<p>So why is it that once everybody goes to college, there's almost no such thing as having fun without alcohol.. </p>
<p>I know what you're going to say, "Not EVERYBODY drinks, there are a lot of people who don't..." </p>
<p>Ok, 95% of the people here (UW-Madison) do, and it's that 95% that rules the campus and makes the bathrooms reek and send the ambulances blaring at 2am...
And then you find a club, say a running club, that finds fun in other things, but what do all the members do for fun? Get Drunk! Triaining for a marathon? Ok, everybody's drinking it up afterwards.. </p>
<p>I mean, there are some legitimately good trips that would be worth going on: races, spring break trips, state parks, trips to Chicago for a Cubs game... but what's always included? Party! Get Drunk! </p>
<p>Is there something I'm missing, why is it that everybody has to get drunk to enjoy life and the other people in it??</p>
<p>why does everyone have to drink? b/c its fun. no really though. have you ever drank before? or did you have a bad episode? why not join the party, bud? if you dont like it then i think you should transfer, thats what i did. and now im having a wonderfull time.</p>
<p>well for me, i personally enjoy the taste of beer. there is nothing like ending the day with a beer and couple friends; it's a great way to just relax. </p>
<p>for college students it's more a social thing. kids are horny, they want to get drunk and hook up with people. some just love the wildness of being drunk and the things associated with it. it's also a great social icebreaker; you're able to talk to people easier - especially people you've never considered talking to before!</p>
<p>Forgive me if it sounds callous, but if you are so opposed to alcohol, why would you have chosen to go to a school that is known for parties and rampant binge drinking?</p>
<p>i got drunk for the first time last night and had a BLAST. there are a million parties tonight and tomorrow i can't wait.</p>
<p>BUT.</p>
<p>just because i haven't been drunk any other time since i've been here doesn't mean i haven't had fun, it's just a different kind of fun. you can go to parties and be the designated driver. you can make friends who don't drink. you can be in track and just not go to the parties, etc.</p>
<p>Well, since you're and EMT, i'm just curious...</p>
<p>Do you ever feel that you -shouldn't- help out the intoxicated? I mean, if they got so drunk and passed out and threw up everywhere...and nobody helped them, then they wouldn't be so inclined to do it again. If they were out on the streets and somebody took the wallet, they wouldn't do it again.
But instead there's always the EMT to save the day, or the friend to keep them out of too much trouble. Honestly, if I saw somebody passed out in their own vomit, i'd leave them there.</p>
<p>Do you have similar sentiment, or do you see it from a different perspective??</p>
<p>Well, they're probably not going to remember the experience anyway, so I doubt that would be much of a deterrent lol...</p>
<p>But seriously, I really never think of it like that. I dunno, it's hard to explain. I guess I see it fron the perspective that I have the training and knowledge to help them, and I'm going to. It's an altruistic motivation, one that I would hope any person would have for someone else in such a predicament. And obviously not just alcohol - we see so many stupid things in EMS, but those people are no less deserving of care than anyone else. Obviously it sucks when people are intoxicated and ::ahem:: less than receptive to your help, but thats just part of it, and you realize that they aren't fully aware of what they're doing.
Sorry, that was a horrible response, but I hope it answered your question in some way.</p>
<p>"well for me, i personally enjoy the taste of beer. there is nothing like ending the day with a beer and couple friends; it's a great way to just relax. "</p>
<p>Couldnt have said it better myself :)</p>
<p>"Honestly, if I saw somebody passed out in their own vomit, i'd leave them there."</p>
<p>Justplaying, there is nothing wrong with drinking. You need to loosen up, you only live once might as well enjoy life to the fullest....</p>
<p>Even in highschool, (at least where I live) drinking/getting drunk is the highlight of alot of kids weekends. I can't remember a party I've gone to recently that people weren't drinking. I drink, but not beer. So, if all they have is beer, I carry a cup, but don't drink much(to stop people from constantly asking if I need some beer). I never really get <em>drunk</em>, though.</p>
<p>Drinking in moderation isn't bad. Binge drinking is bad. It just seems that my school is full of people who never drank in high school, so they feel they have to compensate by getting so ridiculously wasted they can't stand in college. (I already know a girl that had to be taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital after her suitemates couldn't wake her up.)</p>
<p>Whoa, calm down. There is nothing wrong with drinking. Have you ever tried it? It's just a tool to help you loosen up from your daily regimen, have fun, and socialize. Not everything is about work and getting it done. If you dont like being tipsy or drunk then good for you, Im not much of a drinker myself. But if youre judging it simply because of its stigma then you might want to loosen up and give it a tryyou might be missing an integral part of life you never knew about.</p>
<p>And why is everybody so quick to look down on people who abuse their alcohol? You can abuse everything. There are people addicted to overeating, and that is much worse for your body than the damage drinking does to your liver and brain cells--yet we feel sorry for the former. And whatever you do, do not associate the substance with the substance abuse, i.e. alcoholics, potheads, junkies. Moderation is the key with almost everything.</p>
<p>They say that 4 to 5 drinks is called binge drinking. I drink more than that when I brush my teeth. LOL Most of these people must have warm beer by the time they are done if they are only drinking 5 beers at a 3 hour long party. Hell anymore it takes me a case to get tanked.</p>
<p>"But if youre judging it simply because of its stigma then you might want to loosen up and give it a tryyou might be missing an integral part of life you never knew about."</p>
<p>It's interesting how when people find out that you don't drink, they sort of take offense, but not in the traditional sort of way. The kinda go on the offensive and come at you with a skeptical look followed by "Why not? Dude, why not?! It's great! You need to! MY goal is to get you drinking by the time the year is over..." Etc.</p>
<p>Now seriously, do you really think these guys - from your roommate to the guy you just get to talking with at the cafeteria - do you really think they're so concerned with how fun your life is and how much time you spend having enjoying life? Nope. If you tell your mother you don't get drunk, she'll be relieved. You tell your roommate you don't party, and it's become his mission to get you to join him at the frat houses. Why do they encourage you to drink? Why is is that, if you tell them you don't like coke, nobody gets on the offensive and encourages you to drink coke?
I think it's because a lot of people recognize drinking as a vice within themselves, and by nature humans don't like seeing others better off or "more successful" than they themselves are. Who doesn't want to see they girl who gets straight A's... finally get a C?? Who enjoys seeing the new BMW get in a wreck that smashes the hood in? Who doesn't want to see the girl with the hot body, down a slice of pizza? By nature, we don't like seeing others better off, in this case without the vice of drinking that it has become in some many people's lives.</p>
<p>(BTW, i think that if a food or drink has become an "integral part of your life"... maybe that food or drink is just the vice that i'm referring to above.")</p>
<p>also BTW -
I'm in it for the discussion/argument, so don't think i'm trying to put anybody down or get in some kind of board confrontation..</p>
<p>The post wasn't so much about you as it was the issue you (unintentionally) brought up about others urging you to drink/ try it out once the find out you abstain.</p>
<p>I live in a wee college town with a population of just 113,000. Every friday and saturday I see students getting drunk and trashed, spewing and ****ing themselves like mad (excuse my language). I kind of understand. Students at my school do it because it's cool when you're underage, and university students drink because there's nothing else to do in a small town. They're simply bored. Wouldn't madison be the same? Isn't the population something like 200,000? I am just starting to realize the importance of surrounding city when choosing universities, too bad I already sent my applications (to WI-madison as well)...</p>