Posted: 12/28/2007 2:21:49 PM EDT
Watching a thing on hazing and the aftermath. I am so sick of everything be "someone else's" fault. all the story start out "They decided to pledge XXXX" and ends with law suits against the people who "Killed" their little babys. For gods sake, it was your "Jackass" kid that made the decision to join. I got hazed in collage and in the marines. It was OK for these before me, for me, so why not those after me?
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It's like any other activity, administrators are terrified about liability and media attention. In the USAF, we were lectured ad nauseum about hazing, and we all nodded and watched the videos. Then when someone PCS'd, we'd cargo strap them down to a crew ladder, hose them down, dump fish oil and rancid milk on them, and send them on their way. And the very same SNCOs who gave us the hazing lectures were there taking photos and laughing. It's always been this way, and always will. TPTB don't care if we haze, as long as it doesn't get out of hand and get THEM in trouble. |
I agree, it is retarded, but you chose to do it and shit goes wrong, it was your fault, you did'nt need to "decide to do it". all I'm saying is that anymore, it seems your stupid mistake is someone else's fault. no takes resposibility for their own fuck ups. |
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I crossed the equator for the first time in 1982 and the shellback initiation was pretty intense - it actually started the evening before running to mid-night. We baracaded ourselves in a locked compartment else we would have started at 4 AM the next morning. We managed to steal an extra hour to hour and a half sleep which was all the difference. Once the started putting women aboard combat ships things changed and the hazing went really soft. I thought that was a tough time. I earned Chief Petty Officer in 1989 and that was a pretty good hazing - about 18 hours of continous energy which made crossing the line a cake walk. I'm bound to secrecy but the initiation involved extremes of physical conditions - heat, wet, cold. Eatting all sorts of things - still alive and others dead/raw. The current initiation is just a hollow remainder of what was. I have read in the last two years that the initiation is going to be soften even more.
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Having spent many years actively involved in my college fraternity, both as an undergrad and as a graduate adviser I can say that I see some benefits to some activities that are termed "hazing." In today's litigious world a lot of trivial things are termed hazing. I can also tell you that I've seen some shit that goes above and beyond. I've seen kids seriously injured and dead. I can tell you that its not as easy as walking away. After spending 12-16 weeks of pledging, you would be surprised what you will endure when you can see the light a mere 48 hours away. You would be surprised what you would do when you are mentally and physically exhausted and you are outnumbered by the brothers and maybe in fear. You would be surprised what you would endure when you are young and maybe insecure and if you quit you will be ostracized. Yes, you take some responsibility for putting yourself in that situation, but the majority of the responsibility falls on those who are "in charge." Those are words coming from a former pledge master, chapter president, and statewide adviser. I laugh at some of the lawsuits brought against fraternities and sororities because they are pathetic. Others I cheer on and hope that the fraternity gets hit with a huge judgment for allowing a tragedy to occur, or at least doing little to prevent the environment in which things go too far and somebody is seriously injured or worse. |
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Homoerotic what? When I made E-5, there was definately some hazing involved, but none of this homoerotic shit was involved. Navy tradition is to punch your new chevrons, tacking on your crow as it were, as basically saying "Good luck, hope you keep it!" Sore shoulder for a day, no problem. Yes, you hear stories of retards taking it too far, but this crap is just like the bullshit zero tolerance shit. Fuck that. |
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Hazing that does not involve death or ghey shit is OK. When you kill a pledge, people tend to become upset with you. sorry bout dat ETA - Some of the hazing that used to take place at the service academies TRULY crossed the line into sick, sadistic evil bullying. Like stringing a guy up by the neck until he passed out and then making him lick your shoes clean. Douglas mcArthur was actually called before congress when he was a cadet to testify about a severe beating he recieved. |
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These hazing rituals get stupid and deadly when the frat boys start involving large quantities of booze or life threatening acts. Alcohol poisoning is common. Its also stupid. You don't need to down 30 shots to "prove" yourself. Moderation or no alcohol would be better. There are a lot of hazing rituals that don't involve booze, deadly stunts, or both. |
| I agree with what being said, my point was accountability. While it may be wrong to put someone in danger to join [southpark]your fruity little club[/southpark] it is still their choice. Suppose you are told you have to play Russian roulette to join whatever group you are trying to join. If you are so worried about what people think of you that you are afraid to say no, then when you play and loose, ultimately you are responsible for your actions. |