What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I have to say that ALL NPCs have "national name recognition". There are only 26 of them, after all. Just because a GLO isn't on your campus, or even big in your geographic area, doesn't mean they aren't important. It's rather dismissive to say the only glos that matter are the ones you know.
Like Vandal Squirrel, I think it is important to know all the members of your GLO umbrella group - and others, as well. Heck, you don't even have to google it - just go to www.npcwomen.org .

Agreed. Prime example that happened here semi-recently. I corrected a collegian on the proper pronunciation of Alpha Phi. She had never heard of them and asked "Are they new?" (Man, I hate these 6 week pledgeships.)

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I have to say that ALL NPCs have "national name recognition". .

Not with me. National name recognition means that across the nation one would hear the name and know it was a NPC sorority. That doesn't take away from an org's validity, I'm just saying that is a very broad statement to make.

I would not presume that my own sorority (or the rest of the NPHC) has national name recognition even within the Black community, much less out of it. And there are only nine NPHC orgs.

[62231]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Oh silly me, after reading all of your narrow-minded posts, I realize you won't even speak with anyone outside the SEC or Big-12. Sounds like Fratty.

Haha, you're letting him get to you!

Also, this isn't directed at you specifically ( although you are an Ohio State fan! ), BUT:
I've noticed that in many of these North v South debates, the northerners continue to call out southerners for being "narrow-minded". I think it's narrow-minded to discount tradition and fairly ironic that those who accuse others of being anti-progressive don't want to consider the culture of the southeast or take the time to try and understand it.
Again, for emphasis, it's nothing personal towards Benzgirl, it's just a pattern I've been noticing in these arguments.

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

I've noticed that in many of these North v South debates, the northerners continue to call out southerners for being "narrow-minded". I think it's narrow-minded to discount tradition and fairly ironic that those who accuse others of being anti-progressive don't want to consider the culture of the southeast or take the time to try and understand it.
Again, for emphasis, it's nothing personal towards Benzgirl, it's just a pattern I've been noticing in these arguments.

A pattern that I have noticed is that northerners often express a distaste for the idiosyncracies and customs of their southern brothers and sisters (often a vehement distaste), but they don't deny them being brothers and sisters. Some (definitely not all, but some) of the southerners are claiming that their northern brethren are not in fact brethren at all, and have in essence disowned the northern chapters for not being exclusive enough, or elite enough, or whatever their specfic standard may be that they find lacking. That I think is probably very troublesome and offensive to the northerners.

[SWTXBelle]

Hey, hey, hey - it's mainly southern FRATERNITY men, pbear! I see nothing but love from sorority women - for all their sisters (and NPC cousins)

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Hey, hey, hey - it's mainly southern FRATERNITY men, pbear! I see nothing but love from sorority women - for all their sisters (and NPC cousins)

I know, I agree, I just felt badly about singling out the guys which is why I emphasized the 'some'. But yeah, in truth it's just the guys from what I've seen in this thread and elsewhere...

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Hey, hey, hey - it's mainly southern FRATERNITY men, pbear! I see nothing but love from sorority women - for all their sisters (and NPC cousins)

And it seems to be a pretty small section of the men, who for the most part admit more to having problems with chapters near them geographically that don't measure up for whatever reasons, even more than it's a south vs. other regions thing.

It's seems to be a self-perceived super-elite chapter thing maybe even more than a regional issue.

[62231]

Originally Posted by pbear19

A pattern that I have noticed is that northerners often express a distaste for the idiosyncracies and customs of their southern brothers and sisters (often a vehement distaste), but they don't deny them being brothers and sisters. Some (definitely not all, but some) of the southerners are claiming that their northern brethren are not in fact brethren at all, and have in essence disowned the northern chapters for not being exclusive enough, or elite enough, or whatever their specfic standard may be that they find lacking. That I think is probably very troublesome and offensive to the northerners.

Of course, that is problematic for more that just those from northern chapters. While I completely see how some get on the defensive immediately when someone from a southern chapter states something so bluntly, I can't understand why the first reaction is to attack whoever said whatever was offensive to begin with.
This is getting complicated, but I'll leave it at that I actually understand both sides, but am more offended by the northern arguments.

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

While I completely see how some get on the defensive immediately when someone from a southern chapter states something so bluntly, I can't understand why the first reaction is to attack whoever said whatever was offensive to begin with.

I definitely agree with this too. I didn't mean to condone the defensiveness, but I do understand it as a rather natural human reaction. I think it's one of those issues that is a shame from both sides, in many ways. The 'disowning' saddens me more than the defensiveness, which is why I likely keyed into it more.

For what it's worth, my experience is that of a midwesterner who lived in the south for a few years and feels very connected with southern friends.

[bowsandtoes]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Some (definitely not all, but some) of the southerners are claiming that their northern brethren are not in fact brethren at all, and have in essence disowned the northern chapters for not being exclusive enough, or elite enough, or whatever their specfic standard may be that they find lacking. That I think is probably very troublesome and offensive to the northerners.

This is very close to the point in my opinion. What grinds our gears is that some Joe Smo at North State University can just walk into one of our chapters up there and get a bid (not the case for every Northern chapter, but you get where I'm going). Meanwhile, down here, the exact opposite is true. Even if you're lucky enough to get a bid you then have to work your ass off (if you have a real pledgeship). When they walk around wearing hoodies w/ our letters on them it negates everything that we've worked for to our chapter synonymous with high standards. Again, this doesn't apply to every chapter of every fraternity at every northern university, but you want us to look at any guy with our letters and consider him an equal in our brotherhood? Are you serious?

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

Again, this doesn't apply to every chapter of every fraternity at every northern university, but you want us to look at any guy with our letters and consider him an equal in our brotherhood? Are you serious?

Yep.

[KenUDiggit]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

This is very close to the point in my opinion. What grinds our gears is that some Joe Smo at North State University can just walk into one of our chapters up there and get a bid (not the case for every Northern chapter, but you get where I'm going). Meanwhile, down here, the exact opposite is true. Even if you're lucky enough to get a bid you then have to work your ass off (if you have a real pledgeship). When they walk around wearing hoodies w/ our letters on them it negates everything that we've worked for to our chapter synonymous with high standards. Again, this doesn't apply to every chapter of every fraternity at every northern university, but you want us to look at any guy with our letters and consider him an equal in our brotherhood? Are you serious?

I feel they should be considered equal, but if they don't hold themselves to the same standard of gentlemen/did not take our fraternity serious then I would be highly furious. Guess its just a southern thing

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

What grinds our gears is that some Joe Smo at North State University can just walk into one of our chapters up there and get a bid (not the case for every Northern chapter, but you get where I'm going).

From this and your other posts, I've got to say that I think you're SERIOUSLY misinformed.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

This is very close to the point in my opinion. What grinds our gears is that some Joe Smo at North State University can just walk into one of our chapters up there and get a bid (not the case for every Northern chapter, but you get where I'm going). Meanwhile, down here, the exact opposite is true. Even if you're lucky enough to get a bid you then have to work your ass off (if you have a real pledgeship). When they walk around wearing hoodies w/ our letters on them it negates everything that we've worked for to our chapter synonymous with high standards. Again, this doesn't apply to every chapter of every fraternity at every northern university, but you want us to look at any guy with our letters and consider him an equal in our brotherhood? Are you serious?

Yep.

There's a reason that at the national gatherings, the Southerners hang out with Southerners and it's not only becaue of being Southern.

From this and your other posts, I've got to say that I think you're SERIOUSLY misinformed.

After reading the majority of the posts on this thread....there's no way he's misinformed.

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

This is very close to the point in my opinion. What grinds our gears is that some Joe Smo at North State University can just walk into one of our chapters up there and get a bid (not the case for every Northern chapter, but you get where I'm going). Meanwhile, down here, the exact opposite is true. Even if you're lucky enough to get a bid you then have to work your ass off (if you have a real pledgeship). When they walk around wearing hoodies w/ our letters on them it negates everything that we've worked for to our chapter synonymous with high standards. Again, this doesn't apply to every chapter of every fraternity at every northern university, but you want us to look at any guy with our letters and consider him an equal in our brotherhood? Are you serious?

And I think you beautifully illustrated my point of why so many northerners have such a distaste for what I personally find to be incredibly excessive elitisim.

I openly admit I don't know as much about fraternities and their general beliefs, but is not this attitude about your brothers just as contrary to your ideals as the things you accuse your 'brothers' of doing in the first place? (And what exactly is a 'real pledgeship'? My mind initially leaps straight to hazing, but I hate to think the worst without at least clarifying.)

I just cannot think that you guys would expect people to not be openly hostile and defensive when these kinds of sweeping generalizations are made about your northern chapters.

From my outsiders perspective, the answer to your last question is yes, I did think that fraternity men would look at someone who has been initiated and accepted by their national organization as equal, as a brother. I'll acknowledge my obvious idealism in this case.