The Buffett Binge - Am I The Only Sober One At The Shows?

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » April 28, 2004 1:34 pm

I've only read the first page of posts in this thread, and citcat's above, but
I'd like to add my 2-cents worth. I'm not a heavy drinker at any time.
I've only been what I'd call bad drunk two times in my 50+ years, and those
were "spite binges" when I was very angry at a particular person.
(That, BTW, is a stupid reason to drink to excess. I was young and very angry.)

My concert observations are this:
>First JB show I ever attended , a young woman died afterward by being
run over in the parking lot area. Drinking was involved.
>Only tailgate I ever attended in Atlanta, the "Fratboy" drunks across
from our area were running a pimping operation in their van. I didn't
really appreciate it, especially since a lot of the activity was not occuring
out of view at all. If I want p***, I'll tune in Skinemax in the privacy of
my own home, thank you.
>>>All my other show experiences were quite positive, but I attribute that to
being at a distance from the totally out-of-control drinkers.

I have a question or two. If all you want to do is get blitzed, why do you bother to
spend $$$ on show tickets and put others at risk with your irresponsible driving?
If your that far gone, how do you even know that you had any fun?
Please stay home and drink yourselves unconscious. You'd be much safer,
and I'd be happier.

If you want to share the fun, drink enough to loosen up if you have to, and then
let us ALL enjoy the experience we've gone to great lengths to get to.

Now I'll be branded a prude and a spoilsport or whatever, but I'd much rather
enjoy the experience the way my sister citcat described than end up being a
danger to myself and an irritation (or worse) to others.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » April 28, 2004 2:08 pm

Desdamona wrote:I've only read the first page of posts in this thread, and citcat's above, but
I'd like to add my 2-cents worth. I'm not a heavy drinker at any time.
I've only been what I'd call bad drunk two times in my 50+ years, and those
were "spite binges" when I was very angry at a particular person.
(That, BTW, is a stupid reason to drink to excess. I was young and very angry.)

My concert observations are this:
>First JB show I ever attended , a young woman died afterward by being
run over in the parking lot area. Drinking was involved.
>Only tailgate I ever attended in Atlanta, the "Fratboy" drunks across
from our area were running a pimping operation in their van. I didn't
really appreciate it, especially since a lot of the activity was not occuring
out of view at all. If I want p***, I'll tune in Skinemax in the privacy of
my own home, thank you.
>>>All my other show experiences were quite positive, but I attribute that to
being at a distance from the totally out-of-control drinkers.

I have a question or two. If all you want to do is get blitzed, why do you bother to
spend $$$ on show tickets and put others at risk with your irresponsible driving?
If your that far gone, how do you even know that you had any fun?
Please stay home and drink yourselves unconscious. You'd be much safer,
and I'd be happier.

If you want to share the fun, drink enough to loosen up if you have to, and then
let us ALL enjoy the experience we've gone to great lengths to get to.

Now I'll be branded a prude and a spoilsport or whatever, but I'd much rather
enjoy the experience the way my sister citcat described than end up being a
danger to myself and an irritation (or worse) to others.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » April 28, 2004 2:11 pm

12vmanRick wrote: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Wanna fight?

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » April 28, 2004 2:14 pm

Desdamona wrote:

Wanna fight?

Pass the monitor squeegie, please

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » April 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Desdamona wrote:
12vmanRick wrote: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Wanna fight?

heeeheee.. so will I be the only drunk at tha A1A bash ?

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » April 28, 2004 3:18 pm

12vmanRick wrote: heeeheee.. so will I be the only drunk at tha A1A bash ?

Hardly!!!!

I love our drunks... they're very funny.
(But at least you should be staying on-site, so NO DRIVING!!!

)

OldFriendTheSquid · Post by **OldFriendTheSquid** » April 28, 2004 3:33 pm

VERY GOOD POST!! I have seen many like it over the years but now that I am sober (just over a year!) it really hits home. I have been to Buffett concerts absolutely trashed and once blacked out at a show. I have been lost the entire show, spilled beer and became belligerent without much consideration. That just comes with the territory, I mean after all it is a Buffett concert!

But I have also been at a show sober and didn't have near as much fun as I did when drinking. It is absolutely the reason that most people go. In Nashville last year my own drunken friends started fights, taunted security; I saw an innocent woman get an entire margarita dumped on her head by a complete stanger, and also some bastard flipped my hat off my head for no freakin reason (and if you had seen my hat you would know how hard it was to get back on)...

Yes some will be happy because its "just one less person getting a ticket" and "there will be one less person in the p*** line" because I am probably never going to a Buffett show again. I am an alcoholic and its just not a good place for me to be no matter what the concert is. I love Jimmy and his music will always be a part of my life but I am just not comfortable anymore with all the drunks. Maybe I will go with a group of sober friends or something, I'm not sure. I'm OK though, I've been to at least 12 shows and I am content to just collect bootlegs. I do feel however that Jimmy really needs to look at completely revising the setlist, so far 2004 looks very mediocre.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » April 28, 2004 4:03 pm

I agree with Desdamona's post-my own profile is similar. I make it a practice to be accepting of behavior that does not hurt anyone else so I hvae no problem with people drinking, I drink. But when somebody getting drunk affects my concert experience because they cannot control their behavior, that is when I have a problem with it.

I do think it is too bad that fans in recovery might choose to skip the concert-shouldn't there be a way for everyone to have a great concert experience with or without alcohol being involved.

Not sure of the answer but i guess I am a bit distressed that some people have reacted so strongly against those who are not the heavy drinkers.

ashaway1 · Post by **ashaway1** » April 28, 2004 4:19 pm

i have no problem with drunks as long as they are fun drunks, i cant stand the people who get smashed and just look to start trouble. i am only 22 but i have been to over 25 concerts in my time and i have been drunk for all of them, honestly it may sound dumb but most recording artists record their music either drunk or high on drugs, therefore its my theory that being in the same state that the musician was in when he wrote/recorded the song adds to it. As far as bringing your kids to a concert i could not think of anything more irresponsible. I wasnt allowed to even go to concerts till i was 17 and in all the shows i have been to i have seen or heard or experienced something that is not suitable for kids. Whether it be swearing, drinking, drug use, nudity, these are all things that kids should not be exposed to at a younger age

PA PAR8 HED · Post by **PA PAR8 HED** » April 28, 2004 5:41 pm

Early on in my Buffett experience, I always thought that I was hanging out with 18,000 of my best friends. Everyone was friendly and willing to share.

Lately is seems more like 12,000 of my best friends. No doubt there are people there simply because it is (what is perceived to be) an out of hand party. I think they tend to be younger and view it as a party.

I view it as an event to participate in. And that means maintaing my composure. I LOVE to enjoy a social drink or 10 with friends and strangers at a Buffett show. But I am disappointed in the minority who take it way too far.

My bigger concern is the impression it leaves on the younger generation. I brought my nieces and nephew last year (all over 17 years old). I worry that they think you need to drink to enjoy Buffett. For me it is the other way around, I need Buffett to enjoy a drink.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » April 28, 2004 5:45 pm

PA PAR8 HED wrote:I need Buffett to enjoy a drink.

Right on!

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » April 28, 2004 5:46 pm

You're not the only one, I promise

Captain Joe · Post by **Captain Joe** » April 28, 2004 8:16 pm

This really hits close to home...I've been in the Navy 18 years and have made landfall in more then a few liberty ports. And sometimes we have had alittle to much local drink. So everybody sees a drunkin sailor.
What they did not see was the 95 days we have spent at sea in a submarine, working 18 hour days...Then we get a couple of days in port and put right back out to sea again for another couple of months.
My point is this. Most Buffet fans are not Kids. We are adults and many have very stressfull jobs and/or lives. Remember the Buffet line, "trying to cram lost years into five or six days"? Thats what the concerts are really about...getting away.
Most of the drunk guys and girls at the concert are probably not drunks at all. They are just trying to cram alittle too much fun into a few hours and drink to much to fast. So hold your girlfriends hair if she gets sick and try to have some fun. Lifes to short...

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » April 28, 2004 10:59 pm

ashaway1 wrote:most recording artists record their music either drunk or high on drugs

ah, no, actually, most of them don't..... most of them act like the professionals they are while they're at work....

some? probably... most? not....

bumper · Post by **bumper** » April 29, 2004 7:52 am

Interesting the assumptions made in several of the posts.

First a big difference between a drunk at a Buffett show and an alcoholic. Only talking about an afternoon event versus a lifestyle in which alcohol is needed to function.

Second if alchoholics are uncomfortable at Buffett shows because of the all the drunks then I respectfully suggest it is the sober alcoholic who has issues trusting him/herself around the alcohol.

And lastly I have yet to have a problem at a Buffett concert with the "older" crowd but consistently have had to avoid problems with say....college age kids, both male and female, now I simply avoid them all together or as often as space allows. Getting to the point now I can spot trouble coming. And if knowing we will be in the lawn crowd I drink much less knowing in advance that some reasoning skills may be called upon at some point.

kitty · Post by **kitty** » April 29, 2004 8:13 am

thank you cartmill for having the courage to state an seemingly unpopular comment. I commend you and everyone here on the choice not to drink and to change what was a negative factor in your life...it takes a very strong person to fight an addiction.
I have yet to get "wasted" at a Buffett show...very close to it at times..but I have matured a little from my college days.
I totally agree with the fact that a few bad apples ruin for a lot of people. I don't find it cute or funny when someone so drunk and obnoxious falls all over me or spills their drink on me. I wish some people could watch a video of how they behave...I know I would be mortified if I ever behaved that way.
On the other hand...it is a part of life...not just a Buffett show. A ball game, a bar or even a party has some bad situations. I choose to try and avoid sontact with people like that....not gonna let someone else ruin my good time.
Thanks again for your post!

LaTda · Post by **LaTda** » April 29, 2004 9:05 am

I was at Raleigh & had several beers, enough to have fun but I stopped an hour or so before the show, had some burgers & had a great time from there on. I did see some pretty damm obnoxious people (my guess is that they were 22 or so & in college)
My wife only had 2 glasses of wine (over an 8 hour period) as she was the driver for the day. The majority of the crowd was fun, polite & older.

As far as bringing your kids to a concert i could not think of anything more irresponsible. I wasnt allowed to even go to concerts till i was 17 and in all the shows i have been to i have seen or heard or experienced something that is not suitable for kids.

Sorry your parents were overbearing dude but don't call me irresponsible-
that would be like the pot calling the kettle black at your tender age... some day you might get it but until then take my word, we had more fun being there as a family then you could ever freakin dream of.
No I wouldn't take her to say Nissan

but Raleigh is very tame

bumper · Post by **bumper** » April 29, 2004 9:16 am

LaTda wrote:I was at Raleigh & had several beers, enough to have fun but I stopped an hour or so before the show, had some burgers & had a great time from there on. I did see some pretty damm obnoxious people (my guess is that they were 22 or so & in college)
My wife only had 2 glasses of wine (over an 8 hour period) as she was the driver for the day. The majority of the crowd was fun, polite & older.

As far as bringing your kids to a concert i could not think of anything more irresponsible. I wasnt allowed to even go to concerts till i was 17 and in all the shows i have been to i have seen or heard or experienced something that is not suitable for kids.
Sorry your parents were overbearing dude but don't call me irresponsible-
that would be like the pot calling the kettle black at your tender age... some day you might get it but until then take my word, we had more fun being there as a family then you could ever freakin dream of.
No I wouldn't take her to say Nissan but Raleigh is very tame

Besides Mike,,,,,not that you need it but the rest of the parents have your back

ashaway1 · Post by **ashaway1** » April 29, 2004 9:30 am

yeah theres no better family environment than boobs, beer and bongs

ashaway1 · Post by **ashaway1** » April 29, 2004 9:32 am

schoolgirlheart, i would like to disagree with you, look at influential rock music of the past 40 years, the beatles, james brown, led zeppelin, the rolling stones, hendrix. janis joplin, eric clapton, crosby stills nash and young, the doors, aerosmith, bob dylan, the majority of these bands all used drugs as an enchancement for their song writing and recording, you think we would have sgt peppers if the beatles never took acid?