Useless fact of the day:

Barbie's full name is Barbra Millicent Roberts.

Now isn't THAT a useFUL fact ???

I say...

So anyways, as I promised, I was gonna preach them Anti-Alcohol words of... Myself. So what is it then that I dislike about alcohol ?

I have discussed this subject with some of the #gnug channel regulars, and mostly, they find it pretty hard to understand my stance to this. It didn't help that I couldn't argument properly for my case, or come up with something truly concrete as of why I don't drink, and never intend to. I will try to loosely go through some of the reasons here.

First off, I have to say, that i have never been drunk, infact, I have never touched alcohol. On purpose anyway. And I have through my entire life basically only seen the bad/ill effects of alcohol. Are there any good effects ? People say that it's fun to drink, and get drunk.

Some drink for the taste of it, that's fine by me. I would drink for the taste of it too if I had fallen into liking it. But I see no need of drinking wine or beer, especially since I dispiiiiiise the smell of it. And my nose and mouth enjoy quite a seamless cooperation when it comes to judging of food and drink.

So many ppl recommend it, and say it tastes good, and that I don't know what I'm missing. And that's true, I don't know what I'm missing. But if I don't know what I'm missing, then am I actually missing anything ? If I HAD tasted it, loved it, but could never (or not in a long time, or short, whatevr) taste it again, THEN I would know what to miss, and miss it I would.

Drinking is usually closely associated to partying. That being in the sense of, a lot of people getting together, a lot of drinking, chaos, irresponsibilities, easy behavour, the works.

This would be alot of people's idea of fun. Just not mine.

I have to add that I am a pretty stubborn person, who has a lot of weird "rules" or principles rather, that I stick to, with all of my might. A bit too much sometimes actually. (Just ask around ;) )

As a Gnugling, I told myself, that I would NEVER ever Drink or smoke. And stubborn as I am, I made these two promises into principles, which I have followed, and am planning to follow to the very end. Why you ask ? Well, why NOT I ask ?

Are these 2 "habits" constructive in any way ? (I'm gonna focus on Alcohol consumption primarily ofcourse) I would argue that they're not. Not in many ways anyway. I look at the Cons and "Pro's" here. Personally, I don't see it as having any Pros, though others will argue that it does have Pros. But whether you see it as those, or not, seems to be entirely down to personal opinion.

First off, there's the physical health issue, which I'm not gonna get into, cause frankly, I don't care much. Some say a good drink now and then is healthy, some say it isn't. Most agree that drinking too much is bad for you, and so on. That's not the reason why I don't drink.

It's the mental health that I'm mostly concerned about, but temporary and permanent. The temporary effects are known to most. The buzz, the liberation of one self and such. The buzz is probably nice, but I'm not into those, not unless my mind is a 100% mentally present and working. Go Bungee'ing, para jumping, whatever, THOSE are rushes/buzzes worth having.

So anyways, most drinkers agree that it's pretty stupid to get totally senselessly drunk. But they also claim that they're not always in control of that. Ok, some persistantly claim to be in 100% control of themselves. I simply don't believe that. So where's the limit of control ? Who's to say, and know ? For me, being 100% in control of myself and my mind is very important. My nature demands it, my kind of person and weird humor requires it. I take humor and fooling around pretty seriously. But I want to be able to switch over to being serious in an INSTANT. And THAT is IMO totally impossible as soon as the drinks start pouring in.

It's been argued that one gets to know/see new sides of one self when under influence. And one dares to do things, such as hit on the other gender, or simply just make contact. But I don't see the totally reasonable thing in that when you're not your normal self when drunk. And I would argue, form observing a lot of drunken/influenced friends, that they change, from a lot to a little, and into something imo worse. They get unhumourously silly, uncontrolled, inconsistent, incoherent, adbrasive, even rude and hostile. Sure they can be jolly enough. But it will be a state they'll be in for a while, meaning, you will not be able to expect much seriousness from them for the next few hours. Switching from serious to non-serious is something I do a lot, and think most should be able to do. The way I have fun is probably a lot different from most. Parties, for instance, are NOT my kind of fun.

The loud music, which makes it pretty impossible to communicate properly, which is something I value highly. (Has a lot to do with the way I have fun). The Chaos that inevitably ensues in a room filled with drunk/influenced people. I don't like Chaos, being a perfectionist, it's basically my diametral opposite.

The question of being totally clean and sober at all times is also something that me and friends disagree on. I guess I'm just control-obsessed. Being out of control for just the slightest of moment, mentally, is something I actually fear. I fear the way I might be and act if I was drunk. WHich leads to another question. When drunk, some things, truths come out into the open, Thruths that wouldn't normally come out. And one can ask, are thos truths supposed to be hidden or not ? I would say that somethings are best left unsaid and undone. If everyone said everything they felt, it would be utter chaos and mayhem. So what, why not blow off steam by drinking ? I don't feel like doing that at all, since blowing off steam isn't the only effect you get. There are a lot of side effects Imo. And I'm not just thinking of the physical hangover the day after. I would hope that people that drink are with me here, and know that it's not all bliss and good things that come out of drinking. And there's always the total tragedies, that mostly come from excessive drinking, whatever they migth be. I need not mention drunk driving here.

It never ceases to amaze me when people are caught driving drunk, even respectable and high esteemed people with everything to lose. (Had a few cases of high profile politicians driving drunk over here recently. Their careers went POOF... sheeesh). "But that could never happen to me, I'm in total control of my drinking ". Heard that one before ? The fact is, that people really don't know when they lose control, or rather, where that threshold is. But why even tempt fate like that ?

On that area, I prefer not to. I want to be able to be kept accounted for everything that I have ever done, even my stupidities and errors. For many, being drunk is an excuse for when they've done something bad. "Ah, I musta been very drunk that night then". Then they go on to contradict themselves by claiming that they're in total control of what they do when drunk. Seems like some people abuse their drunken state as a period where they can totally escape their world, and be totally irresponsible. Ok, so someone might have a dying need to do that, no biggie, just not something I see as being morally correct. Whatever the motive behind drinking for each person is, most likely not something morally wrong for everyone, it's not something for me, and I will not likely be turned to think that it's right, for me anyways.

And personally, I seriously think that the world would be a better place without alcohol. Again, I won't get in on alcoholism, which has, and is ruining many lives out there. A crude and simple solution to it would be to never start. I think people are just playing with fire when drinking. But then again, we're all playing with fire really, with something, in some way.

But what about attitude ? I think there's a difference in attitude towards life in general. More and more so the more and more people drink. It's the comprimising bit I'm concerned about. This might come across sounding very crude, but this is generally how it works, if even on a sub-concious basis, which is something people don't know too much about. Just as saying that TV has an effect on them or not. Anyways, if you don't feel much about drinking, but do enjoy a beer now and then, what's to keep you from escalating your level of consupmtion ? Unless you set some very clear boundaries and principles ? Even if you do, you're still in the danger zone. So if you don't wanna do it, just don't. Simple as that. To burn a house down, you only need a match.

I just think it's a start down a wrong path, where your tolerance levels for whatever will be shifted. No one can say for sure how it affects someone, since the human mind is so extremely complex. For instance, TV and Game Violence doesn't make one violent necesarily. One can't even tell whether it has a positive or negative effect, both is probably right, depending on the persons. I would argue that alcohol isn't positive for... well, just about anyone.

One thing is that grown ups drink, they're atleast to be held accountable for their actions, and probably need some occasional loosening up. But young people ? Even Kids ? I'm talking 12-13-14 year olds here, and that's totally insane. It's so utterly clear to see that they're not ready for alcohol. Feeling all cool and important, gee, swell. I think kids, and people in general should think long and hard about WHY they drink, or even start to, or want to. Ok, not that all kids and young people are too able to think so much ahead being young and experienced, but atleast give it an honest shot. And you shouldn't just start to do something because of others practically making the decision for you, which is often the case, with peer pressure and group pressure, 2 incredibly large factors, especially in the young years. In my young years, I think instead of rebelling against my Parents, society and the established system and norms, I rebelled against my peers and other young people. Refusing to follow trends and such. Well, in some areas anyways, it's not like I totally alienated myself, and I DID have friends. :) Ok, so I was lucky to find friends who didn't take much interest in drinking either, and had fun in MY kinda way. :)

So what about the social aspect ? For many, it seems like a good chance to get together with others, and meet new people. But seriously, couldn't the circumstances be a lot better and sober ? It seems that some people don't want to be fully responsible and mentally present when making new aquaintances in this way. But then again, those new aquaintances are probably not too sober themselves. But what's the point when people are too druk to rememeber anything and really aren't themselves when influenced ? Ok, here, again, comes the factor of HOW much has been taken in comes into play. If I'm supposed to get to know new people at some occasion, I prefer to befully aware of what's going on so that I can get to know that person properly. And I DO prefer them to be sober, and themselves too, not some weird, jolly, irresponsible and uncontrolled version of themselves. Control and responsibility are not something I concider to be inhibitions, rather personality traits. And when I want to get loose, I want it to be a 100% in my own control. And I definately don't want to sit and make someones aquaintance, and then the next day hear that "oh, well, that wasn't really me, I was drunk, and blah blah".

So, do I need this ? I don't. I don't see any reason for it, SO GET OFF MY BACK, RAAAAAAAAAAA. I mean, *cough*.

So, why Blab about this ? I could care less really, couldn't I ? Live and let live, no need to preach. Well, I would actually not have a problem with it if it wasn't for the fact that most people around me drink, and find it weird that I don't, and constantly nag me about it, talk about it, and so on. I find myself often somewhat ostrasized from cliques and groups just because of this. But did that make me want to be a part of their group ? No, it only made me take bigger distance from it all. So for me, it's been a snowball effect. So eventually, I couldn't shut up about it. It's like: "No thanks, I don't drink" and they ask, all amazed and almost shocked: "Why not ???", and eventually, I could only ask: "Why should I ? Is it something I can't live without ? Is it so damn strange that I chose not to ?" Seems that with some people, it's just something obvious to do, and people that don't are either weird, mentally ill, religious fanatics, freaks and so on. Ok so I might fall into the category of weird, but IMO, most people do. Too few want to admit that though.

So anyways, now I'm in here blowing off some steam.

Hmm, ok, I don't think I missed anything here. I didn't even bring up religion, which for many is the reason not to drink, or, for some, the reason TO drink. Somewhat their own little rebellion against the established system, and the norms. For me, religion has hardly anything to do with it. But since we're at it, the biblical point of vies seems to be that it's quite ok to consume wine and the likes, just not to get drunk. Think it says that people should stay sober, for the day might come, or something. Sounds sensible enough, and besides, most rules and laws in there are for our own good, though most fail to see that.

On a side note, here's a link to a little interview with George Lucas which I found interesting, since I agree with what he's saying. Link: http://msnbc.com/news/267917.asp

ANYWAYS..... I think I'm done. I know this probably came off as very Hoiler than Thou, but that wasn't the plan, so don't anyone take offence, or I will RAAAAAAAA at you.

Be sure to email me, or look me up in #GNUG or ICQ if you have any opinions on this and something else you would want to know. I don't do pizza deliveries though.

Gnug215