If there’s a God
on April 27, 2014 at 12:54 am…okay, I have to go see how this aligns with a future Dumbing of Age strip.
*leave*
Nope, okay, phew. That would have been almost uncanny.
Anyway, this is what I thought at the time was what it was like to abstain from alcohol. I still don’t know how accurate it is because I’ve never tried. I am sloshed 24/7.
By the way, that shot at God at the end? Man, that was rough. I thought it was something that Billie would think or say, but it felt like I was punching myself in the face to make it actually happen.
I don’t know what it’s like to quit alcohol either, seeing as I barely drink as it is, but this is a fairly accurate representation of a panic attack. At least the ones I’ve experienced.
I guess the author knew what ONE of those things was!
well without being able to put a name to it yet
I feel like this is what it feels like any time you’re trying desperately to avoid something. It works with people, too; you try to avoid someone, they’re suddenly everywhere you turn, and it gets unbearable.
Doubtless, though, less intensely horrible than a panic attack.
I wouldn’t know what it’s like either seeing as I don’t drink alcohol ever, n account of the horrible smell!
*on account
Oo, so does that mean we get Billie freaking out and cursing God in DoA soon?
Hmm. So this storyline establishes in several ways that Mary is a #@X!!.
I’ve also not tried abstaining from alcohol, but if I were, my first step would probably be to avoid parties where the main aim for everyone is to get drunk as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
(I have been to a wedding where I wasn’t drinking though. God, weddings are dull if you’re sober.)
This is definitely accurate for any college party, where there is literally no entertainment except drinking, so it really really bites to be there if you don’t want to drink that night, for any reason, because there is nothing but stacks and stacks of cheap beer.
Having been a person who drinks in a deeply unhealthy manner, I recommend, if you’re going to be at beer-based parties and don’t want to drink, drink tea. Seriously. A strong black tea, like Russian Caravan or Lapsang. 1) the strong flavour will help replace the perceived lack of ‘fun’ in your drink for yourself. 2) if someone tries to give you shit over it, just sort of laugh at them, and swan around with a cup of tea and your little finger out. You will be amusing, and that counteracts the assumption that someone not drinking is dull, a stick-in-the-mud, etc. 3) if someone REALLY gives you shit over it, you can throw it at them (possibly not recommended, depending on how much of an asshole their being). 4) the caffeine and tannins will give you a bit of a buzz, which may well help.
A friend of mine is expert at finding pubs that serve coffee, for similar reasons.
Get an empty beer bottle and refill it with water. People won’t pester you to drink if you already have a bottle in your hand.
Oh, it’s much easier as a real adult, but in college people are not so classy if you don’t want to get smashed with them and they don’t have any tea. ;P
Bring your own! I put on a waistcoat recently (to go to a fancy speakeasy cocktail bar) and found the pockets were full of mint and oolong teabags I’d put there for the last party I went to.
This strip appears to be missing the chapter, characters, and location information.
You mean characters might have views that differ from the author’s, and say things the author wouldn’t say? Heaven forfend!
They can even do it without necessarily being unsympathetic characters!
It works as an alcoholic quitting. I swear, it feels like a good amount of this commentary is pointing out accidental successes until you get to the point where you succeed due to intention.
This is what it’s actually like to be the only person not drinking at a party:
You: Hi guys.
Other Person: Dude! Do you remember that one time at Stupid Tom’s house? We totally drank so much!
Other Other Person: I totally remember! Do you remember how drunk Casy got? She drank four [Martian space drinks you don’t recognize], three shots of [mystery substance, presumed alcohol], and an entire Mama Joad!
Other Other Other Person: Dude, she can totally hold her liquor like a boss.
Other Other Person: Hah, not like Rose of Sharon. Do you remember that one time she got so totally drunk? She was all like *blahhhhhhh*.
You: Well, it was great talking to you.
Other Person: Do you know what time it is? Time for another drink!
Other Other Other Person: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Ya know, author commentary, now I wonder if that’s how Jack Chick feels.
Originally posted:
October 6, 1999