Preparing for recruitment since birth

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I don't watch the show but doesn't that show about the kids in private school in NYC come on MTV? Maybe not.

NYC Prep? That is Bravo.

KDAngel made a thread about that show where an editorial dismissed the eliteness of the kids' families. I'll see if I can find it.

ETA: found it http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...highlight=prep

I think it needs to be said that those who announce their elitism so much are the bottom of the barrel of elite. The elite don't need to announce it because they are almost constantly surrounded by it. It's a given. The kids on NYC Prep were more along the lines of rich kids from newer money (with exception for PC who was an embarassment to his family). All of that ties into the discussion of preparing for recruitment since birth.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

NYC Prep? That is Bravo.

KDAngel made a thread about that show where an editorial dismissed the eliteness of the kids' families. I'll see if I can find it.

ETA: found it http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...highlight=prep

I think it needs to be said that those who announce their elitism so much are the bottom of the barrel of elite. The elite don't need to announce it because they are almost constantly surrounded by it. It's a given. The kids on NYC Prep were more along the lines of rich kids from newer money (with exception for PC who was an embarassment to his family). All of that ties into the discussion of preparing for recruitment since birth.

random aside:

dont a couple of characters from Gossip Girl try to join sororities when they go to college? it seems so odd to me that folks in "high society" would be interested in greek life, as they have other social networks that are bigger status symbols in their circles.

and this conversation is still intriguing to me. i think this type of thinking trickles down to us "regular folk." for example, I know anytime i read about someone who has done something awesome (from being the "first so-and-so" to do X, to being honored by a foundation or your run of the mill feel-good public interest story) my first question is "Are they Greek? Who are they affiliated with?" It's silly, but it makes sense because that social circle is important to me.

My aunt, a devout Christian (and i use that term loosely), her question is always "I wonder what church they belong to." Because then that tells her who their pastor is, and for her, it further informs her opinion of said awesome person. Someone else in that situation may ask "I wonder if theyre ____________" with respect to race, culture, alumni status, or what have you. We like to categorize and stake claim. Internally we're saying "Oh, theyre one of us. Theyre good people then."

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by tld221

dont a couple of characters from Gossip Girl try to join sororities when they go to college? it seems so odd to me that folks in "high society" would be interested in greek life, as they have other social networks that are bigger status symbols in their circles.

Speaking from an NPHC perspective, it is similar to how Graham depicted it in "Our Kind of People." There were certain BGLOs and schools that were considered top tier. It was one of many ways to keep traditions and social networks intact. Even people who weren't of the social elite attempt to mimick this in an attempt to get inside these social circles and become eligible for the bigger networks that you're speaking of. It worked sometimes.

I agree with the rest of your post. It's all a way of categorizing people and also to position yourself in relation to them. You can get an idea of what they have or don't have. They may not always be "good people" in the literal sense but they can be "your kind of people."

[als463]

Originally Posted by tld221

random aside:

dont a couple of characters from Gossip Girl try to join sororities when they go to college? it seems so odd to me that folks in "high society" would be interested in greek life, as they have other social networks that are bigger status symbols in their circles.

and this conversation is still intriguing to me. i think this type of thinking trickles down to us "regular folk." for example, I know anytime i read about someone who has done something awesome (from being the "first so-and-so" to do X, to being honored by a foundation or your run of the mill feel-good public interest story) my first question is "Are they Greek? Who are they affiliated with?" It's silly, but it makes sense because that social circle is important to me.

tld221-I hope you don't feel crazy because you think that. I am the EXACT SAME way! I don't look at it like, "Oh, if this person is NOT Greek, they aren't that great..." I just think , "Oh, if this person IS Greek, he or she is representing his or her GLO very well. I also think about what university he or she attended and I get excited if I hear they attended Penn State (or another Big Ten school) or if I hear he or she is a member of a GLO (especially mine). I think that is a natural reaction. You hit the nail on the head!

My aunt, a devout Christian (and i use that term loosely), her question is always "I wonder what church they belong to." Because then that tells her who their pastor is, and for her, it further informs her opinion of said awesome person. Someone else in that situation may ask "I wonder if theyre ____________" with respect to race, culture, alumni status, or what have you. We like to categorize and stake claim. Internally we're saying "Oh, theyre one of us. Theyre good people then."

I love it! THIS!!!! Thank you for saying what I was thinking. It isn't a way of saying, "I"m better than you." Instead, I get excited when someone says, "Oh, you're a Phi Mu, I'm (either a sister or) a member of XYZ." I also get excited when people say they attended Penn State.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

NYC Prep? That is Bravo.

KDAngel made a thread about that show where an editorial dismissed the eliteness of the kids' families. I'll see if I can find it.

ETA: found it http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...highlight=prep

I think it needs to be said that those who announce their elitism so much are the bottom of the barrel of elite. The elite don't need to announce it because they are almost constantly surrounded by it. It's a given. The kids on NYC Prep were more along the lines of rich kids from newer money (with exception for PC who was an embarassment to his family). All of that ties into the discussion of preparing for recruitment since birth.

Yeah, NYC Prep...that's exactly what I was thinking. I don't watch that show, but whether or not they're truly elite, the majority of people in the North do not live like that even if those people are the bottom barrel of the social elite as "new" money. Bravo...I should remember that they have all the elitist wannabe shows.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I think it needs to be said that those who announce their elitism so much are the bottom of the barrel of elite. The elite don't need to announce it because they are almost constantly surrounded by it. It's a given.

I say bravo to this comment! Even in my "podunk" neck of the woods there is a huge difference here between the "new money" and the "blue bloods" that have been around here forever. Their behaviors are so drastic and obvious it is comical.