Influence is not funny.
You know how people say 'Irony is a funny thing!' or 'Friendship is a funny thing!'? (Okay, maybe not the latter, but I was trying to give two examples, because it always seems appropriate).
Influence is NOT a funny thing.
The web dictionary (OMGSOFREAKINGBORING) defines influence as 'power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job'.
Today, whilst referring to the youth, 'influence' means mostly one thing: The power to affect an individual's being, causing an individual to do something, having an effect on a person, and so on and so forth.
You catch my drift?
What's today's most common influence?
Alcohol.
(Personal opinion, so dependable source)
Today, thanks to the genius invention of a *drum roll* 'Fake ID, you have more underage kids in a bar, than those who are actually 21.
And then these 'losers' (because of course there is no better term for them) are bored of clubbing, living it up and drinking by the time they hit, (approximately 20) because hey! they've done it all already!
Yaay!
They're so cool and all that shit, but what the hell happened to being young?
There is literally a disappearance of an age group (whilst there are inventions of year groups at the same time, to balance it out)if you come to think about it.
You have kids (0-6), tweens (pre teenager 7-12 AND those who drink (13- the day you die).
There is this minority of young people who do not drink, that today, unlawfully do not have a category to belong to, as teenagers (the term-literally) does not exist.
I am 20, so unfortunately, I'm the 'loser' who does not drink and is almost at legal age.
When I do become 21, will I drink?
No.
Because I believe in being 'above the influence'.
What is being 'Above the Influence' you ask? (Refer previous post, or continue reading!)
Just the opposite of being under it =)
It is a great idea launched, that you can google, or visit the website www.abovetheinfluence.com
It helps the youth deal with pressure and influence and I want to make it clear here that I have derived my ideas from this already existing website, and the title and such is not my own. They belong solely to the creator of above the influence.
Some people, (and if you are a drunkie/boozie/person who likes to drink often/loser in my own definition will think these 'some people' are BORING') don't like to drink.
They don't like the taste, they don't like how it makes them feel, they don't like how they act after a while or they just don't see the fucking point.
I want to represent this minority, I want the youth to know it's okay to not like drinking, to think it sucks and that its uncool.
Moreover, I want them to know that, it's okay to not want to go to parties where you know everyones going to be too high to remember what happened last night.
It's okay to hang and act your age, because it means acting responsibly.
I might get a lot of hate comments regarding this, but, its totally worth it, if I attract as many lovers of this great initiative.
So, who's with me?
3 comments:
I think it's great that you want to stick to your choice of not drinking, and it definitely is wrong for a person who drinks to condescend to a person who doesn't.
BUT I think it's not right to look down upon people who do. Calling a person who enjoys alcohol occasionally or often a loser is wrong. You should respect their choice, and in turn they should respect yours.
Of course there will be people who look at you and think that you're not cool because you don't drink.
These people are ignorant who need to be educated or well just ignored.
I think it's fine if you're doing something to be a part of the crowd since socializing as a huge part of ones life. But condescending to others who choose to differ is wrong too. Same goes for the people who choose to be different.
All in all the moral of the story is that one should respect the choice of another.
I'm not sure why exactly the government has age restrictions on alcohol, simply because i haven't read in detail. But I think it's wrong to say something like "act your age", because people differ in the way they behave, some 13 year old might be more mature than a 21 year old.
And in the same way the difference between an 18 year old drinking and a 21 year old is basically their own personality and the way they behave under the influence of alcohol.
IN MY OPINION, the biggest influence on a person is religion.
But that's a whole different topic for discussion.
Religion is the opium of the masses - Karl Marx
You are absolutely right (I haven't said that to anyone who has commented on my blog, HAHA)
But, if you must know, when I called drinkers losers, it was people I knew, who were so addicted to it.
It didn't sound right either way =)
PS- Religion? Never really looked at it as an influence at all.
Tis' interesting.
PPS- Netherlands just scored. I'm going to go celebrate.
I've hated anything alcoholic since as long as I can remember. It disagrees with my palate. Leaves a nasty aftertaste.
I never understood how people can like beer (of almost any kind). Smells bad, and the samples I've tried taste pretty much as bad as they smell.
Still, to each his or her own.
Post a Comment