Hello Gentleman
 

Since your brother RACooper likes to stir up trouble in the NPHC forums, I just thought I would visit you and say hello. I just wanted to see if he personified your fraternity.

ETA: the requested reference.

Re: Hello Gentleman
 

You are more than welcome to visit and post... and I'd even encourage you to ask specifically what you'd like to know - and I'm sure that one of Brothers or myself would be more than happy to address your questions and/or concerns.

PS> Could you please refer to Lambda Chi Alpha as a Fraternity - not as a frat, it's not very respectful; or proper English... although it is a proper Latin term for a brother (in certain context).

Certainly. I will use the more formal term fraternity from here on.

Don't worry ladygreek. LCA alumni here, and you can call us a frat if you like. We're all from different areas and even countries which means each one of us has very different views. Where I'm from frat is not a disrespectful word, use it if you like when talking to me, I use it myself all the time.

No one person personifies a fraternity, just like no one person personifies a race, country or group.

I don't visit any other forums except the LCA on GC.com, so I don't know what RA has said to upset you, but no one person can speak for the entire fraternity.

Anyways, enjoy your stay!

GammaZeta, agree with you except for one thing.

We as LXAs use Fraternity as in Fraternity for Men, Frat-- well anyone can put their interptetation in.

ladygreek, You also are welcome anytime to The LXA Thread.:)

I dont really think you needed to preceede your post with what you said about RH Cooper.

While He is My Brother and I welcome Him as such, He is like all of us, He has His own mind and what He thinks.

That is what makes us different but one, much like Your own Orgaization.

Hi Tom,

Yeah, certain parts don't use frat, others do. It never bothered me and I used it many times. It's just easier. Is the abbreviation U.S.A disrespectful when used instead of the United States of America?

No big deal or anything, of course frat v. fraternity should be the very last thing we need to argue about; membership money, reputation all take the top spots. :D

Granted, but most Brothers I know do no appreciate the usage!

USA Does not have anything to do with it!

Granted, there are many things else to discuss, and this is not one to do it over, But If You are a Brother then please use it Properly if you do not mind!

Are Your A Fraternity Brother or a Frat Rat?

Are You a Fraternity Member or a Frat oneabee? A Frat Boy? Which are You?

You can explain all you want to, but there are distinctions. Agree or Not?

Thank you all for the welcome. Tom, I received your PM and took it to heart. ;)

ladygreek
 

Join us at any time you wish, you are always welcome along with anyone else who wishes to post!:cool:

I am a frat boy, frat rat, etc. I'm not ashamed of it. If someone is calling us those names to begin with, they clearly don't understand the greek life to begin with. What is important is that despite the names, I know what is the greek life and what it stands for. Calling LCA a frat is fine by all means. It's just an abbreviation. I'll say it again, it's just an abbreviation. Just like USA is an abbreviation to the United State of America.

People should not be so absorbed that they actually get upset at the term frat. If something like that actually does have an emotional impact on a person, then they really need to relax. In a time of terrorism, war, disease, etc., letting a term frat or fraternity bother you is a sign that you need to get your priorities in order.

I don't think there are distinctions. It doesn't bother me that someone calls me a frat boy vs. a member of a fraternity. I'm not in 2nd grade anymore that I get offended by names. Call me what you want, I know what I am.

I agree with GZ on this. While I dont use it in conversation, its use dosent bother me. I find its most often used by outsiders to the Greek System. Often they have so many other misunderstandings of who and what we are, that its best to focus on the big ticket items. For instance, I'd rather spend my time educating about our philanthropic works, and dispelling stereotypes than arguing about semantics.

Sometimes, you have to pick your battles.

Fraterntiy vs. Frat
 

While I've alway's preferred "fraternity," "frat" has never bothered me, either.

There was a brother in my u/g chapter, though, who would always become deeply offended when someone said "frat." He would ask them, "Would you abbreviate 'country' the same way?"

Ottor

I hate that stupid "would you abbreviate country the same way" phrase.

As a matter of fact I wouldn't abbreviate country the same way, since there is no abbreviation for it. We use abbreviations everyday; St., Ave., U.S.A, B.A, M.B.A, U of M, GC, LCA, LXA, MS, I.D, every state, etc.

Think of it this way. Imagine someone asked you what was so great about "frats" and you only had 30 seconds to respond.

Would you say: "I am deeply offended by your usage of the term frat. The correct pronunciation is fraternity. Please refrain from refering to my organization as a frat in future conversations. Thank you."

Or would you say: "We donate millions of pounds of food every year during the North American Food Drive. We have scholarship opportunities and give you valuable leadership skills. We also can help you find jobs with alumni connections."

Telling people to use fraternity instead of frat is trivial and a turn off to future members. Don't sweat the small things.

Well SS I can say the same thing in retrospect to your post.

Granted you are an Alum but you have been known as a Rebel.

So, what is the big deal of fighting against Brothers who do not agree with Your Dogma of LXA and Greek Life?

The Abreviation that Ottor posted was not far afield of the topic of discussion was it?

When it comes to disagreeing with Brothers and maybe belittleing them for disagreeing with you does get disagreeing.

We do not all agree and We have the right to not agree, dont We as Brothers?

Tom, I agreed with Ottor's post, I liked it.

I'm not fighting anyone, I'm trying to have a discussion here. I think those in favor of fraternity could come up with a better arguement than the "country" phrase. That phrase is just one of my pet peeve's that is all.

I'm giving my opinion, and I hope those who disagree will give their opinion as well so we can have a DIALOGUE between brothers about the merits of demanding the term fraternity be used instead of frat.

I may be known as a "rebel" on these boards, however, I feel that the majority of brothers I met in life agree with what I say and stand for the same that I do. I don't see myself as a rebel if I express the views of those that agree with me.

All in all, my point is to worry and stress more important things. In an age of declining membership, alumni interest and financial donations, don't you think that frat v. fraternity should be on the bottom of the list?

Is it really worth the trouble of lecturing a non-greek, or even greek, about the whole terminology?