“And I don’t get the hazing that occurs at our military academies”
Then you do not understand the purpose of this in a military environment. Granted, it should never get to the point of physical injury (that is the definition of hazing, in my opinion), but there is a specific military training purpose for what is done at the military academies, or at least there used to be.
I can’t speak for the rituals, hazing or otherwise in civilian fraternity environments. In the workplace it does allow you a way to gauge the temperament of a new employee - especially when you may have to count on that employee in a life/death safety situation - so it’s not necessarily a bad thing in some situations - again, not to the point of physical harm.
Yeah well, I was an active duty JAG officer for three years and in the reserves for 8 years after that..........I know a number of academy folks and one of my best friends taught at the academy (Air Force). So don’t give me that crap about hazing having a military purpose. Rolling people downhill in a locker cannot have a military purpose. Beating people up with soap bars in a pillow case? No.