To drink or not to drink

Looking forward to joining you for a beer at the Raven's Nest and sharing some of that Florida Sunshine.

 

i'm not steeped with Rainbow experience or anything. i've only been to one, last year. but, i felt that the "unspoken rule" or understanding was that A-camp is for those who want to be totally open and loose with their drinking/intoxication and nowhere else is it acceptable to be a belligerant drinking fool. i know people that had beer, wine, liqour at their own tent or camp but, it never came with them to any other part of the gathering. i think that's perfectly reasonable. i mean, the folks that want to bring a couple twelve packs or a handle of whiskey and a bottle of coke to their sight aren't the drinkers that we're concerned about. like, their just chillen at their sight, having a few. it's those people that only have one thing in mind when there's alkeehol around. those people are trying (in my personal opinion) to drown/run away from their rational thought and it becomes an excuse to be LOUD, OFFENSIVE, CHALLENGING, COMPETITIVE, ABUSIVE, and sometimes these able-bodied individuals require help to stand up and walk safely and it's just NOT condusive to the spirit or the vision of a Gathering. obviously not ALL drinkers are like this. i mean, i'm a drinker. i fucking LOVE MY HEINEKENS! and when i drink, i like to get PRETTY drunk but, i don't have the disposition to go looking for trouble or find a reason to argue with someone. anyways, i hope i made my point. my heads a little scrambled right now, so i'm sorry if i said anything the wrong way, i did the best i could.

 

It's about "Respect"

 

I respect the fact that everyone at Rainbow has rights. LEOs can bring guns, A-camp can bring a keg. There is no way to stop this without being hypocritical. Despite that we have decided no alcohol in the church, other rainbow doctrines can be construed as contradictory and drunks and not easily reasoned with.
The only way to do something about it peacefully and respectfully, if it gets out of hand, is move to another church. I pray that for the benefit of themselves and everyone else, those who choose to drink can do so in the appropriate place and manner.

 

i prefer the company of those who have not impaired their immagination along with their awairness. my strong feeling, based on years of observation, is that this contributes nothing possitive to anyone's own experience nor to the consiquent world we all have to live in. what one does in the company of only those who share their own feelings or their own, and does not defacto in any way impose on others, is of course of only their own concern. but consider to, the care it takes TO avoid imposing negativeness and unpleasantness on others. only thus can such negativity and unpleasantness be avoided.

not everyone finds the excitement of boisterousness gratifying, or even pleasant to be in the company of. and if there is one thing that does not need to be tolerated anywhere, it is thoughtlessness.

i'm not claiming to speak for rainbow gatherings as i've not been to one. these are simply my feelings generaly.

=^^=
.../\...

 

i need to drink...it helps facilitATE communication

 

im really surprised with the results of the pole. i am an avid alcoholic, but at gatherings i dont drink, because i get a bit reckless and mischevious. it would be nice to say, that yes you can have your box of wine with your kids, but then you are inviting every shwilly with a bottle of whiskey to drink all day pissin people off. i say thats what A-camp is for. if you cant go 3 or 4 weeks with out a drink, then i guess youre just an A-camper.

 

Well my vote went to "not at all" and heres why. It seems to me the its the youngins that want the alcohol around judging from the posts, and the older folks can just do without. My guess is that the old adage "with age comes wisdom" comes into play here. Kids (up to age 25 is a kid to me) havent seen what we have seen and done, we try to warn them but its just as when we were that age, the lights are on and no ones home. while in great moderation alcohol is ok but for most alcohol cannot be taken in moderation. So then we MUST be honest with ourselves. I for one wont stop at 3 or 4 beers or shots and become sloppy drunk as most wont admit to. I gave up booze 4 years ago simply because i was tired of all that. Lets face it, it tastes like shit, makes you feel like shit the next day and makes you smell like a barroom bathroom floor. With age comes wisdom.

 

Ha! I just had to answer this one, 'cause I can relate so well. I used to drink to have some fun. Never an alcoholic thing. Just a thing of everybody else is doin' it and it's a party so why not. But I have NEVER particularly liked substances of any kind that make me feel less than in control over myself, or less than myself at all. And lets face it, with ENOUGH alcohol, you too can act stupid. Well, I don't like acting stupid - I don't get off on hanging with others who act stupid either. It's already hard enough to find truely intelligent folks to hang with. It occured to me eventually that it WAS stupid to drink and then spend the entire time trying not to act like I was drinking, 'cause that's what I do when I drink... And had no success at that by the way. Now that I have that concept figured out, I'm much more aware of the fact that alcohol actually RUINS my buzz. I like high, not low. And yea, it tastes like shit and I find it revolting to think that you would actually drink something that would burn in your lamp..... But, I think that taste may have something to do with whether you will become an alcoholic or not, 'cause some folks DO lke the taste, and it seems most folks who actually LIKE the taste tend to get carried away with drinking. Those of us who can barely stand the taste tend not to...

Cheers!

 

My best writings, poetry, and music comes from me when I drink. Which is everyday of the week And I LOVE the taste of beer, as well as whiskey, brandy, vodka, and rum :tongue:

 

I drank booze all my life until i became pregnant and my son is eight now....

When he saw his dad drinking a can of beer he said to me "why dont you drink beer mum" and I replied "because i gave it up when you were born' and he replied "oh good I would hate to have a drunk for a mother...."

Wow....out of the mouths of babes...

Booze and parenthood not always a good idea thinks me!

 

Well, I drink when I have my son my half the week, but only when he is asleep and I dont get hammerd

 

I couldnt drink because our son didnt sleep too well, so I would have to keep a clear head most of the time....I dont mind the fact that his Dad does, but one of us have to keep sober.

One night I awoke with a start at 3am....i thought I heard him call out...when I got to his room I saw he had fallen out of bed and had got caught in the quilt. He was shouting "i love you mum"....when I freed him from the quilt, I asked him what was wrong and he told me he thought he was dying and wanted to tell me he loved me...he said he couldnt breathe

Oh God....can you imagine if I had been drinking and was in a deep sleep....

Thats why I choose not to drink......and plus the fact that when i was younger I did it regularly....and ended up getting horrible hangovers....

 

No no I definitley understand, thats why I said I dont get smashed when I have him, but even when I drink a little (like, right at this very moment, hold on quick sip) my son crib is about 2 feet from the foot of my bed I have a room at my cousins house in center city now that I am single, but hey we are happy and thats what counts !

 

Relayer

You sound like a very good and caring father....I love how you said "my sons crib is about 2 feet from the foot of my bed"

Aaaaahh bless you.....so young yourself too....it cant be easy....

I send you much luck and love for your son and you...

 

I believe that moderation and respect are the key words. I guzzled 10 yrs of my life away it seems. When I decided to stop guzzling, I became more aware of myself and others.

I did not like myself much as a drunk. It was not good for my spirit. I always woke up feeling alone, empty and sick, sometimes even ashamed of my behaviour.

I don't mind people drinking as long as they can handle it, it's no fun to be at a gathering( or anyplace) having to babysit a bunch of drunk people.

Over consumption of alcohol usually brings out the worst in people, I have seen it turn the most polite and respective ones into pure D assholes after a half bottle of Jim Beam. Myself included.

We have small gatherings with 30/40 people several times a year and when ever there is a rift alcohol is always involved, which creates bad vibs for everyone.

I think after a limit people are not longer capable of making good decissions or to think rationaly, some folks have a low tolorance for alcohol and they become chemically imbalanced, some folks are beligerent already and alcohol just enhanches these negitive quailities.

I see no harm in the occaional use of livation in moderation. Just use good judgement and keep your head.

In most circles/camps you'd get a better reception sharing a pot of tea then a bottle of booze.

If you must drink, keep it low and be cool and don't go dumping your stuff on ones that don't induldge, respectively.

just my 2cent worth as a former drunk.

sh

 

Thank you Really, always makes me happy and feel better about my role as a father when people commend me, its not so easy but he is my life! And no ones life is easy :tongue:

 

"he is my life"

what a very lucky boy....

and you deserve commending, sure you do

 

I believe that people should bring the beer, and then proceed to mind their own businesses on who's consuming the alcohol.

 

I agree.... crud...

As long as there arent children involved....