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Comment by oceanplexian | Hacker News Reader

> I like being in full control over what I experience and how I experience it.

I would argue you like the illusion of being in control, not that you are actually in control of anything.

Some of the greatest decisions of my life were made after a few drinks (Such as booking flights to other countries, hooking up with people, making lifelong friends). Sometimes our rational, thinking minds aren't as smart as they think they are, and a measured amount of unpredictability can make life better. Of course it's a double edged sword, and has a dark side, but things would be pretty uninteresting if you never had any regrets.

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>I would argue you like the illusion of being in control, not that you are actually in control of anything.

Could you elaborate about not how you aren't really any more in control when sober? I feel that you're making an interesting argument, but I don't really share your perspective well enough to understand what you mean.

My aversion to alcohol largely comes from wanting my best judgement intact in order to better survive complex situations. When you talk about the positives of taking more risks, my immediate response is that you should learn to take more risks when sober, rather than dulling yourself so you blindly stumble into them. But I also think I'm not fully appreciating your point.

> Could you elaborate about not how you aren't really any more in control when sober?

Not the person you responded to, but I can give it a shot.

I think the crux is that you don't have as much control as you think you do, even when sober. Whether you realize it or not, you're still at the whims of yourself and environment: emotions, time of day, exhaustion, pressure. You can't think or analyze yourself out of that. So sure, you may take more risks when drinking, but so what? Do what feels right in the moment.*

* Y'know, within reason. Buying plane tickets = good, getting a forehead tattoo = bad.

> My aversion to alcohol largely comes from wanting my best judgement intact in order to better survive complex situations.

This really resonates with me, and it's something I'm actually try to minimize. I've been finding being present -- and not attempting to foresee and prepare for uncomfortable situations -- to be a much happier place to be. And should a scary situation arise, I trust my future self to handle it appropriately. Or he won't, and that's fine too!

To add, your subconcious mind seems to be more in the drivers seat in many situations, variations of drunkenness and hungover among them.

It's worth calling out that meditation can (sometimes, depending on the form) lead to a similar headspace.

Yes, and there is also a distinct difference of self control between a buzzed/drunk experience, and one where you are absolutely annihilated.

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