie had hazards turned on on her table.  However, I (Tivi) was the first one to get a piece in home, from one of those "Jump to Home" hazards so I went from being grumbly to being super grateful for them REAL fast.  Lmao.

Ultimately, we went into this not knowing much about the Beta Nu chapter of Chi Gamma Psi, and we left with a group of new friends.  We got friend requests from one of their pledges, and we were invited to their Friendsgiving event that their pledges are hosting on Sunday.

This is what this particular task is about, for me.  I knew Jordyn from Femmes & Lettos, but I did not know her as a President, or as a Greek in general, really.  So we get to know people in a new light through tasks like this, and deepen friendships to a different level.

And Jordyn wants a rematch game with us when we have time to finish it.  xD