4 ms·

6 Things I Learned From Not Drinking For 1 Year

20 points by andygcook 12y ago

x0x0 12y ago
The title understates the drinking; he was getting so drunk he was hungover (or still drunk!) every Saturday and Sunday into the afternoon. A bit of moderation, and a couple beers once a week would still give him the majority of these benefits. But hey, it seems to make him happy, so props.
- minimaxir 12y ago
  This is one of the few cases in which the linkbait title actually works against the article.
- samp615 12y ago
  Hey there - I'm the author. Didn't expect this to make it here. But to address your point: Yes, I for sure had a problem and the title understates it. I just wanted to write in a light hearted way for two reasons: 1) I knew my mom would read the post so didn't wanna worry her. 2) Alcoholism is a serious topic and hard to talk about, but when you tell your buds it makes life easier. And having a sense of humor makes things way easier to discuss...so that's my attempt to be humorous about a serious topic.
- mercer 12y ago
  True, but in my experience many people keep up the weekend binges well into adulthood, and for some it progresses to (more) serious forms of alcohol dependence. I think an article like this might do a lot of good precisely by understating this binging behavior, as it emphasizes the benefits of not binging without focusing too much on how bad binge-drinking is.
kcovia 12y ago
I drink socially (read: 3-4 beers a week) and run 5km a day. I've never felt better. Extremism is not healthy in either direction.
- samp615 12y ago
  I'd disagree a litte. I wrote that post and for some people (like me) there just is not much a middle ground. Maybe I'm just too immature, impulsive, or I don't know what, but I can't moderate myself.
  - sp332 12y ago
    Have you seen Craig Ferguson talking about alcoholism? I thought it might be helpful for explaining to people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVWIELHQQY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVWIELHQQY
- emsy 12y ago
  How is not drinking alcohol extremism?
  - samp615 12y ago
    Maybe it is, but I'm saying that it is healthy.
    - emsy 12y ago
      I don't drink alcohol either. On some occasions, when I was offered alcohol I was more or less urged to justify my decision against it. I think It's alarming that people seem to have the notion that you have to decide against drinking alcohol instead of making the choice to do drink. For me, the extreme stance is to underestimate alcohol.
- mercer 12y ago
  I'd say extremism when it comes to being healthy is, by definition, healthy. Don't get me wrong: I drink socially and I'm fine with the occasional 'all-out' experiences, both for myself and others. Even if it is unhealthy. But quitting alcohol entirely, aside from being a life-saving practice for some people, is in no way 'unhealthy'. So even if it is extreme (which I disagree with, many people don't drink at all), why would one consider this unhealthy? It's not like he's going for an extreme carrots-only diet or something.
fractalcat 12y ago
It always seems odd to me that every time someone makes a post about the benefits they experienced from going sober, a bunch of people feel the need to defend their own drinking habits out of the blue (even though no-one is attacking them). Congratulations on a sober year, OP.
- samp615 12y ago
  Thanks friend!

20 points by andygcook 12y ago

x0x0 12y ago

The title understates the drinking; he was getting so drunk he was hungover (or still drunk!) every Saturday and Sunday into the afternoon. A bit of moderation, and a couple beers once a week would still give him the majority of these benefits. But hey, it seems to make him happy, so props.

minimaxir 12y ago
This is one of the few cases in which the linkbait title actually works against the article.
samp615 12y ago
Hey there - I'm the author. Didn't expect this to make it here. But to address your point: Yes, I for sure had a problem and the title understates it. I just wanted to write in a light hearted way for two reasons: 1) I knew my mom would read the post so didn't wanna worry her. 2) Alcoholism is a serious topic and hard to talk about, but when you tell your buds it makes life easier. And having a sense of humor makes things way easier to discuss...so that's my attempt to be humorous about a serious topic.
mercer 12y ago
True, but in my experience many people keep up the weekend binges well into adulthood, and for some it progresses to (more) serious forms of alcohol dependence. I think an article like this might do a lot of good precisely by understating this binging behavior, as it emphasizes the benefits of not binging without focusing too much on how bad binge-drinking is.

kcovia 12y ago

I drink socially (read: 3-4 beers a week) and run 5km a day. I've never felt better. Extremism is not healthy in either direction.

samp615 12y ago
I'd disagree a litte. I wrote that post and for some people (like me) there just is not much a middle ground. Maybe I'm just too immature, impulsive, or I don't know what, but I can't moderate myself.
- sp332 12y ago
  Have you seen Craig Ferguson talking about alcoholism? I thought it might be helpful for explaining to people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVWIELHQQY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVWIELHQQY
emsy 12y ago
How is not drinking alcohol extremism?
- samp615 12y ago
  Maybe it is, but I'm saying that it is healthy.
  - emsy 12y ago
    I don't drink alcohol either. On some occasions, when I was offered alcohol I was more or less urged to justify my decision against it. I think It's alarming that people seem to have the notion that you have to decide against drinking alcohol instead of making the choice to do drink. For me, the extreme stance is to underestimate alcohol.
mercer 12y ago
I'd say extremism when it comes to being healthy is, by definition, healthy. Don't get me wrong: I drink socially and I'm fine with the occasional 'all-out' experiences, both for myself and others. Even if it is unhealthy. But quitting alcohol entirely, aside from being a life-saving practice for some people, is in no way 'unhealthy'. So even if it is extreme (which I disagree with, many people don't drink at all), why would one consider this unhealthy? It's not like he's going for an extreme carrots-only diet or something.

fractalcat 12y ago

It always seems odd to me that every time someone makes a post about the benefits they experienced from going sober, a bunch of people feel the need to defend their own drinking habits out of the blue (even though no-one is attacking them). Congratulations on a sober year, OP.

samp615 12y ago
Thanks friend!