Hazing... your thoughts

[coastie]

What are your thoughts on hazing?

Military, fraternity/sorority, high school sports or otherwise.

 

[feral]

Aside the fact that's I'm anti-collegiate greek, I don't have a problem with hazing. If you want to participate in something then you're going to have to prove your loyalty and determination to be a member. I do think things like drinking until you die or alcohol poisoning or fall out a window (Ferris State University ) is stupid, and requiring pledges to do dangerous tasks or something that will leave a permanent scar on their body or psyche is wrong. Of course, if you willingly put yourself in a place to get injured just to join prep central, it's your fault as well.

 

[stubbornkelly]

I don't see the point. Proving your loyalty and determination? There are other ways to do that than by hazing. I would think going through rush is proof of determination, and loyalty can only be proven through experience. Same with entering military service.

Your track record should speak for itself without having to go through silly or sometimes potentially damaging stunts.

My mother was in a high school frat, and they jad to do some stupid things, none of which were dangerous, just silly and humiliating. That's what most hazing does and is intended to do - humiliate the person. I just don't understand why any group would think a person they've just humiliated would want to turn around and call them sisters or brothers. Makes no sense to me.

 

[IvoryRain]

I don't see the point. Proving your loyalty and determination? There are other ways to do that than by hazing. I would think going through rush is proof of determination, and loyalty can only be proven through experience. Same with entering military service.

Your track record should speak for itself without having to go through silly or sometimes potentially damaging stunts.

I agree.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

If it's not dangerous (having to wear a bra to a party on the outside of your clothes as a guy - sit up contests - wrestling in jello - tricycle racing - what have you) no biggie. If it is dangerous- my question would be why? Hazing should be something of a slight humiliation of being 'the new guy' not torture.

 

[Risen Tree]

What Mylinkay said.

 

[MoonlessNight]

If you want to do it, go for it. The only time that I could see hazing as being wrong is when the hazee has no idea of what they are getting into. But if they are informed, and they decide that yes, they want to go through with it, well that's their decision. Not something that I would do, but that's just me.

 

[Caedmon]

Hazing establishes a tradition of humiliation and revenge. The members of the organization humiliate people that join them, at the same time taking vengeance for having had to go through the same things themselves.

Alcohol binges, frat branding, repeatedly and violently pinning wings into someone's chest, etc., harm and scar the body. If you hold Christian convictions, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Would you harm God's temple in such a fashion?

If you've ever witnessed or seen a recording of a hazing, esp. a violent one, which emotions would you say flow through the hearts of those executing the hazing: sadism, vengeance, hate, etc. . . ?

 

[jayem]

I was in a frat all through my undergraduate years. There was no physical hazing, though they did try to play some mind games on the pledges. Nothing major. This was back in the late 60s/early 70s which was the peak of the counter-culture revolution. College frats weren't as popular then, and I suspect they could not afford to antagonize anyone. As I think about it, virtually all of my longest lasting friendships are with some of my frat brothers. We still keep in touch by e-mail, and have periodic reunions. So you can have interpersonal bonding without physical hazing or degradation.

 

[coastie]

from my meager experience with hazing, particularly in the military, it is humiliating and demoralizing, however, in the military, you don't get any say whether or not you get hazed.

I tend to agree that hazing that is all in fun is just that. I am against anything life threatening or hazing being forced on another person.

BUt if some Army Airborne walking testosterone gland wants to get two holes in his chest when he gets his jump wings, he's asking for all the pain he gets.

Heck, a couple years ago and I probably would have volunteered for that sort of thing myself.

my $.02

 

[Ampmonster]

theres no peer hazing in the military. everyone get's their fanny kicked equally by the DI's.

 

[coastie]

heh... it goes well beyond boot camp (basic)

 

[12volt_man]

My mother was in a high school frat

I sincerely hope you mean sorority.