The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

I haven’t had a touch of alcohol since I was 15 – so a very long time ago.

Fortunately my mates accepted my decision quickly and easily – probably because it meant I would be happy to drive when we went on our visits to the pub etc – however there have been a few people in my time who tried to make me feel bad for my personal choice.

Luckily for me, I can be a stubborn bastard – especially when people try to push their agenda on me – but I don’t mind admitting it has left me feeling pretty horrible at times.

I still remember meeting a senior client at an agency party.

I was relatively early in my career and going to an event was a big thing for me.

Anyway, a client I’d met a few times saw me and asked why I wasn’t drinking.

When I told them the reason, they said:

“I don’t trust people who don’t drink”.

It wasn’t said in jest, they absolutely meant it.

I was shocked, but not as shocked as they were when I replied:

“I don’t trust people who don’t trust people who don’t drink”.

They actually complained about ‘my attitude’ but fortunately my boss told them to think about what they were complaining about and they came to their senses and the issue was quickly – and quietly – dropped, but the possible ramifications on my career were huge.

I say all this because I recently read this:

Seriously, what the fuck is this person doing?

Thinking about it is bad enough … saying it out loud is outrageous … but then having your selfish, hurtful and judgemental view printed in a national ‘newspaper’ is one of the most disgraceful things I’ve ever seen.

What makes it even worse is the persons daughter gave up alcohol because they had a drinking problem.

Here is someone who found the strength to beat a terribly dangerous addiction so they could have a chance at a better, healthier life … and their Mum is pissed it’s messed with the spirit of their family Christmas.

Fuck them.

Seriously, fuck them.

What a horrible, selfish, evil individual.

Can you imagine how the daughter must feel?

Parents are supposed to be there to protect, support and encourage their kids. To help them be strong … to let them dream big … to help them overcome barriers and challenges. But this woman thinks it’s fine to make her daughter feel guilty for overcoming her addiction because it slightly affects a superficial part of the Christmas period.

Boo fucking hoo.

Society loves to talk about the entitlement of youth, but in my mind – what they want is perfectly fair. All they want is a chance for the same sort of future their predecessors have been able to enjoy and that they were promised throughout their education.

That’s nothing like the entitlement of this woman and the millions of people like her – who, for conveniences sake, I’ll call ‘Mail Readers’ – because what they want is to STOP others from having what they enjoy. From possessions, experiences and interruptions.

It’s why I have far more faith in the future of the planet with the young than the old and why I think democracy would be better served if the voting age was limited from 16 to 65.

Not just because it would mean the needs of the young have an increased chance of being seen, heard and acted upon, but also because it creates a fairer pool of opinions so politicians can’t simply play to the needs of the greater – and richer – over-65’s audience.