Some People Get REALLY Annoyed I Don't Drink

[biafra]

I'm the kind of guy who has what is typically called a "straightedge" lifestyle..I'm 31 and I've never smoked, did drugs, had alcohol etc...and whenever it comes out that I've never had alcohol,altogether WAY too many people think they have to grill me on my reasoning and talk about why I should. Some actually seem annoyed and I've had one actually get pissed.

The thing is I don't advertise my lifestyle...the only time someone will even know I don't drink is if they straight up ask me, (Usually..what do you drink? You don't drink?! Have you ever had a drink?!!! NEVER!!??), and I have no issues with those who do any of the things I choose not to. My own fiancee drinks on occasion and it's just not a big deal.

I could understand if I were one of the arrogant, pushy straightedge kids...or just some moralizing asshole involving himself in other peoples business..but since I don't do those things I don't see why people give a excretory matter.

I mean honestly...someone telling me I should do what I damn well don't want to (or even asking continued questions why I don't) is as annoying to me as the before mentioned sXe kid or moralizing prick bothering a drinker about their choice.

Can a brother just not drink?

In peace?

Geez.

[Rorschach]

No. You must be one of the flock or else you will be looked at differently, and even scorned and mocked by a few of the flock members.

This is called "groupthink" and it happens all the time. Not saying it's right, but it's a fact of life.

[darthalexander]

Yeah I can imagine how annoying that is. Why do you have to always explain yourself every damn time too? People look at you as if there is something really wrong with you.

I get that with seafood. I can't stand it. But whenever I tell people that I go through this whole damn routine about it.

[AoDfan]

Let us raise our glasses filled with non alcoholic beverages in support of fellow non "Drinkers".

I got hounded at a friends birthday party for not drinking. I fail to see how people can't understand you don't want to drink.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

Same here. I've had one sip of a drink in my life, and it was by accident, but people just don't seem to get that I don't see the appeal of alcohol. I like to think I'm not preachy about it, I just don't see the need of it, but for whatever reason, all my friends that do drink just can't wrap their heads around the concept. Same thing goes for my pothead and smoker friends.

[kittenfantastico]

Good for you! I enjoy drinking but I've never felt the need to drink in order to have a good time. That being said I have a REALLY hard time being in an environment surrounded by drunk people when I'm completely sober... I just don't have the patience for it. Usually it's strangers, not my close friends. I don't enjoy people I don't know falling on me, or leaning on me at say a live show or whatever... not cool.

I think it's a great thing that you are the way you are You're staying true to yourself and that's what matters!

[biafra]

Apr 23, 2009 15:35:12 GMT -5 kittenfantastico said:

Good for you! I enjoy drinking but I've never felt the need to drink in order to have a good time. That being said I have a REALLY hard time being in an environment surrounded by drunk people when I'm completely sober... I just don't have the patience for it. Usually it's strangers, not my close friends. I don't enjoy people I don't know falling on me, or leaning on me at say a live show or whatever... not cool.

I think it's a great thing that you are the way you are You're staying true to yourself and that's what matters!

Thanks.

Oddly enough I've had people tell me basically that I'm doing the "right" thing and they should stop drinking like me etc...and I'm like "why?"

What may be "right" for me might not be for another person; in fact I think it would be a bad idea for someone who isn't causing harm with their drinking to stop because of any peer pressure I'd put on them.

You're right though..people should stay true to themselves, and as long as they aren't causing harm that could encompass totally different things to different people.

[Sharpy Snow]

Actually, when most people I know (I'm 19 if the age is any different) hear I don't drink, they seem to be very cool with it, though they do think it's due to a bad experience.

Only one person thinks I SHOULD drink as according to her 'It makes others feel awkward drinking around you.' But to be honest, she only started drinking a year/year and a half ago herself, so I think she's going for the whole 'PARTY NOW BEFORE YOU GET OLD' thing.

[Deleted]

I hear you there.

Just last night I met my roommate's friend and when she found out I don't drink she was in disbelief for a good five minutes.

The conversation had moved on to other things and then all of a sudden she'd just say. "So you don't drink at all?"

And then a few moments later. "So . . . you don't drink. Not at all?"

After a while she finally came to grips with it and said, "Yeah, sorry - I can see that. Nevermind."

Its always weird to have people shocked by the fact that I don't drink.

I'm like a lot of you guys. I don't run around putting people down for drinking or get on a soapbox about it. I just never developed a taste for alcohol.

To which people always say - "you should try such-and-such, it tastes just like lemonade" (or whatever).

And my reply is always - "Why wouldn't I just drink lemonade then?"

[teamjd]

Apr 23, 2009 15:40:35 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

I'm like a lot of you guys. I don't run around putting people down for drinking or get on a soapbox about it. I just never developed a taste for alcohol.

To which people always say - "you should try such-and-such, it tastes just like lemonade" (or whatever).

And my reply is always - "Why wouldn't I just drink lemonade then?"

I say the same thing ;D Like you, never developed much of a taste for it. Some stuff is good, so I drink a bit, but people act shocked its not more.

[Dynamite Kid]

Drinking is one of the most annoying things in life. Honestly, I drink a little bit, and I enjoy it, but only in tandem with other things. Drinking is not an activity, it is something you do WHILE doing an activity.

And honestly most of it is I don't like how alcohol tastes and I'm a bit of a lightweight. Plus I know what damage it can do to someone.

[default]

I don't get this either. I drink on occassion, smoke, but I have no problems with anyone not doin any or all of those or even anyone who does all of them... so long as they're not causing trouble for others (i.e. driving drunk, a serious alkie with kids, etc.)

My brother has gotten extremely pissed with me for not wanting to drink on several occassions. To the point he's called me every deragatory name one could think of to occassionally threatening me. Then again, he has fairly bad psychological issues like being bipolar which is the reason I never wanted to drink with him because he'd get worse. I've had some friends make some comments too about not wanting to go drink every weekend or just straight up not feeling like it on certain days.

My philosophy is... I have no problems with anyone not drinking, smoking or whatever. I've joked around with a few friends who I knew didn't care (telling them to go smoke a cigarette for me as I was playing video games or something), but I'd never push anything on anyone. All I ask is to leave me alone when it comes to my vices. Again, I don't mind a joke or two now and again, just don't preach to me about it, because I'm already an aetheist.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I don't know what it's like, but if it's anything like people who ask, "You smoke? Does it make you coooool? Is that why you smoke? Makes ya cool?" and "Do you think, you have a drinking problem? No? Denial is the first sign of a problem." I feel for ya.

On any issue, which usually has two sides, there's enough jackasses to go around.

[nt86]

I enjoy a drink when I'm out with friends, but to be honest I can go without drinking for a long time. I'm 22 but I never feel comfortable drinking around my parents for some reason.

[Deleted]

I can see the paradox...that being said as someone who does drink, the thing I see the most about the non drinking friends is that they get alienated...anytime im ever at a party with someone who isn't drinking the aftermentioned feeling of "being uncomfortable" around them is really apparent in alot of people...which I myself find extremely strange considering its only a damn liquid whats the big deal...but in truth I see it happen all the time...In college I know alot of great kids that would hang out with our circle that every weekend no one would even bother to even contact about social events because they didn't drink...its all a very strange culture...


edit: also wanted to add that due to the weird feeling people show around them ive seen some of the kids literally pretending to drink just to try to fit in...guys either acting drunk or walking around with the same red cups everyone has beer in with water in it instead pretending its vodka...

[Deleted]

I used to drink, to the point it was bordering on a problem (I hadn't even turned 20 when I gave it up), and it annoys me when I have to explain myself to people. Although it seems it's only people whose social lives revolve around drinking that I have to explain it to, my friends accept it. But people who actually get annoyed that you don't drink? It's pretty pathetic.

[jagilki]

I don't drink.

I don't mention it to people unless offered a drink.

One time, I seriously got the response of "You don't drink? What are you queer?"

I had no response for that.

[Muskrat]

I love having a non-drinker around. That way if I get too drunk I have a DD, or if I get REALLY drunk I have someone who can fill me in on missing parts of my night

That being said, I'm not gonna lie, when someone says the don't drink I always ask why. It's uncommon in my neck of the woods, so I'm always a little curious if it's just because, or if there's some other outside factor in the decision. I'm not tryin' to be rude

[tigermaskxxxvii]

Apr 23, 2009 15:19:07 GMT -5 biafra said:

I'm the kind of guy who has what is typically called a "straightedge" lifestyle..I'm 31 and I've never smoked, did drugs, had alcohol etc...and whenever it comes out that I've never had alcohol,altogether WAY too many people think they have to grill me on my reasoning and talk about why I should. Some actually seem annoyed and I've had one actually get pissed.

The thing is I don't advertise my lifestyle...the only time someone will even know I don't drink is if they straight up ask me, (Usually..what do you drink? You don't drink?! Have you ever had a drink?!!! NEVER!!??), and I have no issues with those who do any of the things I choose not to. My own fiancee drinks on occasion and it's just not a big deal.

I could understand if I were one of the arrogant, pushy straightedge kids...or just some moralizing asshole involving himself in other peoples business..but since I don't do those things I don't see why people give a excretory matter.

I mean honestly...someone telling me I should do what I damn well don't want to (or even asking continued questions why I don't) is as annoying to me as the before mentioned sXe kid or moralizing prick bothering a drinker about their choice.

Can a brother just not drink?

In peace?

Geez.

Yea, I drink and I have friends who drink. I also know people who did drink but got sober and some who've never touched a drop of alcohol and it's no big deal. I've never gotten any excretory matter from the sXe folks for the most part (although one sXe kid kept asking me question after question about beer at a party in college once mainly due to the fact he's obviously never indulged), sometimes those who got on the wagon can be a little preachy about their sobriety. But I wouldn't get on someone about their choices reguarding something related to drinking/not drinking unless it could harm another person.

So while giving you crap about your non-drinking isn't cool, I think the simple question of "why don't you drink?" is perfectly valid since there are so many reasons for sobriety such as morals (whether secular or religulous) health reasons such as they don't want to make themselves sick with a hangover, or long term affects such as liver damage or even allergy to alcohol, and by "allergy" to alcohol I don't mean if they drink too much they become an uncoordinated unsufferable A-Hole who'll probably end up puking in your toilet. I mean an actual allergy to the incredients in alcohol (i.e. people with celiac disease probably wouldn't be able to enjoy beer since it gives their body an intolerance to barley) then there's those who don't drink because they don't want to follow in the footsteps of alcoholic friends or family (especially if there's a genetic predisposition for addiction).

So asking why you don't drink I feel is perfectly acceptable, just not constantly grilling but something like
Q: Why don't you drink?
A: I don't drink because....

And then just move on from there.

When the WWE board was talking about the Punk-JBL drinking contest I told this little anecdote. March '08 the NYHC band Murphy's Law played at this venue in Worcester called Ralph's Diner and Murphy's Law have a reputation of being as far from being straight edge as you can be. That being said during their set they covered "Straight Edge" by Minor Threat and ML's singer Jimmy G. prefaced the song by screaming "this song isn't about drinking or not drinking. It's about being yourself!!!!!!!"

In conclusion, I don't find your sobriety an affront to me. If anything it just means more booze to go around

[Lance Uppercut]

I'm with ya man. I understand where you're coming from. When I was a little younger I NEVER drank. People always did the same with me. They assumed I was some uptight Jesus freak that was gonna ruin their good time. I've never had a moral dilemma with it. Just never was into it myself. I have beer every once in a while now tho. So I understand where you're coming from. With both the alcohol and the Hinson!