"Having a good time"

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

Why is it that I am seeing so much emphasis here on the importance of "having a good time"?

And it seems that people consider "beer" and "having a good time" to be synonymous.

Nobody drinks beer simply for, say, the taste?

I do not go "out" to have iced tea. I go to a restaurant that serves iced tea because, well, I want the refreshment and nourishment and I want to enjoy the taste of it. That almost sounds like Diet Coke--"Just for the taste of it".

Let me guess, the hospitality industry, the alcoholic beverage industry, etc. make money by selling a "good time". If people did not want to "have a good time" then many businesses would not exist--people would not suddenly go to those places for, say, a nourishing meal.

Okay, I think I understand the economics of "having a good time". And to some extent I think I understand the sociology of "having a good time".

What I do not understand is this attitude that says that those of us who do not "have a good time" are somehow flawed or living inferior lives.

I guess I owe a lot of what I have enjoyed to people's desire to "have a good time". Apparently if people did not "have a good time" with, say, American football, then American football would not exist for those of us who experience it almost purely out of personal interest.

I do not have to go "out" and I do not have to be "with friends" to have any use for things like ball games. I can go to the ballpark by myself and get satisfaction from concentrating on the drama unfolding on the field. No need to "have a good time".

Yet, apparently those of us who do not need or want to "have a good time" need to "get a life". And, furthermore, apparently those of us who do not need or want to "have a good time" must be mentally ill, have a personality disorder, are of poor moral character, etc.

I can understand the social phenomenon of "having a good time". But I can't understand why anybody feels threatened by those who see little need to "have a good time". I do not understand why those who value "having a good time" feel the need to criticize, ridicule, pathologize and indict those of us who do not share that value.

If I only enjoy quietly watching the ripples in the lake--if I never "have a good time" fishing or water skiing in the lake--who really cares?

 

[b4uris]

Nobody drinks beer simply for, say, the taste?

The taste? Yuck

I do not go "out" to have iced tea.

Neither do I, I stay in.

What I do not understand is this attitude that says that those of us who do not "have a good time" are somehow flawed or living inferior lives.

I can safely say I have a good time by not doing those things that usually fall under the catch phrase "having a good time".

 

[ImperialPhantom]

Excuse me guy, but I absolutely enjoy the flavor of beer. Once you get away from the fizzy yellow garbage and try some good microbrews you will see what I mean.

 

[b4uris]

Okay guy. let's find common ground first.

Once you get away from the fizzy yellow garbage

Done.

and try some good microbrews you will see what I mean.

So, are you suggesting non-commercial fizzy brown alcoholic drinks sir?

 

[Keri]

I think beer stinks. Literally.

 

[b4uris]

I think you are onto something.

 

[ImperialPhantom]

Okay guy. let's find common ground first.


Done.



So, are you suggesting non-commercial fizzy brown alcoholic drinks sir?

Obviously. If anybody can drink a good Stone brew and not appreciate the flavor, then I do not want to know that person.

 

[Keri]

I used to live right by the Sierra Nevada Brewery and it smelled worse than when I lived on campus at bible college right by the mineral hot springs which smelled like sulfur.

 

[b4uris]

Having a college - and a bible college at that- next to a brewery. Genius!

 

[Keri]

No, the brewery was in Chico, and I said that the brewery smelled worse than the hot springs... I was in bible college and the campus was covered in hot springs. These smells were smelled about 5 years apart. lol

 

[catofhope]

I don't nor ever have had beer.

When I was first working I use to go to work softball games to show support.
Afterwards they would go out to a pizza and beer place.
It bored me nearly to death. I stopped going after a few times. I never got it either.
And what made it worse is they started showing up at games already partially drunk.

Myself I am a happy hermit. Perfectly happy staying home.
And I don't care what others think. (Who do they think they are?)
I don't live by their standards. (We probably have different ones anyway).
The only person I need to be accountable to is God.

 

[Gimpy]

Excuse me guy, but I absolutely enjoy the flavor of beer. Once you get away from the fizzy yellow garbage and try some good microbrews you will see what I mean.

Oh yeah. I like a glass of good beer as much as a glass of good wine.
The best beer I have drunken is a German pilzner.

 

[RED that's ME]

You don't need alcohol for sure to have a good time. I don't drink for a variety of reasons.

I've also seen tooooo many people having a *good* time drinking, who end up hurting others cause of their *good* time.

 

[Luther073082]

I don't like beer so what?

It sounds like you prefer to have a good time on your own. I can see that and sometimes I like to spend some time on my own to enjoy myself.

But many other times I like to be out with people.

I like to go out dancing at least once a week! Its a different state of mind and it makes me feel alive!

 

[ImperialPhantom]

Oh yeah. I like a glass of good beer as much as a glass of good wine.
The best beer I have drunken is a German pilzner.

If you live in an area where Stone is sold, I highly recommend it, especially the Imperial Russian Stout or the Old Guardian barleywine. The flavor is massive, and I seriously cannot drink other beers the same way again.

 

[Luther073082]

You don't need alcohol for sure to have a good time. I don't drink for a variety of reasons.

I've also seen tooooo many people having a *good* time drinking, who end up hurting others cause of their *good* time.

I like wine and thats about it. And I never have more then one glass of anything in a single day.

Personally I don't see what the big deal is half the time unless you are purposefully trying to get drunk. Which I have never been but as often as people do it, I figure it must be fun.

But really, when I first tried different alcholic beverages, I was looking for something that was some kind of great drink. I mean as much as people drink them something out there must be great. And I tried tons of different stuff over the last 3 years and honestly I havn't found it yet. A vodka and tonic helps me relax a bit but seriously none of it tastes as good as a pepsi.

And beer uggg . . . although I admit that I've only really tried the cheap beers. MGD and Bud.

 

[Tamara224]

Why is it that I am seeing so much emphasis here on the importance of "having a good time"?

And it seems that people consider "beer" and "having a good time" to be synonymous.

Nobody drinks beer simply for, say, the taste?

Lots of people do drink beer because they enjoy the taste. That's why microbreweries and such are gaining popularity in the United States. People used to brew their own beer and drink it at home if they wanted it. It wasn't until the 20th century that anything else became possible.

Americans have warped ideas about drinking alcohol. Sometimes it seems like it's either abstain completely or go completely hog-wild.

Humans have been enjoying alcohol since at least as far back as Noah. I don't know why we have treat it like it can only be drunk (drank?) in a "party" setting.


As to having a "good time" - why are you so concerned about what other people think and do? If you don't have a good time doing the things that those people are doing, then have a good time on your own - or find people who share your sense of what a good time entails.

There are plenty of people in this world who think that staying home and carrying on an intelligent conversation is more fun than going to the bar and getting wasted. Personally, I find I have the most fun when I go to my parents' house, have a few glasses of wine and get into a theological discussion with my dad. But I know there are many people who would think that the most boring time in the world.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

Neither do I, I stay in...

But I bet that you do not invite friends over for a party and say, "You bring the chips and dip and I will get the tea".

 

[RED that's ME]

But I bet that you do not invite friends over for a party and say, "You bring the chips and dip and I will get the tea".

At my house we would at least offer sodas, coffee or water with the tea.

 

[LOVEthroughINTELLECT]

A vodka and tonic helps me relax a bit but seriously none of it tastes as good as a pepsi...

I never thought that I would see the taste of a soft drink compared/contrasted to the taste of alcoholic beverages.

Is the taste of Pepsi "award winning"? Has it been "judged the best" ten years in a row?