Make Drunken Choices, Win Prizes

Breaking: College students sometimes drink alcohol to excess.

When I was in a fraternity in college, the house drink was called a Blue Meanie. Its basic ingredient was grain alcohol, flavored with Blue Curacao and Triple Sec, so it tasted like lemonade. It did the trick. A few of those cool red solo cups and you were blotto.

But we knew what we were doing, and it was no one’s fault but our own if we chose to imbibe. And afterward, no matter what we did while under the influence, even if it was occasionally embarrassing (and it was), it was no one’s fault but our own. We were stupid, but we weren’t stupid about being stupid.

Ashton Katherine Carrick is a senior at the University of North Carolina, and she discovered the idea of getting drunk at college, as if no one ever did it before.

I hadn’t known it at the time, but this was my first introduction to the aspirational “blackout.” That is, intentionally drinking with the goal of submersing yourself in so much alcohol that you can’t remember what happened and the only vestiges that remain from the night before are the videos on your friends’ phones.

I attended that college for one year before transferring to the University of North Carolina. During that time I never got “blackout,” but I was a frequent observer of it. I’m not naïve; I know that drinking is part of the college experience, you hang out with some friends, you party too hard and sometimes you pass out. But what I saw was something different.

Carrick calls that “something different” “blackout culture.” She goes on to explain the negative forces compelling students to become party to blackout culture.

Small schools are especially conducive to blackout culture. Many are in small towns and have limited social activities. Sports teams are minimally competitive at best, the Applebee’s tends to get old, and the bowling alley becomes insufficient. A general lack of bars and off-campus gathering places means that fraternity houses become the focal point of partying and social interaction.

This is the problem with inductive reasoning, where limited data points produce the wrong answer, which is then extrapolated into the norm for lack of broader understanding. Students at colleges large and small drink too much alcohol. The need to give every misbegotten choice a name to create the appearance of an external influence is new, but drinking to excess must assuredly is not.

But like every new baby is the first ever born to its parents, drinking booze was never a problem until it happened to, or around, you. Why? What caused “blackout culture” to magically appear on campus when Carrick arrived?

Of course, many college students drink, including the scholarship winners, the three-sport athletes and the club presidents. They’re free from their parents, and they feel safe because everything is in walking distance. Drinking on campus is by far the most convenient way to have fun. Plus it’s cheap and accessible. But there’s something else in the mix, something that pushes them from casual drinking to binge drinking to blackout.

I think it’s the stress. It permeates everything we do as college students.

These factors are all, no doubt, influences on college students. Their relative influence will vary by individual, but they’re all there. And they’ve always been there. Fifty years ago, same deal. Kids on campus doing the stupid stuff kids on campus always did. Your mother. Your grandmother. If they went to college, they did stupid stuff. Whether they’ll admit it is another story, but they did it. It’s what college kids do.

So the mentality behind the decision to black out boils down to the simple question of why not? No one will stop you. You’re in a familiar environment. You assume that if you black out, someone will make sure you get back home. And most of the time you do get home, which makes it seem a lot lower risk than it really is and allows for it to be repeated every weekend.

You’re on your own, free, likely for the first time in your life, to make your own choices without mommy peering over your shoulder, protecting you from the most foolish ones. No need to explain. Not to mom. Not to readers. Not even to yourself. We’ve all been there, even if we didn’t feel the need to create a name including the word “culture” or spend too much time finding external justifications for doing what kids have done for generations.

The way we as students treat the blacking out of our peers is also partly responsible for its ubiquity. We actually think it’s funny. We joke the next day about how ridiculous our friends looked passed out on the bathroom floor or Snapchatting while dancing and making out with some random guy, thus validating their actions and encouraging them to do it again. Blacking out has become so normal that even if you don’t personally do it, you understand why others do. It’s a mutually recognized method of stress relief. To treat it as anything else would be judgmental.

Exactly. Whether you chalk it up to a rite of passage or childish tomfoolery, it’s a choice kids make, just as they’ve always made, to engage in an activity that often leads to ridiculousness, engaging in conduct that you might never do if sober, but you made the active choice not to be sober, not to make sober choices. It’s funny.

Yet, the next day, too many women decide it’s not funny, it’s not their responsibility for getting shitfaced.* It’s not the most traumatic, horrible thing that’s ever happened to you. You are nobody’s victim. If you “made out” with some random guy, it’s not the random guy’s fault any more than it’s your fault. It’s what college kids do when they get drunk. And then the next day, they laugh about their foolishness and move on with their perfectly normal college lives.

Or at least, we used to. And look back on it decades later with fondness. They were good times, doing the silly things college kids do before we reached adulthood and the responsibilities of raising the next generation of college students.

*There is a significant different between volitional behavior and being drugged without one’s knowledge. The two should not be confused.

47 thoughts on “Make Drunken Choices, Win Prizes

  1. Erik H.

    Now I’m really confused. Shouldn’t it be “submerging” yourself in alcohol, rather than “submersing?” I can’t remember those incidents too well for obvious reasons, but I would have sworn I submerged.

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! KEG STAAAAAAAND!!!!!!

  2. Jonny

    More breaking news! A frat boy condoning non consensual sex-shocking!! You’re a mysogynist…sure you can have problems with the article, but you condone rape here and need to be called for it by other men. pink panty dropper drink…gee whatever do You mean?? im sure you felt Brock Turner should’ve gotten off too…you are the problem-not the author and not the drinking…you and your beliefs and actions…look back decades later with fondness LOL-tell that to the scores of women being raped by your bros. I’m sure
    You won’t publish this-bros hate to be challengers or have to think deeply about anything…but at least you should read that other men are ashamed of you and your beliefs

    1. SHG Post author

      Don’t believe every trope/excuse the gals tell you. Except you’ve misread the op-ed. The writer, a female I should note, condoned non-consensual sex in the exact same way as the frat boy. The females chose to drink, to be as much a part of “blackout culture” as the males. Or perhaps it’s different, because you feel that females are some lesser species of humanity who can’t make their own choices?

      Who’s the misogynist, kid?

      1. Sgt. Schultz

        I love the passive aggressive shit these allies spew.

        im sure you felt Brock Turner should’ve gotten off too…

        And I’m sure you desperately hope some feminist will let you touch her boobies for being such a good ally. But you’re never going to lose your virginity this way, little boy.

      2. Jonny

        Soooo drinking is an invitation to be sexually assaulted? Yeah I’m pretty sure women can drink (just like men!) and not be raped (not
        Like men!)…but yeah I’m the mysogynist lolol. You’re totally lost-go watch some nascar n play beer pong with your rly cool friends. Real men don’t rape and don’t need to loosen anyone up…it’s pathetic and rape. if you were a real man-you would care more. You’re a scared little boy so you whine that she drank and she deserved it cuz she was drink. Pathetic

        1. SHG Post author

          I have good news for you. When you grow up, you get to write words using all the letters. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.

        2. Scott Jacobs

          Real men don’t rape

          So a male rapist is… fake? A replicant?

          Do they cease to be real for the period of time it takes for the rape to occur? If so, how does the rape occur if they are not real, and are instead a twisted simulacrum of life, devoid of a soul, a mockery of our Lord’s good work?

  3. Jonny

    Exactly you two are awesome. So first yes woman can drink (even til Blackout!) and have their rights be respected and not be sexually assaulted. Tell me the last time you two bros got drunk and worried someone would sodomize you…? This is about real ppl suffering and you two frat lovers just want to protect ya boys. You know you’re wrong so u try an attack my “man-ness” as if you had any clue on what it means to be a real man-as you defend rape. Smh – y’all “men’s rights” idiots rly are too predictable. have fun at your klan circle jerk

    1. SHG Post author

      Our Klan Circle Jerk? Is there no end to your adoreableness?

      But even you aren’t special enough to not use the reply button.

      1. Jonny

        I basically dismantle your whole post and you come back with typos and reply buttons and calling me a child. You sir are a clown. Not that adorable tho-the rapist loving kind.

        1. SHG Post author

          Then you should be very proud of yourself for being such a brilliant advocate for your cause. I, for one, sincerely hope some feminist let’s you touch her boobies some day so your efforts don’t go unappreciated.

    2. losingtrader

      My ZBT chapter was all-Klan. Are you supplying the Viagra?

      Actually, imy ZBT chapter was eliminated . Something to do with bad behavior.
      Maybe it could have been the frat President robbing the bank where he had an account, with the words, “Give me all you’re fucking money” and the ultimate dis of the teller responding, “Yeah, sure Josh”

    3. Juvenile Bluster

      For the record: Are you currently drunk? Because you’re typing like you are.

      I ask you this:

      College man and college women both get drunk.
      College man and college woman, both drunk, have sex.

      Is there a victim? If so, which one? If only one, why?

      1. Jonny

        Ill give a chance for the amazing lawyer to field this one, but in a nutshell (and you can google this) if one person is blacked out then they cannot give consent. If two people are blacked out they cant engage. were talking about being blacked out drunk and being assaulted liken the brock turner case, and what the original article was talking about. and that sexual assault is what SHG is condoning.

          1. Jonny

            did you not read my post? i answered it, as I’m sure you were clueless on any of this – try again. are you really concerned that i don’t know this stuff? all you have is taunts and childish insults-its really pathetic…re read my answer slowly and you will see why one partner who is blacked out cant give consent and two cant engage…which again was the original article’s point if you’ve forgotten. got anything substantive to add? yeah I’m running yet you don’t say anything at all – lol – maybe a booby joke is in order now?

            1. dm

              You really are a simp and simpleton aren’t you Jonny. You do realize that the term “blackout drunk” is not the same as being unconscious don’t you? I suspect by your hysterics that you do not. Being blackout drunk means you don’t remember your conduct the next day, but you may well have had complete conversations as well as verbally or physically consented to engage in sexual conduct. You, obviously, don’t even understand the conversation. Such an angry and sad little white knight.

        1. Erik H.

          Jonny,

          “Drunk” is not the same thing as “unconscious.”
          Two drunk people screwing are just two drunk people screwing. Nothing more.

          “Blacked out” is also not the same thing as “unconscious;” it refers to a retrospective memory loss which happens from bring really drunk and which affects memory of conscious acts. (Which, duh. If you just lost memory of being asleep there wouldn’t be much to lose.)
          Two people with blackout memories are unable to recall what they did during the blackout period. Note that this makes it really hard to defend yourself.

          So, try again:

          Two people are screwing. Both are shitfaced drunk but not so drunk that they can’t remember things (i.e. not blacked out.)

          WHo is the victim, who is the perp?

          1. SHG Post author

            I think you made Jonny run away to cry again. Not even his very effective lols were enough to overcome your withering examination.

  4. Jonny

    [Ed. Note: Reply button. You can do it. You’re so very, very smart.]

    No, blind (to address the immaculate Sgt Schultz) would be a lawyer not knowing or not caring that consent in NYS has to be given and it cant be given when you’re blacked out. Blind would be a lawyer using a public platform calling for the rape of drunk women to be condoned and/or acted upon. Blind would be not knowing that specifically section 603.2 of the dept disciplinary committee generally frowns upon such behaviors. Blind would be assuming you’re the only lawyer in the world, and blind would be assuming that people won’t speak up when you and your buddies spew hate speech. So no i see fine thanks, and your entire readership is obviously made up of mens rights nuts so spare me the boobies and virgin insults. you haven’t said one thing to contradict anything I’m saying, just personal (bad) insults-heck of a lawyer. And I am a proud ally of equality of all people (you know like the judicial system was set up for)….yall are allies of rapists because you so love your boys and wouldn’t dare challenge one of them even though you know somewhere deep down this is all really messed up-or maybe you really don’t and thats even sadder…im fine with my choices and who i fight for thanks.

    1. Jonny

      wow….you really have nothing to add but hit the reply button and touch boobies. you really are a gifted attorney brother kudos. smh

    2. Dragoness Eclectic

      Did someone repost this on Tumblr or something? That’s usually the only place I see this much reading comprehension fail combined with this particular flavor of knee-jerk name-calling.

      1. Mike

        It’s almost like Jonny’s mother left him at home for the first time and forgot to turn her computer off. When the cat’s away, the mouse will play.

        Back in the day, our party drink was several bottles of Ever clear mixed with Hi-C grape drink. We called it Purple Jesus and it was usually mixed up in either a 35 gallon trash can or a bathtub…good times.

        1. Keith

          In addition to the heavy helpings of Everclear, there was something bluish purple and lots of dry ice. Most vividly, I remember the sign above it which read: “Please don’t die”.

          We really weren’t the first ones to do this?

    3. Sgt. Schultz

      I’m back, Jonny. Don’t get your panties in a twist. I now see the problem with your blindness. You self-love (which is no doubt that only love you can get) makes you believe the stupidity you spew. Guess what, grasshopper? Your social justice nonsense doesn’t play among big boys and girls.

      And if you think SHG has violated a disciplinary rule, you should definitely report him to the grievance committee. Then we can laugh at you all over again. You really have been entertaining, though it’s a shame that you’re the only one who doesn’t get the joke.

    4. mmmwright

      As Juvenile Bluster asked YOU, Jonny:

      College man and college women both get drunk.
      College man and college woman, both drunk, have sex.

      Is there a victim? If so, which one? If only one, why?

    5. D-Poll

      There is no such thing as “you’re blacked out”. Blackout, which is to say memory loss, can only be determined after the fact. A person can be totally normal and unimpaired, but still have no long-term memory of the events; in fact, you can even forget things that happened shortly before you started drinking. It is impossible to tell whether or not someone will remember any particular thing the next day, it is impossible to know whether you are currently experiencing memory loss, and having a blackout in no way affects your ability to make decisions or provide consent during the period you will forget (except insofar as drinking at all does). Your position is unscientific and stupid.

      1. Felicia

        Thank you D-Poll. I had been intending to write what you wrote.

        To Jonny: what D-Poll is saying is about “blacking-out” from alcohol is absolutely correct.

        (By the way, it’s my feeling that “Jonny” is female.)

        And Jonny, I’m female, a feminist, a life-long liberal and have training as a sexual assault investigator yet I agree with what virtually everything Greenfield says about the way so-called sexual assault is being defined and handled by the Obama Administration’s Office of Civil Rights.

        There is no epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses, either. The one-in-five statistic is made up. (I’ve read the studies carefully and won’t go into it here.)

    1. SHG Post author

      That’s very kind of you, Dave, even though I’m rather old already. But who is this “we”? You’re not Dave, the King of France, are you?

  5. phroggie

    I came down here to add something useful to the conversation (Grand Marnier, then it’s the Drake Lemonade, IIRC), but I seem to have gotten lost along the way and I’m not sure anymore. Can you point me back to the Jezebel article, please?

  6. Scott Jacobs

    I think it’s the stress. It permeates everything we do as college students.

    Man, she’s really gonna hate life after graduation, when she has actual bills to pay…

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