Quote:
Originally posted by Erik P Conard
Why do we use that damndable term "frat?"
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The same reason that loyal students and alumni of the California Institute of Technology call it "CalTech," that student and alumni of the countless "___ State" colleges and universities will call those institutions simply "State," that some people will refer to the President of the United States (or the president of any other group) as "The Pres" (same goes for "The Gov"), or that we say "LA," "Vegas" or "Philly." Shortening names of things is a time-honored practice in the English language -- often it is considered to indicate affection or familiarity.
Yes, the word "frat" for many people carries an Animal House connotation -- some people use the word intending that connotation to be understood, while others use it quite innocently. I've rarely heard a member of fraternity use it, unless perhaps speaking only with his brothers. But I think it's silly to take offense at the word if no offense is intended.
And could we please stop trotting out the lame "you wouldn't call your country...." analagy? No, one wouldn't call one's country a ____, but the reason has nothing to do with the idea that it's disrespectful to one's country to shorten the word "country" and everything to do with the fact that the shortened-form of "country, unlike the shortened form of "fraternity," happens to be a particularly offensive obscenity.