Comments on: Fraternity scavenger hunt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 16:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anna Libey http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1671500 Anna Libey Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1671500 I've never been more ashamed of my school... :( I’ve never been more ashamed of my school… :(

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1671470 Donald Petersen Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1671470 Seems like they'd have gone to more effort to make it outrageous.  I mean, if you're out to frame a rival frat for outrageously dickish behavior, it wouldn't take too much imagination to whip up something even nastier than this one. This one seems juuust awful enough to be legit.  Like they're making some extremely halfhearted attempt at plausible deniability of assholery.  Coming up short, of course, but still. Seems like they’d have gone to more effort to make it outrageous.  I mean, if you’re out to frame a rival frat for outrageously dickish behavior, it wouldn’t take too much imagination to whip up something even nastier than this one.

This one seems juuust awful enough to be legit.  Like they’re making some extremely halfhearted attempt at plausible deniability of assholery.  Coming up short, of course, but still.

]]> By: bill_mcgonigle http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1671210 bill_mcgonigle Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1671210 yeah - I mentor some of the young men at my College fraternity (SigEp) which abandoned the pledge/hazing model in the early 90's to build a system based on community service and leadership.  As a result they've gone from a barely-thriving group in the late 80's to the most popular and respected fraternity on campus.  But they still get dragged through the mud when the troglodytes at other houses act like horses' asses. yeah – I mentor some of the young men at my College fraternity (SigEp) which abandoned the pledge/hazing model in the early 90′s to build a system based on community service and leadership.  As a result they’ve gone from a barely-thriving group in the late 80′s to the most popular and respected fraternity on campus.  But they still get dragged through the mud when the troglodytes at other houses act like horses’ asses.

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1671128 Halloween_Jack Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1671128 I'm kind of surprised that most people think that this is legit. My reaction is that it's disinfo put out by a rival frat. I’m kind of surprised that most people think that this is legit. My reaction is that it’s disinfo put out by a rival frat.

]]> By: Andy Simmons http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1671103 Andy Simmons Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1671103 Surely, these kids are going to college expressly to learn important facts like this one. Surely, these kids are going to college expressly to learn important facts like this one.

]]> By: Frank Lee Scarlett http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670965 Frank Lee Scarlett Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670965 I found that item enlightening. It suggests that the pledges are the clean-cut, middle-class people who, far from fearing cops, trust them and view them as responsible people who exist to protect and serve them. If I ever held that view, I lost it far before I turned 18. I'd witnessed too many examples of police overreach and brutality towards my friends and I, queers and POC, often both. I had also made the mistake of reporting a case of sexual harassment. With traumatizing and woeful results. My friends and I would have considered it sheer suicidal idiocy to piss off a cop enough to make him/her flip us off. That kind of smart-assery would occasionally result in someone being thrown in the back of a squad car, driven out to a desolate spot near the (SF) bay, being beat up and left to one's own devices. Before cell phones. These frat boys are the people who often mature into the internet bloviators who defend, and even support, police brutality. I'd guess they're also the ones who vote against legislation that would provide better care for mentally ill homeless people. Because after all, they "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and the 'bums' wouldn't be living on the streets if they weren't lazy, worthless scum looking for a hand-out." But to end on a positive note: Some frat members are intelligent, kind and compassionate human beings. Phi Alpha Tau at Emerson College recently conducted a pledge drive to help a new brother pay for top surgery. They've raised $17k+, and the remaining $9k will be donated to support others in transition. http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/02/frat_brothers_raise_159g_for_emerson_college_student_s_gender http://bostinno.com/2013/02/26/emerson-college-frat-raises-money-for-surgery-donnie-collins/#ss__302432_270418_0__ss I found that item enlightening. It suggests that the pledges are the clean-cut, middle-class people who, far from fearing cops, trust them and view them as responsible people who exist to protect and serve them.

If I ever held that view, I lost it far before I turned 18. I’d witnessed too many examples of police overreach and brutality towards my friends and I, queers and POC, often both. I had also made the mistake of reporting a case of sexual harassment. With traumatizing and woeful results.

My friends and I would have considered it sheer suicidal idiocy to piss off a cop enough to make him/her flip us off. That kind of smart-assery would occasionally result in someone being thrown in the back of a squad car, driven out to a desolate spot near the (SF) bay, being beat up and left to one’s own devices. Before cell phones.

These frat boys are the people who often mature into the internet bloviators who defend, and even support, police brutality. I’d guess they’re also the ones who vote against legislation that would provide better care for mentally ill homeless people. Because after all, they “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and the ‘bums’ wouldn’t be living on the streets if they weren’t lazy, worthless scum looking for a hand-out.”

But to end on a positive note: Some frat members are intelligent, kind and compassionate human beings. Phi Alpha Tau at Emerson College recently conducted a pledge drive to help a new brother pay for top surgery. They’ve raised $17k+, and the remaining $9k will be donated to support others in transition.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/02/frat_brothers_raise_159g_for_emerson_college_student_s_gender
http://bostinno.com/2013/02/26/emerson-college-frat-raises-money-for-surgery-donnie-collins/#ss__302432_270418_0__ss

]]> By: robuluz http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670862 robuluz Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670862 The technical term is 'kitten'. The technical term is ‘kitten’.

]]> By: beepbeep http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670848 beepbeep Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670848  "Are they that clueless that they no longer enjoy endless privilege, or are they just that arrogant?" Ah, I am in Austin and can answer that with, yep, mostly they are that arrogant. Not all, but enough to matter. And/or rule the world.  ”Are they that clueless that they no longer enjoy endless privilege, or are they just that arrogant?”
Ah, I am in Austin and can answer that with, yep, mostly they are that arrogant. Not all, but enough to matter. And/or rule the world.

]]> By: beepbeep http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670843 beepbeep Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670843 As someone who has been homeless and who has been tempted by beer to amuse frat boys (I declined), well, hell, I don't really know what to say. I worked in THE frat bar in Austin. A very few of them were monsters (I truly mean that), some were quite nice and most of them were just guys with perhaps too much money. This was the 70's so take of that what you will. As an aside, the guys who originally scared the crap out of me (because I just didn't know better), the ROTC's, were the best damn guys to work with (although, the Marine ROTC I was introduced to seemed certifiably insane within 30 seconds; then again, he was the only one of that tribe that I actually met). Also, the frat boys were awash in drug dealing. Surprise. As someone who has been homeless and who has been tempted by beer to amuse frat boys (I declined), well, hell, I don’t really know what to say. I worked in THE frat bar in Austin. A very few of them were monsters (I truly mean that), some were quite nice and most of them were just guys with perhaps too much money. This was the 70′s so take of that what you will. As an aside, the guys who originally scared the crap out of me (because I just didn’t know better), the ROTC’s, were the best damn guys to work with (although, the Marine ROTC I was introduced to seemed certifiably insane within 30 seconds; then again, he was the only one of that tribe that I actually met). Also, the frat boys were awash in drug dealing. Surprise.

]]> By: beepbeep http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670815 beepbeep Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670815 Wrong, wrong, wrong!! It is hard to tell if Poe's law should be invoked here... Wrong, wrong, wrong!! It is hard to tell if Poe’s law should be invoked here…

]]> By: beepbeep http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670814 beepbeep Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670814  Of course, you could always decide to be a cheerleader, too...  Of course, you could always decide to be a cheerleader, too…

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670784 feetleet Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670784 No, I'm familiar with the blumpkin (how courteous of you to try to correct my typing there, computer. But alas).  It's like - you're either into anal play our you aren't. Shit or get off the pot, so to speak.   No, I’m familiar with the blumpkin (how courteous of you to try to correct my typing there, computer. But alas). 

It’s like – you’re either into anal play our you aren’t. Shit or get off the pot, so to speak.  

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670777 Donald Petersen Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670777 That was a weird one.  A goofy practice that somehow deserves its own term (as do, apparently, felching and blumpkins... no, don't bother looking those up), but which is admitted to be obscure enough that the scavenger hunt form itself needs to define it. I guess frats have always been lame, but must they insist on getting lamer?  How about they video themselves... uh... bicpicking?  That would be extracting a recently-extinguished Bic lighter from between the buttcheeks of a fellow pledge, using only their own buttcheeks. Surely that's worth 3 points? That was a weird one.  A goofy practice that somehow deserves its own term (as do, apparently, felching and blumpkins… no, don’t bother looking those up), but which is admitted to be obscure enough that the scavenger hunt form itself needs to define it.

I guess frats have always been lame, but must they insist on getting lamer?  How about they video themselves… uh… bicpicking?  That would be extracting a recently-extinguished Bic lighter from between the buttcheeks of a fellow pledge, using only their own buttcheeks.

Surely that’s worth 3 points?

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670771 feetleet Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670771 Great moments in pedantry. Great moments in pedantry.

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670769 feetleet Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670769 You might say those wizards at Columbia are a little silver spoonsped.  You might say those wizards at Columbia are a little silver spoonsped. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670728 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670728 That would be the University of Coprophilia. That would be the University of Coprophilia.

]]> By: Snuffy2 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670673 Snuffy2 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670673 Frat Rats were pretty much the same when I was an undergraduate back in the 60s. Frat Rats were pretty much the same when I was an undergraduate back in the 60s.

]]> By: dragonfrog http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670667 dragonfrog Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670667 A good samaritan would immediately recognize they want nothing to do with this fraternity. A good samaritan would immediately recognize they want nothing to do with this fraternity.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670664 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670664 Where is this?  Fecophilia U? Where is this?  Fecophilia U?

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670659 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670659 Actually on 2nd thought that still would be sort of cruel.  Nix that.  Just give them the 20. Actually on 2nd thought that still would be sort of cruel.  Nix that.  Just give them the 20.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670654 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670654  Or give them 20 bucks to burn 1  Or give them 20 bucks to burn 1

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670652 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670652 I don't think "getting a pic of a cop to give you the finger" would work out too well either.  The next pic would be a pic of your friend getting arrested. I don’t think “getting a pic of a cop to give you the finger” would work out too well either.  The next pic would be a pic of your friend getting arrested.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670653 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670653  That would be the only item on my list  That would be the only item on my list

]]> By: Daneel http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670622 Daneel Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670622 http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/the-bullingdon-club/ http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/the-bullingdon-club/

]]> By: dmatos http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670612 dmatos Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670612  A good samaritan pledge would buy the homeless man a new pair of shoes, and simply offer to dispose of his old shoes for him.  A good samaritan pledge would buy the homeless man a new pair of shoes, and simply offer to dispose of his old shoes for him.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670608 peregrinus Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670608  I reckon that was the prototype list, and they edited it before issuing.  I reckon that was the prototype list, and they edited it before issuing.

]]> By: GlyphGryph http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670604 GlyphGryph Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670604  There's a market and needs, organizations will rise to fill them. People served by these frats haven't gone away, and specifically seek them out. I don't expect it will go away any time soon.  There’s a market and needs, organizations will rise to fill them. People served by these frats haven’t gone away, and specifically seek them out. I don’t expect it will go away any time soon.

]]> By: GlyphGryph http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670602 GlyphGryph Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670602  I meant overall, as in, "the majority of the list". I noted that a few of them were particularly nasty (and neither forgivable or understandable), though, the homeless shoe stealing in particular.  I meant overall, as in, “the majority of the list”. I noted that a few of them were particularly nasty (and neither forgivable or understandable), though, the homeless shoe stealing in particular.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670598 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670598 Given that their infosec is probably only slightly better than their taste or sense of human decency(if nothing else, the first rule is Don't Leave It By The Copy Machine, Dumbass, and they couldn't manage that), I'd say that the recordings are probably for the best. All it takes is one of them getting Own3d, or failing at facebook privacy settings(or, if you are a real optimist, quietly getting cold feet and leaking) and the perps could face <em>years</em> of fighting bad internet press, unwanted pizzas, and possibly the occasional swatting. One or two items might even be good for charges if they were to hit the press just right. Without recording? Nothing going anywhere and no consequences at all. Given that their infosec is probably only slightly better than their taste or sense of human decency(if nothing else, the first rule is Don’t Leave It By The Copy Machine, Dumbass, and they couldn’t manage that), I’d say that the recordings are probably for the best.
All it takes is one of them getting Own3d, or failing at facebook privacy settings(or, if you are a real optimist, quietly getting cold feet and leaking) and the perps could face years of fighting bad internet press, unwanted pizzas, and possibly the occasional swatting. One or two items might even be good for charges if they were to hit the press just right.

Without recording? Nothing going anywhere and no consequences at all.

]]> By: 10xor01 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/04/fraternity-scavenger-hunt.html#comment-1670595 10xor01 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216507#comment-1670595 "Video of pledge being hit in the face by a stranger with a black-fist dildo: 10 points" I would have been glad to help them out with this one.  Repeatedly. “Video of pledge being hit in the face by a stranger with a black-fist dildo: 10 points”

I would have been glad to help them out with this one.  Repeatedly.

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