"Frat" vs. "Fraternity" - Page 7

ufpika · #91 12-10-2008, 08:53 PM

MysticCat -

I read both of your posts and you bring up great points (thank you for providing links). I respect your point of view, but would like to respond to one of your comments (which I have pasted below).

[Someone who is truly a "fraternity man" or "fraternity gentleman" would never use what is probably the single most derogatory word in the English language. Someone who is a "fraternity man" would honor and respect the females in their life and NOT use that word.]

When gentlemen are amongst gentlemen they don't speak the same as they would in front of a lady. One difference between a class-less man and a gentleman is that a gentleman knows what language is appropriate at what time. This was said behind closed doors, and not in front of ladies. As crude as it sounds, it illustrates a point. It may not be a perfect analogy, but it works. I would never repeat it in front of my mother or girlfriend, but given the time and place it was not offensive. I understand that a large number of women are offended by that word, but not all women are. A perfect example is that some people are offended when the Lord's name is taken in vain, and others aren't. Is a person crude and not a gentleman for taking the Lord's name in vain? Is a person disrespecting everyone that is a Christian by saying "Jesus Christ" when they are angry?

Calling that word the most derogatory word in the English language is an opinion. While I find the word highly inappropriate for the vast majority of my daily conversations, I am not offended by it. I could list a number of words that offend me much more.

Thank you for the welcome, have a good night.

ufpika · #92 12-10-2008, 09:27 PM

One more thing (sorry to harp) you used the words "frat boy" as a negative stereotype. I and my fellow brothers hate the word frat bc of the "frat boy" label. We are not a frat, with frat boys. We are a fraternity founded on brotherhood, with brothers, not frat boys. I think the word frat offends me as much as the C-word offends you.

One more thing (not directed at you) I have not been on this blog before. I saw where a brother from my chapter was banned and he had a name simialr to mine. I think I know who they person is by the things said, but I am not him.

ufpika · #93 12-10-2008, 09:27 PM

One more thing (sorry to harp) you used the words "frat boy" as a negative stereotype. I and my fellow brothers hate the word frat bc of the "frat boy" label. We are not a frat, with frat boys. We are a fraternity founded on brotherhood, with brothers, not frat boys. I think the word frat offends me as much as the C-word offends you.

One more thing (not directed at you) I have not been on this blog before. I saw where a brother from my chapter was banned and he had a name simialr to mine. I think I know who they person is by the things said, but I am not him.

#94 12-10-2008, 09:30 PM

I still cringe when I see "UF" and "PIKE" in the same sentence.

I know I'm not the only one.

Elephant Walk · #95 12-10-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

I still cringe when I see "UF" and "PIKE" in the same sentence.

I know I'm not the only one.

UFPIKE4LIFE woo woo...

Me and my broseidons slay mad girls, broseph.

Something like that, I think in real life was Lambda Chi? idk, it's been awhile.

ufpika · #96 12-10-2008, 10:51 PM

Give me a chance before you condemn me OTW. I didn't read all the threads before I made my user name. I can promise you, I am not the same person you are thinking of. I will say that I am proud of my house and my chapter, despite the fact that one of my brothers pissed the majority of this blog off. To me, UF Pikes are True Pikes and everything that stands for. I am sorry if you or anyone else on the blog has a bad taste in your mouth about UF Pikes. We had shirts made a while ago, and they pretty much said it all.

Pikes - Loved, Hated, Never Ignored

Have a good night!

ufpika · #97 12-10-2008, 10:52 PM

Elephant walk.... are you an AH Pike?

#98 12-10-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufpika

Give me a chance before you condemn me OTW. I didn't read all the threads before I made my user name. I can promise you, I am not the same person you are thinking of. I will say that I am proud of my house and my chapter, despite the fact that one of my brothers pissed the majority of this blog off. To me, UF Pikes are True Pikes and everything that stands for. I am sorry if you or anyone else on the blog has a bad taste in your mouth about UF Pikes. We had shirts made a while ago, and they pretty much said it all.

Pikes - Loved, Hated, Never Ignored

Have a good night!

I wasn't condemning you or your chapter. "UF" and "PIKE" bring back bad memories of someone from years ago, long before you were initiated, probably.

So get over yourself. It's not even about you.

Oh, and Greekchat is not a blog. Thx.

LadyLonghorn · #99 12-10-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufpika

To me, UF Pikes are True Pikes and everything that stands for.

A less kind and gentle me could have a whole lot of fun with this statement.

ufpika · #**100** 12-10-2008, 11:30 PM

Why wouldn't I think you were talking about me? You did write uf and pike (which happen to combine to be my username) in the same sentence, then say that you had bad memories. It's all good, no harm done.

What is greekchat if is isn't a blog? a message board? I didn't realize there was a difference, sorry.

33girl · #**101** 12-10-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantASTic

See, the country thing never offended me because I don't place a lot of stock into swear words. It's not about the word; it's about what you MEAN. For example: A lot of people think that if they say, "Oh, Fudge!" it's better than saying, "Oh, F*ck!".

It's not.

It's the EXACT SAME MEANING. Therefore, it should cause the exact same amount of offense, and to me it does. The 'country' analogy, therefore, does not cause me offense because the 'c word' is simply another word for the female anatomy.

I got some really good peach fuck at the farmers' market the other week. A little Amish boy gave it to me.

(I sincerely hope this post kills this thread. If it doesn't, we should try merging it with the Mary Kay thread.)

CrackerBarrel · #**102** 12-11-2008, 12:03 AM

Flex Fridays?

MysticCat · #**103** 12-11-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufpika

MysticCat -

I read both of your posts and you bring up great points (thank you for providing links). I respect your point of view, but would like to respond to one of your comments (which I have pasted below).

Someone who is truly a "fraternity man" or "fraternity gentleman" would never use what is probably the single most derogatory word in the English language. Someone who is a "fraternity man" would honor and respect the females in their life and NOT use that word.

When gentlemen are amongst gentlemen they don't speak the same as they would in front of a lady. One difference between a class-less man and a gentleman is that a gentleman knows what language is appropriate at what time. This was said behind closed doors, and not in front of ladies.

Go back and read -- you're not responding to what I said; I only wrote one of those posts. You're responding to what kddani (as in Kappa Delta Danielle) said. Perhaps the guy you were quoting said it behind closed doors with only guys around. You said it on an internet message board with lots of females around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufpika

One more thing (sorry to harp) you used the words "frat boy" as a negative stereotype. I and my fellow brothers hate the word frat bc of the "frat boy" label. We are not a frat, with frat boys. We are a fraternity founded on brotherhood, with brothers, not frat boys. I think the word frat offends me as much as the C-word offends you.

Again, that was kddani, not me. But you prove my point. "Frat" and "frat boy" are offensive to you because of the connotation they carry, not because of the actual, dictionary meaning of "frat." That is how it is fundamentally different from the C-word, which is, per the dictionary, an obscenity.

A little historical perspective might be helpful. The whole "it's a fraternity, not a frat" thing is relatively recent. Three or four decades ago and more, few if any fraternity brothers would have given the use of the word "frat" a second thought. National publications and songs of fraternities used to have references to the "dear old frat." It's the more recent, negative stereotype you mention that has made the word a "dirty word." It may be offensive to lots of people, but it's still not obscene. That's why the analogy doesn't work. The reason we don't call our country a *^%# is because *^%# is an obscenity. That's not the reason we don't call our fraternity a "frat."

I'm not saying you shouldn't try to get people not to use the word if it bothers you. I am saying that the analogy doesn't help you. It's much more helpful, not to mention straight-forward, to say "We're fraternity men, not frat boys." That's all.

Elephant Walk · #**104** 12-11-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

Flex Fridays?

haha, I forgot about Flex Fridays. He also use to say some great stuff about protein shakes but I've long forgotten.

One of my favorite posters ever.

Quote:

Elephant walk.... are you an AH Pike?

I don't even know what Uni. AH is.

And no, I am not a Pike.

SAEBrad · #**105** 12-11-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

And no, I am not a Pike.

then what are you?