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Comment by lpgauth | Hacker News Reader

Why is the word "fraternity boy" often bearing a derogatory connotation?

I'm part of Sigma Chi, and without it my university experience would not be complete.

Also, Bush was part of "Skull and Bones" which is a secret society, NOT a fraternity. Basically, an invite only club for rich/powerful people.

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Try being both a "frat boy" and a "jock". That stereotype gets tossed around quite a bit in geek culture. It's fairly frustrating.

I run into trouble with this as well. I get a lot of looks when I mention that I'm in a fraternity. However, a large percentage of the 70 people in my fraternity aren't white and many of us are on financial aid and student loans. Hardly a white boys club.

Don't call my country a cunt, and don't call my fraternity a frat. "Frat" is generally derogatory when used by outsiders. It's analogous to "nigger" being used by non-blacks.

Fraternity membership is voluntary. Race isn't. "Frat" is not analogous to a racial slur.

When the actions of frats start to reflect the respect deserved by their full name, then we will worry about it.

Disclosure: Was president of ATO at a major university.

No, it really isn't. Blacks have been (and to some extent still are) oppressed by the majority. The word "nigger" is an artifact of the oppression. It was used as a weapon against them.

Fraternities, however, have never been oppressed. Occasionally, they have been in the position of power (being a white-boys-club), with documented cases of people hiring brothers preferentially.

You're not doing a very good job here of dispelling the stereotypes people have of fraternity members.

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