Have You Seen This Article? "How Men React to a Drunk Girl in Public Is Pretty Depressing"

[rhodielady_47]

Here's the web address for it

Comments

[sammason]

Ouch. Yes, this experiment showed some nasty truth. You're right about hyperglycaemia* which is a classic symptom of diabetes.

To that I'd add my own neurological disability. I cultivate a myth that I'm teetotal, when in fact I like a wee dram of single malt whisky - that myth serves me well because I know that I often look drunk. Dropping things, losing my balance, losing bladder control. Not glamorous! Not helped if anybody tries to tease me about 'can't take your drink' so I let people know that I've not touched a drop of booze. If I let anybody see me take a wee dram, it means I trust that person.

Other ways that disabled people can appear drunk include the side effects of some medications, also some kinds of mental illness, also some kinds of autism... the list goes on. None of these things mean that a person is asking for sexual attack.

* As mentioned on this comm recently, 'hyper...' means high and 'hypo...' means low.

[rhodielady_47]

Thanks--I'd forgotten the exact term for that: hperglycemia.
:^)

[cabbagemedley]

Mm, I had a couple of very dizzy episodes when I was withdrawing from venlafaxine. The only reaction I got from those around me was disgust at my being 'drunk' in the middle of the day. It's pretty sad that that makes me feel lucky.

[rhodielady_47]

I'm glad that all you got was dizzy.
Withdrawing from many drugs--even under a doctor's care--can be fairly dangerous and slow process.
I had a neighbor once who DIED after being released too early from the hospital. It turned out that the doctor thought she'd already acclimated to her new blood pressure meds when she hadn't. She had a massive heart attack and died in her appt. (Her cleaning lady found her.)
:^|

It's pretty disgusting

[eqfe]

I hope that it is either staged or these 5 dirtbags were 5 of many more men who tried to help, but sadly I doubt it. Men are pigs.

Re: It's pretty disgusting

[sammason]

Are you saying that you're a pig? You don't seem like a pig.

In fact, I think that actor was a bit out of order. She openly flirted, invited more detail about the party that was being offered, and came very close to giving consent to sex. If the men were for real, they were a bit stupid for not noticing how well she could walk in those stiletto heels. Otoh the one who helped her down some stairs seemed to be quite a good bloke, in my opinion.

Re: It's pretty disgusting

[eqfe]

It's not consent if she's under the influence.

Re: It's pretty disgusting

[sammason]

Morally, I agree. But not sure what the law says in your country or mine.

[nightshade1972]

Sometimes, a mild epileptic seizure can make the person seem "drunk." Sometimes, the side effects of the antiseizure medications can also make a person seem "drunk." When I used to attend the Hydrocephalus Assn conventions, one of the things they warned us about was to always have a MedicAlert (or similar) bracelet/necklace/card/etc on hand. Sometimes you can get pulled over for "drunk" driving, when it's really just the neurological condition itself, or the side effects from the meds, which may cause the driver to weave.

[sammason]

Do you think that a person should drive if they're likely to 'weave' on the road?

[nightshade1972]

I've never had a driver's license. I'd *like* one, but if I can't walk heel-to-toe without falling over, I'm not sure what my navigational skills would be like on the road. There's also the very real possibility that, if I did get pulled over and I did try to explain to the officer about my neurological issues, their response would be "Yeah, right," and I'd still get a ticket for supposedly "drunk" driving, leaving the onus on me to defend myself in court. Not my idea of a good time, alas.

[sammason]

I empathise because my disability robbed me of my driving licence. In fact, I surrendered the licence voluntarily when my eyes stopped being able to track moving objects. That was soon after my leg stopped being reliable on the gas pedal.

Yes indeed it wouldn't be a good time if you or I had to defend ourselves in court after driving with our impairments. For me, the decision made itself when I thought about how I'd feel if somebody I love were injured or killed in a car crash, and the driver turned out to have impairments like mine.

[vicki_t_veg]

I often look drunk due to Ménière's disease which affects my balance and can't walk in a straight line a lot of the time, if I'm having a bad day I often can't string words together, I have been followed around shops by security before. I often feel I need a t-shirt or hat that says "I am not drunk!"

[nightshade1972]

Dunno if Meniere's is something that can be helped by surgery. I know some of the more popular items purchased by those of us with hydrocephalus (which does require brain surgery, usually more than one, I've had 17) have the slogan printed on them which says "I've had brain surgery--what's your excuse?" Unfortunately, a lot of ppl who see that tshirt/button/hat whatever usually just nod knowingly and smile, like they're "in on the joke." It's entertaining explaining to ppl that, in my case, I'm completely serious.

:-)

[vicki_t_veg]

Ménière's disease is an ear condition and as I have atypical type there isn't a huge amount they can do other than maybe put my medication up but which often doesn't help,I am lucky that I have pretty mild symptoms compared to others with the condition, I tend to get long periods of 'remission' but have bad balance most of the time and hearing loss and tinnitus.

[rhodielady_47]

Thanks for adding Meniere's Disease to the list. (That's one I've not heard or read anything about.)
And store security cops /mall cops often have little or no training. Makes me wonder if any of them even realize that you can appear drunk without having had a drink.
:^|