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Maybe it doesn't matter, but I didn't see anywhere in the article why Ryan chooses not to drink. Obviously, his own choice with what to choose to put in his bod

Maybe it doesn't matter, but I didn't see anywhere in the article why Ryan chooses not to drink. Obviously, his own choice with what to choose to put in his body. But I have definitely wondered about the influence of the culture on those who don't drink for cultural or religious reasons (e.g. Muslim, Mormon) Are we losing talented people who don't want to be part of that aspect of the culture? Protip: on nights when I choose not to drink, I usually drink club soda with a bunch of lime wedges (like 3-4). I love the taste of it, it looks like a gin and tonic or vodka and soda and no one ever asks.

pbiggar 15y ago
I don't think why he doesn't drink should have any bearing on it. He feels excluded from the culture, and it doesn't matter whether that's because he's religious, an alcoholic, etc. Similarly, one shouldn't have to pretend to be drinking to enjoy a night in the pub (note, I'm a non-drinker who feels perfectly at home in the pub).
- theorique 15y ago
  I agree - this is largely my own curiosity (nosiness). It's clear that the OP had a very strong objection. This kind of passion doesn't generally emerge from nowhere, so I was curious about what was really driving him. (And I reiterate - if he chooses not to drink, he is of course answerable to no one. His body, his choice.) At the same time, it's fruitful to fish where the fish are. If a person wants to have conversations with tech people and the tech people are at the pub he can either go to the pub or engage with them at some other time / place. Seems Ryan has chosen the latter. I also agree that one need not be pretending to drink or ashamed of not drinking. Not at all. I use my fake-drink for convenience, to stave off the Nth person asking me why I don't have a beer in my hand or whatever.
  - pbiggar 15y ago
    > I also agree that one need not be pretending to drink or ashamed of not drinking. Not at all. I use my fake-drink for convenience, to stave off the Nth person asking me why I don't have a beer in my hand or whatever. yet: > I agree - this is largely my own curiosity (nosiness). It seems every single person asks non-drinkers why they don't drink. For me, who doesn't really have a reason, it's just a bit boring. But I imagine if I had a real, or perhaps a painful reason, I wouldn't like to be reminded every time I went to the pub.
    - theorique 15y ago
      But I imagine if I had a real, or perhaps a painful reason, I wouldn't like to be reminded every time I went to the pub. Excellent point, and something I had not considered.

pbiggar 15y ago

I don't think why he doesn't drink should have any bearing on it. He feels excluded from the culture, and it doesn't matter whether that's because he's religious, an alcoholic, etc. Similarly, one shouldn't have to pretend to be drinking to enjoy a night in the pub (note, I'm a non-drinker who feels perfectly at home in the pub).

theorique 15y ago
I agree - this is largely my own curiosity (nosiness). It's clear that the OP had a very strong objection. This kind of passion doesn't generally emerge from nowhere, so I was curious about what was really driving him. (And I reiterate - if he chooses not to drink, he is of course answerable to no one. His body, his choice.) At the same time, it's fruitful to fish where the fish are. If a person wants to have conversations with tech people and the tech people are at the pub he can either go to the pub or engage with them at some other time / place. Seems Ryan has chosen the latter. I also agree that one need not be pretending to drink or ashamed of not drinking. Not at all. I use my fake-drink for convenience, to stave off the Nth person asking me why I don't have a beer in my hand or whatever.
- pbiggar 15y ago
  > I also agree that one need not be pretending to drink or ashamed of not drinking. Not at all. I use my fake-drink for convenience, to stave off the Nth person asking me why I don't have a beer in my hand or whatever. yet: > I agree - this is largely my own curiosity (nosiness). It seems every single person asks non-drinkers why they don't drink. For me, who doesn't really have a reason, it's just a bit boring. But I imagine if I had a real, or perhaps a painful reason, I wouldn't like to be reminded every time I went to the pub.
  - theorique 15y ago
    But I imagine if I had a real, or perhaps a painful reason, I wouldn't like to be reminded every time I went to the pub. Excellent point, and something I had not considered.