How alcohol changes people...

[Ripper666]

Alcohol. Mhm, Sure everybody of you knows that a little bit of alcohol can improve the mood and you and all guys around you become funny. I don't have anything against a healthy amount of alcohol at partys for example. But there are alway guys who exaggerate. And very often the people change ... Sometimes they hurt others because of things they say or do, often they (pretend that they) don't even remember the things they've done. I was never in a sitation like this but heard from friends who had been. Any experiences with too much alcohol and rude behavior? Just be carefull how much you drink...sure Joss and co wanted to tell us something with "bad beer" and Spikes and Anjas hangout. Cordi,Gunn and Wesley get drunk after they had been dismissing from Angel. Sure it has a sort of temptation to get drunk, even the good old Willow can sing a song about this. But sometimes you hurt people with the things you say while getting drunk. Just for remember because I rewatched this episode with Spike and Anja right now. Had to think about the "be nice on the internet" week. What do you think about alcohol in BTVS/Angel and real-life? Good/bad handling in the shows? No alcohol at all?

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I don't ever drink alcohol, don't even like it and one drop makes me feel real bad.

On Buffy, I think they really tried to tell us, a few times, that alcohol is bad. Like when Buffy turned into cavewoman, and when she almost got hurt because she was too drunk to fight that "demon" when she went to the bar with Spike. And it's always metaphorical, like if you drink, you'll be caveman.

Not to dismiss anyone, but I really hope the alcohol (and cigarettes, if we're on it) weren't invented at all. Right, it makes us feel good. But look at what it also does. It kills, it breaks people up, it causes accidents, and more. And it's not really enough to tell people that if you drink you shouldn't drive. People are aware of that. But they still do it. It's unstoppable. And I know that now it's too late and alcohol and cigarettes are legal, but I really hope they wouldn't be. Many people would have been alive that way. It saddens me. Really bad invention.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Interesting post idea.

As for how alcohol use is protrayedin Buffy, I think it is mostly negative. Beer Bad, for instance. Buffy turns into a literal cavewoman, an apt metaphor. Also, more recently, her one-night-stand. I'm willing to bet there was alcohol involved in that. We often see the characters drinking when they're sad; Anya and Spike drink whiskey together after being rejected, and we see Xander with a beer after Anya leaves him.

As for real life, I will ne honest; I do drink socially, and enjoy a good beer. Probobly a bit more thean I should! But I have it under control.

Have I ever seen anyone do anything rude and/or hurtful while under the influence? Oh, yes. My mother always said everything in moderation, and I think that's good advice.

 

[david4wt]

Alcohol portrayal on BTVS was way too moralistic, it bugged me a bit.

 

[Appelsapientje]

I definitely think that if alcohol wouldn't exist, it would be better for the world. My 14-year old sister has friends who go to drink alcohol before a party (who are also 14). I'm 16, and I have to admit that I drink alcohol sometimes, but never too much. I don't get people who drink so much they get really drunk and just.. wasted.

Also, something I never got was that in America, you have to be 21 to be allowed to drink alcohol. In The Netherlands, where I live, you only have to be 16. That's a difference of 5 years. That's really much, especially when you're young. So I never really got that. Also, isn't alcohol offically a harddrug? I think it would be a lot better if alcohol-use would be prohibited entirely, but since it's such an accepted thing in society, I guess that will never happen.

 

[This Year's Girl]

I liked how alcohol in the shows were portraited, it showed both the fun times (cordy, gunn and wes singing <3) and the bad times (like beer bad).

As far as alcohol in real life. I do drink, but not that often, maybe like once every other month or so if you see to the whole year. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I have also learned my limitations, so I rarely become too drunk. I do get drunk though (drunk sounds so "hard" though, I more mean... tipsy), that's usually the aim for me. I don't drink for the taste or at things like dinner, then I usually have water. If I drink it is because I'm at a party is what I'm getting at. In sweden you can only buy alcohol after you turn 20 in a special store that's controlled by the state (you can drink at bars after you turn 18 though). I think that's great and prevents a lot of trouble. Alcohol is a drug, and it requires regulations. If it was just released on the open market I think the alcohol use would go up a lot in this country. I'm not knocking other countries alcohol policies though, but this works for "us" imo.

 

[Appelsapientje]

@This Year's Girl: Yes, well, I actually think that 16 is too young. I know that's a bit hypocritical, as I sometimes drink alcohol myself as well, but I think that especially people of that age have a hard time with limits. The way they have arranged it in Sweden sounds like a better way to me.

 

[VisionGirl]

As far as how alcohol relates to Be Nice on the Internet, just don't do drunk-posting. That's it. I don't care if you drink or not IRL or how much (I think prohibition has been tried and failed, I just don't want people to drink & drive). It's just not a good idea to post while drunk. You might say stuff you'll regret later.

 

[Ripper666]

I totally agree [MENTION=11466]Appelsapientje[/MENTION] and @This Year's Girl. 16 is too young to get any alcohol. And the problem is: Here in Germany you get strong alcohol, even if you aren't 18. You just have to know who to ask. Some of my friends get drunk about once a month. And I mean really hard drunk. Without memories and so on. That's not funny for me anymore! Well some of them probalby think it is. To be honest, I was tipsy on several parties but just one time in my life really drunk. And it will have been the last time. Next day was so cruel. Justified punishment in my eyes. I learned out of experience but others don't. Just ask me why...

 

[This Year's Girl]

As far as how alcohol relates to Be Nice on the Internet, just don't do drunk-posting. That's it. I don't care if you drink or not IRL or how much (I think prohibition has been tried and failed, I just don't want people to drink & drive). It's just not a good idea to post while drunk. You might say stuff you'll regret later.

Yeah, amen to no drunk posting! I think there's a rule against that on BB too if I'm not mistaken, which I think is great!

---------- Post added at 06:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:21 PM ----------

@This Year's Girl: Yes, well, I actually think that 16 is too young. I know that's a bit hypocritical, as I sometimes drink alcohol myself as well, but I think that especially people of that age have a hard time with limits. The way they have arranged it in Sweden sounds like a better way to me.

I don't think its hypocritical, many people your age will of course try alcohol if it is promited! It's not like 16 year olds don't get drunk in sweden though, they do (I did 🙂), but I think our system prevents some from it at least and they who do in smaller amounts because it's harder to get a hold of it. You always get carded at our alcohol store if you look young, which is a good thing. 🙂

 

[Aloverssoulz]

16 isn't too young to drink. Any age is too young. A 34 year old telling a 17 year old that he/she shouldn't drink is an idiot. Same with smokers and drug users. If you don't respect your body than you don't deserve respect.

As for "Be nice on the internet week" I thought this month was no bra January 😵. Damn you 9gag.com -_-

 

[BuffyElevated]

I was always kinda bugged by how alcohol was portrayed on BtVS. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with responsible drinking; it's when people get sloppy drunk that is bad.

 

[arabella]

I have an interesting relationship with alcohol. I have a drink 1-2 times a year and didn't start doing that until I was 21. I've been "drunk" a few times but never engaged in any risky behavior while intoxicated. I appreciate the way alcohol was portrayed on the show because I don't know that people are very mindful of how silly being plastered can make you act. Anyways, I'm all for teaching adolescents responsible drinking behaviors just like I'm all for teaching responsible sexual behaviors, in that I think only teaching "don't do it!" is more dangerous than teaching how to do it. Alcoholism is present on both sides of my family and on my husbands. His grandfather committed suicide while intoxicated and my grandparents drank enough to have my mom and aunt taken into foster care as children. Earlier this year, my aunt drank herself into liver failure and passed away (she was in her late 40s). It is insanely important for my children to see my husband and I have a responsible relationship with alcohol.

 

[Taake]

Alcohol portrayal on BTVS was way too moralistic, it bugged me a bit.

I agree, I kind of felt this too but at the same time it didn't bug me that much because it didn't take up that much space of the show and I didn't feel a need for it either.
I kind of feel Glee did a better alcohol warning episode without being overly "Beer Bad, Milk good" about it 😉

As for real life, all I can say is (after seeing a lot in the old party scene I belonged to) drink responsibly! Make sure you have friends you can trust and most importantly (like VisionGirl said) do not drink and drive. There's no good there.

 

[VisionGirl]

Deleting my entire post because I need to learn to read and pay attention. 😀

 

[Living Dead Boy]

Well see, I was a horrible drinker before I ever turned 21. (I'm still 20 by the way) And it did no good for me. I only drank to feel that buzz, you know? But soon it got worse. I was falling down stairs, passing out in class, it was so embarrassing. But like others have said, responsible drinking is okay, but you have to know your limits. I have a low tolerance for alcohol, so now I know when enough is enough. But people need to be careful with what they say while drinking, because "drunken words are sober thoughts".

 

[patriot1123]

As far as how alcohol relates to Be Nice on the Internet, just don't do drunk-posting. That's it. I don't care if you drink or not IRL or how much (I think prohibition has been tried and failed, I just don't want people to drink & drive). It's just not a good idea to post while drunk. You might say stuff you'll regret later.

I get overly nice and friendly when I get drunk, and I like to say nice things to people, so mostly when I'm PWI, the stuff I'll regret the next day was just over-the-top affection or similar. 🙂 There are worse things, I suppose.

 

[Cast No Shadow]

I drink way too much, it's no good. It's really not something I'm proud of!

 

[This Year's Girl]

16 isn't too young to drink. Any age is too young. A 34 year old telling a 17 year old that he/she shouldn't drink is an idiot. Same with smokers and drug users. If you don't respect your body than you don't deserve respect.

As for "Be nice on the internet week" I thought this month was no bra January 😵. Damn you 9gag.com -_-

I respect that you feel that alcohol is bad for any person. It is. I do however think that at 16 you're body isn't fully developed, so the consequences of drinking can in some ways be worse. I also think that an adult in general have a better chance of making an decision to not drink as much, because you usually have different priorities and know your body and it's limitations better by then. I'm not saying that there aren't smart and responsible 16 year olds out there (this boards really proves that there are!), but I do believe that most people grow wiser and more responsible with age.

 

[kittenpoker]

But people need to be careful with what they say while drinking, because "drunken words are sober thoughts".

Often but not always. In some people being drunk can trigger a total personality change... where it really is not the person but more like being posessed. But yeah it is a good rule of thumb to be conscious and aware of what you say at all times. 🙂

Also, I appreciate the openness and candor here.