for those of you who like to identificate (or just the hell don't care) here's a quick way to classify groups. Although they exist primarily in schools, they do exist after school is over. Some of you may be familiar with this system; a version of it was used in a Newsweek article entitled "Gamma Girls" awhile ago.
Mainstream GENRES are in caps and bold; SUBGENRES are in bold and italics and lower letters.
ALSO-it is usually easier to classify girls on this system that boys, but it is mainly unisex.
ALPHAS the generally hated, totally popular Kids. THey are the MOST popular kids, not to be confused with the subgenres of Beta-Alpha and Alpha-Beta, which are different categories entirely.
alpha-betas these are popular kids, but not the *most* popular kids. these kids always feel that, although they are popular, there is just a little bit more to go before they become *the most popular* people (which is thier ultimate goal in life).
beta-alphas the semi-popular kids. They want to be popular, and so usually end up being an ALPHA's crony. You know the popular peeps, how they always have a friend with them who follows them wherever? The ALPHAs put up with them, some even like them, but they are almost definitely made fun of behind thier backs and not popular.
BETAS the wannabes of the school. they're the kids who cry when they get teased, pull every string that they can to be popular, and still aren't. they are hated by the general public, by the ALPHAS because they are groveling worms trying to be like them, and by the subgenre BETAS because they bring danger to their BETA positions. And, of course, the GAMMAS a) hate them because they despise all populars and wannabes, b) pity them because they are so slug-like, or c) hate them because they (the betas) hate the gammas.
beta-gammas these are the people that used to be BETAS (or various subgenres that were not GAMMA beforehand). then they realized a few things, such as 1)popular people suck worse that dogs, 2) it's all a big, rigged election, and they're not gonna win, 3)it's not worth it, and so on. So they gradually have begun turning GAMMA. It's a big step, and a good one.
gamma-betas sadly, there are some of these out there. they are the people who say they are GAMMA, and indeed may be some of the time, but who want to be popular also. they may have popular friends, or be surprised and ecxstatic when popular people talk to them. it's so sad.
GAMMAS I was introduced to my first real GAMMA in sixth grade, what seems a long time ago. On the very first day of school he was considered a freak, by absolutely everyone. He did everything he could to be disgusted~ and he enjoed it. He laughed when ALPHAS called him a freak. Here's a secret: he did it on purpose. I have no idea what called him to be a GAMMA so early in life, but it was great. I have since become a close friend of his. I think that he may be one of the things that inspired me to hate popular people. (Of course, it might have been in me all the time, too...) But that is one of the many descriptions of the GAMMA. Not caring what the others think.
alpha-gammas or gamma-alphas there are the "social butterflies". they are accepted by everyone because they don't care about being popular. they just sort of are. Endearing, but dangerous.
And last but not least, I want to thank all of my friends who helped me on my way to being a GAMMA and who helped me design this system. Among them are: Lindsey E., Lindsey H., Tori, Julia M., Julia H., Amanda, Mariellen, Andrew P., and Andrew A. Thanks to all of you!!!! (and screw Brandon DUMBrowski!)
