Would you be nervous going to a pub/club alone?

George83 wrote: »

Ah well it's about either having a bit of 'peaceful time' to yourself or having a bit of banter with the others there - it's amazing how easily you can get talking to folks & great conversations can be had.

Ok, I'll accept the peaceful thing. I do that a lot earlier in the day in cafes - I'll go off somewhere quiet on my own to clear my head. I don't think I'd work that great at night. Pubs and clubs are noisy.
As for chatting, I'd feel uneasy striking up conversation with complete strangers at night. I suppose it depends where you live. I'm currently in quite a big city. It would just be too dangerous.

whydoibother? wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to assume from your username you're a girl, so am I. Would you not agree that the chances of bumping into a wierdo are not the same from everybody? A girl on her own would be more of a target.

Yes, I'm female. No, I would not agree to that. Statistically it's just not very likely that you'll run into a weirdo. Most people are pretty normal, some deviate more than others but the chances of you running into a genuinely malicious person are very slim. I've never had more trouble meeting strangers in a pub than a few guys who won't get the hint to go away, but they were never bad.

I think this Stranger Danger hysteria thing has gone a bit out of control, for some reason people seem to think everyone you meet on the street is a weirdo. What they forget is all the horrible stuff they see on the news is in the news because it's rare, not common. I'd hate to live my life afraid of every single stranger, but that said I'm generally fairly good at gauging unsafe situations and the type of people I talk to. Instincts can help a lot.

Funnily enough some of the worst people I know are the ones I grew up with.

liah wrote: »

Yes, I'm female. No, I would not agree to that. Statistically it's just not very likely that you'll run into a weirdo. Most people are pretty normal, some deviate more than others but the chances of you running into a genuinely malicious person are very slim. I've never had more trouble meeting strangers in a pub than a few guys who won't get the hint to go away, but they were never bad.

I think this Stranger Danger hysteria thing has gone a bit out of control, for some reason people seem to think everyone you meet on the street is a weirdo. What they forget is all the horrible stuff they see on the news is in the news because it's rare, not common. I'd hate to live my life afraid of every single stranger, but that said I'm generally fairly good at gauging unsafe situations and the type of people I talk to. Instincts can help a lot.

Funnily enough some of the worst people I know are the ones I grew up with.

There's a hell of a lot of assumptions in that. I've never said I live my life afraid of every single stranger. I merely said there are certain contexts, such as alone in a bar at night, that I think are more dangerous. I have often chatted to people I don't know in other contexts. I am equally not under the impression that everyone is a wierdo,

I've never done it don't think I would. A woman alone is probably going to draw some unwanted attention not worth the hassle tbh. It's more fun going with people you can have a laugh with.

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Just out of interest, did you meet people? (I'm assuming you did, seeing as you are here awhile!).
And how was it, the first time that you went alone? Was it daunting? Did you break the ice with the conversation or did someone chat to you?

Genuinely interested

I have gone to a club once by meself (albeit in Glasgow) and I hardly remember any of it. It went like this:

- a few of us in a pub
- copious amounts of alcohol
- dead phone
- we all left at last orders
- ended up getting separated from everyone

Now, couple the loss with the dead phone and I just said to maself "**** this, I'm going to [nightclub]!"...ended up going on my own.

Granted, I know the barmaid in the club, but it was still kinda weird.

Yup, I did meet loads of people. I'm probably a bit lucky in the respect that I never actually had to go up to anyone, the most I did was sit myself beside a group of lads watching a soccer match on a projector and they did the rest.. ended up pub crawling with them that night. Was my first night out on my own too so it ended well.

There were some nights when I'd be there for awhile without getting approached but it never bothered me, I only ever went out on my own for an actual reason such as seeing a band, so I was entertained regardless, never seemed daunting if I was there for myself too.

At night I wouldn't be nervous, I just wouldn't see the point in not meeting people.
During the day just for a relaxing drink though - never done it alone, but yeah, I'd go for a coffee/quick bite to eat alone so why not a drink...

There was a certain age; but you've just rewrote the whole script with last night foray.

You're like some kind of modern day Rosa Parks.

idunnoshur wrote: »

Good morning all.

Last night I went down to the pub alone, I mean that I walked down alone to see if there was anyone there. Is there a certain age you have to be before you canv do this? I ask because I got a few strange looks when I walked in. I'm 20 by the way and I'm friendly enough with a few of the lads in their thirties that frequent the pub.

Apologies if the thread doesnt make much sense, I'm still a bit drunk.

Regards
ids

Children (anyone under the age of 18) are only allowed in licensed premises if they are with a parent or guardian, but this provision carries certain restrictions.
Why did you get strange looks?

biko wrote: »

I've gone to the pub alone but never stayed a whole night unless friends dropped in.
I would not sit there alone drinking 6 pints. Maybe 2.

would you not strike up a conversation with someone ?

I've gone to the pub alone in Ireland during the day to read and have a pint and popped in a few times to Whelans in Dublin on my way home from a night out as my friends wanted to go home early and I didn't. Met some people in the smoking area and had fun.

I have a beer alone here all the time and have a read of my book but according to the locals, it's frowned upon for a girl to have a beer by herself in a bar but I like the idea what I'm essentially giving a middle finger to the old Spanish machistas. I've got chatted up by men 3 times my age and have had my tab paid for me without knowing by auld fellas. They sometimes make presumptions about me because I'm female in a bar and alone. They probably think I'm a prostitute Like the idea of being seen as some kind of scarlet woman round here just for having a beer and reading a book. Feck'em.