What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[srmom]

Basically what it all boils down to is the fact that the lower the average income is, the larger the social class division gap is.

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

I never said anything about my own financial situation. What you quoted is true and everyone here knows it.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

Applause.

Thank you, srmom.

[sasquatch]

I'm not sure what I said that was so offensive, but whatever.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I'm not sure what I said that was so offensive, but whatever.

The fact that you don't see how offensive it is illustrates further that it was meant with the most sincerely offensive assumptions possible.

Ask yourself this... if you think your brotherhood should be exclusive to only the *right* types of men (i.e. men from a certain wealth bracket because you think this corrollates to class) then what more is your brotherhood then a country club? And why should anyone in your fraternity feel "chosen" based on them as individuals v. their parents money?

To me, the fraternity or sorority that ignores wealth (besides the ability to pay dues) is the FAR SUPERIOR organization because it judges people based on who they actually are, rather than how much of their parents money is coming along with them.

Perhaps you and some of the other southern fraternity men in this thread could learn an important lesson on brotherhood from your brothers up north. My guess is that they wouldn't hesitate to acknowledge you as their unconditional brother like you have with them.

[sasquatch]

I was answering in the context of the original question. I wasn't saying it's better or worse, just that people (greek or non greek) view Greek life entirely different in the South for that reason. Most people here in the South who have little to no knowledge of Greek life don't view members of fraternities and sororities as drunken slobs, but as huge SUV driving, trust fund having rich kids. I'm not saying it's always true and I'm not saying it makes it better, I'm just saying that in the minds of non-Greeks that's how it's viewed. Therefore it's more respected by the community as a whole, because these kids are viewed (and are) as the future of the community (the lawyers-turned-judges, local politicians, doctors, mayors). I was answering the question in regards to why it is viewed in an entirely different light for the most part, by the communities as a whole. Hope that clears some things up.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I was answering in the context of the original question. I wasn't saying it's better or worse, just that people (greek or non greek) view Greek life entirely different in the South for that reason. Most people here in the South who have little to no knowledge of Greek life don't view members of fraternities and sororities as drunken slobs, but as huge SUV driving, trust fund having rich kids. I'm not saying it's always true and I'm not saying it makes it better, I'm just saying that in the minds of non-Greeks that's how it's viewed. Therefore it's more respected by the community as a whole, because these kids are viewed (and are) as the future of the community (the lawyers-turned-judges, local politicians, doctors, mayors). I was answering the question in regards to why it is viewed in an entirely different light for the most part, by the communities as a whole. Hope that clears some things up.

I think that the issue a lot of people have with that concept boils down to this: that if you don't have a trust fund or a family name, you're not going to get anywhere in the community.

I mean, what's the point of wasting money going to college (rather than a business school) if you're going to end up being president of the bank anyway?

Being from a small town, I do understand where you're coming from - if you say your last name (or in your case, Greek affiliation) is this or that, it immediately opens doors. You either find that nice and comforting and traditional, or you find it stifling and confining and kind of sickening.

I mean, I certainly didn't join my sorority to get ahead in my career - especially considering (at least when I pledged) the majority of the alumnae are teachers. I would rather stab my eyes out with a flaming stick than be a teacher. If someone HAD joined my chapter because she wanted to "network" among the teachers in the state, well, we'd have kind of looked at her funny and thought she was pretty shallow. People here tend to join a Greek group because they like the other members, not because it will help them "get ahead" in life.

If the main point of joining this fraternity or that is to further your social life and career, are you really close friends, or is it more like in Heathers "our job is being popular"? I'm not being rude, I'm honestly asking. I know guys and girls are different in the way they interact socially, but the whole thing is just 180 degrees from what I experienced.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think that the issue a lot of people have with that concept boils down to this: that if you don't have a trust fund or a family name, you're not going to get anywhere in the community.

I mean, what's the point of wasting money going to college (rather than a business school) if you're going to end up being president of the bank anyway?

Being from a small town, I do understand where you're coming from - if you say your last name (or in your case, Greek affiliation) is this or that, it immediately opens doors. You either find that nice and comforting and traditional, or you find it stifling and confining and kind of sickening.

I mean, I certainly didn't join my sorority to get ahead in my career - especially considering (at least when I pledged) the majority of the alumnae are teachers. I would rather stab my eyes out with a flaming stick than be a teacher. If someone HAD joined my chapter because she wanted to "network" among the teachers in the state, well, we'd have kind of looked at her funny and thought she was pretty shallow. People here tend to join a Greek group because they like the other members, not because it will help them "get ahead" in life.

If the main point of joining this fraternity or that is to further your social life and career, are you really close friends, or is it more like in Heathers "our job is being popular"? I'm not being rude, I'm honestly asking. I know guys and girls are different in the way they interact socially, but the whole thing is just 180 degrees from what I experienced.

No, it's more like, "this is the best fraternity/sorority and this is where you're gonna pledge...because it's the best". It's like people here say, "you'll end up where you belong". For those rushing who are from old line families they will end up at the top houses because that's who they have the most in common with and then networking is just kind of an extension of that. It's hard to explain.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think that the issue a lot of people have with that concept boils down to this: that if you don't have a trust fund or a family name, you're not going to get anywhere in the community.

It can't just be any type of trust fund and family name, though. "Class" and "status" have never just been about objective criteria. If it was, there wouldn't have needed to be a such thing as the black bourgeoisie. Blacks from educated and wealthy backgrounds still weren't seen as good enough by whites from the same education and background.

Just something else to think about that makes these "Southern" rants very offensive and discriminatory in outcome, if not intent.

Other than that: Using Greekdom as an additional social network is cool because that's one of its many purposes and uses. How that plays out will vary, of course.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

This quote should be the welcome message when some GCers log on.

More than that, that poster actually boasted about the social class divide in an area. Someone has taken his Future Capitalists of America membership way too seriously and has failed to use his brain.

[bowsandtoes]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

This quote should be the welcome message when some GCers log on.

More than that, that poster actually boasted about the social class divide in an area. Someone has taken his Future Capitalists of America membership way too seriously and has failed to use his brain.

You seem overly bitter. Is it our fault that we're better of? No, and I take pride in my family's wealth, especially because my father worked so hard to put us where we are. I plan on working just as hard to make sure we maintain or exceed our current situation. I also plan on using every connection I have (through school, fraternity, or any means) to make that happen. For that reason, the reputation and prestige of the fraternity mean a lot to me, as does the exclusivity. Does that make me an asshole? Probably in your eyes, but I really don't care, so long as my children have more opportunities than I did, just like my father made sure I was able to do many of the things he couldn't when he was my age.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

You seem overly bitter. Is it our fault that we're better of?

I guess I am supposedly bitter because your class standing and family background differs from mine? Certainly no one who comes from money or education would be critical of caplitalism.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

Golly and you are getting the fact now?

Read some of the above posts!