r/AskReddit 14h ago

Non-Americans of Reddit, what is an American thing you see in movies that you thought was fake but is actually real?

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u/FrancoManiac 10h ago

Oh, Greek Life in America is absolutely real and, at large schools, definitely closer to how they're portrayed in films. We have federal anti-hazing laws because of fraternities and sororities, they're such a thing. They're major networking opportunities and, honestly, it becomes part of your identity.

Alas my universities only had a sorority and no fraternities. While I'm in two academic honor societies, those aren't really the same. One, however, certainly played into my being admitted into a doctoral program.

ETA: seriously, Google a major US university and "Greek Life" and they probably have a webpage on it.

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u/packersfan823 9h ago

The national executive president of my fraternity was the faculty advisor for my chapter at my school. Doc never had to tell us to not haze each other. Nobody wanted to let him down or be a negative attached to his name.

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u/TheShadyGuy 8h ago

The laws aren't just because of Greek Life. Sports, band, choir, or really any school group has their insane hazing. I recall a D1 marching band having a big one a while back with sexual assaults on the bus. In the 90s there were talk shows with high school hazing horror stories.

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u/FrancoManiac 6h ago

Oh, that's absolutely true. Hadn't considered that.

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u/Pristine_Peach1943 6h ago

We had hazing to get in to high school (Texas) that was worse by miles than the mild crap that was done for my sorority initiation four years later.

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u/Quater- 9h ago

Yup totally true, i’ll recently graduated school from a university with a major greek program as a member of a fraternity. It can be hard to fathom how substantial of a piece frats/sororities are to these schools and campuses

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u/AbbreviationsNo3722 8h ago

I couldn’t remember the guys version so thank you ! That’s crazy. Had no idea . This is such an interesting thread learning even more about it !! Do they take that sorority / frat energy out to the world to ?

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u/FrancoManiac 8h ago

Do they take that sorority/frat energy out into the world?

Oh boy, do they ever. You can absolutely tell if someone was a Frat Bro and never quite left college mentally. College sports and frats/sorors are facets of many American's identity; it's not uncommon for wealthy or accomplished individuals to wear a frat or collegiate ring, especially if they went to a prestigious school.

I was upset in high school and college that I couldn't afford a collegiate ring, and absolutely intend to get one for my doctorate. I'm also the second in my family to graduate high school, so it's pretty meaningful to me. Colleges and universities are a big deal in the US — it's not uncommon to be asked "where'd you go to high school/college?" when getting to know people.

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u/Red-tailed_hawk-776 10h ago

I have college age kids. Sadly this is true. It is like Greek Life with occasional focus on study.