Rant - Booze

[fmoore]

No, I'm not Deep, but when ya gotta rant, ya gotta rant


I did nothing until around 11 today when I decided to take the 16 footer out on the Connecticut River for some late season walleye fishing. I wanted some company. Called one friend. I'm going to so-and-so's house to get drunk. Dude, you should come. I said to him it's 11 in the morning. Response I get is who cares? I proceeded to call 4 more friends. Every single one had an excuse. Know what it was? I'm going to get drunk. EVERY ONE! All 5! Remember that I'm 16 and they're all 15. What has the world come to that kids have nothing better to do than drink? My girlfriend, my mom and I sat at the dinner table on Friday to brainstorm any friends who don't drink. We came up with one. Needless to say we're in the HUGE minority.

My friends know where I stand on drinking and they respect that. Whenever the topic comes up I am not afraid to say drinking is stupid and pointless. Only harm can come from it. Regardless, what the hell is wrong with these kids? It hit all of them real hard over the summer. Last year we could all hang out here, watch the game, chill, whatever. But now, if there's no booze, they're not there.

I do have a group of three good friends who drink but won't do it around me. I thank them for that. My friends know that I won’t drink and they all respect that. That's not the problem. The problem lies within themselves. I think they all have the jock mentality, kind of I'm cool and I won't be if I don't go to parties and drink. Bullshit! I have not lost one friend because I don't drink and if I do, good riddance!

My dad is a police officer and comes home with some very interesting stories sometimes. Take, for instance, the college girl who drank too much and passed out and froze to death under 12" of snow, or the college guy who raped a girl and couldn't defend himself because he blacked out and had no clue. She could have been lying out her ass and he wouldn't even have known.

My thought has always been that if you need alcohol to have fun, then you shouldn't be having fun.

It's just sad to see this happen to the kids who used to call me and say come to the park at 12, we're having a pickup game, or let's all hang out tonight and watch the Red Sox. Now it's hey, come over tonight and get wasted. There's going to be tons of girls.

And to clarify, I'm not talking about a 30 year old guy having a couple with his friends. I'm talking about teenage binge drinking. For years I have been trying to figure out, what is the point. What is the point of getting wasted? Is it to get laid? If you can't get laid sober at 15 you have no business getting laid at all, or should I say get laid with a sober girl. Not that you should in the first place at 15 but that's a different issue all together.

Sorry guys, just had to get it out to someone who hasn't heard it yet.

It's sad to see people change like this. Oh well, it's their life.

And oh yeah, the fishing. Went with my mom. Better company than any of them anyway. Didn't catch anything, but did get a few nice pics.

[Deep C]

Permission to rant granted... Ranting on alcohol even better... I tip my riggers to you young fellow. Takes guts at that age to go against the flow... I'm most of the way to fifty and if I knew at sixteen what I know now, I would never have got started and consequently never would have had to quit being owned... 8 million are lucky enough to have survived and fight that disease in this country but ten times that many are hooked up and either down't know or can't get off it...

[jazzrockskier]

No one should use booze out on the water

[chumtini]

I'm with Deep on this one. One correction - make that 8 million plus 1. I put the plug in the jug too. It brought me more trouble than it was worth. Besides, chicks dig guys that have it all going on, not falling down drunk all the time. IMHO. Ladies, care to comment? LOL

[Big Fish Billy]

I'm 57, and started drinking at 17 when the legal age was 18. Went in the Marines at 18 and off to Viet Nam. Oddly never did drugs at all. I drink to this day and love it, have fun with it, have tons of friends that do it. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Met friends at a bar last night and had a great time, but can respect those that know they can't control it or themselves, sorry for them but it happens. Have cured friends with medical problems with a simple rum and coke, hard to believe but true, pneumonia, stress, etc. At 14 or 15 I was lake fishing and building tree forts and trying to get girls to take their clothes off, drinking didn't figure into the mix. Had older friends at 17, and would rather have a few beers than do grass. I bought a house in Maine at 21, about 2.5 hour drive, a case of beer each way, never even thought about driving drunk, it was the way it was back then. But, the times have changed, 40 years later, 40 years smarter, a lot of water and beer under the bridge, a lot of drinking abuse has hit the news. Was I lucky, smart, who knows. I was a polio surviver, a Nam survivor, a killing machine, I always felt bullet proof, perhaps the alcohol provided for that. Today it makes me feel good, I like it, it has never effected me adversely, perhaps I'm lucky, I feel lucky, and am sorry to hear folks have to give it up. Usually 24 hours later, even the worst abusers are back to sotally tober. If I had to advise younger folks about drinking, I would say wait until you are 21, I know it's hard but the maturity that occurs every year provides for a better outlook at 21. When I was 17, there was a war looming, we could die any minute for whatever the cause, at that age we were bullet proof, drinking is a drug that makes me feel that way today, although I know deep inside it isn't true. As I look at your Fall pictures, they are a drug of a different nature, they give you an awe inspiring feeling, one with nature, a smallness in God's hand, a bullet proof feeling with out the alcohol. So fish those quiet waters and find yourself in solitude, not a bottle, you'll be 21 soon, soon enough to be a man, soon enough to have a problem free drink, and aside from the horrors that life can bring.....fish on......

[dockbuilder]

No, I'm not Deep, but when ya gotta rant, ya gotta rant

http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_o....html#moreHope this help's it's my son at 21 who'll I'll never see again
I did nothing until around 11 today when I decided to take the 16 footer out on the Connecticut River for some late season walleye fishing. I wanted some company. Called one friend. I'm going to so-and-so's house to get drunk. Dude, you should come. I said to him it's 11 in the morning. Response I get is who cares? I proceeded to call 4 more friends. Every single one had an excuse. Know what it was? I'm going to get drunk. EVERY ONE! All 5! Remember that I'm 16 and they're all 15. What has the world come to that kids have nothing better to do than drink? My girlfriend, my mom and I sat at the dinner table on Friday to brainstorm any friends who don't drink. We came up with one. Needless to say we're in the HUGE minority.

My friends know where I stand on drinking and they respect that. Whenever the topic comes up I am not afraid to say drinking is stupid and pointless. Only harm can come from it. Regardless, what the hell is wrong with these kids? It hit all of them real hard over the summer. Last year we could all hang out here, watch the game, chill, whatever. But now, if there's no booze, they're not there.

I do have a group of three good friends who drink but won't do it around me. I thank them for that. My friends know that I won’t drink and they all respect that. That's not the problem. The problem lies within themselves. I think they all have the jock mentality, kind of I'm cool and I won't be if I don't go to parties and drink. Bullshit! I have not lost one friend because I don't drink and if I do, good riddance!

My dad is a police officer and comes home with some very interesting stories sometimes. Take, for instance, the college girl who drank too much and passed out and froze to death under 12" of snow, or the college guy who raped a girl and couldn't defend himself because he blacked out and had no clue. She could have been lying out her ass and he wouldn't even have known.

My thought has always been that if you need alcohol to have fun, then you shouldn't be having fun.

It's just sad to see this happen to the kids who used to call me and say come to the park at 12, we're having a pickup game, or let's all hang out tonight and watch the Red Sox. Now it's hey, come over tonight and get wasted. There's going to be tons of girls.

And to clarify, I'm not talking about a 30 year old guy having a couple with his friends. I'm talking about teenage binge drinking. For years I have been trying to figure out, what is the point. What is the point of getting wasted? Is it to get laid? If you can't get laid sober at 15 you have no business getting laid at all, or should I say get laid with a sober girl. Not that you should in the first place at 15 but that's a different issue all together.

Sorry guys, just had to get it out to someone who hasn't heard it yet.

It's sad to see people change like this. Oh well, it's their life.

And oh yeah, the fishing. Went with my mom. Better company than any of them anyway. Didn't catch anything, but did get a few nice pics.

http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_o...tsen.html#more hope this helps it's my son who I lost at 21 to Booze

[Hallnass282]

I won't lie, I'm 18 and I do drink occasionally. Most of my friends drink ... I guess growing up in cornfields does that to you. I don't get trashed nor do my friends and were always somewhere safe when we do drink. If I have so much as a drop touch my lips, my truck is not moving for the night. Getting stupid around us usually isn't good for your health so most choose not to.

Like I said ... I won't lie. I ain't perfect I do drink, I love my skoal but when it comes down to it, it's not worth anything. I will go without a drink to see my girlfriend or rig ballyhoo. I will stay sober because my buddy slammed a bottle of jack and needs a ride home, hell I'll brush my teeth 12 times to get a goodnight kiss from my girl. I'll never let drinking come between anything I love or anyone I love. Keep thinking the way you do, kids are stupid when it comes to making decisions and unfortunatley there's not enough around like you.

[La Gringa]

Oh, Dockbuilder, I'm so sorry!! What a needless tragedy.

It's a scary thing. I have three sons who are 21, 19 and 16. I live in a country where the drinking age is a nebulous 18. I think that kids who are underage like to experiment with this because they are "not allowed" to and because it is a so-called adult activity. So then it becomes rebellious and dangerous. I was not a drinker back then but I did experiment with other things probably for the same reasons.

Some of the first experiences my two oldest had with drinking were with me. We all know they are going to try it sooner or later and I'd prefered to be there in the early "learning" stages. Gringo and I were married in the Bahamas where the drinking age in the outer islands is also very nebulous.

Within reason, I allowed them to order what they wanted. A Bahama Mama here and a Goombay Smash there followed by a Kalik or whatever. Yes, they got sick and felt really crappy the next day. But it was all under the watchful eye of mom.

Today, they know they don't enjoy that feeling of being over the top. They understand that it can be fun getting a bit tipsy and silly or whatever. My middle son will only drink beer now and only in reasonable moderation. The older one still likes the mixed drinks but by the time he was old enough to buy it himself, he had a much more sensible handle on it than some kid that was just fresh out of the gate.

FMoore, you already have a much more mature attitude about it than most kids. Stick to your guns!! My youngest who is your age, dabbles here and there (always with me) but after watching his brothers look like fools, he kinda takes it easy. If we're having champagne or something for an occasion, he may have a glass and leave it at that. But he, like you, would rather be doing something else. As a parent, I am glad for that. I'm sure your mom feels the same way.

[WAHOONBOX]

I'm 57, and started drinking at 17 when the legal age was 18. Went in the Marines at 18 and off to Viet Nam. Oddly never did drugs at all. I drink to this day and love it, have fun with it, have tons of friends that do it. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Met friends at a bar last night and had a great time, but can respect those that know they can't control it or themselves, sorry for them but it happens. Have cured friends with medical problems with a simple rum and coke, hard to believe but true, pneumonia, stress, etc. At 14 or 15 I was lake fishing and building tree forts and trying to get girls to take their clothes off, drinking didn't figure into the mix. Had older friends at 17, and would rather have a few beers than do grass. I bought a house in Maine at 21, about 2.5 hour drive, a case of beer each way, never even thought about driving drunk, it was the way it was back then. But, the times have changed, 40 years later, 40 years smarter, a lot of water and beer under the bridge, a lot of drinking abuse has hit the news. Was I lucky, smart, who knows. I was a polio surviver, a Nam survivor, a killing machine, I always felt bullet proof, perhaps the alcohol provided for that. Today it makes me feel good, I like it, it has never effected me adversely, perhaps I'm lucky, I feel lucky, and am sorry to hear folks have to give it up. Usually 24 hours later, even the worst abusers are back to sotally tober. If I had to advise younger folks about drinking, I would say wait until you are 21, I know it's hard but the maturity that occurs every year provides for a better outlook at 21. When I was 17, there was a war looming, we could die any minute for whatever the cause, at that age we were bullet proof, drinking is a drug that makes me feel that way today, although I know deep inside it isn't true. As I look at your Fall pictures, they are a drug of a different nature, they give you an awe inspiring feeling, one with nature, a smallness in God's hand, a bullet proof feeling with out the alcohol. So fish those quiet waters and find yourself in solitude, not a bottle, you'll be 21 soon, soon enough to be a man, soon enough to have a problem free drink, and aside from the horrors that life can bring.....fish on......

A VERY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.....I THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTY.... ....!!!!!

AND ....YOU ARE QUIET TALENTED WITH QUILL SIR.....AND ....I ALSO HOPE FMOORE DOESN'T FOLLOW ALL OF YOUR FOOTSTEPS.....JUST SOME OF THEM

ROCK ON....

'BOX

[WAHOONBOX]

WOW.

I AM SITTING HERE EYES WIDE OPEN....MOUTH AJAR. YOU MY FRIEND HAVE PROBABLY JUST KEYBOARDED THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLE ON SPORTFISHEMEN DOT COM TODATE.

NOW IT WILL NOT BE A POPULAR POPULAR STORY SO DO NOT FEEL BETRAYED IF MOST AMONGST US DO NOT REPSOND WITH REPLY HERE......BUT ......BUT DUDE....I FRIGGIN TIP MY RIGGERS TO YA....TWICE.

YOU SIR....ARE A MAN'S MAN....

IT TAKES A BIG SET TO TAKE A STANCE IN LIFE AS YOU HAVE .....

I NEVER TOUCHED A DROP TIL I ENTERED COLLEGE AT 17.....THE BOOZE MADE ME BOLDER.....I WAS A COLLEGE BOY, FRATERNITY ETC ETC....AND I PARTIED....GIRLS GIRLS....GEEZUS H I LOVE THE GIRLS....STILL DO....BUT MY RUNNING DAYS ARE GONE.....I JUST WALK WITH ONLY ONE NOW

I LOVED THE TASTE OF VODKA AND GRAPEFRUIT....STILL DO.....THANK GOD I CAN ENJOY MAYBE TWO OF THEM A YEAR AT HOME WITH THE PONEYTAIL.....AND I LOVE ORANGE CRUSHES AT DOCKSIDE, BUT I TELL THEM TO LEAVE OUT THE CRUSH PART. YEAH I AM A WHIMP....

NO WAY COULD I PERFORM ANY COCKPIT DUTIES AT 58 IF I WAS STILL HITTING ON THE BOOZE....I GAVE IT UP AS A CAREER AROUND '96 AND HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK

BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME....THIS IS ABOUT YOU MY FRIEND....I AM IMPRESSED BEYOND ALL THOUGHT WITH YOUR WISDOM AND STRENGTH TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

YOUR PARENTS ARE PROUD TOO! NEVER EVER CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE HERE....THERE ARE MANY CHICKS OUT THERE WHO HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE...

THE FIRST THING THAT COMES WITH A BOOZE CAREER WILL BE A DUI.....THAT WAS NO FUN BACK IN 1981....THEN COMES DEBT...MAYBE LOSS OF JOB....IT SUCKED...THE DUI REALLY $UCKED....I TOO WAS BULLETPROOF AND THOUGHT I COULD DRIVE WITH ALCOHOL IN MY BRAIN.....THANK GOD I NEVER HURT ANYONE WITH MY TRUCK! N O MAN IS BULLETPROOF DRIVING ON THE HIWAY OR BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A BOAT WHILE DRINKING... THEY MAY THINK THEY ARE OKAY...BUT THEY ARE NOT.............THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS.


ROCK ON BRO.....I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT "LIFE" INSTALLMENT by FMOORE.