Drinking in a bar on your own... Weird or not?

AARRRGH · 14-09-2005 07:28PM #1

Hey,

All my friends are busy at the moment.

I'm in the mood for a drink.

I am tempted to go to a bar, bring a book, and chill for a few hours (getting tipsy is OK with me.)

Weird or not?

dublindude wrote:

All my friends are busy at the moment.

"Sure".

Beat you to it!

Crucifix · 14-09-2005 07:36PM

If you're reading, and not drinking loads it's not weird. Just make sure to hold the book up and move every so often so everyone in the bar notices, and loudly remark that your first pint is lasting you ever so long. Actually that may get you kicked out.

AARRRGH · 14-09-2005 07:38PM

Crucifix wrote:

If you're reading, and not drinking loads it's not weird. Just make sure to hold the book up and move every so often so everyone in the bar notices, and loudly remark that your first pint is lasting you ever so long. You may get kicked out.

LOL.

I'm now trying to decide whether to bring the weird sales book I'm reading, or my more normal technical book.

Yes, both are strange.

I really want to do this without looking like a creepy paedophile.

Rhyme · 14-09-2005 07:43PM

Bring a Dan Brown book... you'll score

AARRRGH · 14-09-2005 07:45PM

Rhyme wrote:

Bring a Dan Brown book... you'll score

haha... I hate that guy.

But yes, I see where you are coming from.

angelbaby · 14-09-2005 07:46PM

That's definately not weird! It's not like your not gonna get chattin to someone. Sure the barman is bound to talk to you!!!

If your concerned about lookin like an alco then scan the barfor a small group, discretely walk up n plank yourself beside them then act like you know them!!! Actually no. That really would b weird.

But seriously goin to a bar 4 a few on yer own is alright. You'll get to know more people that way anyway

Happy suppin!!!!!!!!

Rhyme · 14-09-2005 07:46PM

Bring a Dan Brown book and a Dreamcatcher... you'll totally score

scojones · 14-09-2005 07:52PM

It's not weird at all, although beware, there is a man united match on, so you might not get to read much of the book in peace! I've often done it when I was in the mood for a pint.

Pighead · 14-09-2005 07:53PM

Very interesting topic.i've missed after hours
Pighead also likes to have a drink by his self in a bar, because there's something nice about decompressing with a beer and a good book in a quiet neighborhood-y bar,To be honest us lads are sexist pigs on this issue.And most definitely not fair to the fairer sex.
When Pighead walks into a bar (hey, sounds like a joke!), orders a beer and starts reading, people find him dashing and intellectual and mysterious or eggheady and weird, depending on the bar, but I guarantee no one would repeatedly bother him.

Now if i were Miss Piggy and i walked into a bar everybody would think there must be something wrong with me.There must be something about being female and alone in a bar that makes everyone assume that you must be desperate to make conversation, so people like to interrupt you ("Hey, whatcha reading?") and if you don't smile pretty and answer politely answer they think to themselves "What a bitch," but if you do you're trapped talking to Kernel who now thinks you are either (a) his buddy or (b) available.
Definite double standards.Boo to us lads on this one i'm afraid.

4Xcut · 14-09-2005 07:54PM

well then i wouldn't wear that one whiite glove covered in rhindstones of i were you

The Sweeper · 14-09-2005 08:02PM

Weird? I hope not, I do it at least once a week. I like the newspaper. And a box of cigs (because you can still smoke with your pint over here).

fischerspooner · 14-09-2005 08:21PM

yeah nout wrong with that at all. I do it the odd time here in Dublin but used to do it more so when living abroad and had less choice of friends. I could go to bars in canada and you were guaranteed to meet people withing 10 minutes of sitting at the bar. I drank at the local where I grew up for years and I never made any friends or even knew any of the staff by name. Thing about Dublin is that usually no one will talk to you and people will think you're weird, especially if you're not middle aged. But that's the island of 1000 welcomes for you...

nesf · 14-09-2005 08:44PM

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

Weird? I hope not, I do it at least once a week. I like the newspaper. And a box of cigs (because you can still smoke with your pint over here).

Rub it in why don't you...

OP: There's nothing wrong with it, just bring a book and relax for an evening's reading. Although I haven't done it since the smoking ban came in, can't stand interrupting my book to have a smoke.

Dizzyblabla · 14-09-2005 09:16PM

Or just go to a really busy bar?
I've often gone to the pub with friends and lost them on route to the bar, gone for a smoke, come back, wandered around, chat to a few people, and then find my friends again.... go to a pub you would go to alot, chances are you'll find someone you know!

Faye · 14-09-2005 09:56PM

Pighead wrote:

There must be something about being female and alone in a bar that makes everyone assume that you must be desperate to make conversation, so people like to interrupt you ("Hey, whatcha reading?") and if you don't smile pretty and answer politely answer they think to themselves "What a bitch," but if you do you're trapped talking to Kernel who now thinks you are either (a) his buddy or (b) available.
Definite double standards.Boo to us lads on this one i'm afraid.

Spot on Pighead! I dont go to bars on my own very often but on occasion when staying in hotels, I just want to go down to the bar, be among people,have a drink, do some people watching under the guise of reading a book. It's unbelievable the amount of times men attempt to start conversations (despite at this stage, the book is shoved totally in front of my face). Mostly these men get the message when I explain that I prefer to be on my own but some dont and that is very uncomfortable.
Had a particularly nasty experience in the Metropole Hotel in Cork once. This guy had separated from his friends and attempted to join me. I did my usual polite, vaguely friendly 'go away' thing, but he was so persistant that I told him to leave me alone. He stood up and said in a loud voice "F*cking snotty b*tch", then went back to his friends and stared at me. At that stage everyone was watching. I felt so intimidated that I left. The worst thing about that incident was that I was so angry at myself for not slapping his ignorant face I couldnt sleep for half the night! I still get angry when I think about... bloody buffoon! :mad:

Cianos · 14-09-2005 10:03PM

It shouldnt be seen as weird...but it probably is seen as weird by a lot of people. Quite silly really. Another topic down to the Irish obsession with booze and the taboo that surrounds it. In most countries asking this question would seem weird...and the act not weird in the slightest.

Jimi-Spandex · 14-09-2005 10:17PM

It's perfectly acceptable.

Just don't get hammered. I was at a gig by myself last week and ended up going to the bar too much and ended up losing stuff but that story is not for now.

but in a normal neighbourhood bar it should be grand.

el Bastardo · 14-09-2005 10:21PM

Did it for years, not in Ireland though. It always felt a bit weird doing it too, but the alternative was to spend my time alone in a hotel room. Got the impression that people though I was a bit of a billy-no-mates.

c - 13 · 14-09-2005 10:25PM

I always do this, but its mostly hotel bars.
I find you usually get talking to the staff anyway - met some cool people that way.

Larianne · 14-09-2005 10:30PM

dublindude wrote:

LOL.

I'm now trying to decide whether to bring the weird sales book I'm reading, or my more normal technical book.

Yes, both are strange.

I really want to do this without looking like a creepy paedophile.

Well it is Junior Cert Results night so that may cross peoples minds alright!!

I drank once in a bar on my own waiting for a mate to come home as I was kipping in her apartment. Felt so incomfortable. Wouldn't do that again.

20 Times 20 Times · 14-09-2005 10:34PM

i feel so bad for saying this but its the truth really , a guy can get away with it a girl cant .

whiskeyman · 14-09-2005 10:49PM

It's fine, but it depends on the pub tbh.
If I saw someone tucked away reading a book in the corner of a busy pub with music blaring and people getting trying to "get it on", I'd be a bit wary and stay well clear.

Lots of other pubs to go in, get a pint (or 10) and read a paper / watch the match / news whatever...

Necronomicon · 14-09-2005 10:50PM

I think it's grand, but if I was on my own I'd be more inclined to get a few beers and relax at home.

Jonny Arson · 14-09-2005 11:10PM

No way would I go drink in a pub on my own. Unless you are an OAP who goes to the local on a Tueday afternoon then maybe but still no way!

Gazza22 · 14-09-2005 11:16PM

No there's nothing weird about that, just go and relax...

What is weird imo is people going to the cinema on their own! Weirdos, and i always get stuck beside the creepy ones!

Crucifix · 14-09-2005 11:21PM

gazza22 wrote:

What is weird imo is people going to the cinema on their own! Weirdos, and i always get stuck beside the creepy ones!

Ah, I'm guilty of this sometimes myself.....but I'm not creepy.

AARRRGH · 14-09-2005 11:34PM

Thanks all for the opinions.

I am just back from "the mezz" after being on my own (although I did meet someone I knew in there - by accident - so I wasn't on my own for the entire night.)

People didn't seem to think I was a weirdo, but I did feel a bit strange (I know, it's all in my head).

Back home in front of my laptop (why didn't I get food on my way home!!!) does feel more comfortable.

In fact, there was a couple of American women (I'm assuming they were American by their fashion and makeup) seemed to be into the whole bloke-on-his-own thing.

projectmayhem · 14-09-2005 11:37PM

you went to the mezz for a quiet pint?

-does not compute-

AARRRGH · 14-09-2005 11:39PM

projectmayhem wrote:

you went to the mezz for a quiet pint?

-does not compute-

Well, I wanted to go somewhere with a bit of life, and where I could just "chill".

I wasn't in the mood for somewhere dead and depressing.

0utshined · 14-09-2005 11:45PM

gazza22 wrote:

No there's nothing weird about that, just go and relax...

What is weird imo is people going to the cinema on their own! Weirdos, and i always get stuck beside the creepy ones!

I do that!

Company is nice to have but I go to watch the film so it's not a requirement. If people want to see a flick with me great, if not then meh.

OP,

There's no problem with going to a bar on your own, I've done it a few times usually when I'm abroad though.

Edit : Ah you're back, yeah you tend to meet people you know in this country wherever you go.

Binomate · 14-09-2005 11:50PM

If you drink whisky and act depressed you wouldn't stand out at all. I'd be much more comfortable going to the cinema on my own than going for a pint on my own. Wouldn't have a problem with either.

Drinking in a bar on your own... Weird or not?

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