I bought a 1.5L bottle of Corbett Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon for $7 tonight. For those that don't know, $7 is really cheap for a 1.5L bottle. Anyways, I looked it up online and several descriptions said that it was "excellent with fried chicken in the backyard."
So here I am drinking a cheap bottle of fried chicken wine. I think it tastes alright, but then again I really don't have that refined of a palate to make an educated assessment. I like the buzz that accompanies wine more than other types of alcohol, though Will says the hangovers are awful. I wouldn't know though.
So anyways, I guess you're expecting something insightful now. Well I didn't plan on it, but I'm not one to disappoint, and the subject does remind me of something I've been thinking about for quite some time now.
Alcohol has a very interesting effect on my state of consciousness. I'm sure now you're saying "No shit, Sherlock!" but the interesting effect I'm referring to is what it does to my natural state of compulsive thinking -- It seems to quiet my mind. It seems to silence a lot of the automatic and compulsive judgments that my mind habitually produces. While this may seem to you as an undesirable effect, I don't think it is entirely so. I believe this is partially a desirable effect and it clarifies for me why and how people use alcohol to escape.
When I've had something to drink, I judge the people I'm with less and enjoy their company more -- is this undesirable? When I'm mildly under the influence of alcohol, the "don't do it" voices in my head are put to sleep and my inhibitions are lessened, causing me to feel more confident -- is there a problem with this? After a few drinks, I fret less about things that I regret doing, and worry less about future events. In other words, I'm slightly more present -- Is this objectionable?
When my mind is quieted, for whatever reason, my attention is of far greater depth and quality. This is an important point that Grant didn't perceive when he said that he had been able to pay a great amount of attention to Chris when Chris was opening up to him, despite having already consumed several beers. Rather than despite of, I think it's because of the alcohol consumption that his attention was made more available.
I emphasized "for whatever reason" in the previous paragraph because alcohol certainly isn't the only thing that can quiet the mind. Meditation is infinitely better suited towards that purpose because it can achieve vastly greater effects than alcohol can, without all the negative side effects. Yes, as I'm sure you know from experience, too much alcohol can cause a great deal of problems. While inhibiting judgment to a slight degree may be desirable, shutting down the power to the part of the brain that's responsible for good judgment certainly is not. And you'll know why when you wake up the next morning in a car with a big black guy, being rushed to the hospital for anal hemorrhaging.
Anyways, I'll discuss the subject of compulsive judgment later, but in the meantime, have a few drinks and enjoy yourself -- but drink responsibly. And the next time you buy a bottle of wine, try and spend more than $7. I, however, am on my way now to the bathroom for some Pepto Bismol.
Posted by Marshall at February 18, 2004 09:42 PM