Life In 19x19

It is largely a cultural thing. Here in the Northeast U.S., most people from 21-70 drink socially. That doesn't mean people get drunk, though--getting drunk is the exception.

In the South, it is much less common, and you'll find more people who do not drink at all.

My personal opinion is that people should not feel like they are the odd one out, either way.

EDIT: Of course, I only mention the U.S. because that is where I have the most experience.

Around here, I find that the 16-30 culture seems to include a lot of a "let's get wasted!" mentality. Don't really understand it.

Phelan wrote:Around here, I find that the 16-30 culture seems to include a lot of a "let's get wasted!" mentality. Don't really understand it.

Ditto, same here, and likewise I don't understand it.

judicata wrote:
In the South, it is much less common, and you'll find more people who do not drink at all.

I live in Virginia, which considers it part of the south. I find that among my friends in particular and the populace in general there seems to be a wide division. Some never touch it and others drink (mostly in moderation) every time they get together. Very few seem to drink some times and not others.

karaklis wrote:This thread seems to suggest that drinking alcohol is quite normal. Is there anyone except me who does not drink alcohol at all?

Me.

karaklis wrote:This thread seems to suggest that drinking alcohol is quite normal. Is there anyone except me who does not drink alcohol at all?

I don´t drink any kind of alcohol, part of the family from my mother are into it commonly of course, only my father had liver problems because of it.

Last summer two of my closest friends who are studying abroad came to visit their old friend Jonas.
For the sake of our reunion we decided to visit a club or two, drank a lot of beer (may god bless the german reinheitsgebot) after a great party evening we stayed at a friends house and drank some kind of yukky christmas brandy which was a leftover from our last reunion half a year ago.... At 4 o'clock in the morning when everyone was already sleeping I suddenly had the wish to walk home (dont know why). Well... I walked home only wearing a pair of shorts, a tshirt and flipflops. After 1,5 hour of walking in the night I arrived at my home (around 5 km from my friends house).

I was bleeping drunk, my feet were hurting like hell and I was super tired - and suddenly I was like "OMG I HAVE TO PLAY GO!".

When I woke up the next morning my head felt like it would explode every minute. After a short breakfast and a refreshing shower I logged into kgs... I nearlly collapsed when I saw that I had played around 12 games (and lost every singel one) and my rank dropped from 3 kyu to 5kyu.

karaklis wrote:This thread seems to suggest that drinking alcohol is quite normal. Is there anyone except me who does not drink alcohol at all?

finally a sensible voice in this thread.

ive never drank and i i have a very tough time respecting anyone who does drink. sorry, just how i am and its not going to change.

xDragon wrote:

karaklis wrote:This thread seems to suggest that drinking alcohol is quite normal. Is there anyone except me who does not drink alcohol at all?

finally a sensible voice in this thread.

ive never drank and i i have a very tough time respecting anyone who does drink. sorry, just how i am and its not going to change.

That's ok, I have a tough time respecting closed minded people, so I guess it balances out.

Jonas wrote:Last summer two of my closest friends who are studying abroad came to visit their old friend Jonas.
For the sake of our reunion we decided to visit a club or two, drank a lot of beer (may god bless the german reinheitsgebot) after a great party evening we stayed at a friends house and drank some kind of yukky christmas brandy which was a leftover from our last reunion half a year ago.... At 4 o'clock in the morning when everyone was already sleeping I suddenly had the wish to walk home (dont know why). Well... I walked home only wearing a pair of shorts, a tshirt and flipflops. After 1,5 hour of walking in the night I arrived at my home (around 5 km from my friends house).

I was bleeping drunk, my feet were hurting like hell and I was super tired - and suddenly I was like "OMG I HAVE TO PLAY GO!".

When I woke up the next morning my head felt like it would explode every minute. After a short breakfast and a refreshing shower I logged into kgs... I nearlly collapsed when I saw that I had played around 12 games (and lost every singel one) and my rank dropped from 3 kyu to 5kyu.

That is hilarious!!!

I've found that after a drink it becomes impossible to read anything, but other areas of the game it seemed I played the same or better. I don't usually drink more than that, but I imagine if I did I'd not play anything resembling go.

xDragon wrote:

karaklis wrote:This thread seems to suggest that drinking alcohol is quite normal. Is there anyone except me who does not drink alcohol at all?

finally a sensible voice in this thread.

ive never drank and i i have a very tough time respecting anyone who does drink. sorry, just how i am and its not going to change.

Hmmm, interesting. I'm a vegetarian and have no qualms with my fellow meat eaters. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal but respect my conservative friends and sometimes agree with them. I enjoy baseball much more than football, but don't think disparagingly about pigskin fans. I prefer Stella Artois over Guinness and.... Ok, that's different. Nevertheless, whatever floats your boat.

Since I started this thread, I need to perhaps explain a bit:

The purpose of this thread is in no way to advocate or glorify drinking (which, as a term, will mean different things to different people). The fact (I believe), however, is that most people do consume alcohol, and many of them to the extent of sometimes being drunk (again, that meaning different things to different people). In Finland, most Go players are young (students) who tend to get drunk every now and them (not all of them of course, but many/most). I myself am older, and no longer student, and my drinking habits are probably different: I drink often, but not much at a time - mostly a couple of beers/drinks/cider or a few glasses of wine at dinner. I believe that it is not traditionally Finnish, but resembles more of Mid/Southern-European culture. Anyhow, regardless of what can be considered normal/healthy/advisable, I believe that many others are like me - sometimes they drink - and occasionally get drunk. What I wanted to know was whether people play Go when drunk (I sometimes do) and if they do, how is their ability compared to sober (mine is about the same). I had no intention of advocating drinking or suggesting that people should drink. I have the utmost respect to people who don't.

HermanHiddema wrote:That's ok, I have a tough time respecting closed minded people, so I guess it balances out.

Heh, reminds me of the debate I once created for a debating society entitled "Is it intolerant to be intolerant of intolerance?"

No worries, tj86430. I rather enjoy this thread and am glad you started it.