Discussion Forum

I was brought up in a drink oriented culture.

I like drinking. It gives me pleasure and a nice warm feeling.

I do not however slam it down my throat like there's no tomorrow. I drink more than I should, way more than recommended guidelines. But as in my Irish family tradition, I hold my drink like a gentleman. I take my time with it and pay attention to who I'm with and what I'm doing.

The drink, whilst enjoyable, is not my sole reason to be.

I'm just saying this because I think it's a mistake for people to get overtaken by the stuff.

It makes a good friend but a lousy master.

Thoughts welcome

(Except Fergus - he'll just take the piss)

Regards

Skoob.

Pussy.

Skoob,

I'll take the other side in this discussion.

I do not drink. I never have. I was raised in a family and in a church where alchohol was forbidden (except in cough syrup or other medications).

Personally, I think that alchohol is a mind numbing drug, just as vicious as anything you buy on the street.

When you drink, you lost control of your faculties. You are not 100%. Your reaction times are slowed, as is your thought process and reasoning ability. You kill brain cells that can never be regenerated or replaced.

Drinking wastes money, wastes lives, and kills people. It destroys marriages and breaks apart homes and families.

Alchoholism is not a disease; it is a choice entered into consciously, just like any other drug addiction. A hangover is not an illness, it is the consequence of a choice.

Prohibition was an attempt to clean up society and legislate alchohol out of the community. People, however, were not strong enough to control their temptations and urges and fell prey to those who made millions bringing and selling them their poison (groups such as organized crime and the Kennedy family-who made their millions running rum in the Prohibition era).

Advertisers would teach you that it is not socially acceptable to not drink. They are thinking with their wallets and not with their hearts.

Alchohol kills, ruins, weakens, destroys, and takes. It never improves, enlightens, teaches, strengthens, or builds.

Okay, Fergus, tell me why I am wrong (or just call me a pussy like you did Skoob).

Pussy.

Ooh you nearly got me JMan. Kudos as they say.

J-Man

I'm just off to bed.

I won't in any way contest your religious beliefs.

But I like to have a beer or seven.

Or even ten or twelve, depending on my mood.

I'd counter your argument by saying that I am involved in a loving relationship. I have been for almost 20 years now.

My first wife, who divorced me, not because of any kind of alcohol abuse or anything, simply because she felt that I stifled her development, never said a bad word about me.

We were young.

I met the current Mrs Skoob around 20 years ago. We're a devoted couple. We have kids and grandkids who love the bones off us.

We lead by example.

Whereas I understand your point, my nan and most of my family were/are Irish, and they're (or were) devout Catholics.

They all enjoyed a drink. It's just a part of Irish culture. It doesn't lessen them as people in my eyes. I did and still do adore every one of them.

When I say we like a drink, that's true, but in a civilised way. Nobody in my family has ever poured it down their heads and started trouble with anybody.

As I write this, I've had a few beers, but I hope I come across as coherent, responsible, and reasonable.

It's just a cultural difference. You opt not to take a drink, I opt to take a drink.

I have the utmost respect for you as a writer, and as a friend.

I hope you get where I'm coming from here, and I hope it sparks debate.

You're a good man J-Man

Respectfully

Skoob.

Pussy











Just kidding....Fergus made me do it.

I was going to buy some Begium beer for Christmas.

Any suggestions?

Skoob,

I'm with J-Man on just about everything he said, though I'm torn about the issue of alcoholism as a "choice" because every day drunk babies are born who had no choice.

Unlike J-Man, I was raised in a household of alcoholism. Plus, my dad worked for a beer distributor. Even if we didn't have money for food, there was alcohol in the house, and other things.

I started sneaking beers when I was about 11.

I was drinking heavily by the time I was 16, including hard liquor.

By the time I was in my mid 30's, I was beginning to realize that my tolerance had become so high, I could stagger around for hours pissing my friends off with absolutely no recollection of the night's happenings.

I envy people who can enjoy a couple of drinks and call it quits. I usually can't. So I've quit drinking almost entirely.

Now, I realize that I was walking around with a permanent hangover for the better part of 20 years. I can't believe how crappy I felt the next day after a mere 5 double whiskey and cokes a few weeks ago, but that's less than half of what I used to drink on an average day.

I feel better now, I save many thousands of dollars a year, and I no longer find myself in codependent relationships with other alcoholics.

"Cheers" to that!

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Quote: Fergus McCarthy

Pussy.

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Cunt

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Quote: victor nicholas

I was going to buy some Begium beer for Christmas.

Any suggestions?

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Sinterklaas Decemberfest.

We now pause while Fergus coughs up a hair ball.

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Quote: victor nicholas

I was going to buy some Begium beer for Christmas.

Any suggestions?

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Doc,

It's not Belgian, but they brew a lovely beer in Barcelona.

Estrella Damm

Lovely chilled, and quite widely available.

Regards

Skoob.

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Quote: victor nicholas

I was going to buy some Begium beer for Christmas.

Any suggestions?

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I suggest that you add a letter "L" and turn the word into Belgium (unless there's a new country I've never heard of).

If, of course, this non drinker has made a mistake and Begium is some form of liquor, please advise.

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Quote: Bargis Tryhol

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Quote: Fergus McCarthy

Pussy.

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Cunt

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Buck.

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Quote: victor nicholas

I was going to buy some Begium beer for Christmas.

Any suggestions?

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VC, only JO understands your dilemma, BEG as in BEG, I as in I, UM as in BUM

Translation for fellow moronic Spoofers;

VC is begging for a bit of BUM as in ANAL, he's certainly not Gay but likes polish pole dancers butts!

BEG I BUM

VC, I'd recommend a darn good Leffe ol bean, excellent Belgium beer!

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Quote: Fergus McCarthy

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Quote: Bargis Tryhol

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Quote: Fergus McCarthy

Pussy.

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Cunt

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Buck.

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Jesus Budda