the autism is strong with this one...

It may sound like I do, but I don't have a problem with people drinking.
I don't even have a problem with people drinking to excess. They want to destroy their liver, that's their preogative and their problem.
What I do have a problem with is people who get so drunk that they get violent and others pay, whether that's in a pub, on the street or when they stagger back home. I also have a serious problem with arseholes who get into a car, knowing full well they're over the limit, and take the risk - put others at the same risk - of hurting or killing someone just because they won't admit to being too drunk to drive. Arrogance is a terrible thing and can lead to fatal results.

I also have a problem with a society that stigmatises and looks down on those who don't drink, as if there's something wrong with them. I suffered this casual discrimination for years at work, to the point where, as I noted earlier, I more or less forced myself to find a pint I could stomach, even though I really didn't want to drink. I live(d) with a borderline alc - hell, let's be honest here: an alcoholic for a decade, and the only reason she eventually stopped was that the MS made it impossible for her to drink anymore. Had she continued, had she not got the MS, I know she would not be alive today.

So for people to trivialise and ignore the damage alcohol can do, and pretend the dangers it represents don't exist, annoys me. I'm not by any means saying everyone who drinks is a potential alcoholic, but almost everyone who drinks seems to have the same attitude towards those of us who don't, encapsulated mostly in the word why, as if not drinking is something socially unacceptable and makes you weird. And the attitudes posted here by most of you just back that assertion up.

Some of us don't want to drink. We don't like drinking. That doesn't make us odd, weird or in some way less than you. Do you know how many fights I've got into in my almost sixty years of life? I can count them on the fingers of one hand, if I cut all the fingers off. That's right: zero. Because the largest amount of violence is alcohol-fuelled, and that very much includes domestic violence. So who, in the end, are the ones contributing to, if you like, the breakdown of society more?

Talk about “silly.”
Forcing yourself over time to “enjoy” something
simply to either score social points or to put yourself,
in this case, in a strangely irresponsible mental state
is pretty dumb.

Makes no sense - especially since I think the first line is correct when it comes to what we’re talking about.

Yeah, "recreational" ... and even when doctors start throwing around pharma stuff,
I drop them instantly and go elsewhere for answers if I don't already know what to do.

Do you own any model train sets? Serious question.

Damn, you're really scared of drugs.

This weeks

1. What is your favourite piece of classical music?

I wouldn’t say I have a favourite piece. It’s a genre I don’t really listen to or know much about

2. At what age did you begin drinking?

I was 15

3. Would you rather live under a benevolent dictator or an incompetent president?

Incompetent president

4. What material do you believe has had the most impact on humanity?

I would agree with whoever said wood

5. What’s your favourite plant or flower?

Cherry blossom trees. I’d love a house with one in the garden :)

6. What mystery would you like to see solved?

Where is Madeline McCann? Jack the Ripper was a good shout as well TH

Last weeks

1. Would you rather live entirely alone, with every possible luxury and comfort man or woman can have, all the financial security you could ever want, but absolutely no contact whatever with another human being even for a second, or live as you are now?

Live as I am just now

2. What sort of headphones do you use?

Beats Solo 3

3. If you had faith, when, if ever, did you lose it and why?

I’ve never had any faith, I’ve always been around religion but have always known it wasn’t something that was for me.

4. If you had to choose between being blind, deaf or dumb, which would you pick?

This is really tough to answer because they are all ****. I would probably pick being dumb as there is plenty other forms of communication but yeah they would all be hard.

5. How are your sea legs (i.e., do you get seasick easily or are you a born sailor, or something in between)?

I’ve never had any issues so I think I’m fine

6. What is your take on cryptocurrency?

Since the market for some of them crashed I think it’s a lot of ****. Good on the people who have made money from it but it’s not for me.

Never gonna happen. I'm no fun drunk or sober.
See this is what I mean. The subtext here is "what the hell is wrong with you?" instead of you all saying "you know, if someone can survive and make a good life for themselves without these crutches and props, maybe we should be looking at ourselves." Yeah, like that'll happen. Perhaps Rostasi and I should wear a bell around our necks? UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN! :laughing: :rolleyes:

I'll tell you what. I'm scared of drugs. And I'm one of those who don't drink alcohol because I don't like to feel out of it. same reason I won't do drugs.

I have a dear friend who did alcohol on a regular basis because she was trying to cover her pain. It could have killed her. Now she tries to cover the pain by doing yoga. It drives me crazy sometimes, but at least it's a lot healthier and I don't have to worry about her abusing her body anymore. Anyway, for those who are doing alcohol or drugs to ease your pain, there has to be better ways. For those that just want to party, well, carry on, I guess.