Why do people drink beer?

Another post, which should be obvious, brought up this question. Instead of highjacking that thread i thought i'd bring it up in my own post. Why do most people feel the need to drink alcohol despite the irrefutable long-term effects, and any benefits of which can be obtained much more efficiently through other means?

Perhaps it's culture? Has america simply developed an alcoholic culture? From both personal experience and observation i have noticed those who refuse to drink are often chastised severely, despite it being the healthier choice. Could it be this cultural evolution that has brought up the debates regaurding drugs? Is this all destined to escelate, working it's way up to more powerful chemicals, all in the name of free will and feeling good?

I am 19 years old, and mysteriously enough i am exposed to those who drink alcohol on a regular basis. Hell, i've formulated the hypothesis that i may quite literally be one of 17 people in this city that dont actually drink. And i'm referring to people in the 15-20 age range, myself and my friends(whom drink regularly)being 19(this of course bringing up an entirely different issue altogether, underage drinking. But that's for another discussion).

Feel free to enlighten me, i in no way have a bone to pick. This is not meant as some insult merely pure curiousity. It quite literally makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Maybe it's the way i was raised. I dont know. But there are plenty of things that taste better, and plenty of way's to feel "better" without actually performing any true physical harm to one's self, most specifically the irreplaceable braincells (As i recall, the one cell the body does not reproduce and that is specifically targeted by alcohol).

Substance abuse has been around since man. It's nothing new, maybe a little more refined now but that's it.

Bacchanalia and so forth.

It gives people something to do that isn't distracting while the socialise.

Good question.

It might be like the monkey on Futurama who was super-IQed when he had that hat on, but could never feel natural while all that was going on up there, so killing off the cells is basically like the chimp falling down the waterfall and damaging the hat that made him super smart, making him "average."

Maybe people like being average? I don't, but everyone's different.

I suppose alcohol is just a good social lubricantdomatron23

True. A lot of people use it as a crutch to help them socialize where they wouldn't be able to do so sober.

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

Another post, which should be obvious, brought up this question. Instead of highjacking that thread i thought i'd bring it up in my own post. Why do most people feel the need to drink alcohol despite the irrefutable long-term effects, and any benefits of which can be obtained much more efficiently through other means?

Perhaps it's culture? Has america simply developed an alcoholic culture? From both personal experience and observation i have noticed those who refuse to drink are often chastised severely, despite it being the healthier choice. Could it be this cultural evolution that has brought up the debates regaurding drugs? Is this all destined to escelate, working it's way up to more powerful chemicals, all in the name of free will and feeling good?

I am 19 years old, and mysteriously enough i am exposed to those who drink alcohol on a regular basis. Hell, i've formulated the hypothesis that i may quite literally be one of 17 people in this city that dont actually drink. And i'm referring to people in the 15-20 age range, myself and my friends(whom drink regularly)being 19(this of course bringing up an entirely different issue altogether, underage drinking. But that's for another discussion).

Feel free to enlighten me, i in no way have a bone to pick. This is not meant as some insult merely pure curiousity. It quite literally makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Maybe it's the way i was raised. I dont know. But there are plenty of things that taste better, and plenty of way's to feel "better" without actually performing any true physical harm to one's self, most specifically the irreplaceable braincells (As i recall, the one cell the body does not reproduce and that is specifically targeted by alcohol).

Tolwan

Why are people making these threads so much lately? "Why do people smoke?" "Why do people drink?"

Uh...have you ever been high? Getting high feels GOOD. Beer gets you high (if you drink enough of it), therefore drinking beer feels good. Therefore, people drink beer, because they like to feel good.

Come on dude, this is a silly question, really. So alcohol is bad for you? So what? Unless you REALLY overdrink, it's probably not gonna kill you. And even if it does eventually end up killing you, you're still probably gonna live to a ripe old age. You'd might as well ask why people eat pizza. Pizza is bad for you too, and pizza doesn't even get you high!

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

Tolwan

The negative effects of substances like pizza can be countered. Fat can be burned, nutrients can later be consumed, teeth can be brushed, etc. etc.

The effects of things like alcohol and drugs have more longterm effects. Even if the effects are blaringly obvious or not immediatly fatal, they do also effect your performance, mentally. It can turn in A student into a C student, effect concentration, form reliances and the such.

And just because it feel's good certainly doesnt mean you should do it, and that's my point. One can have fun without going overboard. There are plenty of other things to do in this world. Must life be soley centered on fun even at every cost. Your right, even with alcohol you may live to be an old man, however, that alcohol will also make you one of those incompetent old men, as opposed to those who either continue to successful work until death or be capable of doing marathon runs.

It just, does not, make sense. I eat pizza because it tastes good and has absolutely no lasting effects whatsoever (that i can not counter, at the very least).

Substance abuse has been around since man. It's nothing new, maybe a little more refined now but that's it.

Bacchanalia and so forth.

YeahYes

Even the animals like to get high. It's been around since BEFORE man. Have you heard about catnip? Catnip gets cats high.

And then there are those south american lemurs that lick millipedes. See, these millipedes, as a defense, excrete a strong toxin. The only thing is that in small enough amounts, it isn't fatal. It just gets you REALLY high. So there are these lemurs that go around looking for millipedes. Not to eat, but to lick. Then they lick they millipedes and get completely ****ed up. It's just like the human kids who catch toads just to lick them, except that these are ANIMALS doing it.

Furthermore, in some beachside resorts, there are monkey problems. The native monkeys go around stealing peoples drinks. Why? Because animals LIKE TO GET HIGH.

I suppose alcohol is just a good social lubricantdomatron23

Exactly, interesting conversations and mind stimulating content aren't a concern when your wasted off your face. Hence why it's so easy to get along with just about anyone when you intoxicated.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

dgbiker1

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

[QUOTE="YeahYes"]

Substance abuse has been around since man. It's nothing new, maybe a little more refined now but that's it.

Bacchanalia and so forth.

MrGeezer

Even the animals like to get high. It's been around since BEFORE man. Have you heard about catnip? Catnip gets cats high.

And then there are those south american lemurs that lick millipedes. See, these millipedes, as a defense, excrete a strong toxin. The only thing is that in small enough amounts, it isn't fatal. It just gets you REALLY high. So there are these lemurs that go around looking for millipedes. Not to eat, but to lick. Then they lick they millipedes and get completely ****ed up. It's just like the human kids who catch toads just to lick them, except that these are ANIMALS doing it.

Furthermore, in some beachside resorts, there are monkey problems. The native monkeys go around stealing peoples drinks. Why? Because animals LIKE TO GET HIGH.

Animals are also primitive and some even toss around their own fesces. Ok then, good enough reason to drink alcohol. Not... I thought the one thing to seperate man from animal was our intelligence. That we have moved beyond giving in to basic indulgences.

The negative effects of substances like pizza can be countered. Fat can be burned, nutrients can later be consumed, teeth can be brushed, etc. etc.

The effects of things like alcohol and drugs have more longterm effects. Even if the effects are blaringly obvious or immediatly fatal, they do also effect your performance, mentally. It can turn in A student into a C student, effect concentration, form reliances and the such.

And just because it feel's good certainly doesnt mean you should do it, and that's my point. One can have fun without going overboard. There are plenty of other things to do in this world. Must life be soley centered on fun even at every cost. Your right, even with alcohol you may live to be an old man, however, that alcohol will also make you one of those incompetent old men, as opposed to those who either continue to successful work until death or be capable of doing marathon runs.

It just, does not, make sense. I eat pizza because it tastes good and has absolutely no lasting effects whatsoever (that i can not counter, at the very least).

Tolwan

[QUOTE="Tolwan"]

The negative effects of substances like pizza can be countered. Fat can be burned, nutrients can later be consumed, teeth can be brushed, etc. etc.

The effects of things like alcohol and drugs have more longterm effects. Even if the effects are blaringly obvious or immediatly fatal, they do also effect your performance, mentally. It can turn in A student into a C student, effect concentration, form reliances and the such.

And just because it feel's good certainly doesnt mean you should do it, and that's my point. One can have fun without going overboard. There are plenty of other things to do in this world. Must life be soley centered on fun even at every cost. Your right, even with alcohol you may live to be an old man, however, that alcohol will also make you one of those incompetent old men, as opposed to those who either continue to successful work until death or be capable of doing marathon runs.

It just, does not, make sense. I eat pizza because it tastes good and has absolutely no lasting effects whatsoever (that i can not counter, at the very least).

dgbiker1

Nothing like unneccessary condescending remarks to help one secure their own beleifs. Thanks chuck.

It tastes good, mixing extremely well with some of my favorite foods: barbacue, pizza, buffalo wings, etc., and it is actually good for your heart.

It tastes good, mixing extremely well with some of my favorite foods: barbacue, pizza, buffalo wings, etc., and it is actually good for your heart.

swamprat_basic

Really? I don't know any teenage-drinkers who actually think it tastes good. They just see it as a source of alcohol. It must be an acquired taste :?

[QUOTE="YeahYes"]

Substance abuse has been around since man. It's nothing new, maybe a little more refined now but that's it.

Bacchanalia and so forth.

MrGeezer

Even the animals like to get high. It's been around since BEFORE man. Have you heard about catnip? Catnip gets cats high.

And then there are those south american lemurs that lick millipedes. See, these millipedes, as a defense, excrete a strong toxin. The only thing is that in small enough amounts, it isn't fatal. It just gets you REALLY high. So there are these lemurs that go around looking for millipedes. Not to eat, but to lick. Then they lick they millipedes and get completely ****ed up. It's just like the human kids who catch toads just to lick them, except that these are ANIMALS doing it.

Furthermore, in some beachside resorts, there are monkey problems. The native monkeys go around stealing peoples drinks. Why? Because animals LIKE TO GET HIGH.

Right on. I want to lick a millipede now.

[QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

Tolwan

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

MrGeezer

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

I'd respond, however i tend not to give that dignity to those who choose to respond in an overly aggressive and condescending tone. You very easily can respond in a calm and respectable tone and we can continue then. Otherwise, it's over.

I eat pizza because it tastes good and has absolutely no lasting effects whatsoever (that i can not counter, at the very least).

Tolwan

Actually, pizza is probably just as bad for your arteries as beer is for your liver, and considering how heart disease is much more common than liver disease, probably even worse.

Which is why I always make sure to consume both at the same time.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

MrGeezer

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

Oh, and just an FYI genius, but i wasnt **** at them for drinking, i was **** at them for DRINKING UNDERAGE. There's a very, very important distinction between those two.

[QUOTE="swamprat_basic"]

It tastes good, mixing extremely well with some of my favorite foods: barbacue, pizza, buffalo wings, etc., and it is actually good for your heart.

Kritical_Strike

Really? I don't know any teenage-drinkers who actually think it tastes good. They just see it as a source of alcohol. It must be an acquired taste :?

Teenagers don't drink real beer. They drink crap beer that tastes like water, and consume way too much of it.

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="YeahYes"]

Substance abuse has been around since man. It's nothing new, maybe a little more refined now but that's it.

Bacchanalia and so forth.

Tolwan

Even the animals like to get high. It's been around since BEFORE man. Have you heard about catnip? Catnip gets cats high.

And then there are those south american lemurs that lick millipedes. See, these millipedes, as a defense, excrete a strong toxin. The only thing is that in small enough amounts, it isn't fatal. It just gets you REALLY high. So there are these lemurs that go around looking for millipedes. Not to eat, but to lick. Then they lick they millipedes and get completely ****ed up. It's just like the human kids who catch toads just to lick them, except that these are ANIMALS doing it.

Furthermore, in some beachside resorts, there are monkey problems. The native monkeys go around stealing peoples drinks. Why? Because animals LIKE TO GET HIGH.

Animals are also primitive and some even toss around their own fesces. Ok then, good enough reason to drink alcohol. Not... I thought the one thing to seperate man from animal was our intelligence. That we have moved beyond giving in to basic indulgences.

And yet, you say that as a person who plays videogames?

"Oh, let's see how many fake people I can murder today."

Whatever dude, your previous post says it all. We are NOT above the animals. We are the smartest animal, yes, but practically EVERY behaviour that we exhibit is also present in other animals. We like to ****, we like to kill, we like to sleep, and we like to gorge ourselves on food/drink.

You're approaching this with the illusions of superiority. You assume that just because animals get high and we don't have to, that we shouldn't do it. **** that. I don't have to convince myself that I'm better than the animals. Drinking feels good, therefore I do it.

You can spend your whole life avoiding things that you don't HAVE to do, but you're not gonna do that. More likely is that you're gonna do what YOU like to do, and then criticize everyone else because it makes you feel superior to them. As indicated by your previous post, you ENJOY telling yourself that you're superior, and above the needs and wants of nature and man.

Whatever dude, that's really not my problem.

Well I drink beer because (in order of preference):

1)It's alcohol

2)It tastes goooood

3)You know you're drinking alcohol compared to a baccardi breezer or something, which tastes like a soft drink.

4)You can always have an appealling looking bottle to hold when you're talking to people (mainly girls), personally I find it's easier to talk to girls when you're holding a drink because you've got somewhere to put you're hands (or is that just me?)

5)Beer doesn't have the strong alcohol taste of hard liquor. (not saying hard liquor is bad, just that beer is better depending on how you feel)

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

Tolwan

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

I'd respond, however i tend not to give that dignity to those who choose to respond in an overly aggressive and condescending tone. You very easily can respond in a calm and respectable tone and we can continue then. Otherwise, it's over.

See, this is EXACTLY what I was talking about.

You think I need to get my dignity from YOU? Do you know how much you and your opinion is worth to me? Absolutely NOTHING. There you go again with that whole delusions of superiority thing.

I don't give a damn if you reply to my posts or not. You read what I typed, you know I'm right, and I don't care whether or not you type another word. You can go on seeing the people exactly like you do now, and that doesn't affect me at all because I refuse to associate with people like you.

Oh, and just an FYI genius, but i wasnt **** at them for drinking, i was **** at them for DRINKING UNDERAGE. There's a very, very important distinction between those two.

Tolwan

Not really. The minimum drinking age varies greatly from country to country and no matter where you go it's pretty much just an arbitrary restriction. The law is often a terrible gauge for morality and I don't see much of a difference between some stupid 19 year olds drinking and some stupid 21 year olds drinking.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

MrGeezer

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

I'd respond, however i tend not to give that dignity to those who choose to respond in an overly aggressive and condescending tone. You very easily can respond in a calm and respectable tone and we can continue then. Otherwise, it's over.

See, this is EXACTLY what I was talking about.

You think I need to get my dignity from YOU? Do you know how much you and your opinion is worth to me? Absolutely NOTHING. There you go again with that whole delusions of superiority thing.

I don't give a damn if you reply to my posts or not. You read what I typed, you know I'm right, and I don't care whether or not you type another word. You can go on seeing the people exactly like you do now, and that doesn't affect me at all because I refuse to associate with people like you.

A bit of a superiority complex eh? You talk about my delusions yet in a sense of irony you speak in a superior tone yourself, as if you are better than me. As if your morals are somehow superior to mine. I've tried to keep this post neutral. I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on you. I was just trying to see what the logical thinking process was for drinking. Was it a social thing? Was there any real benefit? What about the negative effects?

That's it. I have my own beliefs and those werent being put up to be changed. Pure curiousity. As a college student, i am taught to seek out knowledge. You could have responded like a mature adult, and given me links to back each of your points. Rest assured, i would have read every one of them.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Oh, and just an FYI genius, but i wasnt **** at them for drinking, i was **** at them for DRINKING UNDERAGE. There's a very, very important distinction between those two.

GTALoco

Not really. The minimum drinking age varies greatly from country to country and no matter where you go it's pretty much just an arbitrary restriction. The law is often a terrible gauge for morality and I don't see much of a difference between some stupid 19 year olds drinking and some stupid 21 year olds drinking.

Well i live in the US. The age limit here is 21. Knowing our society i think most of us could agree that is certainly an acceptable limit. I hang around kids my age after all, lol. teenagers, 19 year olds, are often very irresponsible, more susceptable to binge drinking, peer pressure, and the like. They should certainly not be allowed access to alcohol. I think you could agree to that atleast.

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

Tolwan

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

I'd respond, however i tend not to give that dignity to those who choose to respond in an overly aggressive and condescending tone. You very easily can respond in a calm and respectable tone and we can continue then. Otherwise, it's over.

See, this is EXACTLY what I was talking about.

You think I need to get my dignity from YOU? Do you know how much you and your opinion is worth to me? Absolutely NOTHING. There you go again with that whole delusions of superiority thing.

I don't give a damn if you reply to my posts or not. You read what I typed, you know I'm right, and I don't care whether or not you type another word. You can go on seeing the people exactly like you do now, and that doesn't affect me at all because I refuse to associate with people like you.

A bit of a superiority complex eh? You talk about my delusions yet in a sense of irony you speak in a superior tone yourself, as if you are better than me. As if your morals are somehow superior to mine. I've tried to keep this post neutral. I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on you. I was just trying to see what the logical thinking process was for drinking. Was it a social thing? Was there any real benefit? What about the negative effects?

That's it. I have my own beliefs and those werent being put up to be changed. Pure curiousity. As a college student, i am taught to seek out knowledge. You could have responded like a mature adult, and given me links to back each of your points. Rest assured, i would have read every one of them.

Bull ****.

If you're old enough to be in college, don't you DARE try to tell me that you honestly don't know the primary reaon why people drink alcohol.

Do you honestly expect me to believe that you're THAT naive?

You're not asking for insight into ANYTHING, this is an alcohol-bashing post pure and simple. You only presented it into the formn into a question in order to make it seem less like you're preaching to us.

A bit of a superiority complex eh? You talk about my delusions yet in a sense of irony you speak in a superior tone yourself, as if you are better than me. As if your morals are somehow superior to mine. I've tried to keep this post neutral. I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on you. I was just trying to see what the logical thinking process was for drinking. Was it a social thing? Was there any real benefit? What about the negative effects?

That's it. I have my own beliefs and those werent being put up to be changed. Pure curiousity. As a college student, i am taught to seek out knowledge. You could have responded like a mature adult, and given me links to back each of your points. Rest assured, i would have read every one of them.

Tolwan

Your posts have never been neutral. You've been biased and judgemental from the very beginning of this thread. You were never just trying to "see what the logical thinking process was for drinking." You were acting "superior" from the very beginning. You clearly see yourself as superior to the people your age who drink. Geezer was calling you out on that, and I agree with him.

You say that you are trying to seek out knowledge? Knowledge comes from experience, and you clearly do not have the experience to know what you are talking about. Otherwise you wouldn't be coming in here trying to show yourself as superior to other kids your own age. You would be out there being yourself, like they are. They drink beer, because they find it fun. Does there need to be any other explanation other than they find it fun?

Beer has existed for thousands of years, and people have enjoyed it all along. I think I'll side with the entirety of mankind, rather than one judgemental teenager.

[QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"][QUOTE="Tolwan"][QUOTE="dgbiker1"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Mainly from the responses i've gotten so far it seems people use it as a crutch, essentially. To loosen themselves up and push them into more social situations normally unattainable. However, this seems to me to form a system of reliance. To be successful at any aspect of life people need to take off the training wheels and throw away the crutch.

And as to those who think it has health benefits, how exactly does alcohol provide any health benefits? Atleast any health benefits not provided already in a much safer dose in medical applications such as a nice bottle of adult Nyquil. Otherwise, the health benefits you're thinking of are most likely being provided by other ingrediants in the beer, which can be found in non-alcoholic products.

MrGeezer

What i mean by a crutch is, using alcohol as an excuse to get together. I can get together with my friends without the inclusion of alcohol, at all. I find basketball relaxing even, believe it or not, and it is, quite a social activity. If you play it with the right people. But whatever, do as you wish, and i shall not do what i dont feel like doing. I was simply curious, perhaps caught up in the moment. No more.

Who says that they use it as an excuse to get together? If they're gonna get together anyway, what's wrong with getting together AND having a few beers?

It's like, what are they supposed to do? Intentionally NOT have a drink just to prove to YOU that they don't NEED a drink?

Really dude, **** that. I'll drink by myself. If I invite you to hang out with me, it's NOT because I really just want to drink. It's because I want to hang out with you. If I JUST want to drink, I'll do that by myself.

Of course, then we'll get together, then you'll start off with your anti-alcohol campaign, then I really WILL stop wanting to hang out with you.

It's just like in the other thread, how you were talking about when your friends take you out with them, they give you **** for drinking.

How about THINKING for a second? Do THEY only drink as an excuse to get togewther with you? Would that make ANY ****ing sense, since you don't even like it when they drink?

Really dude, THINK about this stuff before asking questions, or at least do the bare minimum of research. Alcohol gets you high, end of story.

I'd respond, however i tend not to give that dignity to those who choose to respond in an overly aggressive and condescending tone. You very easily can respond in a calm and respectable tone and we can continue then. Otherwise, it's over.

See, this is EXACTLY what I was talking about.

You think I need to get my dignity from YOU? Do you know how much you and your opinion is worth to me? Absolutely NOTHING. There you go again with that whole delusions of superiority thing.

I don't give a damn if you reply to my posts or not. You read what I typed, you know I'm right, and I don't care whether or not you type another word. You can go on seeing the people exactly like you do now, and that doesn't affect me at all because I refuse to associate with people like you.

A bit of a superiority complex eh? You talk about my delusions yet in a sense of irony you speak in a superior tone yourself, as if you are better than me. As if your morals are somehow superior to mine. I've tried to keep this post neutral. I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on you. I was just trying to see what the logical thinking process was for drinking. Was it a social thing? Was there any real benefit? What about the negative effects?

That's it. I have my own beliefs and those werent being put up to be changed. Pure curiousity. As a college student, i am taught to seek out knowledge. You could have responded like a mature adult, and given me links to back each of your points. Rest assured, i would have read every one of them.

Bull ****.

If you're old enough to be in college, don't you DARE try to tell me that you honestly don't know the primary reaon why people drink alcohol.

Do you honestly expect me to believe that you're THAT naive?

You're not asking for insight into ANYTHING, this is an alcohol-bashing post pure and simple. You only presented it into the formn into a question in order to make it seem less like you're preaching to us.

No, i am afraid you are wrong. Now yes, i did CERTAINLY attempt to start up a debate, perhaps i want to be convinced. However, this certainly is not a bash fest. I am in college, and that's EXACTLY why i dont understand. Why the **** are these idiots drinking when we all need our brains working at 100% capacity to pass the most important institution we will EVER be in. This stage of our life is more important than ANY other, for it WILL determine just how high we can fly in life.

THAT is why i am confused. I debate it with my friends all the time. I certainly am not asking for it to be made illegal. I just want to know WHY. Why do people feel it necessary? I am of the GENUINE curiousity because i have been able to go ALL MY LIFE without consuming ANY beer WHATSOEVER. So yes, i guess maybe i am that naive. Unfortuanatly, instead of considering that, you chose to be an ****

[QUOTE="GTALoco"][QUOTE="Tolwan"]

Oh, and just an FYI genius, but i wasnt **** at them for drinking, i was **** at them for DRINKING UNDERAGE. There's a very, very important distinction between those two.

Tolwan

Not really. The minimum drinking age varies greatly from country to country and no matter where you go it's pretty much just an arbitrary restriction. The law is often a terrible gauge for morality and I don't see much of a difference between some stupid 19 year olds drinking and some stupid 21 year olds drinking.

Well i live in the US. The age limit here is 21. Knowing our society i think most of us could agree that is certainly an acceptable limit. I hang around kids my age after all, lol. teenagers, 19 year olds, are often very irresponsible, more susceptable to binge drinking, peer pressure, and the like. They should certainly not be allowed access to alcohol. I think you could agree to that atleast.

I'm 19 and live in the US as well, but 21 is still just an arbitrary number. I mean, by 18 a person is a legal adult and can do pretty much everything he'll ever be able to do legally at that point, except for drink. In most countries the legal drinking age is 18 and lower in many, but that still doesn't indicate what it should be anywhere. I don't really see a problem with lowering the age, but then I don't really care. I've been around a lot of drunk teenagers and a lot of drunk college students... there's really no difference, and in this case, there really isn't a very important distinction between 21 and 19.