"Frat", derogatory?
 

Why? I noticed that from reading the TKE vs. SX threads.

BTW, thanks to the specific TKE's and SX's for keeping GC lively, since I can't. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Yes, some people, like myself, do not like the term "Frat". Basically because Fraternity sounds much better. The word "frat" makes most people think of Animal House or Revenge of the Nerds, and that's not what we want people to think about when they see us. At least that is my take on it.

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Brian Sejas
The Miami Chapter of Delta Upsilon, Est. May 13, 1868.

Ya SH80 its derogatory...when i hear people say, "ya im in XYZ frat." Its like someone scraping a chalkboard to me. It even sounds bad when you say it. You take pride in your org when you say im in ABC Fraternity...i mean..doesn't it even sound better. Thats my take on it.

Oh and thanks for the support SH80...I try to keep it real on here. When people on here ask what do you think of my Fraternity/Sorority and I see people respond with, "OH THEY ARE THE GREATEST KIDS EVER!"and I KNOW their orgs dislike each other, its just so fake to me. You should speak how you feel and not say a little white lie. Ya you might offend some people but hey you should be able to tell the truth on not get a dozen hate posts. But ya i know me and TKEmz take it a little overboard...ok ok a LOT overboard but hey its all in good spirit. If you can't have a little Inter-Fraternity badgering then what gives....not every org gets around their houses and sing kumbaya! :-) Their is a time to be supportive of one another and other times when you need some old school good time rivalry.

I prefer "fraternity," although I think offended is too strong a word for how I feel.

I never use the word "frat" even in conversation. I say "fraternity brother" instead of "frat brother."

It has a much more respectful feel to it.

I usually use the word "fraternity" (except in conversations with fraternity members who have used the word previously). It has nothing to do with which word I prefer, I'm just formal like that. I can see how one can be offended by it. If I were a male and in a fraternity, maybe I would be offended by it.

I agree with most of the other people here. I just think when someone says "frat" it makes them sound ignorant...fraternity sounds much more appropriate unless you're trying to sound like someone from Animal House.

I personally have never seen anything wrong with using the term "frat" and, until now, have never met any fraternity members who felt it was derogatory. I tend to use "fraternity" just because I speak more formally, much like AlphaChiGirl stated earlier.

As stated in our pledge manual, each potential member is joining the fraternity - not a 'frat' or whatever else you may call it. As such - go ahead and take the time to pronounce those few extra syllables, and refer to it by its name.

That said - it doesn't bother me if other fraternities or sororities use the term; we just choose not to, and for (I feel) good reason.

Our manual talks about joing a Fraternity and not a frat as well if I remember correctly. There is also something in there about how you are a "chapter" and not a "house", but I don't think people will get over using house any time soon.... unless of course they don't have houses on campus.

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Brian Sejas
The Miami Chapter of Delta Upsilon, Est. May 13, 1868.

Frat Boys, Fraternity Men! Frat is a term normally used by GDI to talke about Greek Orgs, The TKE Fraternity is the only one that I know of that call their Brothers Fraters! I May be wrong! Frat is a derogitory Term To mean US! FRAT RATS! SORO SLUTS!BS we do more on a campus tha anyone else!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

A buddy of mine (now TKE) was once speaking of this issue before we left for college...and it's the best summary yet.

"You shouldn't call a fraternity a frat, Would you call your country a C#^+"
(I'm hoping you can guess what that word is)

Personally I never say frat, but I am entirely indifferent to the word, thus I don't take offense or even have a second thought regarding its usage.

Tom is right-
It's only the GDIers that use it
It's a strange thing, the bitterness of nonfraternity guys to fraternity guys

At UM we use both words and probably frat more, however more people say what house is XYZ in. And the GDI's actually use the word fraternity more often. I guess with us it just depends on what kind of mood were in. I know some guys who hate the word frat, but I know alot of them who do anything and everything for their fraternity and use the word frat. I guess its all about what you make the word frat out to be. As thye know they dont fit the stereotype they see nothing wrong with it. My sisters and I always say we are sororsitiutes in a whorority. But its joking and we know we dont fit the type, and if others want to believe it, then screw them.

The word frater is pronounced frAHter (rhymes with water). So while it looks like frat, it is far from that. And yes, our book "The Teke Guide" does say that "frat" is a derogatory word and should not be used. Of course, all of us slip sometime or another, especially online, all those pesky abreviations.



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No funny squiggles, just bold letters: TKE

I concur with the other members of GC, "frat" is definitely a derogatory term. I've abandoned the term long ago.

the use of the word "frat" is on my campus disrepectful and derogatory. u didn't join a frat, you joined a fraterinty

It's funny we are all brothers, brothers in Greekdom but we differ. One thing that is appearant on GC is that NPHC greeks & IFC greeks differ a whole lot. We use the word frat quite often. But like stated early I think IFC greeks avoid being stereotyped by the typical "frat" movie, something I don't think NPHC greeks ever would face. In any formal manners we consider the use of the word frat improper. But in social & casual instances it is just fine. I love my frat but I am a member of to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. I actually had this discussion with my drill sgt at basic training, he being a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. Keep up the good discussions like this so GC helps us all.

GOMAB

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At my house the brothers are cool with calling it a "frat," and we don't mind when or sorority friends call it one either. We only care when people use it to prove a stereotype or to sound derogitory. When out of the house, or taking to people, I always use "fraternity," because when I pledged we were given the line...

Would you call your father "fat," your mother a "moth," and your country a "c**t?" NO, so don't call your fraternity a "frat."

Alrighty,

You guys would really say something like that to people on campus. Anyone using the term frat shouldn't be chastised. I called fraternities frats before I joined. But you know what, no disrespect to anyone here, but I think there are more things to be concerned with than if someone refers to your house as a fraternity or frat. It's a label, both are understood the same way and honestly it varies what school you're at to say it's a derogatory term. In conclusion, I'm part of a frat, I drink from kegs, I party on the weekends, and have sex with chicks.

- RUgreek

P.S. If you were shocked and didn't laugh at my last statement, then you are beyond help. Later!

This is so silly, I used the word Frat cause it takes less typing to get my point across. Im freakin lazy so shoot me. I didnt call any ones else Fraternity a frat, so shut up about it, its not a big deal!!!!! I dont get mad at people for calling me a frat guy cause I am.Yall are all to worried about what people think of you and whats politically correct in the greek community...
Yall all need to stop typing and get up from your computers, pull whatevers in your rectum out, go to your local bar, order your favorite drink and relax and have a good time. Blaise...........my 35 cents PS. Sh80, Thanks for bringing up a dead topic.

There's nothing wrong with the use of the word "frater." It is the Latin word translating literally as "brother" and is pronounced the way GmuTeke described it (i.e. frAHter)

Phi Beta Sigma uses the term frater also. I've noticed it's usually used by old heads or in formal statements.


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Occasio Gee
aka "The Prodigy"
Spr 98 #3 Vicious OI chapt
http://www.crosswinds.net/~viciousoi

You may correct me if I am wrong, but Frater is used by some Fraternitys, TKE for one to designate tham as Brothers of their Fraterniy. A Frater is a member of a Fraternity, not a Frat! Rat? It is still if you used in a derogatory way, Yow, he is in a Frat! That is with a snear at the end!!! I respect My Fraternity and we do not use it, we use Brothers or Associate Members!

Not to be a hard butt as mine is rally ( Southern) rather soft as opposed to some who keep Arnold bodies which will one day sink like the Titanic right into their Jockey Shorts!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

Tom, everytime I read one of your posts I just have this vision of you typing at some comp. and drinking Mad Dog 20/20 and laughing your ass off.

Isn't frater latin for brother? I think it's pronounced frah-TAIR. I don't think that's derogatory at all. However, when I hear someone say "frat" I just think it sounds uninformed. It's interesting that this is unique to male organizations. I've never heard a sorority called a "sor". Boy that would be derogatory!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/redface.gif

[This message has been edited by Wine&Blue (edited June 28, 2001).]

Yes, Wine and Blue, you're right - I take Latin, and "frater" means brother and is pronounced as you said - with the stress on the LAST syllable.


[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 28, 2001).]

I took Latin in high school. Good to see I remember SOMETHING from those days. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

That's awesome! Call me crazy, http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif, but I actually love the language!!

OK Crazy! Sorry, I just couldn't resist! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Hahahaaa. See, I don't know why - but I'm super good in the language. My friends all hate it, but I've just "clicked" with the language! Ok, I'm prepared now to hear lots of snickering, lol.

I already posted on the Latin origin of the word on the first page. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

KABillymac.Little do you really know! I actually howl at the moon, as Mad Dog does that to you! But at least I get mellow down!
Yep this old 233 mgh box just keeps me on line!
But God I love the smell of the PC burning in the afternoon before I nod off in my nap mode!
8 hrs of dealing with customers is really tuff as you try to be nice to MORONS.
I drink to forhet the sweat of the day so I can get on with the CHATTERS!
I love the saying "the customer is never right!" Walt Coffey, LongBranch Saloon! KC! Ex car salesman!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

I always use the term chapter, never house. The only people who I know that use the term "house" are either 1. Not in college and know nothing about Greek life, 2. Not in NYC, usually not even in a major city.
On my campus, there are no houses, only dorms. I am in New York City. At my University, there are even a few Fraternities and Sororities that only have 1 chapter, so I don't even refer to them as a chapter. I refer to them by their Greek Letter name.

I could see that UMgirl. With membership comes privileges. Members of a Fraternity have worked and can call themselves "frat". GDI's have not and are not allowed that privilege. Same thing with how members of my organization feel about calling a member an "AKA". Some members take offense to it. We are the ones who worked for the letters and can call ourselves that. Others should refer to us as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Either way, it doesn't offend me and it's never been an issue with me. I have bigger things to be offended by. Now, if a GDI was to call you HIS frat, then there would be a problem.

Actually Wine&Blue, Sororities in the NPHC refer to their Sorority sisters as "Sorors". So this topic in not limited to males.

Let them know about how the NPHC does it pretty girl.

Well, like the word "frater" being Latin for brother, the word "soror" is the Latin word for sister.

I didn't say anything about "soror" as that is the latin for "sister." No more or less derogatory than "frater." What I said was, I've never heard women refer to their organizations as "sors." Different word.

I agree. I can't even imagine calling a sorority a "sor."

Tom, I dont know if I should be angry or what with you, cause I didnt understand the majority of your post. I really think you should have someone type for you.... Cause Friends dont let friends Drink and type....