Flambeur
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2008
- Messages
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I used to say that I will never completely trust someone until I've been wasted with them at least a few times, for a variety of reasons. If you think about it, drinking together is a very common and (to me) important male bonding ritual, well depending on the culture, I guess. I have good friends who drink as much as me, and I have good friends who don't drink at all, and to be honest, I connect with and trust the drunkards a bit more. In addition, I find that many of the people who do not drink have other vices - drugs (prescription or not), gambling, some other obsessions, religious zeal, etc. A lot of times it also seems that they also aren't as likely to just sit back and relax with us drunkards and watch the world go by, it's harder for them to slow down or be still.
I am not trying to judge or offend here, but I am trying to understand what motivates people to drink or not, and what you guys think along the lines of my reasoning. I believe that alcohol is one of the simple pleasures of life, whether it's a good pint, a great wine, scotch, whatever. Relaxing at a bar with friends and being slightly buzzed, drinking to your victories, enjoying a bottle of great wine with a gorgeous woman who intoxicates you as much as the wine - those are all things I enjoy. Of course there are also ways that do not involve alcohol, but why not enjoy in moderation?
Obviously I am making an allowance here for medical reasons (serious potential for alcoholism or something, liver problems, allergy, etc). I am much more interested in philosophical or social reasons here. I also understand that there are right times to drink or not to drink, like not drinking at a job that requires you to keep focused, or being obsessed with athletic side of things (although I think moderate alcohol consumption is fine for even the best athletes in the world).
Thoughts, opinions?
I am not trying to judge or offend here, but I am trying to understand what motivates people to drink or not, and what you guys think along the lines of my reasoning. I believe that alcohol is one of the simple pleasures of life, whether it's a good pint, a great wine, scotch, whatever. Relaxing at a bar with friends and being slightly buzzed, drinking to your victories, enjoying a bottle of great wine with a gorgeous woman who intoxicates you as much as the wine - those are all things I enjoy. Of course there are also ways that do not involve alcohol, but why not enjoy in moderation?
Obviously I am making an allowance here for medical reasons (serious potential for alcoholism or something, liver problems, allergy, etc). I am much more interested in philosophical or social reasons here. I also understand that there are right times to drink or not to drink, like not drinking at a job that requires you to keep focused, or being obsessed with athletic side of things (although I think moderate alcohol consumption is fine for even the best athletes in the world).
Thoughts, opinions?