Classmates Drinking
Okay so my classmates are aged 13-16 and they're always going on about alcohol and parties. Whenever somebody mentions 'party', they always have to ask whether it's a "real" party with alcohol and DJs or the "other kind of party" with coke and pizza. They also talk about getting together to drink these different labels or something.
So I feel really left out and sometimes I think, "Why do you keep talking about alcohol? Do you think it makes you seem cool?"
I asked my classmate and she said it gives her a nice feeling.
I just feel so strangely about this. Isn't it wrong to drink at that age? I mean, we're still kids. I don't feel like I fit in anymore.
What are your thoughts? ._.
October 31, 2013
36 Comments • Newest first
[quote=TrueAtheist]You're naive if you think that teens never drank in the past.
Go back to the 60's and 70's when LSD was legal and then come back to today and tell us again how screwed up kids are.[/quote]
Preach it.
People are either oblivious or blind to the fact that society has always had "bad eggs"
Lol those kids will jump upon hearing that the other party has "coke."
They mostly do it to be cool and fit in with the "cool" crowd.
[quote=xXlinkedXx]Well the current generations of Americans are, to be frank, screwed. It's all or . I can literally lean back in my seat and listen in on a conversation about smoking pot, or lean forward and listen in on people talking about Vines.
It's all the image of "My parents don't care so why should I?" or "What they don't know won't hurt them". The newer generations are part of what's called the "What's in it for me?" generation. I'm part of this generation, but I refuse to follow along in a trend that kills (brain cells, human life, w/e ).
Some people are tolerable to an extent, but most will troll or attempt to troll in a game or forum due to some sort of real-life thing (probably something along the lines of abuse, usually drug abuse and depression, which is going up in this generation because of parents not giving a fudge about their children).
It all sums down to this: parents aren't as strict as they should be in this day and age. If 12 year olds have access to drugs and alcohol, something is wrong with the system.
Bit off topic but some people need to learn to read. You don't know how annoying it is when you make an explanation as clear as day and they don't understand it. Stop skimming, grab a book, read at or above your grade level, then argue about how you can't understand what's being explained.[/quote]
You're naive if you think that teens never drank in the past.
Go back to the 60's and 70's when LSD was legal and then come back to today and tell us again how screwed up kids are.
@GlitterPumas: I didn't say anything about me knowing everything and looking down on everyone else. Skimming I understand is a necessary thing, but I'm just saying it'd be nice if someone actually reads the thing (usually when someone asked the question). I don't know how many times I had to explain and re-explain the same thing multiple times before it actually gets though.
But what I said about the discipline part is that parents aren't strict enough with their kids. It's not hard to look at, say the ESRB rating of a game compared to the child's maturity level.
And I understand that children are immature at parts in their life, I'm no different. Just that the lack of common judgement is what's bothering me. Sure, you can smoke all the drugs you want and get wasted or whatever, just don't be a tool about it and start bragging and being arrogant, at least not in school or other places where a "professional" atmosphere is present.
What I'm essentially trying to say is that the "rebellious" pressure of doing drugs or under-aged drinking starts to affect the other generations that are going to follow (or would follow if it doesn't kill your reproductive cells) in essentially our footsteps.
No one wants their kid to be some druggie, even those that took part in the hippie trend back in the day. There's, in my opinion, too much leeway for kids to get away with a lot more things than the other generations. Like the original poster said, kids as young as 12 are drinking, which not only poses health risks but also can influence "dark" desires within kids to do non consensual things. Under-aged sex is technically consensual, since it's an agreement between the two parties (not their parents though).
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and my opinion is that parents tend to turn a blind eye to some pretty serious things, I could care less if the parents themselves allow those things under certain conditions.
[quote=xXlinkedXx]Well the current generations of Americans are, to be frank, screwed. It's all or . I can literally lean back in my seat and listen in on a conversation about smoking pot, or lean forward and listen in on people talking about Vines.
It's all the image of "My parents don't care so why should I?" or "What they don't know won't hurt them". The newer generations are part of what's called the "What's in it for me?" generation. I'm part of this generation, but I refuse to follow along in a trend that kills (brain cells, human life, w/e ).
Some people are tolerable to an extent, but most will troll or attempt to troll in a game or forum due to some sort of real-life thing (probably something along the lines of abuse, usually drug abuse and depression, which is going up in this generation because of parents not giving a fudge about their children).
It all sums down to this: parents aren't as strict as they should be in this day and age. If 12 year olds have access to drugs and alcohol, something is wrong with the system.
Bit off topic but some people need to learn to read. You don't know how annoying it is when you make an explanation as clear as day and they don't understand it. Stop skimming, grab a book, read at or above your grade level, then argue about how you can't understand what's being explained.[/quote]
@xXlinkedXx
The funny thing is the fact that you exaggerate how the current generation don't know discipline but that could be said about every previous generation before us. Think about it before you start talking, kids will be kids. It has nothing to do with generation or time, kids are always going to have a rebellious streak. Such as the grunge era or hippie days. Kids are always going to be naive,arrogant, and think they're invincible. The majority of them end up growing out of these typical teenage phases.
In response to your reading comment. You do realize skimming is one of the most effective methods to read.. by reading beyond the fillers and summarizing all of the key points you see by skimming you're capable of being able to understand the passage without putting in much effort. Having been assigned up to 150 pages a day from my prerequisite courses for my English major, I always skim and that allows me to learn what I need as well as giving me more time in my day to be doing other things.
People like you who think they know everything and are above others by talking about complete ass crap are a joke.
Well the current generations of Americans are, to be frank, screwed. It's all or . I can literally lean back in my seat and listen in on a conversation about smoking pot, or lean forward and listen in on people talking about Vines.
It's all the image of "My parents don't care so why should I?" or "What they don't know won't hurt them". The newer generations are part of what's called the "What's in it for me?" generation. I'm part of this generation, but I refuse to follow along in a trend that kills (brain cells, human life, w/e ).
Some people are tolerable to an extent, but most will troll or attempt to troll in a game or forum due to some sort of real-life thing (probably something along the lines of abuse, usually drug abuse and depression, which is going up in this generation because of parents not giving a fudge about their children).
It all sums down to this: parents aren't as strict as they should be in this day and age. If 12 year olds have access to drugs and alcohol, something is wrong with the system.
Bit off topic but some people need to learn to read. You don't know how annoying it is when you make an explanation as clear as day and they don't understand it. Stop skimming, grab a book, read at or above your grade level, then argue about how you can't understand what's being explained.
No one at my high school really partied or drank... A lot of us were artsy kids, so most of us just smoked weed with groups of people.
But I definitely think you should go out to some parties if people are having them. Why the hell not? Especially if you're about 16.
If people start seeing you at parties, you will definitely get some social cred for doing it.
Go out and get some experience partying. Coming from a high school where people didn't party to a decent party school I'm the embodiment of the phrase "I'm 12 years old and what is this?" Definitely wish I had more experience coming in. But I still manage to carry myself well because I naturally have a tolerance for alcohol.
@fradddd: Yeahhh... At my high school the only people who really partied were the hardcore stoner people who looked like hardcore stoners. I actually went and partied with a bunch of them this weekend since I was friends with them in high school and NONE OF THEM ARE DOING ANYTHING WITH THEIR LIVES.
They're literally only doing it cause it makes them look cool.
I've been to zero parties in high school, so to me it seems unreal that kids drink and do drugs and all that. I wish I went to at least one to see what they're like...
It seems like only the sophomores have parties, and the stoners/hoes (same basic category).
Only time I drink is in a wedding.
And I'm 14.
When I was 16, 17 or so, it was obviously to look cool, and there's no denying that it helps. That's why they're going "REAL party?", they wanna seem cool.
Truth is, you can be an awkward, mumbling stumbling fool at a party (which most people are), and peers will still think "wow he parties".
You don't need to party to be cool, and you don't need to be cool to party... however, if you don't go you'll never have grounds to say that.
Some of these guys going "I'm __ years old but never partied because parties suck, people become dumb and I have better things to do" are just laughable.
In my eyes, you're telling people 1. you're scornful and projecting negativity 2. likely socially awkward 3. lack understanding of causation and correlation 4. you're not a risk taker 5. you're insecure and 6. you don't quite understand
You'll eventually grow up as well and understand the difference between you and them. I know some very smart people and they enjoy drinking at parties - or they even have parties themselves. Even with the really geeky people, they enjoy a casual drink on the weekends and usually go out and about. Drinking is apart of many people's lives, and it starts early for a lot of people.
There are stereotypes of people who like to party, such as underachieving, dumb, or promiscuous - and they do exist - but not all of them are like that. Mostly the ones who partake in drugs during parties are the ones who enjoy clubbing when they are legal age. You shouldn't have to change for your peers, rather let them understand that you'd rather not attend parties or drinks with them. They may drift away from you, but strong relationships last if they can understand how you feel.
I started partying consistently in grade 10. I regret it because I didn't make honour role and I probably damaged my brain and liver badly because I had no concept of moderation (like everyone else at that age).
If you're invited to a drinking party, I'd say go for it. Just don't get too drunk and stay away from drugs. I find a lot of people have no concept of networking outside of online media and house parties are a great way to meet new people.
Your friends are tryhards. Dump them and go find some nerd friends so you can succeed in school. Partying comes later.
People at my school always talk about drinking/parties/drugs etc. I get how it could be fun and everything
But what sometimes really pisses me off is when someone says that they want to blackout its like really
I don't mind you drinking to lossen up but drinking to not remember anything its just....
Im 13 and i know a few people exactly liek that >.< Srsly if they want to trash their life like that let them be, all you can do is point at them and laugh.
@jabbathan:
Anything is cooler than eating sugar. Come on, let's not hide from facts.
@DeprivedChild: How is it cool to puke, and maybe even have a chance of dying (drink&drive?)
When you can get sugar, and have a very low chance of getting diabetes (don't know if spelled correctly), maybe not low, but sugar all da way
[quote=xdwow]I am 20, and I still haven't touch a lick of alcohol. Yes I don't party at all, but it is not because I don't get invited, but I just don't go (yeah, it lowered my social status with some of the "cool" people). But I have my own goals. I love to lift weights and I have high volume training like 4x a week, so I can't afford to do anything like drinking and partying. Yeah, so I won't get laid from one night stands, and I would be considered "lame". But I wasted my high school life doing nothing but gaming, and right now I am going all out to get strong as fuark before I reach the peak of my strength potential. I meet a lot of older people in the gym, and they all tell me the same thing, "I wish I had started to train earlier instead of fuarking around"[/quote]
You know you can do both right..? To refrain from alcohol completely just because you want to lift is quite extreme.. most lifters drink on occasion. Some of the strongest people and people with the best physiques that I know enjoy the occasional night of binge-drinking.
[quote=xdwow]I am 20, and I still haven't touch a lick of alcohol. Yes I don't party at all, but it is not because I don't get invited, but I just don't go (yeah, it lowered my social status with some of the "cool" people). But I have my own goals. I love to lift weights and I have high volume training like 4x a week, so I can't afford to do anything like drinking and partying. Yeah, so I won't get laid from one night stands, and I would be considered "lame". But I wasted my high school life doing nothing but gaming, and right now I am going all out to get strong as fuark before I reach the peak of my strength potential. I meet a lot of older people in the gym, and they all tell me the same thing, "I wish I had started to train earlier instead of fuarking around"[/quote]
I can relate 100% with this guy. I'd rather spend my nights at the gym than binge drinking with frats.
TS if you do start drinking, I'd suggest to drink to relax and unwind after school or work. Don't drink to get drunk for that supposably "cool" factor.
I am 20, and I still haven't touch a lick of alcohol. Yes I don't party at all, but it is not because I don't get invited, but I just don't go (yeah, it lowered my social status with some of the "cool" people). But I have my own goals. I love to lift weights and I have high volume training like 4x a week, so I can't afford to do anything like drinking and partying. Yeah, so I won't get laid from one night stands, and I would be considered "lame". But I wasted my high school life doing nothing but gaming, and right now I am going all out to get strong as fuark before I reach the peak of my strength potential. I meet a lot of older people in the gym, and they all tell me the same thing, "I wish I had started to train earlier instead of fuarking around"
I had my first alcohol experience when I was 15 during a school trip. The teachers organised a party under the hotel where we were staying. You couldn't stay in your room so I was forced to go. I was hyped for the party anyway so I didn't mind. At the party the only drinks that were served were cola and beer. Ofcourse everyone went for the beer, even those who you expected wouldn't drink (expect for three guys sitting in the hallway away from the party). I felt left out. Everyone around me were drinking, laughing and dancing, and all my 'nerdy' friends were hitting on girls with succes. I was the awkward one standing in the middle wondering what the fudge I'm doing here. I didn't want to hang with those 'losers' in the hallway, so I deceided to go for my first try. The beer tasted awful as I expected. Even by that I got another glass after another, hoping to get that good feel so I could party with everyone and hit girls. In the end, I couldn't bring it myself because drinking and partying were absolutely not my thing. After a hour I went back to my room, frustrated.
Till this day alcohol and parties still ain't my thing. I did give it some changes after that school trip, but it's just not meant for me. My classmates, collegues and former friends call me crazy when I ain't go clubbing or drinking on a friday night, which I response that everyone has it's own way of doing. Maybe that's why I lost my friends and having a hard time making new ones. Even my crush doesn't wanna hang out with me because I'm boring. For now I'm just gonna focus on school, internship and sports. I see what the future brings, and so goes it for you OP. Just sharing my thought.
13 is too young but I'd say 16 is normal time to start experimenting with alcohol.
As long as they're not doing it too often and are being responsible I don't see a problem with it really.
Join them one day and you'll understand why they do it. It's good to build up your tolerance early on and learn how to handle your alcohol so that you don't make a fool out of yourself when you're actually old enough to go out drinking.
@Noobsicle That's quite the harsh judgement considering you don't know them at all...
@LowWillpower I'm 22, probably 90% of my friends binge drink, and I'd say over half smoke weed occasionally, and most of them are about to graduate university in maths/sciences/engineering/business.
[quote=Zlyphor]It's just self-control. It's one thing to go to parties, have fun and whatnot but another thing to get hooked on alcohol or drugs such as weed (seems to be popular among teens now).[/quote]
I have a friend who enjoys drinking often, usually smokes weed, and is already going to be getting a masters in science within several months of finishing his bachelors in mechanical engineering. Right now he's TA of a course that is full of people he was in 1st & second year with.
@1kevqn: I do have parents :x
[quote=jotaku]Yes it's wrong to drink at such an early age. I mean, there's a reason for age restrictions being implemented on drinking!
Haha anyways, there's no need to feel as though you don't fit in. I shared a similar view on drinking as you when I was around your age, and there are guaranteed to be many others. I only came to enjoy drinking (only once I was 18 ) because some drinks are so yummy haha.
Anyway, I sure hope your friends don't see you as weird for not joining in their omgpartydrinkingimsocool-fun times. In my circle of friends we're all 21+ and probably half of them still don't enjoy drinking, and people don't question why they don't like it, it's just a matter of preference.
I may be wrong, but the seeming hype your classmates have over drinking may be partially because: 1) it's technically illegal, which just somehow translates to I'm cool coz I'm a badass for breaking the rules and 2) it's probably still quite a novel thing for them so everyone wants in on the fun and probably adds to the cool-ness of doing something illegal. I get that your friend might like drinking because it makes her feel good, but just based off what I've experienced and seen from my friends, some people go through this phase of omgomg alcohol!11! , but it tends to die off as you get older... although there's exceptions where even at older ages some people STILL think getting absolutely wasted is cool but whatever.
But yeah, bottom line is, don't feel weird about not wanting to drink, coz it's completely normal. Plus, it'll keep your liver and brain cells happy which is a huge plus
(Hopefully this post makes sense, I'm so tired haha)
Edit: @jabbathan, there is a difference! Sugar is kinda like a stimulant that gives you more energy to result in this high-ish feeling. Alcohol on the other hand is a depressant and essentially stops your brain cells from talking to each other properly. And for that reason, alcohol can really change people's behaviour because they don't really *think* properly before acting. Also helps people loosen up which may be useful in certain social situations.
...And of course, people can get drunk on alcohol, pass out and puke in buckets which is definitely heapsss cooler than just eating sugar and going hyper *sarcasm*[/quote]
Well I agree mostly but hmm. I still think getting drunk is cooler than eating sugar. Really.
I'm 14, and I dont get why people drink, like isnt sugar enough? If coke and was beer, and cookies were weed, I'd understand.
i got drunk at age 15 but i didn't go around bragging it to people
Most likely your friends are bsing if they brag about it.
[quote=LowWillpower]I found in highschool there were a lot of parties all the time. I didn't go to many, but I know quite a few people who did who were fine honestly.[/quote]
It's just self-control. It's one thing to go to parties, have fun and whatnot but another thing to get hooked on alcohol or drugs such as weed (seems to be popular among teens now).
[quote=Eshnolat]Casually/Socially drinking when you're a bit older is one thing, but this does not sound casual at all.
Every single person who has in my Highschool's "party" scene went nowhere, and continued to make bad decisions. And many didn't know how to socialize without the help of alcohol/drugs, or partying would be all they talked about. For people still figuring things out, partying is like a shortcut that makes it easier, without them actually learning. It's the Social Least Common Denominator.
That there are Freshmen falling into it already is seriously bad news.
Stay on the straight and narrow, TS. There are countless friends to be made that don't get involved in that sort of thing.[/quote]
I found in highschool there were a lot of parties all the time. I didn't go to many, but I know quite a few people who did who were fine honestly.
Casually/Socially drinking when you're a bit older is one thing, but this does not sound casual at all.
Every single person who has in my Highschool's "party" scene went nowhere, and continued to make bad decisions. And many didn't know how to socialize without the help of alcohol/drugs, or partying would be all they talked about. For people still figuring things out, partying is like a shortcut that makes it easier, without them actually learning. It's the Social Least Common Denominator.
That there are Freshmen falling into it already is seriously bad news.
Stay on the straight and narrow, TS. There are countless friends to be made that don't get involved in that sort of thing.
Uh.. I started drinking casually at like 15. @prosecuted: until you're 18, you're still a child. Drinking it just creates funnier scenes and it makes it more lively and gives guys a better chance at getting chicks? But if they're just talking about alcohol 24/7 then i guess they're just trying to look cool.
I think they are a bunch of stuck-up bragging pieces of poopyheads
@Kazno Only a fool would drink at that young of an age, especially regularly. Imagine the effects it is having on their growing bodies!
I enjoy getting high, but I'm not going to do it while I'm still a kid (16). I can do that stuff after my body has fully matured, not like I really know what I'm missing anyway right?
IDK I find a lot of kids do that. It's not weird if you don't, there's usually a group that doesn't as well.
First time I was drunk was in grade 11.
Honestly dude, don't bother.
To me drinking at an age like that is just ridiculous, they're still friggin' kids and they're doing it just to be "COOL". Most people I know that constantly drank alcohol at these "parties" mainly when they were 14-15 ended up dropping out of school learning nothing, it became such a habit to them and they continued to act like idiots. It's not such a bad thing to do it [i]occasionally[/i] around the age of 16+ but at 13 years old....just lol.
I have a feeling I'm going to get quoted by people calling me a boring anti-social or something but at that age there are tons of other ways to have fun over getting drunk with a bunch of children.
It isn't abnormal to not like those parties. Hey, think about it this way. At least you're not like me who doesn't fit in any party except maybe a bossing party. Maybe not even that, I have terrible damage.