Thanks for your concern. Honestly. (And Senusret will like this) But...

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is who you really are while your reputation is merely what others think of you."

It's a forum of free-speech. People are literally eaten alive on here for asking what to them may have been valid questions, when those that have been on here for years have seen those topics over and over. Yet I am catching so much BULL over the use of a single word. It wasn't pointed at anyone. It wasn't referring to anything in particular. It was a word. Gimme a break. It's not like a racial epithet or bigotries came out of my keyboard, folks. Seriously. You are giving the word more validity by continuing to bring it back up! :confused:

I know who I am. And with all due respect, since I don't actually know you personally, your opinion is of little to no value to me. Doing myself favors? I'm confused as to what that even means on an online forum...

But again. Your comment is duly noted. I will choose my words more wisely next time in sake of representing myself as more intelligent and less crass.

The fact is, brothers ealymc and SnuKnight are dead-on as far as their advice goes regarding the word "frat." I think it depends on the campus, but many fraternity members for whatever reason are taught that the word is offensive and that they should be offended. The "country = cunt" analogy is not particularly illustrative for any valid reason, but fraternity members will often find the word "frat" as offensive as the word "cunt." For the purpose of conveying the emotion which fraternities want their pledges to understand should accompany the word "frat," I think the analogy works well.

Simply put, the advice offered is sound -- it's a bad idea to go through rush and use the word "frat." Ever. When your goal is to get a bid at your favorite house, you don't need to concern yourself with why they find something offensive -- you just need to concern yourself with the fact that you don't want to piss off even one member or you're probably not going to get a bid.

rush advise
 

My advise to you is to play it cool. Don't set your sights on one fraternity, it is good to have other options and later on decide on those who gave you a bid.

Your sophomore status might affect you slightly depending on the fraternity. Just look into a good number of fraternities you are interested, including the one that your father was in. Later on decide on which bid you want to take.

Enthusiasm is good, but as someone mentioned earlier, it is similar to dating. And if your overenthusiastic, it might scare off some of the brothers.

Play it cool, get involved in various activities, get to know many girls, and re-rush next time.

Way to get back on topic! Sorry about hijack, jtrain...