Mailbag: Full Circle on Frat Humor
Frat on, good sir.
Welcome to Dillon Cheverere’s weekly Mailbag. Send questions to dillon@washedmedia.com. All topics are on the table. Read it, enjoy it, and pass it on to anyone you think will enjoy it, too. You can also check out the Washed network of podcasts.
What's the last TFM you pulled? - Will
Thanks for the question, Will deFries of Washed Media. I did a keg stand Saturday which I know you already saw on my Instagram page (@dcheverere). It was a 13-count but the guy counted slowly. I pulled trig on a Golden Tee machine for the office that you’ll get to enjoy with me. I also picked up a nicotine habit.
Those are TFMs.
What should I name my son? First baby on the way and it’s a boy. The middle name is locked in as an homage to my Grandfather. So right now we’re sitting ***** Michael C. We’re totally coming up blank for a first name and need some ideas. My wife is Latina and I’m Jewish, if that helps. If someone dropped a baby boy on your doorstep what would be some of your top choices?
I’ll keep you updated on what we decide. -Anonymous
You didn’t share your last name so I won’t share it, either. I will reveal that it’s a short, one-syllable last name, though. It’s not a common last name but it’s not exotic. This matters.
I’ve always been a proponent of either the first or last name being somewhat different or unique. Give the kid’s name some flavor but don’t overdo it. As an example, if your last name is Smith, don’t name your son John or Jeff. That’s boring.
If your last name is Cheverere, don’t name your son Archibald (shouts to my man Arch) or Bartholomew. That’s doing too much.
Other rules I have:
Don’t use a common name spelled in an uncommon way. Example: Jaycen
Don’t use a first name that ends the same way the last name begins. They’ll run together and make it sound like one long name without separation. It irritates me a little. Example: Eric Campbell.
Alright, I got it. Your son’s name is Wyatt. Strong name. Everyone wants to be friends with a Wyatt.
Working out in a public gym with music playing out loud on your Bluetooth speaker is insane right? We all have headphones at this point bffr. -Rachel
A guy in my gym does this. Totally inappropriate. It takes some next level audacity to take it upon yourself to choose the music for everyone around you without their consent. Luckily, 90% of people in a public gym have AirPods in or headphones on (I don’t know how people work out with full size studio headphones but I see it all the time), so they can drown out the ambient noise and play their own shit, but it’s still a selfish and insane thing to do.
Honestly, I could discuss gym etiquette for hours. My list is looooong. Okay, screw it. Here’s another one: people who occupy more than one machine/station at a time and expect you to respect the vast gym real estate they’re using. One time at Golds Gym years ago, I tried to use an incline bench that appeared to not be in use. A guy came up to me and told me he was using it along with TWO other stations, the regular bench press and the decline bench press, and asked me to wait until he was finished. This idiot was using three stations in a crowded gym and expected everyone to let him finish before they could use them.
P.S. The guy in my gym who plays music from his Bluetooth speaker also works out shirtless. Go figure.
I've always been curious what it was like to be the TFM written content guy during the heyday in like 2012-2014. I was tangential to everything going on... I wrote a few columns and news posts and was happy with the beer money, but on the other hand I was a dumbass and most of the stuff I wrote was heavily punched up.
a) What was your experience as one of the main content guys at Grandex?
b How do you reckon with your legacy, given TFMs real cultural impact?
c) What was it like firing me via Facebook messenger (no hard feeling at all lol)?
-John
A) It was a lot of fun for a while. It was really interesting and surreal to transition from working in the construction industry to a content creator for a popular website. Getting recognized by people in public and making appearances at events was a trip. I felt like a micro-celebrity at times.
The most fun part, however, was writing something I was really proud of, probably for PGP, and hitting publish on it. I would sit back and wait for the reactions of readers. I’d read all the comments and see people enjoying it, etc. Pretty thrilling stuff. I even got an opportunity to write a piece for Time Magazine, not to brag.
As I got older, being known as “the TFM guy” started to lose its shine. I felt too old and a little ridiculous being connected to that site. Near the end of my run at Grandex, I was embarrassed by TFM and tried my best to distance myself from it. That’s why I didn’t appear in the much maligned Beer Olympics video.
What’s funny to me now, though, and it’s something I talked about recently on Circling Back, is I feel that the really stupid frat humor in which we used to be so ingrained has sort of come full circle for me. It’s so far in the rearview mirror that I’m no longer bothered by my former affiliation to it, so I feel it’s safe to joke about again. It’s so stupid that it’s funny.
B) This isn’t even a passing thought for me. To us, it was all a big joke. Pure satire. If TFM negatively affected college or fraternity culture in some way, I didn’t feel an ounce of responsibility for it. That was on the people who took it too seriously and applied it to real life.
C) Man, I have zero recollection of this. Hopefully, I was kind to you. I’m pretty sure I was, right? I wasn’t great at putting faces to the names of our remote writing staff.
Sup Dorn!!
My wife and I just found out that she’s pregnant on Sunday (4/21). We were about to start trying so it’s not a complete shock, but neither of us expected it to happen this quickly. Once I got over the initial surprise (still not really over it tbh), I started doing research about how to be supportive throughout the pregnancy so any tips/tricks or general advice you have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, and have an awesome day! -Anonymous
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS. Being a parent is the greatest gift. I’d start by reading a book. There are plenty of great books available for first-time parents. Know what to expect, how to help out, and calm any nerves.
Aside from that, stay mindful that your job is sooooo much easier than your wife’s. If she asks you for something, just do it without complaining. Make a run to the store? Do it. She wants a grilled cheese sandwich at midnight? Make it. You get the idea.
After all, she is literally growing your offspring inside her. You’re not doing shit. Yet. When the baby arrives, your natural instincts will take over and your dad switch turns on. Then it’s game time.
When y’all dropping grandex tell all? -Neal
We get this question all the time. I doubt anyone ever does this. It would be impossible to write without upsetting some people, and I don’t think anyone wants to do that.
Bring back the forums