We're not the only ones who "pay for our friends"

navane · #1 12-16-2004, 08:12 PM

I happened to be browsing around sandiego.craigslist.org when I saw that they have a section for posting group and club notices. When I clicked in I saw a posting for "Adventures in San Diego" which bills itself as a club which provides opportunities for social events/making friends, community service and trying out new activities.

http://www.sdfun.org/

Of course, this group isn't free -

https://www.eltitude.com/activityclu...nus.aspx?cid=4

It's ok to pay to join a social club like this, as is paying to join a dating service to make new friends and/or love interests. However, as we all know, it's wrong for GLOs to charge dues because we're "paying for our friends".

Heh.

.....Kelly

alphaalpha · #2 12-17-2004, 12:18 AM

Good point Kelly,

I never thought of dating services and the like. When people tell me that i bought my friends i always tell them that living in my sorority house was about 200 dollars cheaper than living in the dorms and that the fees that we pay in the sorority are in fact similar, and yet again less expensive than the sorority fees. I think that most people dont really care about that point, or yours. I think that they just want to create their own reasons as to why the greek system is bad. I think that nomatter what someone says, and how good a point these people will still continue to come up with excuses.

But like i said i had never thought about the dating servce. i will try it next time i get into a conversation and see how effective it is.
debbie

Sister Havana · #3 12-17-2004, 02:00 AM

My Jaycee chapter charges dues too...$48.50 for a new member, $43.50 to renew. Some chapters' dues are even higher. (ours basically cover the state, region, and national dues.) I guess we all pay for our friends too.

AlphaSigOU · #4 12-17-2004, 07:17 AM

My Masonic lodge charges about $150 in degree fees plus $48 in annual dues. Joining the Scottish Rite and Shrine will cost you $75 apiece annually, though most organizations offer 'perpetual' membership; once paid, you're set for life.

Can't keep everyone happy, no matter what good we do as Greeks.

epsilon99 · #5 12-20-2004, 05:08 PM

I don't see it as paying for friends. You join a club for more serious reasons. The payment is just an afterthought.

Kevin · #6 12-20-2004, 05:49 PM

The saying that we pay for our friends always conjures up memories of Kitso's signature saying his chapter has the "Best $ to friends ratio on campus".

Tom Earp · #7 12-20-2004, 10:07 PM

ktsnake, glad you remembered that.

I guess I must really be stupid as am still paying for not only the 600 + of My Chapter but the many Brothers I have met over the years and plan on meeting!

Not sure if I have paid enough!

Xanthuos · #8 12-23-2004, 07:21 PM

I have a funny story about this...

One day, I was visiting with my friend at her apartment and her roommate was party to the conversation. When it came up that I was Greek, she talked down to me with disdain and made comments like "I would never pay for my friends" and "I don't really like Greeks" etc.
I simply let them pass without argument, cause really, with these people it's simply not worth it. Their prejudices probably aren't going anywhere.

A couple weeks later, it was Greek Week on our campus. My fraternity, well known on campus for hosting our cookouts in the quad, was serving up a huge amount of food that day - burgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, etc. Well who do I see come up to the grill but that same girl!

I commented to her nicely that "I thought you didn't like Greeks!" and her response was "I don't, I just like the free food."

With that, I turned to my brother Garth who was manning the grill...and I said "Garth, you know, I'm sure glad I paid for you to be my friend" and his response said it all...

He said "I'm glad you did too Matt, because magically, these burgers appeared on my doorstep this morning." The look on her face was priceless

alphaalpha · #9 12-24-2004, 01:01 AM

good story,
typical of people, always wanting something for free and does not realise where the money comes from to purchase those things. i have had experiences with people gripping cause i donated money to my church. its a college group of over 1000 people. well the group does a lot of things for fun like ski trips and pizza parties. most food events are free. usually there is at least one activity per month be a free bbq or a free pizza night. so the girl i new was whinning about how bad it was for churches to ask their members for money, she was saying that churches should be their for support and not to demand money from people, she actually said that its a church not a business. I just looked at her and said you always go to the free food events, not to mention the ski trips, ect ( which the church pays for part of the cost so that people can go and not have to spend too much). and where do you think the church gets the food ect? she looked at me and said how stupid i was and that churches get donations and the food is free. NO, the church pays to store for the food, or activity and they use donations from the church members to pay for the cost. Like, she thought that because it was a chuch and they should get stuff for free.

I know its not exactly the same but oh my god think about something for a minute before you speak.

LightBulb · #10 12-24-2004, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alphaalpha
she looked at me and said how stupid i was and that churches get donations and the food is free.

Wow.

#11 12-24-2004, 05:11 AM

Makes me think of a phrase I think on someone's shirt on campus:
"If I bought my friends, I bought the best money could buy."

...or something like that... I think it was a rush shirt.

MSKKG · #12 12-24-2004, 01:23 PM

I don't understand that "buying your friends" mentality.

(1) Just because someone is in a GLO doesn't mean everyone in that chapter will be best buddies with each other. The thing that makes those "buying your friends" people think otherwise is that someone more than likely wouldn't have joined a particular GLO if he/she didn't have something in common with those already in the chapter, therefore, "instant" friends. I certainly wouldn't want to spend my $$ being in a GLO full of people I don't like!

(2) Just because someone is in a GLO doesn't preclude him/her from having friends in other GLOs or in no GLO. Maybe we should charge all of our independent friends a fee to continue the relationship!