A question for our non-smoking, non-drinking, non-recreational-drugs-using, romance seeking Escapees

[Hurray Forums]

I'm super happy. Maybe I'm just easily amused but I've never really felt the need or desire to try drugs/drink/smoke/whatever, just not interested and the consequences suck. Besides, they're all really expensive for such a short term benefit. Oh yeah, and enjoying casual sex doesn't mean you can't seek romance too, they aren't mutually exclusive. As for "how" I can enjoy being like this, well, people are just have different values and means of obtaining happiness I guess. I could just as easily ask how you enjoy being how you are. The idea of enjoying paying money to inhale smoke or be turned into an idiot is just as alien to me as how I enjoy living a boring life is to you.

TLDR: People are different. Not much I can really be say on the topic beyond that

 

[Crysco]

Did I mention how it is all relative?

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

You need to ask yourself, were you happy when you were 10 years old? Did you have fun with your friends when you were 10 years old? I was, I had fun with my friends. I sure as hell didn't drink, smoke, do drugs or have sex then....

And now? While I'm under the legal drinking age where I live, it wouldn't be hard for me to find plentiful supplies of alcohol or drugs. But I don't, because I feel I don't need to, I can have fun in other ways. And sex with girls? Sure, that's cool I guess, along with having a girlfriend. But I don't really care if I have one or not, sure I'm into girls (I'm a guy.) definitely. But I just can't really be bothered finding one at the moment.

ERROR: TL;DR not available.

 

[Undeadpope]

I wouldn't call myself "happy" but the hell if I can complain I have a roof over my head and food on the table.

And the one thing I choose that I would spend spare money on to entertain myself in my free time is games.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I'm glad you're happy. I'm bipolar, which bascially means I'll never have a stable period of moods ever again (unless I'm drugged like a zombie). I've given up on happiness, but I am into harm minimisation.

I'm on drugs anyway and other drugs or alcohol just exacerbate my negative side effects. Sex? I have a boyfriend, it's all good, thanks for asking. Smoking? I can't afford it. And I never thought my voice would sound better scoured out by layers of smoke and nicotine.

So, yeah, good luck to you. I'll lead my boring life. For me, a day when I'm not going to hospital is a good day.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I don't drink (cos I'm underage), I don't smoke (because I'm allergic to something in the smoke), I don't do drugs because I saw what it did to my grandfather and I don't go looking for romance because I have no desire to, simple as that.

Sure my life can be depressing at times, but I always bounce back.

 

[Halceon]

If you need extras to be happy, i pity you.

 

[Rakkana]

Yes. But I'm happy about just everything.

 

[Spinozaad]

If you need extras to be happy, i pity you.

To be fair, this one swings both ways.

'If you can enjoy the little extras in life, I pity you'.

 

[Toranilor]

I am as you describe, and I'm pretty happy.

 

[cl20]

Well im a yes to all those the mentioned (but I don't smoke wit cigeretts) and am still bored..I started skydiving a few years back and after 700 jumps, im starting to get bored aswell. So I guess some people are made happy by one and some by another thing, also being bored does not mean that your not happy. For me to not be bored would mean to be in a constant state of change and experience new things which give me a greater rush. But to be happy for me is just to have your life in order and a direction you want it to go. So overall I'd rather be bored and happy then not not bored and sad.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I'm happy, because I know I'm the most important person in the world and there is no way anyone can change my opinion on that.

 

[Delicious Anathema]

I don't drink, smoke or do drugs because I don't like the taste nor do I like the effects, though I completely understand the kick one might get out of those. I have tried them several times and it simply sucks, besides being expensive.

As for romance, I'm not wasting time pursuing a girl for now. Sure, they won't drop from the sky on my lap and it would be nice to have things happen naturally, but for now I have better things to do and, probably fortunately, no desire to date.

I'm mostly happy the way I am and the things I'm not happy about (family, difficulties at school) would probably worsen with substance consumption.
I play videogames, watch movies, I am in a film school that has lots of great friends that are a blast to film with, my high school friends are still present and I occasionally hang out with them whenever we all can at the same time, I write, I'm thinking of doing a try-out for a band, I occasionally shake the trees for any women, and I watch lots of shows on TV and Internet, so I don't think my life needs something that I don't like.

It's all about tastes. I would die if I hadn't videogames, music and movies but those things might be expendable for other people.

 

[Tom B-B]

Somke Yes
Drink Yes
Drugs No
Sex hmmmm

Here's the problem with this sort of situation.
Despite the misery of everyday existance (sucky job, shit friends, bad weather), in all the universe is a pretty amazing place with a plethura of experiences to have; from traveling to the top of the eifel tower to spending a weekend with your besties playing Xbox... from picking up that really hot girl in school years later to getting drunk and dancing in a club.
I've lived all these things, sometimes they're insane sometimes their dangerous but they are just experiences.

Its foolish for us to flat out refuse involvment say with smoking, or drinking or casual sex. We should also be cautious of falling too far into dependancy. Having a drink every now and again is good for you, it gets you out into the world, it allows you to try thing you might not have before (though I'm a little disapointed you didn't just try it anyway.).
Smoking is an enjoyable persuits and drugs... most drugs... can enhance situations or feelings. And of course sex is life affirming and when combined with a healthy friendship (rather than creepy codependant hollywood romance) is a great way to develop teamwork and discover the world.

The minute you NEED any one of these things is when you're up shits creek without a paddle.


P.S Might I say that its interesting how many Straight-Edge folk here are miserable.
You live good healthy lives. Go outside, find somebody, stop repressing your sorry self and have an adventure! Make mistakes, GET MESSY!
Only boring people get bored.

 

[Wedlock49]

I don't drink, smoke etc. and I feel good with it. Overall I'm not completely happy, but the reason for this is not related to my lifestyle.

My view on alcohol and drugs: If you need them to be happy, then it means you can't enjoy life sober. Either your life is not that good or you just can't use your potential to be happy on a normal way. You try to compensate for your closed mind with substances, instead of working on your problems.
Smoking: I can't really see any pleasure. It doesn't taste good and the only reason you do it is your addiction. The relief after smoking a cigarette is how non-addicted feel like all the time.

having not smoked you can't say that. I personally enjoy the taste of tobacco and the whole act of smoking, I enjoy the smoke, I enjoy the smell. I smoke Cigars for no more reason than they taste nice and I would like to think that I'm not at all addicted to them, being that I don't get cravings for them when I'm not smoking.

I don't drink all that often, I'm a bit of a heavy weight so it costs me quite a bit and when I do get drunk I tend to be a silly twat or I do something stupid or get raped by a girl that I'd met the week before... xD

 

[ReckzB]

Reading that felt like you wanted to boost your ego a bit by boasting on a message board. I'm not trying to insult you - though it may sound like it - but you sound like many a person I've come across in my life who lead a similar lifestyle to you and cannot wait to sound off about their latest unhealthy exploits in vice. As if we care.

Which we don't.

I don't drink, don't smoke, don't use recreational drugs, or engage in casual sex. Despite my demeanour, I actually enjoy being a cynical, pessimistic bastard. It can lead to some interesting conversational options.

 

[Truly-A-Lie]

Sometimes. For the most part I'm happy with my decision to live like that, but planning a teetotal 18th birthday party is more difficult than it should be when every suggestion I get is "go get drunk".
I don't meet as many new people as my friends do because I don't go out drinking, I don't have as many experiences to tell as stories since I've never had drunken/drugged up escapades and my options at gatherings of people are limited due to the fact that I'm sober when others aren't.
As for seeking romance, I'm just not attractive enough to get a lot of attention, so a relationship is pretty much my only option. Though I'm currently single and it's shit.

 

[BonsaiK]

Yes, quite happy. Many people seem to have this mentality that 'dude, once you do it, you won't be saying you can abstain anymore', but for me that's utter bullshit and comes from the narrow minded view that there can't be people who firmly believe in their ideals strongly enough that they maintain it, despite modern lifestyles urging them not to.

Also, I'm not waiting for the right girl, I'm simply not interested in a relationship. At all.

Having said that I don't get all self-righteous about abstaining. I don't really care what others think. What other people do, those are their decisions and I'm sure they don't care what I think either. I think straight-edgers are more annoying than drunks actually, because at least drunks are not trying to make their lifestyle into some kind of lame quasi-religion.

May I ask what you meant by the last sentence? (I'm not trying to flame you or anything, I honestly didn't understand it too well)

I deal with people who are part of the "straight-edge" punk scene a lot. These are people who don't drink, smoke, do drugs, and often abstain from sex, eat vegan, etc. That's all fine as far as I'm concerned, however they are very preachy and self-righteous about their lifestyle choices. Talking to them about anything is a lot like talking to fundamentalist born-again Christians (and there is some crossover between the two ideals, a lot of straight-edgers are pro-life Christians). They attempt to push their lifestyle onto others whenever they can, and it's a common thing in some places for straight-edge kids to act violently, much like a religious fanatic would. People have been violently attacked at punk shows for smoking cigarettes or having a beer, etc. One of the main reasons why major labels have cooled off of signing any new punk bands in the last ten years is because of the existence of this movement.

The term "straight edge" comes from the song of the same name by a punk band called Minor Threat. The writer of that song, Ian MacKaye (who later formed Fugazi), wrote the song as a way to say "I'm not going to be like my parents, I'm going to make my own choices in life and be an individual". The wave of straight-edge punks who followed however have completely misinterpreted this statement, and twisted the song's intended message of individuality and making your own choices in life, into a movement which is all about conformity and following rules.

Here's part two of a five-part documentary about it (search the other parts on youtube, interesting), which explains the origins of the movement, and might give you a little insight into they type of phenomenal douchebags I actually have to deal with on a business level on occasion (although few of them are this extreme, and none of them are in this footage):

 

[Jet_02]

i drink, to socialize, smoke a cigar like once a week and have a different girl every other fortnight. I'm happy no doubt but if you took those allowances away, it wouldn't make me depressed. I don't really need any of the drink or smokes or to an extent girls to be content, I just enjoy those things. His to there own, the one thing in this world that truly generates unhappiness and depression is people telling you how to live. I've smoked some weed (Amsterdam FTW) but never done any hard drugs, because I've seen what they have done to people I know, it wasn't making them happy thats for sure.

 

[Spinozaad]

Reading that felt like you wanted to boost your ego a bit by boasting on a message board. I'm not trying to insult you - though it may sound like it - but you sound like many a person I've come across in my life who lead a similar lifestyle to you and cannot wait to sound off about their latest unhealthy exploits in vice. As if we care.

Which we don't..

Not boasting, although I can't deny that I did post it to counterbalance the self-gratulatory 'OMG, we don't drink, smoke and wait for the right girl. We're so awesome and cool' smugness that's lingering around here.

To be a slight dick, you did care enough to notify me specifically of your apparent indifference.

I don't drink, don't smoke, don't use recreational drugs, or engage in casual sex. Despite my demeanour, I actually enjoy being a cynical, pessimistic bastard. It can lead to some interesting conversational options.

You can be a cynical bastard while smoking or drinking. Tends to be harder during sex or drugs. In any case, I myself am quite the cynical bastard.