Does drunkenness expose a person for who they really are?

LoathsomePete · 12-14-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Perhaps a little bit, but I think the most important thing to keep in mind about inebriation is that it lowers inhibitions. So yes, while someone might say something they wouldn't have said sober, a drunk person is also liable to do completely idiotic things they wouldn't have done sober, such as throwing bikes into the local canal. Does this mean that person harbors a secret desire to throw all bikes into canals while sober? Likely not. Furthermore, I've known blackout drunk people to flat-out lie and speak with all the conviction they could muster. No, I do not think alcohol is a truth serum. In fact, I take things that are said and done under the influence with a bigger grain of salt than I would in sober circumstances.

That's pretty much where I stand on the issue.

midnight rain · 12-14-2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

That's pretty much where I stand on the issue.

But he says "with a bigger grain of salt than being sober", bigger grain of salt being what exactly?

I guess it's kind of a philosophical question, since it gets to the matter of what makes you you.

**Goofle** · 12-14-2012, 09:57 AM

Bane, RVCA and Jans hit the nail for me.

The simple fact that getting drunk changes you in different ways signifies to me that it cannot be your natural state/expose who a person is, as it has been altered by a substance.

Yes I would agree that it gives you courage (for lack of a better word) to do/admit something you wouldn't normally do, but I feel as though your natural character is the reason why you wouldn't do such things in the first place.

Face · 12-14-2012, 11:49 AM

Being drunk will reduce your inhibitions, not reveal your entire personality.

If I'm happy with my day/current situation and company, I'm a happy drunk.
If I'm not happy with my company, then if I drink a bit more to become an angry drunk, but I've recognised when that happens and make sure I regulate it.

I find small talk boring, sometimes I'll take a stupid polarised stand on something I feel is unimportant and I don't reaally care about....like rugby vs football "ah football, pussies play it and racists watch it" I'll just take the least popular opinion and run with it. Which can rub some people up the wrong way...but I don't care because I'm drunk. Either way I get louder, and I've been told for people who don't know me it can be intimidating sometimes because they don't realise I don't actually think that.

midnight rain · 12-14-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Face

Being drunk will reduce your inhibitions, not reveal your entire personality.

If I'm happy with my day/current situation and company, I'm a happy drunk.
If I'm not happy with my company, then if I drink a bit more to become an angry drunk, but I've recognised when that happens and make sure I regulate it.

I find small talk boring, sometimes I'll take a stupid polarised stand on something I feel is unimportant and I don't reaally care about....like rugby vs football "ah football, pussies play it and racists watch it" I'll just take the least popular opinion and run with it. Which can rub some people up the wrong way...but I don't care because I'm drunk. Either way I get louder, and I've been told for people who don't know me it can be intimidating sometimes because they don't realise I don't actually think that.

It's less about where you stand on mundane **** like football vs. rugby, and more about primal instincts like I said.

For example: maybe the scenario you gave me is indication that you love looking for a good debate, you like being intellectually stimulated?

Face · 12-14-2012, 12:47 PM

Or maybe it's an indication I'm a dick.

Your inhibitions are part of you, part of who you really are. Drunkeness reduces inhibitions and co-ordination, does that mean falling over part of what my body really is too? No it just means one part of my body isn't working as well as it could be, possibly resulting in faceplants.

Trollheart · 12-14-2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

Alcohol magnifies ones personality. So, if you're an ******* when your sober, you're a bigger ******* when you're drunk.

I've studied this theory, and even after many, many, many, many, many, many years, it still holds up.

Is that years, or beers?

midnight rain · 12-14-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Face

Or maybe it's an indication I'm a dick.

Your inhibitions are part of you, part of who you really are. Drunkeness reduces inhibitions and co-ordination, does that mean falling over part of what my body really is too? No it just means one part of my body isn't working as well as it could be, possibly resulting in faceplants.

Right, I think we're kinda in agreement, I just poorly worded my title (forgive me in my drunken stupor

)

The idea of who the real 'you' is can be defined either way, I was putting forth the idea that alcohol reveals someone at their most biological, close to ignorant of all the experience they have gathered throughout life and that has influenced them in ways that is more fit for society.

So you would say someone who is an introvert sober, but talkative drunk is truly an introvert by nature, or the opposite?

Face · 12-15-2012, 03:14 AM

Say someone only gets violent when drunk. They swear off drink and never hurt a fly from then on. Are they a "truly" a violent person?

Drunkeness makes your brain not work that well. Including inhibitions, reasoning, coordination and risk assesment.

It can show some aspects of a person I agree, but I'd say it's more dependent on mood.

Otherwise we're all loud confident idiots who hug and shout a lot. Although I am talking about drunkeness, not just being tipsy.

12-14-2012, 11:49 AM	#24 (permalink)
Face Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 306	Being drunk will reduce your inhibitions, not reveal your entire personality. If I'm happy with my day/current situation and company, I'm a happy drunk. If I'm not happy with my company, then if I drink a bit more to become an angry drunk, but I've recognised when that happens and make sure I regulate it. I find small talk boring, sometimes I'll take a stupid polarised stand on something I feel is unimportant and I don't reaally care about....like rugby vs football "ah football, pussies play it and racists watch it" I'll just take the least popular opinion and run with it. Which can rub some people up the wrong way...but I don't care because I'm drunk. Either way I get louder, and I've been told for people who don't know me it can be intimidating sometimes because they don't realise I don't actually think that.

12-14-2012, 12:47 PM	#26 (permalink)
Face Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 306	Or maybe it's an indication I'm a dick. Your inhibitions are part of you, part of who you really are. Drunkeness reduces inhibitions and co-ordination, does that mean falling over part of what my body really is too? No it just means one part of my body isn't working as well as it could be, possibly resulting in faceplants.

12-15-2012, 03:14 AM	#29 (permalink)
Face Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 306	Say someone only gets violent when drunk. They swear off drink and never hurt a fly from then on. Are they a "truly" a violent person? Drunkeness makes your brain not work that well. Including inhibitions, reasoning, coordination and risk assesment. It can show some aspects of a person I agree, but I'd say it's more dependent on mood. Otherwise we're all loud confident idiots who hug and shout a lot. Although I am talking about drunkeness, not just being tipsy.