What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[SWTXBelle]

Well, if being a part of the same organization isn't what makes you brothers - if having the same ideals, same creed, having gone through the same ritual, being a part of a chain of men going back over a hundred years isn't what makes you brothers, what does that say about your GLO? You would say a man who has gone through all of that is not your brother because of his choice of clothing? A man who wears a hoodie instantly is somehow inferior? Pardon me for thinking that your standards are rather superficial if that is the case.
I also want to know about this sweeping generalization that all the northern chapters have no standards and will pledge anyone - what is this based on? Running into a few brothers from northern chapters you don't feel would make it on your campus? Are you so sure their standards aren't different, as opposed to inferior? (I know - it's a rhetorical question)
I sincerely don't understand why you would want to remain a part of an inter/national GLO if you feel this strongly. Far better to be a local, and not have to deal with those non-southerners.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

You would say a man who has gone through all of that is not your brother because of his choice of clothing? A man who wears a hoodie instantly is somehow inferior? Pardon me for thinking that your standards are rather superficial if that is the case.

Clothes do tell alot about a person in certain circumstances, but no not on that basis alone obviously.

I also want to know about this sweeping generalization that all the northern chapters have no standards and will pledge anyone - what is this based on?

www.greekchat.com...you should check it out sometime. It usually reaffirms my sweeping generalizations.

Running into a few brothers from northern chapters you don't feel would make it on your campus? Are you so sure their standards aren't different, as opposed to inferior? (I know - it's a rhetorical question)

I've already established they were different. By our standards, inferior.

Fraternity life is so much more than just brotherhood.

It's regional tradition, rites of passage, a status symbol, a method of gaining wealth through connections and so on.

edit: I apologize for being 1 minute late so that you could "render me speechless".

[nittanyalum]

I have male family members that were greek at an expensive, elite Ivy League college in the north and got the crap hazed out of them.

So would they be cool with you guys?

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I have male family members that were greek at an expensive, elite Ivy League college in the north and got the crap hazed out of them.

So would they be cool with you guys?

What does hazing have anything to do with it?

And I'd like to say that if we would get along, DKE at Yale because they're so steeped in tradition.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

What does hazing have anything to do with it?

Originally Posted by PhiGam

And if you're wondering what real pledgeship means... maybe you should find out what bows and toes means first.

I guess my inference of the implication is off-base... but I don't think so.


ETA: and maybe you missed that I used the words "expensive" and "elite" because that seems to fit in the requirements being set forth as well... thought their "connections" and access to wealthy and elite stuff would make them cooler with you guys too...

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I guess my inference of the implication is off-base... but I don't think so.


ETA: and maybe you missed that I used the words "expensive" and "elite" because that seems to fit in the requirements being set forth as well... thought their "connections" and access to wealthy and elite stuff would make them cooler with you guys too...

I'm not saying you're off base... I'm saying that if you knew what bows and toes or elephant walk (lol) meant than you would understand what hes saying indirectly.
Also, the fraternities here are only about 600-900 per semester, its the sororities that are expensive.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I'm not saying you're off base... I'm saying that if you knew what bows and toes or elephant walk (lol) meant than you would understand what hes saying indirectly.

Are you talking about the meaning or purpose behind those hazing practices?

Are these practices only done for the cool fraternities in the South?

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I'm not saying you're off base... I'm saying that if you knew what bows and toes or elephant walk (lol) meant than you would understand what hes saying indirectly.
Also, the fraternities here are only about 600-900 per semester, its the sororities that are expensive.

I do know what "bows and toes" and "elephant walk (lol)" are, thus my assurance to you that clever "bonding" experiences like those are not new and in fact my male family members pledged in the "good old days" when hazing was de rigeur and much more of it was even above ground (the underground stuff was what you really had to fear -- they'd think what you guys call "bonding" these days is a cake walk).

And I'm cross-quoting you two again, this time in reverse. The assurance that they have access to connections and wealth was in response to the standards laid out below. Their fraternities, chapters and the school they attended are also WAY steeped in tradition.

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I've already established they were different. By our standards, inferior.

Fraternity life is so much more than just brotherhood.

It's regional tradition, rites of passage, a status symbol, a method of gaining wealth through connections and so on.

So, looks like they check off all the boxes, would they be cool with you, then?

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I guess my inference of the implication is off-base... but I don't think so.


ETA: and maybe you missed that I used the words "expensive" and "elite" because that seems to fit in the requirements being set forth as well... thought their "connections" and access to wealthy and elite stuff would make them cooler with you guys too...

Hazing down south is military in nature. Not the bullshit that gets on the national news in California or some place like that. I would say that hazing in the south is in the middle-tier...it's not terribly hard, but it's not soft either...there's alot of other things that go with being a pledge besides hazing and that's what puts our pledge programs in the tops.

They do have better connections and more wealth. DKE at Yale does, at least. I don't know about the other fraternities in the Ivy League. The Ivy League seems to be the exception to the Northern stereotype.

edit: By the way jackass, I believe he was saying "you better find out what bowsandtoes (((((the poster))) means", not the hazing term"

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Hazing down south is military in nature. Not the bullshit that gets on the national news in California or some place like that. I would say that hazing in the south is in the middle-tier...it's not terribly hard, but it's not soft either...there's alot of other things that go with being a pledge besides hazing and that's what puts our pledge programs in the tops.

Interesting assumptions there.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

edit: By the way jackass, I believe he was saying "you better find out what bowsandtoes (((((the poster))) means", not the hazing term"

Hey, first of all, I'm female, secondly, I haven't called you any names, I'm not sure why you're starting that up, and third, if PhiGam meant YOU, the poster, I assume he would have written "find out what bowsandtoes means" not "find out what bows and toes means". I stand by my inference unless and until PG wants to tell me that's not what he was implying.

[SWTXBelle]

Oh, silly me - you read some things in an internet chat room that lead you to your generalization about all northern chapters. And here I was thinking you were relying only on rumor and hearsay!

I guess I've got egg on my face!

eta - nittany, does he wear hoodies?

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

eta - nittany, does he wear hoodies?

No, I've never seen either in a hoodie. I don't think they'd even know what one was. I also don't know if they were really worn when they were in school anyway.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Fraternity life is so much more than just brotherhood.

It's regional tradition, rites of passage, a status symbol, a method of gaining wealth through connections and so on. So, the north doesn't have regional tradition, rites of passage, status symbols, or a method of gaining wealth? I yield to no one in my passionate love for the south, and my appreciation of what makes us different, but I don't see these particular aspects of greek life as being restricted only to the south.

edit: I apologize for being 1 minute late so that you could "render me speechless".

I'm sure you are just intimidated by my hotness.

[bowsandtoes]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Well, if being a part of the same organization isn't what makes you brothers - if having the same ideals, same creed, having gone through the same ritual, being a part of a chain of men going back over a hundred years isn't what makes you brothers, what does that say about your GLO? You would say a man who has gone through all of that is not your brother because of his choice of clothing? A man who wears a hoodie instantly is somehow inferior? Pardon me for thinking that your standards are rather superficial if that is the case.

That's one way to look at it. The only problem is that a lot of the time they haven't gone through the same experience. From rush to pledgeship their experience is not nearly as intense. In our eyes, they haven't "earned it". Maybe it's just my fraternity, who enacted a 'Balanced Man' program that's met widespread criticism for lowering the standards of admittance. I talk to friends from other schools and there we are known as "Sigma Phi Everyone" because the chapters have a reputation of bidding anyone who walks in the door.

Obviously, this is not always the case. I have friends at Northern chapters of my fraternity and other organizations that I have a great deal of respect for because of the way they conduct themselves. It's those chapters I previously described they tend to 'cheapen' I letters that I take exception to.