Sorority Recruitment Translations

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It has been said that in the South, "nice" is the kiss of death.
"Bless her heart" is the kiss of death with the coffin nailed shut.

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a lot of that in the intonation & context? I know one woman (Miss Ruth) who always tells everyone who brings something to a party or whatever, "Well, bless your little baby heart!" and I'm fairly certain that she means it in a happy way.

But the Nice & the Sweet can be, well, Nice and Sweet or they can be "Aren't you the nicest thing?" or "Isn't she the sweetest thing?" meant either way, depending on the intonation.

And I have heard the kiss of death with the coffin nailed shut, but in relationship with Sweet.


I think everyone has neglected, "My Daughter Was Sacked From Rush" - which translates into, "I wouldn't have been caught dead in a sorority 24 years ago, but my daughter wants to be in one so she deserves it, even if I don't know how the system works!"

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a lot of that in the intonation & context? I know one woman (Miss Ruth) who always tells everyone who brings something to a party or whatever, "Well, bless your little baby heart!" and I'm fairly certain that she means it in a happy way.

But the Nice & the Sweet can be, well, Nice and Sweet or they can be "Aren't you the nicest thing?" or "Isn't she the sweetest thing?" meant either way, depending on the intonation.

And I have heard the kiss of death with the coffin nailed shut, but in relationship with Sweet.


I think everyone has neglected, "My Daughter Was Sacked From Rush" - which translates into, "I wouldn't have been caught dead in a sorority 24 years ago, but my daughter wants to be in one so she deserves it, even if I don't know how the system works!"

Of course you are absolutely correct, Ms. Chile - intonation and context are everything. I use both "nice" and "bless your heart" without any ironic undertone at all - but they are also in my arsenal of irony should there be a "situation".

(Dubai - Isn't it frustrating? I warn of snark potential, and yet some are offended by - the snark. I figure this thread is cathartic - some snark is necessary when dealing with the joy and pain that is recruitment. Then we can go, having cleansed our palates, and be supportive in other, less snarky, threads.)

If you can't stand the snark, get out of the Greek Chat.