<p>Replace ‘UNC’ with ‘Duke’ and I could’ve written your latest post. For all the complaints of rampant elitism and snobbery at Duke, I haven’t personally experienced it. The more common form of ‘undeserved superiority’ is thinking Duke is on par with HYPSM. And while I’ll defer to your knowledge of Carolina, it’s safe to say I’m a better authority on Duke. :)</p>
<p>Anyways, since what initially appeared to be a good-naturedly accepted barb from a ‘rival’ has degraded into yet another excuse to bash Duke’s student body (as if the Parent Cafe really needed it), I think it’s best that I step out now. I guess you were just waiting for the Dukie who you just couldn’t believe didn’t loathe UNC to show her ‘true colors?’ Whatever. I’m starting to be reminded about why I took CC off my bookmarks.</p>
<p>“Besides, if I was going to take a swing at UNC, I’d be asking about how many of those Tar Heels hate Duke just that much more because they can <em>still</em> feel the sting of a thin envelope from the better school.”</p>
<hr>
<p>These are your words banana… “the thin envelope from the BETTER school.” You have to admit you don’t serve yourself well with these words, that they reinforce the ‘snob’ generalization, justified or not… and that these are the words that sent this thread in a different direction.</p>
<p>Perhaps without the intention of doing so, your posts did just a little to advance the stereotype to which you refer. </p>
<p>I am pleased to see that you do agree that a sense of superiority on the part of a student just because of the school he or she attends is unjustified.</p>
<p>banana has been a great contributor to many discussion in the Parents’ Forum and the Cafe. It was meant to be some friendly banter regarding the rivalry, and I haven’t seen anything that was “superior” in attitude except a natural pride in the school with which each poster has the closest relationship. </p>
<p>I appreciate your posts, banana!!</p>
<p>And yea for the Duke women–it was an amazingly hard-fought game!!</p>
<p>irish - I’ll have to disagree there. I think the ‘thin envelope’ comment crossed the line and as tyr mentions perpepuates a stereotype, not about UNC, but about Duke. </p>
<p>But WE ALL have our biases don’t WE? ;)</p>
<p>Missed the end of the game. DH said it was a good one! Looks like the Blue Devils were avenged by their Ladies. It takes the women to get the job done sometimes. :)</p>
<p>S got the thick envelope as an OOS early action applicant at UNC. He was nominated for a major scholarship. Had he received it, he’d probably be a tar heel now too! Every student from his school (OOS) that applied to UNC got in that particular year. Not everyone was accepted at Duke. So, I don’t think that a blanket statement can be made about the quality of the applicants at either school based on a single school’s admittance pattern… ;)</p>
<p>That is still typical banter when you are talking about this rivalry. It’s like the ESPN commercial when they have the rivals from different schools sitting next to each other on the couch–trash talking to each other about their respective schools. In one about Duke-Carolina the Duke woman is teasing the Carolina guy about having to talk more slowly to him so he could understand. Or in the commercial with Jay Bilas and Hubert Davis when Jay is getting dissed by the cafeteria lady and students while they eat lunch at Carolina and Davis calls him “Duke Boy” very derisively. I certainly don’t think that bananainpyamas was doing anything more than that.</p>
<p>Of course we have our biases, that’s what makes it a rivalry. I’m so far from my Alma Mater that I can never go to their games, and they are rarely on tv in our market. As a result I have become passionate about D’s and S1’s colleges–sometimes tricky because they are both in the ACC!! S2 is making noise about applying to SEC and ACC schools–then I’ll have to add that to the mix. But we’re having great fun watching and cheering!!</p>
<p>1sokkermom/irish - I agree about school to school comparisons…but the fact is out of 17,000 students at UNC, there are more than enough students with the necessary credentials to fill all the seats at Duke. Seriously, I’m sure not all Duke students buy into the ‘we are as good as Harvard/snobbery’ thing and certainly UNC is not a school of slouches. </p>
<p>Btw…I’ve seen the commercials…but ya have to admit, being denied pudding is not the same as being called slow…lol! That’s okay though…we know Jay loves UNC and that makes up for it. ;)</p>
<p>I’m not a UNC alum either (though my alma mater was a huge bb school back in the day so that explains my fervor), so some UNC-Duke traditions escape me. Why DO some Duke fans wear those ‘go to hell Carolina’ shirts to ALL games? (chuckling).</p>
<p>“Why DO some Duke fans wear those ‘go to hell Carolina’ shirts to ALL games? (chuckling).”</p>
<p>Well, probably the same reason that UNC sells t-shirts that say, “Duck Fook”. </p>
<p>When we visited the campus with my son, my daughter was 11 at the time. She asked what it meant. My reply, “go ask Dad!”. Her brother was laughing hysterically. :D</p>
<p>sokkermom: That’s so funny. I’ve never seen one of those UNC t-shirts; do you know where I can find one? ;)</p>
<p>As far as the “thin envelope” comment, most top kids from our high schools apply to both Duke and to UNC; they most always get into both. Some choose UNC; others choose Duke. I think the environments are so very different, that if one appeals, the other probably won’t so much. Suffice to say, though, not a lot of “thin envelopes” around here for top students, at least not from those particular schools. </p>
<p>I’ve enjoyed banana’s posts, too, but isn’t she the same poster who has discussed her unhappiness about Duke innumerable times here? Wasn’t she thinking of transferring to UVA, or do I have her confused with another poster?</p>
<p>1sokkermom - I haven’t seen that T-shirt either! At least not during our several visits. And I scoured the shops for cute UNC shirts…how could I have missed THAT one…lol!! (Not that I would pay money for it…) But, clearly UNC is not selling them as you mentioned; rather CafePress online.</p>
<p>However, I think you missed my question. I know these Duke/Carolina rivalry shirts exist, but why do Duke fans wear them to games where they are not even playing Carolina? Is it some sort of tradition or ‘thing’?</p>
<p>Oh, thanks. Some of those are really brutal (esp the NCSU coaching one). I’m obviously not attending the right places(!) --I’ve never seen most of these.</p>
<p>When we visited UNC three and a half years ago, they were actually selling them in the campus bookstore! (That may have changed, since they are so “non-PC”.)</p>
<p>“know these Duke/Carolina rivalry shirts exist, but why do Duke fans wear them to games where they are not even playing Carolina? Is it some sort of tradition or ‘thing’?”</p>
<p>Could just be that they don’t like to do laundry. I know my son doesn’t. ;)</p>
<p>^Must have…we lived in that bookstore for a week and never saw any shirts or gear with profanity or suggested profanity. Not only that…never saw them at Johnny T-Shirt or the other shops on Franklin Street (I LOVE Franklin by the way!) Though my husband did take a picture of a sign in one of the pizza shops that said “Welcome Back Rich Spoiled College Kids” …haha…but I digress…</p>
Seriously, I’m sure not all Duke students buy into the ‘we are as good as Harvard/snobbery’ thing and certainly UNC is not a school of slouches. </p>