Advice on a fraternity

EarlVanDorn
Wed, 27 Dec 2017 17:46:50 +0000

@10s4life I hope you are still keeping up. I was in a fraternity and it is the nature of the beast that members make fun of one another. Sometimes they identify a weak spot and just poke and poke on it. I would say to you that you need to roll with the punches and learn to make fun of yourself.

You mentioned that you were not “frat” in some ways. Making fun of people can be a way of enforcing group norms, which are very important. There is a dress code to the world of frat life, and one should always comply with dress codes wherever they may be.

I got made fun of for things. I’m very much cock-eyed and you learn to live with being poked fun of a little bit. A fraternity brother was also slightly cock-eyed in a different eye, and he looked enough like me that we were frequently confused with each other by people on campus. My fraternity brothers had a lot of fun with that.

What I would say to you is first, conform to norms to the extent possible. Second, learn to laugh at yourself. Third, give it back a little. You’ve stated that you enjoy being in the fraternity after all is said and done so enjoy it.