| i don't have a problem with my friends who drink (or anyone else) (as long as they don't get drunk, but that never happened when i was around so i have no practical experience with that). i have a problem if someone claims that they can't talk to me or they can't enjoy our time together unless they had a drink. the possible reasons why you can't talk to me makes me uncomfortable. Alcohol reduces inhibitions. In small amounts it's enough to make a person feel less like they're going to sound stupid if they try to talk to new people. yes, and that seriously bothers me. do you think that i don't feel uncomfortable talking to new people? this creates an imbalance. now you are comfortable because you had a drink, and i am still not because i won't or can't. that doesn't work. now you are no longer able to sense my discomfort because you don't sense your own. if we are both equally uncomfortable we could find a way to deal with that. instead i have to face your uninhibited self and feel like i want to run away. some people are naturally less inhibited. that can be difficult, but if they are perceptive and considerate it can work out. i fear that alcohol also makes you less perceptive, so that is unlikely to work. |