While I see the point would you call your country a C#$%, but on the flip side don't you call your television a TV and haven't almost all of us said Congrats instead of congratulations ? I mean really if you think it's offensive then ok state that as your reason... but don't use the whole country excuse, it's faulty logic :D I kinda see how it's offensive because of the whole "frat boy" stereotype, but really I just say it because I'm lazy and frat is quicker.... I'd use a shorter version of sorority if it lended itself more easily to shortening, and I do try to say fraternity since the "fraternity men" do get offended...

Edited to add.. by the way not to be anal.. but I just noticed... the shortening of country wouldn't even *technically* be pronounced the same as that horrid horrid word which refers to the female anatomy it would be "count" which I think we all know how to pronounce... :D

i always say frat. i see nothing wrong with it. its just easier to say frat then fraternity. and saying fraternity party sounds like an oxy-moron or something. i dont see anything degrading about the term frat. however, i think that "would you call your country a cunt" example is totally ridiculous and inappropriate

guys, can we stop with the C word? You'll never seen me get upset about language, hell, i'll say most of it, but this is one word that just isn't cool and that many women take offense to. To me, and many other women, it's like the n-word (that's my personal opinion, before anyone jumps on me).

You rock, kddani!

I'm very glad to see that I'm not the only one offended by certain words.

I'm surprised that no one has touched on the fact that among the NPHC it's quite common for male members to use the term "frat" affectionately among their brothers.

It's completely weird and gross! We have no idea what it was - a mix of beer, sweat, and I don't even want to know what else...But it ONLY happened at fraternity parties, never a house party or a bar, and mostly on tile floors...Hmmm...:confused:

You know what drove me batty? At my last school allll the fraternity men/boys got pissy if you said "Oh, what frat are you in?" but then upon meeting one of their friends it'd be "Oh, this is Joe, he's my frat brother" or "Are you coming to my frat's party?" It's like it was totally okay for them to say frat, but not us. What really boggles me is the chapter I hung out with a lot at my last campus was all about "dispelling the frat boy image" and their chapter here is all about promoting it.

I agree. ;)

People, stop using the word "c**l" to describe things.....eventhough she used the word in her post. :mad:

agreed!

The whole debate it stupid to me. "Frat' has just become another social norm; no matter how you interpet it, the one thing everyone agrees on regarding the term is that it refers to a fraternity.

Ditto. It used to irk me, but now I don't care, especially when I hear so many Greeks use it. Just another shortening of the word. :)

Which is exactly why it's a bad analogy to use. "Frat" is not considered obscene or blatantly offensive according to any definition I've ever seen -- quite unlike the n- and c-words.

I know plenty of fraternity members who use "frat" and who don't think anything about using or hearing it. For those who do have a problem with the word, I don't think it has anything to do with the idea that it is disrespectful to shorten or abbreviate the name of one's fraternity -- after all, almost every fraternity has a nickname. I mean, come on; it's not disrespectful to say Sammy, Pike or Sig Ep (just to pull a few examples), but it's disrespectful to say "frat"?

Instead, I think it has to do with a valid perception that, especially among non-Greeks, "frat" and "frat boy" often carry "Animal House" connotations from which most fraternities would rather distance themselves.

I never use the word "frat" for the same reason I don't call someone by a nickname that they don't like (ie: Debbie for Deborah, Kathy instead of Kate for Katherine). Once you've been conditioned not to use it, the thought of using the term doesn't even cross your mind.


edited for spelling!

Which I think is the key. If some number of people object to the use of a word, why use it?

Frat (n): Group of kids who's only concern is drinking, failing out of school, and being the butt of all jokes {usually found around kegs or sleeping through/ditching class}

Fraternity (n): Group of well-educated leaders that are bound in a mutually-supportive brotherhood, working towards a common goal. Trend-setters, campus leaders, superior in the classroom as well as on the field.

This is how my chapter makes the designation. And yes, we are a fraternity.


And for those that say 'You wouldn't call your country a c---, would you?' I say, 'You've never worked for your country' [1BN/50th IN C co 3Plt Ft. Benning, GA]. That reasoning is extremely weak. If you're going to be indignant about something, have a valid arguement to support your position.