Answer to Question #316332 in Philosophy for jjj

Question

Create a mind map that summarises the key points of the Sober chapter ?write a 500-word summary of the Sober chapter, using your mind map as a basis.

Answer 1

On his standup comedy show, New In Town, comedian John Mulaney remarked that he had given up drinking. He then provided the audience with a few tips he had gleaned from his own experience and said: “I don't know if anyone here is thinking about quitting drinking, but you need to know 2 things if you're thinking of quitting drinking.

The first is that when you stop drinking and you still go to parties where people are drinking, they will have no idea what to offer you. Like, once people start drinking for the night, they forget everything that isn't alcohol. Like, I'll show up at a party and they'll be like, "Hey everybody! Alright we got Coronas in the fridge and oh, hey Mulaney! Would you like an old turnip we found in the cabinet? Would that be good for you? Would you like that? I know you don't drink... Or my girlfriend left a NuvaRing in the fridge, would you want that? Would that be good for you? I know you don't drink!"

But in addition to the awkwardness, Mulaney observes that there are other negative social side-effects to giving up alcohol. He also jokes that, “If you quit drinking you're about to lose the greatest excuse in your life, which is, "I'm really sorry about last night. I was just too drunk…" That is a get out of jail free card that you don't even realize you've had until you lose it. I can't say that anymore. I can never be like, "Sorry about last night, I was just so drunk." Now I have to be like, "I'm really sorry about last night, it's just that I'm mean and loud... It probably will happen again."