"but how are you supposed to find romance if you don't go to bars?"

[ontology]

At work today I was informed by my co-worker (male, twenty-five) that I need to cut loose more often. Apparently this is because my two-week holiday with my family next month will not involve drinking, partying, and picking up strange men in bars. "Getting drunk isn't my idea of fun at all," I said. "Hangovers are really not my idea of fun." He kind of looked at me and protested, "Don't knock it till you try it!" Uh, thanks, co-worker, but no thank you. (Disclaimer: very much not a teetotaller. If it weren't illegal, what with me being not quite nineteen, I would probably have a glass of -- very fruity and girly -- wine fairly often.) But seriously, I have no desire to lose all of my inhibitions and do things I would be justifiably embarrassed about later, possibly even ashamed of, not to mention putting myself in danger. Also, hangover. No-one enjoys a hangover. Why not just avoid them altogether by being responsible with the drink? Also, strange men in bars? Yuck.

But -- seriously? I am uptight? I need to cut loose? I mean... no one has ever said this to me before. Ever. And when I told my parents they laughed even harder than I had.

In other news, I persuaded a girl to buy a copy of A Countess Below Stairs. Hurrah! Also need to write post for book blog BUT WHAT ABOUT.

Comments

[tsunamisama.livejournal.com]

It is indeed rather amusing when people assume that you will only be happy if you accept the imposition of their value system upon your behaviour. That said:

-You are more uptight than you think you are, and
-It would not hurt your sociological development one bit to step outside your comfort zone and attend a few such functions now and again.

Not saying you have to go get yourself drunk (although a drink or two might not hurt) or hit on strange men (although chatting with them certainly wouldn't hurt) -- just saying you might be quite surprised by how stimulating and enjoyable such events can be. In moderation and with proper discretion, of course.

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

I mentioned that I am definitely not against drinking. :D However, I am not especially interested in going to bars until I am legally able to do so. :D Sure, loads of people do it, but it doesn't seem like a worthwhile thing for me to potentially get into serious trouble for. As for strange men, I talk to strangers all the time, and enjoy it -- except when it's a bus station and I'M TRYING TO SLEEP MY BACK IS TURNED MY EYES ARE CLOSED STOP TALKING TO ME GOSH :p -- but I am not at all interested in flirting or anything that approaches casual romance. Some people find that sort of thing fun; I find it too serious for me to play with. Not going to impose that on other people (unless they won't stop flirting with me...), but that's where I am.

Also, keep in mind, I mentioned several times to said co-worker that this was a vacation WITH MY FAMILY. Even if I was the sort to go drunkenly partying, would I really do it with my parents and little siblings? He didn't even seem to get that. It was kind of weird. :p