Greek life at the Southern Ivies

ree-Xi · #1 10-09-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The term "public ivies" is now bandied about to describe academically prestigious universities. In much the same way as "Xerox" is used to describe any copier, or any soft drink in the south is a "Coke", "ivy" is used to describe a school with a good academic reputation.

Ouch.

I was looking at it specifically from a "brand identity" perspective. "Ivy League" has specific connotations, especially in the northeast. I have heard people use the word "Coke" for any kind of soda (in Arkansas), and it still confuses me when I get Pepsi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And yet it's a concept that has been around for at least 50 years or so...Too bad that your lifelong confinement to the northeast has led to ignorance and giggles.

I don't feel "confined" geographically, and yes, I have been out of state further than New Jersey. I take offense to the term "ignorant". The term, as you have used it here, implies that I am lacking (all) knowledge, when the issue - which I admitted - is that I had only recently heard of the term "southern ivies". Would it be okay to mock you for not understanding the terms "tonic" or "bubbler"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Pretentious much?

How does my unfamiliarity with a phrase make me pretentious? I didn't make any judgments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Well, given where she said she's from, isn't this question somewhat redundant? [ducking and covering]

What is this animosity to the northeast? I thought the civil war was over. Good grief.

AOEforme · #2 10-09-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Would it be okay to mock you for not understanding the terms "tonic" or "bubbler"?

This has nothing to do with this thread.... but I love the word bubbler!

I had no idea until I was like 8 that not everyone else called it that...

ForeverRoses · #3 10-09-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOEforme

This has nothing to do with this thread.... but I love the word bubbler!

I had no idea until I was like 8 that not everyone else called it that...

hijack/
Blubber- that's a Judy Blume book

Doesn't it just mean fat, or am I missing something?

33girl · #4 10-09-2008, 04:39 PM

ha ha, I did the same thing when I first looked.

Bubbler - New Englandese for a water fountain/drinking fountain
Blubber - Linda Fischer/subject of JB's book

ForeverRoses · #5 10-09-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

ha ha, I did the same thing when I first looked.

Bubbler - New Englandese for a water fountain/drinking fountain
Blubber - Linda Fischer/subject of JB's book

Whoops, I was seeing Blubber, but I guess it is BUBBLER. But I did love the book!

MysticCat · #6 10-09-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I don't feel "confined" geographically, and yes, I have been out of state further than New Jersey. I take offense to the term "ignorant". The term, as you have used it here, implies that I am lacking (all) knowledge, when the issue - which I admitted - is that I had only recently heard of the term "southern ivies". Would it be okay to mock you for not understanding the terms "tonic" or "bubbler"?

How does my unfamiliarity with a phrase make me pretentious? I didn't make any judgments.

What is this animosity to the northeast? I thought the civil war was over. Good grief.

Bless your heart. Some people can be just a little touchy when other folks are having a bit of fun at their expense, can't they? (And no, it would not be okay for you to mock me for not understanding the terms "tonic" or "bubbler," because I do know what they mean.)

And yes, the War Between the States is over. (Sorry, I usually call it the Civil War, but sometimes it's more fun this way.) Unfortunately, the experience of too many of us is that Yankee arrogance did not end with it. (That's a joke, BTW.)

Seriously, if you're going to come on a forum and "giggle" at "odd concepts" that are quite familiar to lots of people, and if you're then going to treat the OP as if she is ignorant by not knowing what the Ivy League really is, then you really can't be surprised to receive a reply in kind, can you?

XSK_Diamond · #7 10-10-2008, 01:17 AM

When I was in high school, I had a houseparent that called the Civil War/War Between the States the War of Northern Aggression.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And yes, the War Between the States is over. (Sorry, I usually call it the Civil War, but sometimes it's more fun this way.) Unfortunately, the experience of too many of us is that Yankee arrogance did not end with it. (That's a joke, BTW.)

ASTalumna06 · #8 10-09-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Would it be okay to mock you for not understanding the terms "tonic" or "bubbler"?

Yay for tonic and bubbler!

And I didn't know that other people didn't use these terms until I went to college!

Along with "wicked pissah", "packie", and "carriage" (which is what you push around in the grocery store)

And yes, to say that someone is ignorant because of this is a little much. Quite frankly, I've never even heard of "Southern Ivies", and the Ivy League schools I know are the ones that are most commonly referred to as such.

Would I automatically assume that someone was wrong because they called these schools Southern Ivies? Probably not. But would I say that everyone from one particular region of the country is pretentious because of a comment that one person made? Definitely not.

MysticCat · #9 10-09-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

But would I say that everyone from one particular region of the country is pretentious because of a comment that one person made? Definitely not.

Just for the record, I never would have said it she hadn't brought it up first:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

As someone who has lived in the northeast my entire life, I had never heard the term "southern ivies" until about a year ago, and it was here.

and if her post hadn't had the tone of "you obviously don't know what the Ivy League is; let me instruct you." But those two things just bring out the mischievous side of me, I reckon.

ETA: And for the record, the only reason I threw in ignorance was because of what ree-Xi said that I quoted in this post -- that having lived all her life in the northeast, she had never heard the term (and presumably was therefore ignorant of the term, not ignorant of all things) until hearing it here. To paraphrase Sissy Spacek in "Coal Miner's Daughter," being ignorant ain't being stupid. My comment was accompanied by a

and

, intended to show that I was not in the least being serious. Sorry if that was lost on anyone.

epchick · #10 10-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

ETA: And for the record, the only reason I threw in ignorance was because of what ree-Xi said that I quoted in this post -- that having lived all her life in the northeast, she had never heard the term (and presumably was therefore ignorant of the term, not ignorant of all things) until hearing it here.

I understand where you are coming from, but I think Ree-Xi is "upset" because the word ignorant is very harsh, and usually connotes more than what you implied it to be.

Unaware or uninformed might have been better suited to describe the situation.

MysticCat · #11 10-09-2008, 04:59 PM

^^^ Fair enough.

Elephant Walk · #12 10-09-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

How does my unfamiliarity with a phrase make me pretentious? I didn't make any judgments.

Your willingness to instruct the OP on what a real "Ivy" is, is pretentious. The OP (as well as I) am well aware what an Ivy League school is. Which is why we call it a Southern Ivy.

SWTXBelle · #13 10-09-2008, 05:43 PM

I was exiled to New Jersey (Cherry Hill and Bridgewater) for 5 hellish years. So, yeah, I know what a "bubbler" and a "tonic" are. And yes, we did indeed lose the War to Suppress Yankee Arrogance.

Elephant Walk · #14 10-09-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I was exiled to New Jersey (Cherry Hill and Bridgewater) for 5 hellish years. So, yeah, I know what a "bubbler" and a "tonic" are. And yes, we did indeed lose the War to Suppress Yankee Arrogance.

I was about to say, I've never even been up there but I know that stuff.

I thought bubbler was more of a Wisconsin thing though?

nancyagd86 · #15 10-09-2008, 07:16 PM

Those of us who grew up among these schools often lovingly--and I do mean lovingly--refer to such group of schools as the Kudzu League. I don't know of a finer education offered than at some of these schools,especially since two close family members went to Vandy and various other friends and family went to other Kudzu schools, but the "Ivy League" was already defined before most of these gained prominence. And with the proliferation of Kudzu in the South...it's just a vine thing!