need some advice....

[ealymc]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Don't worry about me, I was just trying to give you helpful feedback about how you might consider representing yourself in the future. You're not doing yourself any favors currently.

Thanks for your concern. Honestly. (And Senusret will like this) But...

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is who you really are while your reputation is merely what others think of you."

It's a forum of free-speech. People are literally eaten alive on here for asking what to them may have been valid questions, when those that have been on here for years have seen those topics over and over. Yet I am catching so much BULL over the use of a single word. It wasn't pointed at anyone. It wasn't referring to anything in particular. It was a word. Gimme a break. It's not like a racial epithet or bigotries came out of my keyboard, folks. Seriously. You are giving the word more validity by continuing to bring it back up!

I know who I am. And with all due respect, since I don't actually know you personally, your opinion is of little to no value to me. Doing myself favors? I'm confused as to what that even means on an online forum...

But again. Your comment is duly noted. I will choose my words more wisely next time in sake of representing myself as more intelligent and less crass.

[Kevin]

The fact is, brothers ealymc and SnuKnight are dead-on as far as their advice goes regarding the word "frat." I think it depends on the campus, but many fraternity members for whatever reason are taught that the word is offensive and that they should be offended. The "country = cunt" analogy is not particularly illustrative for any valid reason, but fraternity members will often find the word "frat" as offensive as the word "cunt." For the purpose of conveying the emotion which fraternities want their pledges to understand should accompany the word "frat," I think the analogy works well.

Simply put, the advice offered is sound -- it's a bad idea to go through rush and use the word "frat." Ever. When your goal is to get a bid at your favorite house, you don't need to concern yourself with why they find something offensive -- you just need to concern yourself with the fact that you don't want to piss off even one member or you're probably not going to get a bid.

[ealymc]

Note: I didn't say I was sorry for typing what I did. I'm sorry they took offense.

[Senusret I]

Though in the previous sentence you stated you weren't worried about offending anyone.

[ealymc]

Duly noted. And reason enough to stop using that statement, Sugar. Thanks. But the point of what society associates with the word "frat" I still stand by.

[Senusret I]

Let's not generalize.... as we've stated on GC time and before, "frat" is not universally offensive and may not even be so among the IFC orgs on the original poster's campus. (Though I quite honestly didn't even read his post in entirety, lol)

[Sugar08]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Let's not generalize.... as we've stated on GC time and before, "frat" is not universally offensive and may not even be so among the IFC orgs on the original poster's campus. (Though I quite honestly didn't even read his post in entirety, lol)

Who the heck did? The return button is our friend.

I was tempted to say that some members of the IFC are being a little sensitive about the word, but knowing the connotation changed my mind. I still think it's a harmless word, but who am I to tell anyone else how to feel?

[fantASTic]

Eh. I agree that calling a fraternity a frat is offensive..if the fraternity in question finds it offensive. If they themselves call it that, then it's okay for others. That goes for almost every word. If I call another female a bitch, I can't expect to be angry when others say that to me.

[Fez]

My advise to you is to play it cool. Don't set your sights on one fraternity, it is good to have other options and later on decide on those who gave you a bid.

Your sophomore status might affect you slightly depending on the fraternity. Just look into a good number of fraternities you are interested, including the one that your father was in. Later on decide on which bid you want to take.

Enthusiasm is good, but as someone mentioned earlier, it is similar to dating. And if your overenthusiastic, it might scare off some of the brothers.

Play it cool, get involved in various activities, get to know many girls, and re-rush next time.

[ealymc]

Way to get back on topic! Sorry about hijack, jtrain...