America has a drinking problem

Re:America has a drinking problem by OminousWeapons on Tuesday June 01, 2021 @06:23PM (#27362223)

I disagree with this. Americans go out drinking with friends because alcohol helps you cut through the bullshit small talk and get to the real talk that everyone is afraid to initiate but eager to take part in. If we could all have perfectly candid conversations surrounding sensitive topics without alcohol, there would be no need for most bars to exist.

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Re:America has a drinking problem by bitexploder on Tuesday June 01, 2021 @06:38PM (#27362379)

It’s kind of amusing when you think about it like a philosopher. I’m a bit older than the average HNer, probably, at 41 this year. It’s all the same fears and doubts. The human condition. Finding love, acceptance, belonging. Not facing down the human condition alone. That is what “big talk” is about to me.

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Re:America has a drinking problem by galaxyLogic on Tuesday June 01, 2021 @07:21PM (#27362743)

I don't drink but I agree it's the social drug. It makes you want to interact with others. Drinking alone makes you want to go out and tell people what's on your mind.

I used to drink with friends and in that country there was a custom that bars close at a given time at night, and then we would go to someone's apartment to drink more. I remember on one occasion we were sitting around in someone's kitchen maybe 8 people. And at one point I realize everyone was talking at the same time. Everyone was talking so no-one was listening. Everyone wanted to get their point across.

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Re:America has a drinking problem by mensetmanusman on Wednesday June 02, 2021 @07:15AM (#27367310)

There are lots of philosophical debates about this. “Is your drunk self closer to the ‘real you’ than your sober self?”

People defend both sides of this thesis often.

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