I was having a discussion a few nights back with another ex-pat about peoples characters and how they change when certain substances are added. A few posts both inside and outside Bedders have made me think about this some more.... espicially one post by Garro.

If people were to say all that was on their minds they would be quickly locked away. Most people's true feelings can be quite vile sometimes. We can not control what enters our minds, but we are responsible for what comes out of our mouths. Luckily most people can monitor their own speech, but others are less able and this is why society needs to protect itself.

Who is the real person? .... the one that is controlled by the laws of society, or the one with a few beers under his belt?

I think it's more to do with the freedom of the keyboard.

Very few would say in a face to face situation what they do on line and internet anonymity gives them the chance to grow some testicles.

Alcohol of course is a great inducer of artificial courage as well.

A while back I was foully abused on this forum by another member who never recieved as much as a reprimand let alone a holiday. (I have to learn to keep out of gun debates).

I sent him a PM pointing out much of what I've said here as politely as possible and the penny must have dropped that he only lives a few hours from me because he apologised most humbly and begged forgiveness. (And blamed the booze).

The Beast within.

Man is still a primitive creature, despite all our trappings of society and culture and laws. Dig deep enough and you will find that we are not that far removed from our furry ancestors, or other creatures that inhabit the planet.

Our survival instinct caused us to band together in tribes, and develop "codes of conduct" that helped ensure the survival of the tribe. This often meant having to suppress true feelings and intent and subjugate one's self to the will of others in order to survive.

These codes of conduct have allowed us as a species to thrive and evolve into the world we now live in. Whereas before we were tribes, now we are nations.

Whereas before we were at the mercy of our tribal leaders, we now have laws to guide us.

But those laws, as well as other concepts of man such as morals and ethics, are not natural laws or values. They were created to allow societies to survive. Strip away the cloak of civility that these artificial concepts have created, and you will find a primeval beast that is capable of horrible acts as we would now define them.

Those horrible acts though, occur on a daily basis amongst the other species that share this planet, and no doubt occurred just as frequently amongst our own forebearers before our evolution into "modern" society. Today we would consider the deliberate murder of women, babies and the elderly to be an unspeakable crime, yet it was not an uncommon event in wars just a few thousand years ago. In some cases, less than a hundred years ago.

Remove the inhibitions placed upon us and you will see how thin the veneer of society truly is. Cast off the shackles of law, morals and ethics, and see what even the meekest of men are capable of. By our current standards, it would not be a pretty sight.

Who is the real person? .... the one that is controlled by the laws of society, or the one with a few beers under his belt?

An ex boss of mine always said " I don't trust a man who doesn't drink. He has something to hide".

I know it's a generalisation but I think to certain degree, he had a point.

What about blokes like me who have given it up?

I become more loving after a few drinks

so what does that say about my beast within?

What about blokes like me who have given it up?

Depends on why you gave it up, i suppose.

Was it because after a few beers, you became an axe murderer, or wife beater, or wanted to fight, or pissed in the wardrobe, or................

I become more loving after a few drinks

Oooh, er M1ggsy

so what does that say about my beast within?

That your beast becomes a Pussy Cat after a few Cocktails

I become more loving after a few drinks

Oooh, er M1ggsy

tis true. all the boys got a hug this time you missed out MrB but Ill save a vewy vewy big one for MsJangles.

so what does that say about my beast within?

That your beast becomes a Pussy Cat after a few Cocktails

from tiger to kitten

sorry thaddy...this was suppose to be your serious out of the box discussion oops!

I become more loving after a few drinks

Oooh, er M1ggsy

tis true. all the boys got a hug this time you missed out MrB but Ill save a vewy vewy big one for MsJangles.

Look forward to it

sorry thaddy...this was suppose to be your serious out of the box discussion oops!

No problem hon.

And this raises the point I just looked at this topic again.

Does the beast inside apply it's self evenly between the sexes?

No, women can be far more beastly either with or without drink!

Sexist

Sexist? maybe... but in my experience, women plan, men don't, and they are usually found to be lacking in patience.

I agree about the keyboard warrior part of it. I don't type anything I wouldn't say to someones face which is why I regulate what I type very tightly (believe it or not ) & often delete whole streams of text because of it. I would love to see half the crap some muppets type said to my face, 99% of them would cack a brick before having the balls to do it.

So true boo, so true...

Now this will be hard to believe, but I am a far more tolerant and placid person " behind the keyboard ".

In real life, stress and strain often leave me short tempered and quick to rise. Keyboard slows me down a bit and I delete things which I would have said in the spur of the moment.