8 ms·

Sounds like a personal problem, because no, it's not hard to say that.

by mhurron 13y ago

VexXtreme 13y ago
Indeed. I don't know what's so hard about drinking whatever you want to drink. If you're afraid of being "excluded" or "ostracized", then you'd do well to change who you hang out with.
stdbrouw 13y ago
Because peer pressure only exists in high school? And maybe it's not hard to say no to a single drink, but a lot of these events go past midnight, and the reason they "work" is because the next day when you pass each other in the hallway you can say "woah, bit of a hangover too?" and, silly as it sounds, bond over that. Good luck with that if you're only going to drink water, surrounded by people getting progressively drunk.
- dictum 13y ago
  Somewhere around the age of 18 and 19, most people develop the ability to not care about what other people think about their activities and preferences. Those who don't develop it before 30 or so will always suffer at the hands of those who do, and the latter group includes people who consider themselves inclusive and socially conscious.
Osmose 13y ago
For people who grew up not drinking in a culture that emphasizes drinking (often in excess), it can be hard. Perhaps you should look at this problem from another angle: Maybe it's not that all these people who have personal problems are trying to get people to stop drinking, but instead it's that we should educate and encourage non-drinkers to still attend our events and not drink? Clearly there is a group of people who still think they're being pressured to drink, and some encouragement will make them more comfortable?
michaelcampbell 13y ago
Indeed. I don't know specifically what kind of confs the OP actually goes to, but the geek/programming/tech ones I go to the culture is one of individuality - people RELISH in being different and "not with the crowd".

8 ms·

Sounds like a personal problem, because no, it's not hard to say that.

by mhurron 13y ago

Sounds like a personal problem, because no, it's not hard to say that.

VexXtreme 13y ago
Indeed. I don't know what's so hard about drinking whatever you want to drink. If you're afraid of being "excluded" or "ostracized", then you'd do well to change who you hang out with.
stdbrouw 13y ago
Because peer pressure only exists in high school? And maybe it's not hard to say no to a single drink, but a lot of these events go past midnight, and the reason they "work" is because the next day when you pass each other in the hallway you can say "woah, bit of a hangover too?" and, silly as it sounds, bond over that. Good luck with that if you're only going to drink water, surrounded by people getting progressively drunk.
- dictum 13y ago
  Somewhere around the age of 18 and 19, most people develop the ability to not care about what other people think about their activities and preferences. Those who don't develop it before 30 or so will always suffer at the hands of those who do, and the latter group includes people who consider themselves inclusive and socially conscious.
Osmose 13y ago
For people who grew up not drinking in a culture that emphasizes drinking (often in excess), it can be hard. Perhaps you should look at this problem from another angle: Maybe it's not that all these people who have personal problems are trying to get people to stop drinking, but instead it's that we should educate and encourage non-drinkers to still attend our events and not drink? Clearly there is a group of people who still think they're being pressured to drink, and some encouragement will make them more comfortable?
michaelcampbell 13y ago
Indeed. I don't know specifically what kind of confs the OP actually goes to, but the geek/programming/tech ones I go to the culture is one of individuality - people RELISH in being different and "not with the crowd".