| iDuckie
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Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote: I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that.
Have either you or DebbyC ever lived in the UK? Just curious.
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this. My best friend is from Asia, and she and her friends and boyfriend prefer to go out somewhere they can chat and have fun, and they rarely drink when they go out. While I understand culture is different, there are plenty of ways of having fun without drinking. And, to say that drinking is part of your culture makes your culture seem pretty, well, boring. Just because YOU and your friends do it, doesn't mean it is something an entire country does. It's pretty rash to generalize a country because of something you and your friends do, and see others doing it. You have this "My whole country does it, so you should too!" mentality it seems.
As for Americans getting wasted when they go out and drink, thats a pretty stupid generalization. I live in one of the largest party cities, and our club district has been compared to Bourbon Street. While a lot of people go drink to get drunk, a lot of them go to "socialize" like you and the OP. The last drunk person I remember seeing was someone who was drinking because it was his birthday, and he never gets drunk. I don't do it, and my friends don't do it unless it's maybe a special occasion. So, if you do not want people in the US to generalize people in the UK, then the same favor should be returned.
Like I said to the OP, just tell them you don't feel like drinking, or be honest. If you lie, you're lying to your friends AND yourself. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:03 pm |
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| Lady T
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DebbyC wrote: Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote: I, much like DebbyC, am having a difficult time grasping that people in London simply drink all the time with their friends. This simply is NOT true. While a lot of people do it, a lot of people do not do it. And, it's not fair to say that London is not "good" for someone simply because they do not drink, or drink often.
As for the OP, it's better to either say "I don't feel like drinking tonight" or to be honest. If they are your friends, they will understand. Simple as that.
Have either you or DebbyC ever lived in the UK? Just curious.
This conversation always ends up in the toilet [are you surprised?]. No, I have never lived in the UK - have never even had it on my list of places to go if I were multi billionaire.... I still, and this is my own opinion, find it odd and somehow sad, when someone says that all social activity must revolve around alcohol. KWIM
Hey, I'm not saying what's right or what's wrong. I was just saying that it was different. I guess it's just one of those things you have to experience to understand. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:03 pm |
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| Lady T
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iDuckie wrote:
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this.
Wow. We were stationed in England (at a location not far from London) for 3 years and saw the exact opposite. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:10 pm |
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| ladybugnessa
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Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote:
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this.
Wow. We were stationed in England (at a location not far from London) for 3 years and saw the exact opposite.
i think visiting and living are two different things. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:11 pm |
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| AirborneWife03
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Clearly, if you haven't lived in Europe AND America then you aren't qualified by just a visit to say what the social norms are. There is a huge difference in how a night of social drinking ends here than in America. When we go out here 99% of the time the people who are trashed are Americans.
DebbieC- I'm not quite sure if you meant it the way it seemed but your "dependent wife" quote was not amusing. I'm a very proud Army spouse with a job, school and a deployed husband. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:28 pm |
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| Lady T
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ladybugnessa wrote: Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote:
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this.
Wow. We were stationed in England (at a location not far from London) for 3 years and saw the exact opposite.
i think visiting and living are two different things.
True! Again, I'm not saying who's right or who's wrong. I'm just saying that it's different and that I understand where rosenkilde1 is coming from.
Regardless, though, if one really and truly wants to stay the course, saying "no" should be easy enough no matter what anyone says or does. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:31 pm |
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| DebbyC
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| iduckie....Austin is crazy - I lived there for about a year and came back to SA!!! we live down the road a couple of hours and my son [18 in a week - yikes!!!] is going to Stubbs soon for a concert. I am a panicky mom - but I'm actually letting him drive up with a friend. Should I have him bring me back a plate of barbq? |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:32 pm |
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| Lady T
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AirborneWife03 wrote: I'm a very proud Army spouse with a job, school and a deployed husband.
Same here (except my hubby is Air Force)! Nice to meet you! |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:33 pm |
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| DebbyC
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Lady T wrote: AirborneWife03 wrote: I'm a very proud Army spouse with a job, school and a deployed husband.
Same here (except my hubby is Air Force)! Nice to meet you!
mine was air force as well...I was not cut out to be the required OWC paperdoll! too old when I got into it to roll over and change my ways |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:38 pm |
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| ladybugnessa
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Lady T wrote: ladybugnessa wrote: Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote:
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this.
Wow. We were stationed in England (at a location not far from London) for 3 years and saw the exact opposite.
i think visiting and living are two different things.
True! Again, I'm not saying who's right or who's wrong. I'm just saying that it's different and that I understand where rosenkilde1 is coming from.
Regardless, though, if one really and truly wants to stay the course, saying "no" should be easy enough no matter what anyone says or does.
AGREED. as usual. |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:38 pm |
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| Lady T
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ladybugnessa wrote: Lady T wrote: ladybugnessa wrote: Lady T wrote: iDuckie wrote:
I have visted Europe, and found that not many people do this.
Wow. We were stationed in England (at a location not far from London) for 3 years and saw the exact opposite.
i think visiting and living are two different things.
True! Again, I'm not saying who's right or who's wrong. I'm just saying that it's different and that I understand where rosenkilde1 is coming from.
Regardless, though, if one really and truly wants to stay the course, saying "no" should be easy enough no matter what anyone says or does.
AGREED. as usual.
And if anybody is living proof of the last part of that post, it is you, Nessa! |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:54 pm |
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| heather87
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thanks for all of the advice everyone--sorry to have started such a huge debate LOL. as far as things go for ME, we're all 21 and studying in london without any real work...so going out DOEs equal drinking and DOEs equal getting drunk. Anyways, things worked out well fo rme tonight bceause i actually did end up feeling really sick so couldn't go out anyways lol. and i think i'll just tell my friend next time we go out that i'm not drinkign for south beach. she'll b*tch and moan, liek she did last summer when i was on the beach. She'll make me feel like crap about it...annoying but i can't blame her if its the two of us going out and i'm not drinking. But shell et over it afte ra bit and whatever--i'm finally noticing a difference! clothes still don't fit but definitely fitting much better. so i refuse to give up right now. Of course, i'll have to start drinking (not a lot) wonce i get past phase 1 and well into phase 2--that's inevitable and smethign that i dont' want to give up at this point in my life. But it's not a consideration until i'm at the weight i want and i have a good workout schedule.
So, thanks for all of the help everyone and ill let you know how things work out next time we go out...(tomorrow) |
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:43 pm |
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| rosenkilde1
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This has sort of left the subject of SBD and turned into a conversation about the cultural differences in different countries.
What I perhaps failed to express is just that I relate to the problem of not drinking alcohol because I live in London and know how it is here.
To judge people or in some cases it seems a whole country for drinking is taking it a bit too far in my opinion and I agree with the German girl that in Europe we just tend to meet more often for a drink and it doesn't necessarily mean stumbling around blindly drunk.
The woman who has lived in London understands which is my point.
As I have lived in the states I feel I can see the difference in culture and therefore it aggravates me when someone who hasn't lived both places and by the sounds of it never wants to even put foot in London still thinks they know best.
Off course it is up to people whether they want to drink or not and people can off course say no in London too. However in Europe we have a much more relaxed relationship with alcohol and London in general is such a social hot spot and well yes alcohol is part of peoples lives more widely than anywhere else I have lived.
This is probably with all due respect an age thing as well.
Hopefully my social live will not be as busy when I am nearing 50.
It would just be nice to hear people have a discussion and be open to how it is in other countries and places without judging.
Thanks. |
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Thu May 01, 2008 9:14 am |
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| RedRox
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| yeah, that just rarely happens when the topic is alcohol consumption in general and alcohol consumption in P1 specifically. the archives are littered with these constant "discussions" and this one was more civil than most. locking now... |
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Thu May 01, 2008 3:02 pm |
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