re: #98 oaktree

I don’t buy that. I’ve just seen too many occasions involving students where a “character building” event being carried out by a superior (be it faculty or fellow students in a supervisory capacity) is more of a power trip by the controller than a true attempt at education.

I spent 10+ years doing volunteer work for a social fraternity. A lot of hazing activity is hidden under the veneer of claiming that it builds character or helps the pledges come together as a group. If teaching how to deal with adversity and challenges are the goal, there are practically always alternative routes to follow that are much more positively oriented.

My elementary school was run by nuns and a one-legged veteran of the First Cav. We learned to tough it out. It’s a hoot to think of a ten year-old telling a whining buddy: “Go see the chaplain and get your TS card punched”.

TS card= 1950 Army slang for Tough Shit form.