Here's one way I've seen the difference between frat and fraternity, and I've always liked it:



A fraternity man joins a fraternity for the rich friendships and growth it brings to his life.

A frat boy joins a fraternity and expects others to take care of him; he generally pays his dues late.


A fraternity man, if he drinks, realizes he must drink responsibly.

The frat boy drinks to get drunk and becomes disgusting.


A fraternity man understands others are watching and knows his actions impact his fraternity.

A frat boy has no idea how his actions impact others and he doesn't care.


A fraternity man does what's right, even when nobody's watching.

A frat boy puts on a show for the world, but when nobody's watching, is rude and vulgar.


A fraternity man is a campus leader, who takes part in activities offered on campus.

A frat boy does not become involved and steps away from positions of leadership.


A fraternity man focuses on his class work and uses his time wisely.

A frat boy may go to class, but usually misses one or two while recovering from the night before.


A fraternity man spends time with alumni and has respect for them, realizing that much can be learned from those who have come before him.

A frat boy is disrespectful towards his elders and the alumni, and eventually runs them off.

Well put LXAAlum.

http://dickson5.home.vol.com

Re: my. my
 

Are you Tom Earp? Because if you are, I won't tell.

Oy
 

Sheesh Erik, give it a rest already.

I'm really not testy at all -- just a bit bemused and weary of your pointless pontification.

Since it seems to matter to you, perhaps I should put your mind at ease and let you know that I "got out" quite a few years ago and have been making quite a good living that requires me to write on a daily basis. (And I never wear short sleeves.) I'm keenly aware of the importance of "usage of good language." I'm also keenly aware of the difference between those times when use of slang and colloquialisms may be appropriate and acceptable and those times when such usage is not. Any insistence that one's strict adherence to the rules of "correct" English should be the same on the basketball court as in a brief to the United States Supreme Court is, to paraphrase Churchill, something up with which we should not put.

By the way, I assume that in your last sentence you meant to say "condescension" instead of "condesension" and "live" instead of "like." And does that "it" in "perhaps it may dawn on you the importance of the usage of good language" have a clear antecedent? I think "perhaps the importance of the usage of good language may dawn on you" would be a little clearer and more correct. Don't you? Usage of good language, you know.

You make my point so much better than I ever could.

Re: Re: my. my
 

Ditto
I'm not usually a grammar whore...
BUT, if you're going to chastize someone about something in the English language that's so damn trivial (in the bigger picture of things), then you'd better have a perfect post. I hardly think a real world job would tolerate the ellipses, typos, random returns, lack of capitalization, fragments, etc. that your posts contain.

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I remember it like this, "You don't call your mother a "moth," you don't call your country a "c***," and you don't call your fraternity a "frat!"

The point is that the term "frat" is now pejorative.

Re: Oy
 

golly, sing to us
 

we have our senior moments and our nervous keyboards. I do
realize I should have used my spell-check.
you are one of the last kids off the bus and have obviously not
had the FRATERNITY experience that some of us cherish.
but, there's room for all.
wipe your nose, find clean underwear....

I agree that the terms frat and frat boy have negative connotations. I eliminated them from my vocabulary when I was in high school visiting colleges. I asked a guy how long he had been in his frat. He said that he wasn't in a frat, he was in a fraternity. He said, "You wouldn't call your mother a c*nt so don't call my fraternity a frat." That was the last thing he ever said to me. I had never heard anyone use that word directed towards me so I walked away justifiably offended.

I've heard numerous fraternity guys use the term and to tell you the truth, I doubt that many people really care whether you abbreviate the word fraternity or not.

I think if you are offended by an abbreviated word, that you're probably a bit anal and need more things to fill out your day.

In the case of the word 'frat' representing negative stereotypes when used, as long as you know and believe something, who cares what other people say? Let their ignorance and your tolerance show.

-Matt

Wow it got real ugly here, realy quick. i never knew there was such hostility surrounding the word frat. hmm...now i know.

me neither...well I did, but it wasnt a huge deal on my campus but since it is here, *hides under desk*

Re: golly, sing to us
 

I'm not sure why a simple explanation of why some people use the word "frat" (which was the question you asked); an acknowledgment that some people (including you) find the word offensive; a statement that some people use the word intending to be derrogatory and some people use it innocently; and an acknowledgment that I do not use the word but am not offended by it unless the speaker means for it to be derrogatory made it seem necessary to attack (1) my competence in using the English language, (2) my ability to get a job, (3) my FRATERNITY experience, or (4) my maturity. (By the way, not clear if your "last kid off the bus" comment is aimed at me or my Fraternity, but just in case it's the latter, you might want to know that we were founded the year before TKE.)

It's a real shame, Erik. You have a great deal of worthwhile knowledge and experience to share, but when all of that is wrapped in sophomoric rants and totally baseless judgments on people you've never even seen and on their Greek experiences, you can expect to get tuned out.

Which is what I'm doing on this thread.

Have you guys been hearing the term "Fratty" lately? It's actually used in DC as a compliment . . . like a nice, cute guy. It's not meant to be offensive at all. And things can be "fratty" too - which means it's a good thing.

Thank you, Erik is my alter ego!:D

And Yes, there is a difference of what people are called.

If you will go back on GC History, you will find why Most Fraternities do not like to Be Called Frats=Boys and not Men of Fraternity.

Yes, I am of The Old School! I have Beleifes of what I and Erik speak.

I asked him when I talked last if it hurt to get my Head out of His Ass, Well no it didnt.

how about yours??:rolleyes:

When was the last time your Soroity were called sluts, whores, pigs or Your Fraternity was called Fags, pretty boys?:confused:

Just hang in there all of you macho Greek Posters!:)