WASHINGTON, D.C. –
(Editor's note: the author of this commentary wishes to remain anonymous)
This may be the most unconventional advice you've ever read. If you've ever been carried home from a bar by your friends, read on. If you've ever greeted the suggestion to "open a tab" as an all you can drink challenge, read on. If you've ever been the center of attention because you passed out in the center of the dance floor, definitely read on.
Some lessons are best learned through tough and memorable consequences - those we experience or witness. When it comes to the downside of excessive drinking, that's definitely the case. Now any man or woman in military service has undoubtedly endured countless lectures, speeches and warnings about binge drinking, drunk driving and other alcohol-induced bad behavior. However, no education I've ever experienced drives the point home like four simple words - "Don't Be That Guy."
Those are words to live by. We've all been out on the town and seen That Guy
making a fool of himself or herself. Sometimes we laugh at him, but it ceases to be funny when That Guy wrecks your evening by acting like a meathead, or getting you kicked out of the bar, or starting a fight you have to finish, or ruining your hook-up, or smashing your TV, or ... well, you get the point.
The beauty of "Don't Be That Guy" is that it's open-ended advice - it covers a million possibilities. It's also not judgmental. It isn't saying don't drink, or don't have a few beers with your buddies, or don't go out and let loose a little. It simply means don't overdo it, don't lose control, don't be an idiot.
I've seen some That Guy behavior in the Army. I've also seen it from frat boys, businessmen, the girl next door, and even my relatives. Poor judgment knows no bounds. The trick is to avoid it, and learning from others' mistakes can really help.
What are some reasons not to be That Guy? Here are a few to consider:
-- Because teeth look better in your mouth
-- Because insurance doesn't cover stupidity
-- Because "I don't remember" is not an excuse that holds up in court
-- Because your boss doesn't want to see you at three in the morning
If you want to keep your friends, your reputation, your money, your teeth, your dignity, and
other things you value, do yourself a favor and just Don't Be That Guy. Words to live by for sure.