Don't drink, Don't smoke, what do you do?

[jig-sore]

it's nothing to do with health issues and I'm not trying to stop people enjoying themselves, i just really don't see the attraction of it.

it don't look nice, it don't smell nice, most of it don't taste nice and it's a waste of money, but the main thing is the implication that you are less of a man if you don't drink.

when visiting my father-in-law in wales he will often comment how he and the brother-in-law spent so long in one pub the sun was coming up when they left, and he says this with so much pride I'm sure he thinks I'm gonna bow down in front of him and kiss his feet. WTF is going through his head ??? what next... who can pee furthest up the wall ????

why does he feel the need to "strut" this information in front of me as some kind of challenge ???

and what the hell is this???....

a few words spring to mind but I'm not typing them in here

i would be interested to see what the women think about it all ???

PS: please don't read my comments as being a rant or angry, read them as total disbelief :?::?:

 

[darkstar]

i would be interested to see what the women think about it all ???

As i said in my post, in my experience at uni, girls tend to drink beyond their limits more regularly than blokes. I suppose they try to keep up?

As for the whole macho thing, i suppose it depends on the type of people you associate yourself with.

 

[hackbike 666]

it's the young lad from the "children crossing" road sign, flipped 90deg and stuck on the cycle chat logo. with wheels like that, it's gonna happen

Did you do it with photoshop?

Cheers.

 

[Kirstie]

In the past I've smoked, taken drugs and drunk to excess, all while at Uni, and not really since then. It was a laugh at the time but my body just can't take all that abuse any more! People I know still smoke weed etc but I just can't deal with it physiologically so would rather abstain. I love good wine, good single malt and good real ale - especially the gourmet artisan type, all in small quantities though. I have watched people get totally hammered as some kind of macho thing and it's just not attractive. It's a kind of masculinity which is boorish, arrogant and ultimately very dull.

Also within the last year I watched my training partner who I trained, raced and toured with - quite hardcore stuff too - for four years lose the plot because of a stressful job, and drink and smoke herself into oblivion every weekend. A couple of years ago we were on the podium in mtb all nighters, riding LEJOG and seriously pounding the tarmac on a very regular basis. If we go to the pub I just can't keep up with her drinking rate and have given up trying. I no longer have someone to share my riding with, and also chat to every week because she'd rather drink herself stupid. She's now gained weight and is so unfit that she's really starting from scratch. I've tried to be there for her to support her with the stress, but when I text her to go riding she just doesn't reply. I'm hoping that we can do some short rides in the spring. To say that I am gutted about this is an understatement as she was my best friend and I don't want to see her ruin herself with drink and fags.

 

[Apeman]

Too many people and young people in particular seem to think that going out and getting smashed at the weekend is like a badge of honour. In this neck of the woods it is great to be thought of as someone who can "down some drink" This is all well and good until they have serious health problems related to drink and go bleating to their doctor looking for treatment. I believe that if you are a heavy smoker and/or drinker then a doctor has the right to refuse treatment until those people accept some responsibilty for their own health. In the end the increased costs to the health service eventually boils down to us -the poor old taxpayer!! Increase the price of booze and stop supermarkets selling cheap drink along with outlawing happy hours and drink competitions and better health education programmes might give us all a fighting chance to improve our overall attitude to binge/heavy drinking.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

There seems to be a lot of people assuming that getting drunk is all about appearing "macho". Well, I suppose it could be about that for some people, but I simply enjoy getting drunk in like minded company, usually my family. It's not a thing I do often, and my definition of "to excess" stops some way short of throwing up and waking up in a bin the next morning, but I enjoy it nevertheless. As I said earlier, it's more about having no other responsibilities for the evening.

 

[longers]

As I said earlier, it's more about having no other responsibilities for the evening.

It was a macho thing growing up, he can hold his ale, he can't etc etc but nowadays I agree with what you've posted above. I went out yesterday at dinnertime to the pub and it didn't matter what time I came home, everything was in place so I didn't have to do too much today either. It's very rare that I do this.

It is possible to have a healthy relationship with alcohol and it is possible for that to include overindulging occasionally. There are a lot of unhealthy relationships with alcohol though and it can be a fine line between the two.

Hope your mate gets through her bad patch Kirstie and becomes your riding partner again.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Everything is about being macho when you're growing up.

 

[Arch]

There seems to be a lot of people assuming that getting drunk is all about appearing "macho". Well, I suppose it could be about that for some people, but I simply enjoy getting drunk in like minded company, usually my family. It's not a thing I do often, and my definition of "to excess" stops some way short of throwing up and waking up in a bin the next morning, but I enjoy it nevertheless. As I said earlier, it's more about having no other responsibilities for the evening.

I think we've established that even tipsy, you're a sensible sort of chap. Sorry. It's your age...

In answer to Anorak, I don't see excessive drinking as macho, in fact it would put me right off*. But I'm old, and maybe young girls think differently. Or rather some young girls - the one thing we've established here is that we're all different.

*Actually, thinking about it, maybe I would see it as macho, because I don't really go for macho. If a guy has to prove himself by drinking more than anyone else, I'm not interested. So 'macho' isn't something to aim for in my book.

I think some people, male and female, just assume that excess is necessary to enjoy themselves. Some of them will grow up and realise it isn't, some won't, in the same way that some people never grow out of being as possessive as a toddler, or being bullies, or thinking farts are the height of sophisticated comedy....

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think we've established that even tipsy, you're a sensible sort of chap. Sorry. It's your age...

... some people never grow out of ... thinking farts are the height of sophisticated comedy....

Why, are they not?

 

[Baggy]

<parp>

 

[Baggy]

I used to enjoy drinking to excess on a regular basis, but my perspective changed whilst I was in a relationship a with someone who bordered on being a self-destructive drinker. Dealing with this, coupled with falling prey to appaling hangovers in my early 30s took the pleasure out of getting completely hammered.

I still enjoy drinking, but mostly in moderation. Am not sure it's limited to being a macho thing, I knew plenty of women who wore their hangovers as a badge of honour and could get spiteful if you didn't drink, or didn't want to go on the lash.

One friend in particular would constantly go on at me to have a drink, and if I didn't want one would start calling me boring, telling me it would help me to relax. We don't see each other any more as unfortunately it turned into an insurmountable problem.

 

[beanzontoast]

I've never smoked (and I mean never - not a one). Like the occasional drink - red wine, maybe a glass of sherry or port - but as the OP asked, I don't think it 'makes' you anything.

I also like to be able to refuse the offer of an alcoholic drink without offending. There are some people I know who do get a bit offended when I do refuse and ask for a soft drink instead, but each to his/her own - I wouldn't criticise their choice: all I ask is that they don't criticise mine in return.

 

[jig-sore]

Did you do it with photoshop?

Cheers.

[off topic]

no, just messing around in paint

done a few other options...

PS: you can have any of the images you want as i've already found another avatar today, just giving this one a few days life
[/off topic]

 

[jig-sore]

good topic people and good answers, thank you

like i said this is not a rant im just trying to understand others point of view.

my wife likes to have a glass of wine when she's not working (works lates) and probably gets through a bottle a week but i still see even this as excessive, it's just me, i just think WHY ??