EPISODE 97 "SO WHAT'S THE BIG SECRET"

I have always felt like I was accepted for who I am. I never felt the need to be apart of some orginization that makes me jump through hoops in order to be called "brother" or "member". The closest I came to that was BOOTCAMP, but that was more like trying out for a sports team, more like a physical and aptitude test for a PAYING job. So I have never understood the FRATERNITY or SECRET SOCIETY community. I want to be clear, I am not bashing those that are apart of them. To me there is a sense of need for group acceptance that goes with joining one of theses. I'm sure they have benefits like lifelong friends, and hook ups that only a member can get, so it has its privelages. But some groups, like the Masons and Fraternal order of (insert whetever here), and college fraternitys are so secretive it kind of makes you suspicious. Some of them are deeply rooted in things other than just getting out of a ticket or getting a job hook up from your fellow "brother" or "sister". Much like the now highly publicised ILLUMINATI, thanks to rumors of connections witth high profile entertainers, the history of some secret societies have dark origins and backgrounds. So do you belong to any "FRATS" or Secret Societies? Are you close to anyone that is? How do you feel about them if you are not in one? If you are in one, what was the selling point that made you want to join? Did you have to "pledge" and go through a hazing or initiation? That's why I never would join one, because I never felt a need to be accepted by a group of people enough to let them degrde and embarress me. Do you feel like these people who are in these groups are there for the benefits or the group acceptance that many humans feel a need to be aprt of? Can you tell me some stories or examples of the pros and cons? Of course if you are in the society you can talk about it, but if you care to call in and enlighten me and dispell any rumors please do so!