QUOTE i do think it would be and is a good way to socialise if you dont no the people who you are drinking with. A good way to socialise? I think it is never a good way to get to know the people that you are hanging out with. When people get drunk they change, they are not the same as they would be a normal day. Yes, some are not that "shy" when they are drunk, but should not people get to know the real you? I just don't understand why people wants to get drunk, but that is just my opinion.

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The rituals involved with New Year's Eve are ancient ones, but the practice of celebrating per the Gregorian calendar seems to me arbitrary, at best. Consider the fact our calendar wasn't adopted until around 1700 by Britain and her colonies, and that depending on the country, faith and culture, New Year's eve can fall anywhere between September and April. January 1st holds no astrological or timely significance for me. Though the Bahai seem to have the right idea by celebrating the day March 21, which just happens to be the Vernal (Spring) equinox. Doesn't that make more sense? January 1st falls during the dark of winter, when nature dies back into the night in preperation for it's rebirth in Spring. That alone heightens the insignificance of Jan 1. Further, many traditions spread the jubilation over a course of several days. Chinese New Year, for example, lasts some 15 days. But leave it to the industrialized West to dehumanize the tradition, whittling it down to one, pitiful evening I fondly refer to as "amateur night."

And why do I use that term? Take a protestant nation like America, a relatively young culture which still has a puritanical attitude toward alcohol. It wasn't that long ago when folks were running moonshine to evade prohibition and jail time. Now couple these provincial attitudes with New Year's Eve, and you've a recipe for disaster. What you have, in large part, is nation of people who never learned how to drink in a civilized fashion due to the ridiculous taboo associated with alcohol. When people view use of a particular substance as immoral/illegal, then the tendency toward abuse of that substance increases dramatically. In France, a Catholic country, alcohol consumption is considered a normal, everyday part of life. I visited Paris during Bastille Day (French independence), and the streets were crawling with drinking revelers - yet people remained civilized. Contrast the same scenario in the United States, and you couldn't pay me enough to attend. All the amateurs who never learned how to drink would raise hell. And that's exactly what they do every New Year's eve.

That said, who says you necessarily have to go anywhere and act in any particular fashion just because it happens to be December 30? I'm very much the contrarian when it comes to holidays, especially New Year's eve, and keeping a low profile when the masses are out and about acting like fools is always a wise choice.

So, gentle topic-starter, do what you would normally do any other night of the week. If that entails enjoying a few cocktails, more power to you. It is, after all, a free country, at least for now. That is, unless, the Nannie State decides to declare another prohibition against alcohol. They've done it before, and I can see them doing it again as the dumbed-downed masses are now highly vulnerable to anti-drinking propaganda. When that happens, I'll be packing my bags for France. Until then, I'll be spending New Year's Eve the way I do every other night: sharing the evening with a shot (or two) of Johny Walker Red.....at home.

 

 

 

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Hmm were you drunk went you made this thread? lol

Personally, I think it rather pointless to get drunk, for anything, not just New Year. It's just so meaningless to waste time slumping into semi-conscious mode when you could have used the time to have fun with your friends and loved ones. Frankly, I do not see the attraction of alcohol. True, it does help you to loosen up, but if you start talking nonsense, or you can't remember your conversations the next day, then it's just a whole night wasted. Drinking is fine, if you have a high tolerance level for alcohol, but getting drunk is just silly.

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well some people get drunk just to enjoy themselves and do stuff that they would not normally do when they have their consence, but i dont have a personal aponion of this and there's mostly be affensive to anyone who do likes to get drunk. but why do people get drunk for the new how does that make it special, i think drinking is a bad and nasty habit and going into the new with that nasty habit is bad. yet in another light of it all me and my family like going into the new year at church some people like doing it alone other like being with friends i guess the way you go into the new year kinda has to do with your attitude and beleive i so. i guess since you like to party and get drunk, unless you where trying to turn over a new leaf, i guess it would only make sence that you'd party and get drunk for the new year.

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1. I don't know why we celebrate new year. In fact it is indicator that we lost one year from our life.

2. May be we celebrate it in hope that we will alive until next year and wouldn't depature as people we lost during the past year.

3. But it is good as a day of gathering and pleasure.

4. Some people get drunk just to do things that they would not normally do when they have their consence.

5. But some people spend all the night in church praying and singing and end with early mass. They affirms their pretending and hope to be good for while or forever. They promise new beginning. Their churches organise that to protect people from drinking and fellow the stream outside.

6. Since we celebrate it, I say HAPPY NEW YEAR

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I dont see why people start screaming at the new year, like, huh, whats your problem? I went down to SouthBank to record the fireworks, and watch them, and as soon as the third beep came (we had a system where a voice came up "On the third beep, it will be 11:59pm >>> all the way every 10 seconds until >> After the third beep, it will be 2008. Beep beep BEEP"), all these girls started screaming and carrying on!! Like, its just another 'year', it doesnt mean anything at all.

And as for getting drunk, well thats just plain pointless, your only going to hurt someone or cause grief. Being drunk IS NOT COOL!

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