Poll: Drinking and social acceptance.

[WittyName]

It is all a matter of free choice, and I don't think that having to drink if you don't want to is entirely your own choice. Just going out with friends is a way of showing that you are being socially accepted, and if people just bring you with them to try and make you drink, then they probably aren't very good friends at all. Peer pressure to drink basically, it shouldn't happen.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

It is just ridiculous social posturing you ask me, OOH let's get hammered cuz that's what grownups and coolz peoplez do.

 

[implodingMan]

As much as it seems wrong, when looked at realistically, drinking is a large part of human culture. People have been drinking beer since the dawn of civilization. One should never attempt to link it only to our current culture.

Also, there is a huge difference between "drinking" and "getting drunk". I drink at least once a week, and often more. However, I have only "gotten drunk" once in the past month. I have no problem with people who don't want to spend their evenings puking their guts out, but having one beer isn't going to kill you (unless you are allergic or something).

To sum up, yes I do think that drinking is a large part of our culture and our social experience. If this comes of as harsh or condescending then I am sorry, since I trying to be encouraging. There is a lot of fun to be had with a beer in hand and missing out on it is missing out on a huge part of the cultural experience.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

I need to drink to be part of society. I'm as shy as a squirrel and I need that placebo affect to stop me just bolting when someone tries to talk to me...

EDIT: getting completely drunk is just stupid though.

 

[Antidamacus]

I need to drink to be part of society.

That is a dangerous statement.

 

[John-Joe]

I haven't had any alcohol ever. I'm 27.

If people look down on your because you won't get drunk with them, they're morons. They either like your company or they don't.

Isn't it more the opposite? that you people who don't drink look down on us who do drink?
and do you still believe it's moronic if you look down on people for drinking, or is it only people who drink that are the morons?

I drink, don't really care if you don't, it doesn't bother me in any way..
But does it bother you that I drink?

EDIT: might have sound a little flamer like there, but I'd really like it if you could answer seriously.

 

[Danglybits]

I don't care if people don't drink and I don't mind. I don't ask people who aren't drinking at a party why they aren't because I'm sure they're tired of answering questions about their personal choice. What I mind are people that treat me like they are some how better because I do drink. I've had my fill of the "we don't need to drink alcohol to have a good time, at least we can remember when we have fun nyuk nyuk", attitude. Funny I don't need to drink to have a good time or have black outs either. Those people are called "alcoholics", and they're different from people who drink.

 

[khululy]

I like my beer but I don't drink it for getting drunk. sure the buzz is nice and an altered state of mind is always interesting to experience. But I drink it because I like the taste of a cooled beer.

I'm no way in any position or mood to convince anyone they should drink if they don't want to.

 

[Antidamacus]

I haven't had any alcohol ever. I'm 27.

If people look down on your because you won't get drunk with them, they're morons. They either like your company or they don't.

Isn't it more the opposite? that you people who don't drink look down on us who do drink?
and do you still believe it's moronic if you look down on people for drinking, or is it only people who drink that are the morons?

It's people who say things like "people who don't drink have boring lives" (which was said earlier in the thread) or "the only way to have a good time is to drink" and the like.

People who demand you drink because "everything is super cool when drinking!" are stupid. You should enjoy a person's company (no matter if you're drunk or not). If you don't like them, don't hang out with them.

I drink, don't really care if you don't, it doesn't bother me in any way..
But does it bother you that I drink?

I don't care if YOU drink, but the people who think those that don't drink are party poopers are pretty dumb.

 

[jim_doki]

Drinking is as social as gaming or concerts. I enjoy a good beer or something when partying. There are, however, very important rules that need to be followed:
There is always a designated driver, and if we are out, they drink all the coke or whatever nont alcaholic substance they want for free

there is a shift system in place for designated drivers

if we're at my house, we have couches, pass out on them, dont drive home drunk

 

[scape]

I was a big drinker, but now I just blank out and forget the night, so I try and not drink anything.

More on topic however, I really don't think you need to drink to be socially accepted.
Just you'd have to be superhuman not to get pissed off by other drunks, especially my friends.

 

[ChaoticLegion]

I'm 18 and occasionaly I go out drinking on weekends with social buddies. I don't think there is anything wrong with this, I've never gotten so stupidly drunk that I've not remembered anything, nor have I even thrown up from drinking too much.

I'm not saying that you HAVE to drink to have a good time, but drinking is meerly one more way many people find of having a good time. Sure you can have a good time without alcohol, but you can also have a good time with it, and I feel keeping a balance is important... I think everyone should try it atleast once and not judge until they have experienced it. (No this argument does not go for everything [such as smoking] as certain things are KNOWN to be bad for you, but drinking on the other hand, in reasonable quantities, is not bad for you).

Overall, that's my opinion on the matter. I have several friends who rarely drink / don't like to drink at all and I also have many friends who enjoy going for a night out every few weekends and also some who enjoy going for a night out every single weekend and getting completely hammered. I have nothing against any of these people for their choices... It's their decision, just don't be judgemental without trying it, and also don't start to put people into niches and stereotypes.

 

[Delicious]

Drinking is a great way to get people to interact who under normal circumstances wouldn't give each other the time of the day.

A social icebreaker, if you will.

EDIT: Except, of course, for the angry drunks, but those people rarely get re-invited.

If I don't normally hang out with them, why would I want to hang out with them.... while drunk?

Simply because you don't normally hang out with someone doesn't mean they aren't worth your time.

Many people are shy around strangers, and a drink or two can help alleviate these inhibitions.

 

[JokerGrin]

It's up to the individual whether they drink or not. Why the hell should it bother me if someone chooses not to drink? Always handy to have a driver anyway! Hehe.

Personally I find alcohol makes me more chatty and sociable. I always go out on a saturday night and drink to just about under my limit, then stay on water. I can't stand getting absolutely blotto but enjoy getting.......nicely drunk?

 

[GothmogII]

On the surface, I don't drink because quite simply, I don't like the taste. Although that's not the main reason, it's still true, and granted, this is based entirely on one or two episodes in my life whereby I accidentally took a gulp of vodka and coke or something and having it make me sick to the nine hells. Once burned twice shy as they say. And while yes, I should have let a bad experience rule the day. I don't regret it.

And I'm quite literally richer for it thank you very much :3 Of course, this means I don't go out, almost never really. This of course has the teeny tiny little side effect of not having anything resembling a social life. Which, in my defence I'm perfectly happy with anyway, so I'm not complaining on this point. ^^'

I don't know, some people have posted comments about people thinking themselves better than others because they don't drink or use drugs. And, for me that's true to an extent. Not that I disparage those who partake mind. Just, that I have to hold myself to a higher standard than whom I perceive to be everyone else. I can't, and won't touch any alcohol, any drugs etc. because I feel to do so diminishes me as a person. (And more to the point I'm damn terrified of anything that affects my brain like that directly.)

Anyway...that's just my own thinkings on the matter, closed minded possibly as they be.

 

[Antidamacus]

Simply because you don't normally hang out with someone doesn't mean they aren't worth your time.

Many people are shy around strangers, and a drink or two can help alleviate these inhibitions.

And again I may be talking out of my rear... why don't you work on getting over shyness?

It was cheaper and less harmful to my liver to just get over shyness.

How do people meet new coworkers? Get totally tanked their first day of work?

 

[TwistedEllipses]

Simply because you don't normally hang out with someone doesn't mean they aren't worth your time.

Many people are shy around strangers, and a drink or two can help alleviate these inhibitions.

And again I may be talking out of my rear... why don't you work on getting over shyness?

It was cheaper and less harmful to my liver to just get over shyness.

How do people meet new coworkers? Get totally tanked their first day of work?

1 drink is all I need and getting over shyness is hard!

 

[mike1921]

How do people meet new coworkers? Get totally tanked their first day of work?

I love this idea.

 

[Antidamacus]

1 drink is all I need and getting over shyness is hard!

This may not help you, but this helped me. I used to run track, and I was always nervous about running in front of everyone. Hundreds of people watching a race I was in (and we didn't wear the most convering of clothes) Then I realized I wasn't paying attention to anyone else in their race.

No one cares. Do you remember every stranger you've ever met, the goofy ones, the smart ones, the cute ones? No, there are thousands of them.

Show up and be yourself. If everyone thinks you're a mental case, they won't remember you tomorrow anyways. So who cares?

 

[Deguasser]

Drinking is pointless to me.