Binge Drinking in College: No, Not Funny - Comments
Posted by
Mike from Dallas on November 12, 2011:
The response to your tagline, that it was callous, is exactly the reason the problem exists; excusing complicity through condolences. Reminds me of the same mindset expressed in stories about England during the White Slavery epidemic some 150 years ago in which women were kidnapped and sold on the international market. Parliamentary solutions were impossible since such subjects were not discussed in Proper Society.
Still, my own response is even more callous. I've drank like a fish; one night determined to keep count by keeping my stir sticks. Too bad the waitress cleaned them up while I was away from the table. So I lost count after 23 shots of 86 proof booze. I've tried illegal drugs that have killed others in just one attempt. I've been shot, stabbed, knifed, sliced, taken hostage, kept prisoner, beat up, tortured, and God himself has sent down three heart attacks at me, and I'm STILL alive. Better people than I have died from fewer mistakes. And there is my point.
If I, in my advanced age, have little fear of the consequences of my actions, one can understand the young person's belief in immortality. Most will ignore all the warning stories since "it can't happen to them." But there will still be a few to benefit from those warnings, and it just may save their lives. So, rather than criticize someone for attempting to save a life by cold, harsh facts, remember that there are even MORE callous people who figure that everyone is going to die eventually. Some of us are just luckier than others.
Good story, and good tagline, Randy. And I'm reminded of the expression, while you may only be one person in the world, you may well be the world to one person who listens.
----
It's true that sometimes those with the most healthy habits die early, and the hard drinkers, smokers, and druggers live to be 100 (and may it be so for you). The problem is betting your life on it: the odds are against those who attempt to defy common sense, as Spady did (whether because of ignorance or addiction -- it doesn't really matter which, does it?) With luck, others will learn from Spady, which is why I told her story. If not, well, then she died for nothing, eh? -rc
Posted by
Scott, Portland Oregon on November 15, 2011:
Thanks for pointing out that attempts at prohibition usually have the unintended consequence of stimulating binging. A bunch of University Presidents tried to get the drinking age lowered for just this reason. They failed. Perhaps in another decade the nation will grow up a bit more.
Binge Drinking in College: No, Not Funny - Comments
Posted by Mike from Dallas on November 12, 2011:
The response to your tagline, that it was callous, is exactly the reason the problem exists; excusing complicity through condolences. Reminds me of the same mindset expressed in stories about England during the White Slavery epidemic some 150 years ago in which women were kidnapped and sold on the international market. Parliamentary solutions were impossible since such subjects were not discussed in Proper Society.
Still, my own response is even more callous. I've drank like a fish; one night determined to keep count by keeping my stir sticks. Too bad the waitress cleaned them up while I was away from the table. So I lost count after 23 shots of 86 proof booze. I've tried illegal drugs that have killed others in just one attempt. I've been shot, stabbed, knifed, sliced, taken hostage, kept prisoner, beat up, tortured, and God himself has sent down three heart attacks at me, and I'm STILL alive. Better people than I have died from fewer mistakes. And there is my point.
If I, in my advanced age, have little fear of the consequences of my actions, one can understand the young person's belief in immortality. Most will ignore all the warning stories since "it can't happen to them." But there will still be a few to benefit from those warnings, and it just may save their lives. So, rather than criticize someone for attempting to save a life by cold, harsh facts, remember that there are even MORE callous people who figure that everyone is going to die eventually. Some of us are just luckier than others.
Good story, and good tagline, Randy. And I'm reminded of the expression, while you may only be one person in the world, you may well be the world to one person who listens.
----
It's true that sometimes those with the most healthy habits die early, and the hard drinkers, smokers, and druggers live to be 100 (and may it be so for you). The problem is betting your life on it: the odds are against those who attempt to defy common sense, as Spady did (whether because of ignorance or addiction -- it doesn't really matter which, does it?) With luck, others will learn from Spady, which is why I told her story. If not, well, then she died for nothing, eh? -rc
Posted by Scott, Portland Oregon on November 15, 2011:
Thanks for pointing out that attempts at prohibition usually have the unintended consequence of stimulating binging. A bunch of University Presidents tried to get the drinking age lowered for just this reason. They failed. Perhaps in another decade the nation will grow up a bit more.
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.