(no subject)

[vicarz]

Funny how my friends' opinions come full circle. I'm confused - this city paper article, which exposes the amazing and unbelievable fact that a) frat boys exist, and b) they drink in bars in Georgetown, has many of my normally intelligent friends up in arms. More shocking - these Georgetown guzzling preppies are misogynistic, socially conservative, hypocritical, rich, and pretty girls hang out with them despite being degraded because they want their money.  Huh.  You don't say. 

I think these same friends of mine have ragged on me, hard, for ragging on frat boys.  "You judge too much...not everyone is like that...you can't tell that much about them just from a glance / 5 minutes of conversation...how would you feel if you were judged...he's totally different when we're alone...just because he dresses like that doesn't mean..."  Now these same friends are up in arms about this City Paper article exposing, for all the world, preppie frat boys.  

Did you not understand what I was talking about all this time?  

What's especially funny, and I confess I only skimmed the article (barely) is that these boys are hardly offensive!  They are exclusive, so what.  They don't want us in, we don't want in - everybody's happy.  They want to boink girls but not marry whores, but there are not accusations of rape.  They're openly conservative.  Some bars only let you in if they're on the list.  Other bars sponsor fund raising activities - sometimes ironic, but ultimately going to a good cause.  In short, they do what they enjoy, with people they choose to hang out with, wearing clothes they like, judging others by the standards they hold themselves to...so what!?  Who are they hurting exactly?  

I can't believe I have to come to the defense of preppie frat boys (as if they cared what my geeky and freaky friends thought of them), but the kids this article points out as the ultimate evil aren't hurting anyone that I can see.  Can someone explain the source of the outrage, and why it is appropriate to be outraged by this culture glimpse while my comments about preppie frat boys are offensive? 

Comments

[spunkmunky.livejournal.com]

I agree, the article did not reveal anything new about the sexist, elitist, fraternity pigs in Georgetown. I am sure most of us have encountered these guys, and the pathetic girls that cling to them, at some point while living in the DC area.

In my case, the article was not upsetting, but the comments sure were. The unapologetic, arrogant responses from the LNSers was disturbing. Their assumption that the rest of the world is jealous of their "good looks" (ha!), wealth, fancy clothes (boat shoes!), etc. turned my stomach.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I love their world of illusion though. The rules are different I suppose, but not very. Once you learn the language and non-visual cues (ie clothes) no scene is very different. They can't be - we're all social mammals, so we can't help but be similar.

Grinding to urban beats in flip-flops. That is showing wealth?
(at least now I know BMW vs. Mercedes: BMW screams new money...thought so)

[spunkmunky.livejournal.com]

Thank dawg I now know to steer clear of BMWs! Can you imagine how, like, totally embarrassing it would be to be cruising around lookin' all new money and shit?! OMFG!!!

[eolh.livejournal.com]

Honestly, yeah, I read that article and decided that Late Night Shots is an excellent idea. People like that are going to exist no matter what. If a group like Late Night Shots keeps them over in Georgetown, away from the places where I go, I'm all for it.

And I loved how scared they are of Adams Morgan . . .

[vicar.livejournal.com]

That was a trip! that's also why I didn't mind them as much...preppie guys scared of the bad part of town? That's why I like to lurk there! Or, part of why. It's the roving packs of guys that are looking to maul someone for entertainment that scare me.

[eolh.livejournal.com]

Heh, the funny thing is that Adams Morgan hasn't been the "bad part of town" for years at this point. If they can't walk up 18th St. without getting into a fight, they must be looking for one (and if they can't get a slice of pizza without being "a pro" then, well, I don't know what to tell them . . . ). At the very least, if Adams Morgan is that scary, I know I'll never see them at DC9 . . .

[chadu.livejournal.com]

Adams Morgan = the bad part of town?

It is to laugh.

CU

[anarcha.livejournal.com]

Meh -- I skimmed that article, and came to the conclusion that the goth/industrial/whathaveyou scene that we're all involved in really isn't so different from that scene, once you excise away the superficial differences of politics, etc.

I have a long post to write about it, but sadly don't have the time.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Perhaps that's not so sad, the time spent on more important things? Just sayin'

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

We can't help but generalize.

However, KNOWING me -- how much of the gothic/industrial subculture do I COMPLETELY subscribe to.

Plus some people drift through varioius subcultures due to school alliances, proximity and friendship circles before "settling" somewhere they feel comfortable.

I could unload a whole metric tonne of nastiness about my general opinion on "goths" and "ravers" that wouldn't make them sound any prettier than frat boys.

For the most part I loathe the "frat" culture but really its just simply defined as big groups of guys -- and in any environment big groups of guys are going to start some manner of shit. As much as big groups of girls are going to be catty as hell.

--kelowna

[eriss.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying reading the City Paper comments. The LNS crowd are ganging up on the author.

[shadow27.livejournal.com]

The largest revelation for me, from the article, was about men wearing flip flops with dockers. I had no idea such an unholy fashion was considered acceptable, let alone that it was widespread.

So while I was in old Town on Friday I started looking around. Men, in flip flops and khakis EVERYWHERE!!!

I miss my blissful ignorance.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Oh that's not the least of it...I may post separately about the fact that cut-off cammo shorts are now in, as are faux-hawks. Kid you not...punk is the new preppie! What do we have to do to look weird again? Is this how that mod/ska look thing started...were money-sterlings in the UK running around in rags while the poor donned 3 piece suits? Oi!

[pennan.livejournal.com]

I think one reason why people are so up at arms is because these people are the ones who look to be inheriting the "power" in this country and increasing their wealth, all because of who/what they were born. Meanwhile, *we* struggle just to pay rent. What bothered me personally was that pick any guy from that crowd, and he is likely one who will be in a powerful position some day, and he's done shit to deserve the easy life he has. He's an asshole, and yet he doesn't have to struggle to just get by in life, he has learned how to step on people and degrade them to increase his own wealth/status. I don't care about what kind of lives they lead in their own self chosen circles, as long as I am left alone to live my own life by my own rules, and as long as they don't do things to push me down so they can buy another Merc (that's life tho). I certainly don't want to be in a position where one of these people has "power" over me, aka working in a company taking orders from them.

I can't imagine that being my life, the way the LNS people live. What they focus on in life, things that are important to them - not a life I want to live.