Some of you may have heard of Total Frat Move for those who haven’t you should take a look. It is a website dedicated to the
fine men and women of the Greek community. The problem is that it shows none of the good
things that Greeks do but instead chooses to focus on the “Frat”, Fratty, TFTC (To Frat To Care) ,
alcohol induced, female objectifying lifestyle stereotyped onto Greeks. Total frat move is an impeccable example for
Micheal
Kimmel’s Guyland: The Perilous World
Where Boys Become Men . The premise of guyland is this: Today, growing up has become more complex and confusing, as young men drift casually through college and beyond—hanging out, partying, playing with tech toys, watching sports. But beneath the appearance of a simple extended boyhood, a more dangerous social world has developed, far away from the traditional signposts and cultural signals that once helped boys navigate their way to manhood—a territory Michael Kimmel has identified as "Guyland." Micheal Kimmel in my opinion gives some awful stereotypes into what it means to be a man. Some of his examples have a grain of truth but others are blatant generalities presented as "facts". TFM and its content are perfect
examples to his book in reference to the transition age 16- 26 for men. A wet
dream for Micheal Kimmel but I have something to say about it. I am not generalized and I refuse to follow the stereotypes expected of me and I think others would feel the same way.
It is
so wrong what is being portrayed. I am a member of Greek life so I may have a
bias. For me Greek life is not about what they portray. Few and far between are
the articles that are in anyway useful.
I feel I am not the only member of Greek life that feels this way and
avoids the “TFTFC” lifestyle. I joined a fraternity to make an impact on my
community not add a mountain of solo cups to a landfill. I wanted to boost my
resume and do something worth doing. I
will just read off a couple of the top of the year wall posts I found worth
sharing.
· * For some reason my Chik-fil-A sandwich tasted
like the First Amendment. TFM.
· * There's nothing quite like a nice, cold beer
after a long day of drinking nice, cold beer. TFM.
· * Keeping her sexually satisfied and emotionally
disappointed. TFM.
· * Girl: "I won't sleep with a guy without
dating." Me: "Well, I won't commit to a car without a test
drive." TFM.
· * You know she's a keeper when her first choice is
the iron piece in Monopoly. TFM.
For my Greeks
who agree with me I ask you to send in letters as well.
For those who disagree with me on this and like TFM the way it is and think in
some way it benefits us I do not even know how to change your mind. Look at
what is portrayed, would you want your children, employers, relatives to see
this website and reflect its values onto you? To you live your life by the Frat
lifestyle? Is that really what you want to be you want people to see you as
Frat?
So now
you have an idea of what actually goes on this website. I would like to make a
change I think that TFM has the viewership to make a big change. So I ask this
from the people over at TFM. Quit pushing this stereotype so hard, not everyone
in the country has money to blow and makers mark in
the cabinet, we do not all have trust funds and go golfing. Some people work
hard to change things and would appreciate some honest help. If you are
going to continue advertising as a website for the Greek Ladies and Gentlemen
start writing articles for ladies and gentlemen. All I ask is to hold your selves to a higher standard and make a difference.
Write articles about the good things being done, write about the different
community service events, fundraiser events, academic achievement and philanthropy’s that the Greeks across our
fine nation do. Otherwise you are dooming Greek as a whole, no dean is going to
look at your website and feel confident in the Greek life on their campus and I
do not imagine my future employer looking to good at me for being Greek if they
think I am TFTC. 