Nights out....it's a jungle out there.

21st Nov 2010

I was very late making it into town last night. Told someone I'd drop something to them, so even though I wasn't quite on form, I made the trip.

Glad I did.

And since I wasn't in the mood while going in, I could see why people get fed up of going on nights out to the same places, with the same faces, weekend after weekend.

Three years on, I still love going out to the same places and the same faces. And I've been doing it sober most of the time.
Been solo plenty of those times.
Been the third wheel more times.
Dancefloor buffer many times (that's basically dancing in such a way as to keep particular persons apart from a friend...without drawing attention to it). That one's a specialty.

When it's the music pulling you out, a good night will be had (...Dj dependent).
When it's the company pulling you out, then (friends who aren't ranting/messily drunk/deserting you for the person they're scoring) it all makes for a good night out. I don't begrudge people those things...everyone can have an off night, or lousy experience, or be mad about someone...I never mind if they do cut and run because I'm out for the night out, not just the pals. Anyway, part of being a friend is being there for them when they're ossified, being the rock they can bounce from, giving them their own space, and being someone they can be open with...without letting them take over your night completely (THAT's the hard part).

When it's the drink pulling you out, and you're out to get drunk and see what happens, and then get so drunk that you have no idea what you've gotten up to when you wake the next morning....well, I don't understand why spending so much to not remember a night out is so great. Happened to me by accident once, and never since. Tipsy when drinking is fun. Anything more and it's just self-inflicted pain-in-waiting.

If it's that you're out to solely find someone to have a relationship with, then good luck with that. If you never feel complete as a person, then you'll never feel complete as part of a couple either.
If it's just someone to spend the night with (or ten minutes with as the case may be), well sure, to each their own. But do remember what you get up to...or else what's the point?

It can be amazing to get lost in the atmosphere of a good night out. I'm lucky...all I need is the right music and I'll get lost in it. Someone to dance with and it's all the better.

I'm a bit of a soppy romantic at heart I think. Because seeing two people click with each other just makes me smile. Even strangers. Lucky gits. I find it really hard not to smile when I see people out and happy with each other. (Drives me nuts to listen to them go on and on about how great the other is, or how great they feel...but) Seeing how they glow with each other is nice. Seeing a dancefloor hopping with people having fun is nice. (Seeing people dancing with drinks in hand in the middle of the dancing area is just plain daft...welcome to Spillsbury, population: drenched and drinkless).

Nothing can put a damper on an evening faster than getting drenched by someone else's drink. It's alright when the person is apologetic, and you'd feel sorry for them when it happened because someone else barged into them. But there are rude/indifferent/clueless buggers out there too. Pillocks. It might only be a soaking, stinking, and sometimes a staining experience, but when it happens, it's polite to acknowledge it and express regret for it.
Also, getting plastered is fine. Getting plastered and stumbling around like an errant and ignorant wrecking ball is the behaviour of an infant...a bit of consideration for others while plastered is not impossible. Can smooth a lot of ruffled feathers.

Rejection is pretty dire on a night out too, but in fairness to those rebuffed, ye had the courage to put yourself out there and make the approach. Muchos admiration for that. Don't lose that nerve.



All in all, @ pessimists, go out with low expectations and you can only be pleasantly surprised. Expect a disaster and be relieved when it doesn't happen! lol
@ optimists, keep on truckin', and don't let the world get you down.
@ realists, don't overdose on reality...because what makes life worth living is never easily quantified in real terms.
@ pragmatists, try to let your hair down once in a while...being practical may well be cut and dried, but fun rarely is.

@ singletons, Don't go looking for love. It'll come in its own time, and hunting it down may drive it into hiding. Make friends, even if it doesn't last beyond ten minutes...you'd be surprised what it CAN lead to.
@ couples, you sicken me you lucky gits.
Only kidding! Keep up the good work, and don't take each other for granted. A little surprise for each other every so often is always appreciated. Doesn't have to cost a thing....sometimes a hug does the trick.

Wink, smile, and nod the head to people you don't even recognise. It can light up their world...even when they can't figure out if they know you or not.



A note of caution:
If someone likes the music, don't tell them it's crap. If someone is enjoying a dance, don't tell them they're rubbish. It might be true, it might not...but you come off as a misery guts/prick for saying it! Noone wants to spend the evening with a miserable git, so don't be one.

If you're determined to go with the flow, work with what you've got, and enjoy yourself doing that, then you'll have fun no matter what you get up to.


And THAT's how Triton201 sees it.