Through a Glass, Clearly - A NewClassic Rant

Now getting into the routine of being in 2009, I've been spending a lot of time getting acclimated from the change that the future brings. Short of SkyNet coming online and Post-Nuclear Apocolyptic Postal Services, I've been weathering no shortage of one thing that I find is all too common around this time of year.

Drunks.

Happy New Years, guys!
Someone pass me a beer!

New Years Eve seems to be one of the largest, "Go out and get hammered" holidays of the year, which is something that never really occurred to me until I got to college, and was reminded of that quite thoroughly this year.

Although, it's a mentality I've never understood. It could be a function of the fact that I never drink, but it's a boggling process to me to utilize a form of chemical inebriation to accelerate good cheer and a party atmosphere.

Though, if such a process is to be observed, I'm not sure why it's such a social choice or stigma for everyone to do so or not do so. It seems to me that if the majority of the party is non-alcoholic in nature, it's a horrible stigma to do so. Though if the party is alcoholic in nature, you're either the designated driver or just abnormal if you choose not to drink. This is a psychology that I've consistently been unable to wrap my mind around.

Before this becomes too well-rooted, I have nothing against drinkers or non-drinkers, but rather have a dislike about this strange concept of social stigma that discourages people for maintaining any act that falls outside the surroundings-established norms.

Sitting on a computer complaining about inane topics, why?

Is it really so socially unacceptable to maintain a different lifestyle or belief-choice than a majority of the other individuals? If so, what about it is really so strange?

Apologies if I come off as elitist, but this has been a frequent thought since I had attended the many New Year's parties earlier this year.

As well as that, perhaps in a bit more of a drinker-specific question, what is the allure of drinking? To my understanding, it can make remembering the evening more difficult unless done in absolute moderation, can produce mild to incredible hangovers, and can inebriate you to the point of making regrettable decisions without a second thought of wariness. That is the sort of thing that would automatically make me leery, much less actively praise such an endeavor and pursue it with the sort of single-minded drive that I often find from frequent party-goers.

So, for the first discussion:
Is being different, in a non-disruptive way, a negative thing in a party situation?
Why or why not?

For the second discussion:
What is the draw of drinking?
Do you feel you could have the same enjoyment without drinking?

Disclaimer:
I would like to note, that once again, I have nothing against drinkers or the practice of drinking, I am merely trying to get a perspective of it from an outsider's perspective, and also curious as to the opinions for people who see this sort of thing as commonplace behavior.

I do not wish to start a flame-war over drinking versus non-drinking.

I personally think it is funny as hell to sit back and watch all the drunks. I really do have more fun that way, but as Scotty Klopfenstien says in the end of "Everyone's Drunk":
"Uh actually I'm not drunk, at all, no, I've gotta drive all these people home. Have a good time... assholes"

Well, I think it helps have fun (I don't drink, I think the crap tastes like cough medicine, seriously) because it waters down your sense of judgement, letting you do things that are awesome that you normally wouldn't have done.

Of course, with that, comes the negative side, doing utterly stupid, ridiculous things you're going to regret for the rest of your life (like breaking your neck trying to backflip off a garbage dumpster).

Why it's considered a social choice/stigma? Because alcoholics are often associated with laziness, abuse, bad smells, acting like a moron and you just look like a mess. Not to mention the horrible effects it has on your body from prolonged, excessive use. Also, that alcoholic dude puking on the cake tends to be a major downer.

For the first part, being different can be a good thing, it just depends how you do it. Even a drunk guy could entertain a sober party, but until he does, he's going to be looked down on.

For the second part, I think I already covered that. When I have been drunk I got a kick out of it, until the hangover started.

edit: Oh, as mentioned, this also all depends on how much you drank.

edit2: There is a time, a place and a people (yes, I just said "a people", roll with it please) to be drunk, you've just gotta pick wisely. Showing up at a little kid's birthday party is not one of them.

I can't say I understand drinking either, I've always preferred to keep my wits about me.

However, you've made me all curious. I shall go stand in the corner and watch.

TheNecroswanson:
Parties I attend are always fun.
Here is what makes up the party:
2/5 of Capt. Morgan, 1/5 of Vodka.
1 Xbox 360
1 Rockband 2,
1 Rockband set
3 packs of smokes
7 people, 3 who drink, 4 who don't, and nobody really drinks that much.
It's a pretty comfortable environment. We're doing what we want regardless of what the other thinks. I never hang out with people who can't accept how other people enjoy themselves.

Anyway, my view on it is, there is no such thing as social stigma, just people who are jackasses at a party. Not drinking at a mostly drinking party? Punch the mother fucker giving you guff about it. It's your choice. Stand by it.
Getting guff for drinking at a party? Are you drinking too much? Think about why they might give you guff.

Anyway, New Years was my first time getting totally shit faced........ It was like having a nightmare of being raped by a baseball player. it's horrible while you're dreaming it, but you wake up laughing your ass off that you dreamed it.....needless to say I don't plan on consuming any alcoholic beverages for at least another 4 months.
I also thinks it's fucking retarded how every holiday in America is just another reason to get drunk and commit vehicular homicide. It's repugnant.

That sounds like the kind of party I could go to. Replace rock band with a four person local capable shooter, and let the fun begin. I suck at rythm games...

1) New title? Groovie!

b) As an Australian, drinking is kind of a national sport. We take that shit serious. We drink till we fall down, and then we drink some more. I don't REALLY know why, we just do.

3) Drinking, at least in my case, is a social event. people like me who lack courage, particularly when meeting new people, need booze. It removes inhibitions and, in small doses, it's very helpful. the trick is to stop once you've had enough

There you are NewClassic!

I also, have never understood the allure of drinking, as it seems like a largely useless venture.

A. Any times I've ever tasted alcohol, it tasted like acid. Why would I want to drink something that tastes horrible? And even if you disguise the taste, why should you even bother putting the alcohol in than? You obviously don't want to taste the alcohol at all, so it's superfluous. The only reason you would even bother would be to get drunk, which leads me into...

B. Being drunk is never a good thing. As someone who has never experienced actually being drunk, I'm looking on from the outside here. But from what I've seen, drinking brings out the worst in people, their most annoying qualities, that they usually hide, will now come bursting out into the open. No one's character becomes more desirable or more respectful as they drink, they become unsavory shadows of their former character.

So yeah, tastes like cat piss and makes me an annoying bitch; where do I sign up?

EDIT: Also, Vault Legend? Italics name? How did this happen?

The amount I've times I've ended up puking my guts out then swearing I'll never get drunk again is incredible. Though I personally love the taste of alcohol, so I guess it won't stop.

I have some friends who don't drink, and they have similar stances to some of the people above. They love to sit and watch us make asses out of ourselves.

No, I don't drink because my dad died of alcoholism so at parties I tell people that politely and they stagger off.

And I cant answer your second question because I don't drink.

Also I thought it was hilarious when drunk/high people came to school when I was in high school. Especially in P.E.

I don't drink, my (great)uncle died of alcoholism.

NewClassic, from now on if anyone asks my why I don't drink, I'm having them read that article... if they're sober. I've never understood the allure of drinking one bit, and have actually seen it effect some of my close friends in a negative, though not drastic, way.

As for why people drink at parties, even a friend of mine who used to said to me one day "I don't get it anymore. I don't know, there really isn't a point to it."

All I can say is that I'm glad that the majority of my friends don't drink. I have nothing against drinkers, it's just that I can't help but worry that a friend of mine is gonna get hurt if they drink too much.

Personally, I don't drink, and don't plan to. Sadly, most people at my school don't just hang out, they , of course, have to get right pickled at every social gathering.

I think it is some sort of escapism, luckily my vices and pastimes aren't nearly as detrimental. I can only hope these people see the error of their ways before it's too late. ( I know what I'm talking about, my Dad's family has a history of alcoholism, which , luckily, my dad didn't fall prey to).

Clarification: I'm not against drinking every now and then, but burning out your liver is a slow and painful way to go.

Fightgarr:
Off topic: How did you get you title: "Vault Legend"

Fallout Review Arena

TheNecroswanson:
I also think it's fucking retarded how every holiday in America is just another reason to get drunk and commit vehicular homicide. It's repugnant.

I hear you. Although this is a case of the extreme stupid, and probably more rare than it sounds, I'm in college and see a lot of it. They're very depressing individuals.

jim_doki:
1) New title? Groovie!

I know, I'm still exciting about it myself. Also, I'm curious, do you still think I should get a blog instead of ranting on here?

Shivari:
There you are NewClassic!

...

EDIT: Also, Vault Legend? Italics name? How did this happen?

I know, I haven't been around much. Work schedule's been hell. Although I warned you guys in my last rant.

As far as Vault Legend, it's explained above. I still haven't figured out the Italics, but Virgil tells me it's because of the "Contributor" Flag.

pantsoffdanceoff:
No, I don't drink because my dad died of alcoholism...

berethond:
I don't drink, my (great)uncle died of alcoholism.

I'm really sorry to hear that. It's a shame that something so often harmless can also be so deadly, yet still relatively un-policed.

ZeroMachine:
NewClassic, from now on if anyone asks my why I don't drink, I'm having them read that article... if they're sober.

Whoa... Thanks. I'm glad my writing can reach out to people.

You don't have to be sorry. He was a worthless drunk anyway. I forgot to mention alcohol is also against my religion.

It helps me relax, because if I ever do something stupid I can blame it on alcohol. Never really had to, I've always thought things were funny enough to be good, even after I've sobered up.
Of course, most people that use this reason probably don't realize that since it was their/my choice to drink, it's still their/my fault.

Heh, I've said this a million times, and I'll say this now: there are two types of drinkers. The people who drink to lighten up and have a good time, and the people who drink to escape. Liquor is something that loosens one's inhibitions and higher level thought. In the case of people who use it to lighten up, it's something that makes them loosen up and try new things. Talk to that cute guy/girl at the bar that they normally wouldn't, get up on the dance floor, ride with a stranger somewhere to screw. Every time they drink, something interesting happens (or a party becomes more interesting), so of course they'll imbibe alcohol.

The other group of people are the people that do it to escape from their anxieties. Ever notice that one person that always seems to drink too much (even if they've been drinking for several years)? The one that perhaps is a bit too willing to get trashed, and a bit too wild/eager for their own good? It's because they're drinking to escape. Escape from the thought of a shitty job/major/life, girlfriend/boyfriend/etc. problems, financial issues, whatever. These are the ones that tend to have the most trouble with alcohol, and they come to depend on it as a substance that relieves their problems. Some people from the first category devolve into this category, and some people (when they get problems sorted out) change back into the first.

So if you're angsty/depressed/angry/happy/stressed/bored/etc., you tend to drink.

NewClassic:

It could be a function of the fact that I never drink, but it's a boggling process to me to utilize a form of chemical inebriation to accelerate good cheer and a party atmosphere.

Drinking doesn't kill that fast and it's not illegal, give it a try once, get really plastered, see what happens. Think of it as research.

NewClassic:

Is it really so socially unacceptable to maintain a different lifestyle or belief-choice than a majority of the other individuals? If so, what about it is really so strange?

People like people that are like them. It's a real simple concept. Logically then we like people who are different less. Expand and explain...

NewClassic:

As well as that, perhaps in a bit more of a drinker-specific question, what is the allure of drinking?

Social lubricant, makes social situations much easier by reducing self-awareness. In good measure off-course. It releases feel-good chemicals in the brain (can't remmber the name) - i.e. it feels good to drink. It makes you forget, this is a bad reason to drink, but after a very very bad day, sometimes humans just want to turn their brain off.

I don't know if this is off topic or offensive. And if it is OP, please send me a message and I'll edit this out. I have a serious problem with your detached, quasi-scientific attitude.
I know a few people who live like this, none of which are happy. It's a defense mechanism gone way out of control, a wall between you and the rest of the world. Worst thing, this wall is inside your head. While curiosity is Good, and scientific curiosity is Great. It's no substitute for living. The only place to remotely wonder is in a lab.

Go out, live life. Don't drink if you don't want to but don't push yourself away from the crowd by looking at them as research, they are people not monkeys. Hell they might even be friends, or lovers. But you got to throw yourself into them first.

Just my two cents, I'll remove it if you want.

I sort of clump drinking in with sex and swearing in the category of "stuff anybody will do, but only adults do it right." I understand if folks my age look at drinking with disdain after seeing their peers do stupid things under the influence, but I also don't let their idiocy ruin it for me. The truth is that drinking doesn't turn everyone into bumbling idiots. That only really happens to... well, idiots. It's just that there are a lot of them, and a lot of them like to drink.

Bah.. Im drunk right now. I like the feeling. No, not an alcoholic, and rarely in public.
I only drink for the right reasons, once I start drinking for feeling bad.. well, I'll DIE.

Personally I'm a marijuana man, but that's another bucket of worms entirely.

As for alcohol, here it goes.

I am currently attending a Canadian University (check my profile and guess which!), and I am no stranger to wild parties (in fact this university is somewhat infamous for its wild street parties), and I've consumed my fair share of alcohol. Personally I prefer spiced rums, but that's not really important.

Alcohol, simply put, makes evenings more fun. I generally don't get hangovers in the traditional sense, although I can be tired from lack of sleep, and I don't forget stuff when I drink, even when I get pass out drunk, which I've only done a few times. (Homecoming week, woo!).

I'm not too concerned with the safety problems with drinking, since I'm one of the most carefree people around. If I was concerned about my personal safety then I would stop all my fatty food intake, sit properly when I type, and stop going 80 in the 60 zones. Safety is not one of my concerns. I know its cliche to have the "I'm young and invincible" attitude, but this is how I am, and I can't change it.

As for the first question, going to a party sober is acceptable in most cases. Some of my friends who don't drink carry around half empty beer bottles at parties so that people don't bug them. The only case when I'd say its generally unacceptable to try and fit in sober is when the entire point of the party is to drink, such as a pre-drinking party. Going to one of those and refusing to drink is just odd. I've gone to parties sober, and I generally find them to still be enjoyable for the most part. I get to see people and socialize, and that is good enough for me.

If you read this, can you answer this. You say that you don't drink, but have you ever drunk in the past? Its quite honestly very difficult to describe why it is enjoyable to those who have never experienced it.

(I'm also kind of drunk right now. I re-read and edited it about 5 times so it would make sense)

Since I haven't seen a cogent explanation of why people do drink, I'll proffer a partial one.

There are many different reasons for drinking, a number of which are highly negative, which I can understand making people not want to drink, given I think I had about 5 glasses of alcohol before 25. I also used to be proud of the ideology I wouldn't really do anything drunk I wouldn't do sober, given I never really saw the disinhibiting quality of alcohol have any major effect on me.

That's honestly what most people drink for, is to pecome mildly disinhibited, it takes the pressure off them, allows them more expressivity and social freedom than what they often constrain themselves with and often, people associate that and the actions they do while somewhere between tipsy and very drunk as a "high" and a good thing. Frankly, I don't see too much wrong with this and the example above of someone having friends over with some drinks and Rock Band is a fairly healthy social exercise. Alcohol in this context is something of a social catalyst and probably does more good than harm and it's probably why it's tolerated so widely.

Going beyond this level, to the point where alcohol has more toxic effects on the body, such as loss of motor control and heightened expectations of what the body can do, such as the person backflipping off a dumpster, I really don't see the point to. Why would you drink to the point where you can't remember the night? That I can't answer.

Another point is alcohol is not only a disinhibitor, it's also a depressant, not a stimulant. That means the more you have, the worse you'll tend to feel. People mistake the disinhibition effect for a stimulant and think it's bringing them up, in actuality, it's only partially doing that and not for the reason they believe.

Also, to the person who cited drinking as being incredibly Australian, it is and it isn't. I know that to be a "real man" in many Australian groups you need to be able to drink a lot of beer and if that's the case, I'll continue being an "unreal man". There is definitely a culture here of alcohol tolerance, but I'm not sure the result is many more Australians going out drinking than other countries, it may even be less.

So people see alcohol as a way to have a good time, it takes away some of their inhibitions and in mild doses, that's fine. Very mild consumption of some forms of alcohol even has a mild medical benefit, but nothing you can't get from other things. I think it's a social aide for many people, it allows them to feel they can be someone they want to be more than they can usually manage and that's an attractive and dangerous thing.

I personally like the taste of some alcoholic drinks, but I have abolutely never been drunk. I've gotten a mild buzz plenty of times before, but never beyond that because I know when enough is enough. The difference for me is that it relaxed me, and I am normally a high stress individual. But about all these people that hate the taste of it, I say you are not drinking the right drink for you. Everyone will tell you its an aquired taste. You won't like it when you are first starting out, but you'll eventually get used to it, and after that you'll start noticing subtleties in the many flavors. Don't rule all alcohol out on the basis of one taste of some crappy beer. I will never understand why people drink the stuff they do, like Natty Lite or Miller Lite. God, that stuff will give you a new definition on bad taste.

"Before this becomes too well-rooted, I have nothing against drinkers or non-drinkers, but rather have a dislike about this strange concept of social stigma that discourages people for maintaining any act that falls outside the surroundings-established norms.

Is it really so socially unacceptable to maintain a different lifestyle or belief-choice than a majority of the other individuals? If so, what about it is really so strange?"

You are different and therefore bad.
At least, I believe that's the inherent school of thought. ...I need to go be violently sick now, I think.

I drink because normally I'm an extremely uptight person, which for some people isn't a bad thing, but for me is something I don't like being at parties. I don't drink outside of when I'm with friends, and I don't drink too excess most times. It's more that I dislike my inhibitions at some points, so lowering them is enjoyable to me at certain times. I don't drink to get drunk, and I don't technically need to drink to enjoy myself, but I can enjoy smaller things more when I am drunk.

EDIT: As for your other question, of whether not drinking is a bad thing, no it's not. I have friends that refuse to drink at parties, and I don't fault them for it. In fact I appreciate having someone that doesn't drink at the party, so that they can make sure that noone gets hurt. It may seem by that logic that it would be better just for noone to get drunk so that noone could get hurt, but it's one of the high-rick high-reward things to me.

In other words, I don't fault anyone for not drinking, but I choose to drink because I enjoy it.

matrix3509:
I personally like the taste of some alcoholic drinks, but I have abolutely never been drunk. I've gotten a mild buzz plenty of times before, but never beyond that because I know when enough is enough.

The buzz is my favorite "stage" of drinking. At that point you're just completely relaxed, and still sober enough to understand how good it feels. The feeling technically gets stronger after a few more drinks, but I don't usually acknowledge it anymore at that point.

I've only recently turned 18, as you know Nuke. So I do drink more often now, but I still don't drink all that much. I don't see the real point for getting off my tits and doing something stupid that could get me or more people hurt. Not to mention the inherit health risks of getting paralytic every weekend.

Truthfully, I like drinking, but will never pass out blind from it. If the alcohol doesn't kill me, my mother certainly will.

All of my friends drink. Most of them pretty heavily. I've never been one for the taste of alcohol and hate what it does to people. When my friends drink, I stay away. Apparently I've "missed out" on how much "fun" they've had (if people puking all over each other and making out with each other is fun...). Anyways, I stay away because I hate seeing my friends being complete assholes and douche bags to each other.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'm not against alcohol, per-se, I just hate what it does to people and would rather not be a part of it.

There... finally... I wish I could just show everyone this so that they would finally get off my back about it.

I like to lose inhibitions and control at the expense of my liver. I'm drinking right now, as I type this.

Most of my friends drink and so do I.
I'll admit though, I do like the frufru drinks... I greatly dislike straight vodka, it has to have some sort of fruity taste to it.
If there is any drinking going on it's usually at a video game party my friends and I host.
Always in stock:
-2 cases of Coronas
-3 bottles of Smirnoff Ice
-1 bottle of cranberry juice
-3 bottles Coke
-1 bottle of Jack
-Rock Band
-Street Fighter 3rd Strike
-Left4Dead for kicks and giggles

Just have to know where to drink and who to drink with. Stay away from the sad drunks and the "I only tell the truth when I'm drunk" drunks.

fullmetalangel:
Well, I think it helps have fun (I don't drink, I think the crap tastes like cough medicine, seriously) because it waters down your sense of judgement, letting you do things that are awesome that you normally wouldn't have done.

That's the direct consequence that drives my fear of becoming drunk.
Heavens forbid I declare that nair'e a drop of alcohol has pursed my lips lest I lie, I just don't want to do anything absurdly idiotic if my judgment was impaired. Seeing as I grew up with Homestar Runner, my mannerisms are much more non-sequitor and consequently would be much more embarrassing [if anyone remembers my action(s)] than awesome.

Well getting older I actually like the taste of most beers (what I usually the most) and therefore don't drink them for the alcohol. The inhibiting and relaxing effect is an added bonus. But There are also those awesome adventures you can have, like:

A. Playing cricket with a homemade napalm covered tennis ball
B. Twisting your ankle and being pushed all over town in a wheel barrow.
C. Turning a fight in a cricket match
D. Running around a tiny above ground swimming pool, wearing a bucket on your head as your crown and a corona as your scepter, ordering your peons to make a whirlpool
E. Gnoming (if you're my former housemate)

Or even the mundane things like getting a massive garlic lamb kebab at four am in the morning.

That said I hate mixed drinks, in my day we used to have to buy slabs of Victorian Bitter and drink till it tasted good.

There is a also certain type of person who doesn't drink you have to watch out for (small minortiy). The person who doesn't drink because they've done something so heinous and horrible while drinking it haunts them to this day.