What is "tent talk?"

CalGirl · #1 10-08-2012, 08:13 PM

Just wondering! I keep hearing this term.

Tulip86 · #2 10-08-2012, 08:27 PM

Basically gossip about "tiers", stereotypes, and myths surrounding recruitment

adpiucf · #3 10-08-2012, 08:32 PM

What she said. It's called tent talk because many schools put up large open tents with fans outside the sorority houses during recruitment. The tents are there so that the PNMs have some place shady and cool to stand while they wait between parties. And when people are standing around, they tend to start talking to one another. Hence tent talk = PNM's gossip about the sororities. You can't trust it because it is the blind leading the blind. Everyone has heard some sorority rumor from their roommate's cousin's boyfriend's co-worker's aunt's BFF and wants to talk about it.

CalGirl · #4 10-08-2012, 08:47 PM

Ahhh makes sense now. Thanks!

ElvisLover · #5 10-08-2012, 08:53 PM

"Tent talk" is PNMs' opinions about preconceived notions of sororities' reputations; hence, it tends to bias their decisions about which house to join, regardless of what THEY thought about the houses based on their experience during those particular parties. Example: I'd rather be a GDI than a member of XYZ or ABC, which, in turn, makes a PNM feel like they shouldn't join particular sororities based on other people's opinions. A prime example of "public opinion" instead of personal opinion of how YOU felt while at those houses. If more PNMs would close their ears to this, there would be a lot more happy new members everywhere!

KSUViolet06 · #6 10-08-2012, 09:49 PM

Examples:

"I heard XYZ makes you circle your fat."

"I heard that ABC makes you buy a tanning package and get a gym membership."

"I'm SO in at ABC, they only take brunettes from *insert high school here*"

"ABC is the best because half the cheer team is in the chapter."

"GHI is the best. I heard if you don't get into that house, you're a loser."

"I'd rather die than be in BBB. I heard they're closing next year."

You get the idea.

If it starts with "I heard" or "my best firend/roommate who rushed last year said..." it's tent talk. Don't trust it. Form your own opinions by actually MEETING the chapters.

exlurker · #7 10-09-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Examples:

"I heard XYZ makes you circle your fat."

"I heard that ABC makes you buy a tanning package and get a gym membership."

"I'm SO in at ABC, they only take brunettes from *insert high school here*"

"ABC is the best because half the cheer team is in the chapter."

"GHI is the best. I heard if you don't get into that house, you're a loser."

"I'd rather die than be in BBB. I heard they're closing next year."

You get the idea.

If it starts with "I heard" or "my best firend/roommate who rushed last year said..." it's tent talk. Don't trust it. Form your own opinions by actually MEETING the chapters.

May I respectfully add this: in these tent talk sessions, don't volunteer your opinion about any chapter, and don't give a specific answer -- especially a negative one -- if someone asks you for your opinion. You never know who's listening, nor do you know who she may be related to or BFF with.

KSUViolet06 · #8 10-09-2012, 06:17 PM

True. Believe it or not, your Recruitment Counselor is listening to who is blabbing on and on about the above topics. Is she supposed to be talking to her chapter? No. But there are some who will go back to their own chapter and let them know what's being said and who's saying it.

Even it doesn't involve her chapter, she's still listening and you never know what chapter her friends are in.

You might not even think that the gossip you're spreading is bad (particularly if you aren't calling a house "fat" or "ugly.")

Ex: You might think it's AWESOME that ABC is rumored to require PNMs to dye their hair blonde and only takes girls with BMIs below 21. You say that within earshot of your (secretly) ABC Rho Chi and she may not be as flattered. Your shot at ABC just went out the window.

DubaiSis · #9 10-09-2012, 07:42 PM

At my school it was called sidewalk talk because although it was 1000 degrees during rush, there were no tents.

But it's all the chatter girls do before the parties as though they know anything about the chapters when likely they don't know squat. And as stated above, if you get sucked into one of these conversations, responses like, Oh, and really are good ways to go. Be vague, I wouldn't bother defending any chapter but I wouldn't actively agree either. But you might keep a mental tally in your head to note - oh right, THIS is the tent talk I was warned about - and try your hardest to see it in those terms and disregard what is actually being said. At best it's not helpful and at worst it's just mean.