What do you consider 'Fratty'?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I don't see where the "helpless southern belle" thing has come in at all, though. Heck, look at this site - most of the outspoken posters are, in fact, from the South.

There's a weird romanticizing/demonizing of the South by a lot of people here on GC, none of whom are even from the South. These are the same people who will give advice about SEC recruitment when they don't know the difference between the Greek systems at Vandy, UF, and Arkansas. A lot of these people propel the "helpless Southern Belle" stereotype, since most of us know it's not true.

I don't see this happening with any other region--most people understand that there's a big difference among different sections of New England, for example.

I also find it really funny that many of the "Frattiest" brand names started in the Northeast--Ralph Lauren (nee Ralph Lifschitz), Vineyard Vines, and Brooks Brothers are not what comes to mind when I think of the South! I do see seersucker here pretty regularly, but I think that comes from the circles I run in more than anything else.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

There's a weird romanticizing/demonizing of the South by a lot of people here on GC, none of whom are even from the South. These are the same people who will give advice about SEC recruitment when they don't know the difference between the Greek systems at Vandy, UF, and Arkansas. A lot of these people propel the "helpless Southern Belle" stereotype, since most of us know it's not true.

I don't see this happening with any other region--most people understand that there's a big difference among different sections of New England, for example.

Good points - I do think, though, that people tend to sometimes group everyone in the North together. In other words, there are people who say "Well, I've visited NYC and they were rude, so all Northerners are rude," or people who tend to group New Englanders together (although, as you noted, there are big differences among the states).

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I also find it really funny that many of the "Frattiest" brand names started in the Northeast--Ralph Lauren (nee Ralph Lifschitz), Vineyard Vines, and Brooks Brothers are not what comes to mind when I think of the South! I do see seersucker here pretty regularly, but I think that comes from the circles I run in more than anything else.

I find this hilarious, especially with regards to Vineyard Vines. I've been to the Vineyard a bunch post-college, and to me it represents everything old-school New England. It's interesting that such a New England landmark has become adopted by the South.

ETA: As to the seersucker, I saw it a lot more in Boston than I do in central CT (although I see it every great once in a while in West Hartford and Farmington).

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by srmom

But, don't you know that part of our upbringing is learning how to work the "helpless Belle" angle to get what we want from witless and stupid men?

Of course, meaning that you're not actually helpless at all -- you know how to use all tools at your disposal to get exactly what you want. I know where the real center of power in the South is.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Of course, meaning that you're not actually helpless at all -- you know how to use all tools at your disposal to get exactly what you want. I know where the real center of power in the South is.

Exactly. I do not believe southern women are helpless in the least. I just know that when the OP says "we treat women like southern belles" that's what HE thinks.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Exactly. I do not believe southern women are helpless in the least. I just know that when the OP says "we treat women like southern belles" that's what HE thinks.

Maybe. That's not how I read it, though. When he said, "We are raised to treat women like southern belles,' I took him simply to mean they use their manners when dealing with women so as to avoid that most dreaded of corrections from mom: "That's not how I raised you to act."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Maybe. That's not how I read it, though. When he said, "We are raised to treat women like southern belles,' I took him simply to mean they use their manners when dealing with women so as to avoid that most dreaded of corrections from mom: "That's not how I raised you to act."

And what is considered "manners" there might be considered condescending or chauvenistic here. YMMV. But basically...no I don't need a glass for my beer.