What's your opinion of College Frat's/Sororities and the people in them, OT?

I believe I've laid out the poll so every situation is represented..I assume if you're planning on being in one, you clearly like the idea of them or else you wouldn't be considering it. If my poll didn't have an option that expresses your opinion, which I hope isn't the case, please elaborate in your post.

Anyway, what do you think OT? I've been in College for two years now, and some frat kids and sorority girls can really get to me at times. Some are very likeable don't get me wrong, but the typical ones I run into tend to be rude, and look down on you if you weren't at the huge frat/sorority only party last weekend and things of that nature. Personally, I don't see the point in paying for friends. Even though you may develop authentic relationships with some of them, it doesn't change the fact in my eyes that you essentially paid money for potential friendships and on top of that (from what my two room mates who have been rushing have told me) basically have your life run by the frat/sorority (where to be, when to be there, what to do/not to do, what to wear, etc)

So, what's your opinion OT?

Disappointingly dissimilar to Animal House.

We have a frat in med-school, but less partay and more annoying night shifts

I don't actually think my university has one. Is it more of an American thing?

Personally, I don't see the point in paying for friends. Even though you may develop authentic relationships with some of them, it doesn't change the fact in my eyes that you essentially paid money for potential friendships and on top of that (from what my two room mates who have been rushing have told me) basically have your life run by the frat/sorority (where to be, when to be there, what to do/not to do, what to wear, etc)

So, what's your opinion OT?

KeitekeTokage

Some of the people who join them just join them to have friends. They're virtually paying for their friends. Other people take the "brotherhood" and the "sisterhood" to another level and develop pure relationships with good people. That's what I believe fraternities and sororities should be for. mrmusicman247

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Of the person I know well who participated in that stuff, I got the impression it was all a bunch of drinking and events they created for themselves to look busy. When they graduated college they wanted to show off some of their frat/sorority stuff (I don't want to get too specific in case they ever see this) at their graduation praty. All they had to show for it was a paddle(?) and a collection of tshirts from their different events, every single one of which had a not so cleverly named theme revolving around drinking on it. "Such and such Bar Crawl 2009" or "Parents Weekend Party 2010" kinda thing. Every single one- alcohol related. What they actually did besides drink I have no clue. So I don't see the point in such organizations if this is all they do. But I'm hoping there are some that do actual service or other kinds of events.

You make a fair point but I dont agree with the "paying for friends" perspective. Paying for a fraternity is not dissimilar to joining any club in university, or say paying to sign up with a sports team. The only difference is that the primary activity of the club is socializing vs playing basketball or debating. designer-

Which is pretty much what I mean. I acknowledged and will again that you can certainly make authentic friendships out of it though. I think I might have said this somwhere in my original post, but just to reinterate, maybe I should say you're paying for potential friendships rather than strictly friends, which I guess can give off the vibe that any friends you make, aren't your real ones. Paying for the potential to make friends as you said later in this post though, is an innescapble fact. As you said here, in other clubs such as for athletic, debating, religion, academic, and special interests the main objective of joining them are for those reasons (or at least that's the clubs objective) and you might make friends out of it. In frat's/sororities though, friends are the main objective/purpose. That's what they're for, which makes me think its a little weird to be paying for such a thing, but that's just my opinion.

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Personally I joined a fraternity for housing purposes when I transferred Universities back during second year. I found it to be a very quick way for me to meet a lot of people with no particular effort other then just being there. Not everyone you meet is going to be an amazing human being but thats just a fact of life. The quantity allowed me to find the quality that I wanted and now my social circle consists of a few good close friends and too many "drinking buds" to count.

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Also on a side note I am not sure who your boys are rushing but I have never been told where to be or what to wear. For rushing there would be specific events, and depending on the frat there might be a dress code but the example of that for me is say Pimps and Hoes night. You dont have to come, no ones got a gun to your head and you dont have to dress up but you might be out of place coming in Khakis..designer-

I'm not really sure, maybe its just because of the school I go to, but I've been told that you have to wear specific clothing during regular attendance to campus. Maybe not 'wear red shirts on tuesdays and thursdays only and grey shirts on wednesdays' dress code (although I wouldn't be surprised) but the frats here certainly wouldn't allow one of their members to run around wearing a volcom shirt, skinny jeans, and big DC shoes or anything, although I suppose if that were the case, that person wouldn't have gotten an invite to the frat to begin wtih. But yeah, my observations of the people here have matched the information I've been getting that there is a somewhat strict dress code, but my information isn't necessarily infaliable.

cut to avoid making a quote of doom KeitekeTokage

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] cut to avoid making a quote of doom designer-

No I don't, seeing as their international students who are in need of assistance getting used to reading/writing/speaking/hearing a new language more than likely, as well as adapting to a new culture/food/etc that's often much different than their home country. I also, having said all that, contended that the main purpose was making friends. I'll concede that it's certainly one of the main objectives, but its also on the same scale of importance as the other objectives, which would be helping them adapt to this completely alien world and way of doing things in a variety of ways. I think the differences are pretty clear.

To me, its somewhat like pointing to a able bodied, fit person, using a ramp beside a staircase and calling them lazy for not just using the stairs, and then trying to in the same breath say the guy in a wheel chair who uses it is just as lazy. The two obviously aren't equal even if the guy in the wheel chair isn't entirely paralyzed, and maybe just broke his foot or leg or something. Clearly, the guy in the wheel chair is in much more dire need of the ramp. The able bodied guy can use it sure, but he's still lazy and in nowhere near the same ball park of need of the ramps assistance.

I wouldn't join one,I got the impression that all they did was drink and try to look cool in front of the freshmen.

Have no desire to ever join one... Sounds like fun if you like getting drunk, but that's not what I want to go to college for...

I think they're lame.

I have plenty of friends as a junior right now. I don't need to pay for friends.

You have to pay to be in a frat? It always looked like fun to me. I love a good party every once in awhile also. Just seems like something to do on the weekend. College should be a good time so I see nothing wrong with them...MgamerBD

You have to pay to be in a frat? It always looked like fun to me. I love a good party every once in awhile also. Just seems like something to do on the weekend. College should be a good time so I see nothing wrong with them...MgamerBD

Cocaine use is all I will say about the omes I have been around

damnit everyone beat me too it

yea it's paying for friends, waste of money just to keep up with it, and there is a chance you still wont like the people there. I have a friend and she keeps telling me about it completely taking up her time...not my thing

also i guess they are the definition of "bro gamers" lol

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"]You have to pay to be in a frat? It always looked like fun to me. I love a good party every once in awhile also. Just seems like something to do on the weekend. College should be a good time so I see nothing wrong with them...KeitekeTokage

I'm in one and it was the greatest decision I ever made

People who think it's paying for friends are uninformed. I have friends outside the frat that I see and brothers inside. They're totally different relationships. I wouldn't expect people not in a fraternity to understand that. In fact no one outside a fraternity can understand just how powerful a fraternity is.

Depends on their outlooks towards others to be honest. If they don't look down on others and act rude and condescending then I think they can be a great thing as they are a good way to meet people. I don't think they give anybody to walk around thinking the earth revolves around them though lol :P

As far as I'm aware they all do. There may be some 'knock off brand' "frats/sororities" at community colleges or something that are free perhaps but as far as I know all the ones at major Universities most certainly cost money. Where I go it will run you $750-$1300 a semester :O .KeitekeTokage

The hell? I can barely afford tuition :P I doubt I'd ever be inclined to pay to join one, but then again...

Paying to get in one would be a lot more pleasant than what many require... :?

Pirate700

This is very true and I'd think I'd rather pay than get in...another way.

So I'll just continue not wanting to join one :) Problem solved.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] As far as I'm aware they all do. There may be some 'knock off brand' "frats/sororities" at community colleges or something that are free perhaps but as far as I know all the ones at major Universities most certainly cost money. Where I go it will run you $750-$1300 a semester :O .zeldaluff

The hell? I can barely afford tuition :P I doubt I'd ever be inclined to pay to join one, but then again...

Paying to get in one would be a lot more pleasant than what many require... :?

Pirate700

This is very true and I'd think I'd rather pay than get in...another way.

So I'll just continue not wanting to join one :) Problem solved.

Every fraternity member has to pay dues each semester...just because you pay dues doesn't mean you get out of pledging. You still have to get in that "other way" and pay up. In my frat dues are around $600 a semester.

Every fraternity member has to pay dues each semester...just because you pay dues doesn't mean you get out of pledging. You still have to get in that "other way" and pay up. In my frat dues are around $600 a semester.

guitarman89

They mention nothing about this in movies! :x

Well anyways, my interest just dropped from minimal to zero.

[QUOTE="guitarman89"]

Every fraternity member has to pay dues each semester...just because you pay dues doesn't mean you get out of pledging. You still have to get in that "other way" and pay up. In my frat dues are around $600 a semester.

zeldaluff

They mention nothing about this in movies! :x

Well anyways, my interest just dropped from minimal to zero.

Yes haha paying hefty dues are not one of the more glamorous aspects of being a fraternity member. Can't blame the movies for not ever mentioning it.

And honestly imo there aren't enough perks to justify the price of dues. I'm going to be deactivating soon because it's just too much money. I'll still be showing up to everything and hanging out with the bros, I just won't be considered an active brother.

My first year in college I was in a frat and it was really fun. Hazing is not allowed anymore in most places and it is a great way to really get the college experience, the really bad part about it though Its incredible expensive, especially with the contract agreement.

[QUOTE="zeldaluff"]

[QUOTE="guitarman89"]

Every fraternity member has to pay dues each semester...just because you pay dues doesn't mean you get out of pledging. You still have to get in that "other way" and pay up. In my frat dues are around $600 a semester.

guitarman89

They mention nothing about this in movies! :x

Well anyways, my interest just dropped from minimal to zero.

Yes haha paying hefty dues are not one of the more glamorous aspects of being a fraternity member. Can't blame the movies for not ever mentioning it.

And honestly imo there aren't enough perks to justify the price of dues. I'm going to be deactivating soon because it's just too much money. I'll still be showing up to everything and hanging out with the bros, I just won't be considered an active brother.

My first year in college I was in a frat and it was really fun. Hazing is not allowed anymore in most places and it is a great way to really get the college experience, the really bad part about it though Its incredible expensive, especially with the contract agreement.

mexicangordo

I'm in one and it was the greatest decision I ever made

People who think it's paying for friends are uninformed. I have friends outside the frat that I see and brothers inside. They're totally different relationships. I wouldn't expect people not in a fraternity to understand that. In fact no one outside a fraternity can understand just how powerful a fraternity is.

Toriko42

I you really look at it they're really weird. Personally, I find them kinda lame and pointless. There are better things to do with your life and time during college.

I you really look at it they're really weird. Personally, I find them kinda lame and pointless. There are better things to do with your life and time during college.

junglist101

[QUOTE="designer-"][QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] cut to avoid making a quote of doom KeitekeTokage

No I don't, seeing as their international students who are in need of assistance getting used to reading/writing/speaking/hearing a new language more than likely, as well as adapting to a new culture/food/etc that's often much different than their home country. I also, having said all that, contended that the main purpose was making friends. I'll concede that it's certainly one of the main objectives, but its also on the same scale of importance as the other objectives, which would be helping them adapt to this completely alien world and way of doing things in a variety of ways. I think the differences are pretty clear.

To me, its somewhat like pointing to a able bodied, fit person, using a ramp beside a staircase and calling them lazy for not just using the stairs, and then trying to in the same breath say the guy in a wheel chair who uses it is just as lazy. The two obviously aren't equal even if the guy in the wheel chair isn't entirely paralyzed, and maybe just broke his foot or leg or something. Clearly, the guy in the wheel chair is in much more dire need of the ramp. The able bodied guy can use it sure, but he's still lazy and in nowhere near the same ball park of need of the ramps assistance.

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But thats not neither here nor there, I simply put that orientation program forward as an example implying that paying to meet friends is a common activity, and specifying that its somehow a bad thing from frats is, I would argue, hypocritical for other things that you do but do not hold in some negative light.

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So a few examples of things that are done in Uni that involve paying for friends/ paying for potential friendships: Orientation programs, meet and greats that you pay for (say a $10 entry fee), pretty much any event that involves socializing with a new group of people that you pay for. The difference may be that you pay for a single event rather then some grand over arching fee for a year but make no mistake this is common practice. But lets take this further, arent you paying for friendship/ potential friendship if you buy someone a beer? The activity is beer drinking but hopefully the point is not alcoholism but rather socializing. Am I paying for sex if I buy a girl a drink and is she a prosi if she accepts it?

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edit for spacing

I you really look at it they're really weird. Personally, I find them kinda lame and pointless. There are better things to do with your life and time during college.

junglist101

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They're totally chill, bro. 8)

I wasn't in one, and had absolutely no interest in them whatsoever. Seems like they're for people who feel the need to belong to something, or fit in to something. I don't have that need.