"why don't you drink??"

whenever someone asks me that, the question almost always seems as if it is dripping with disdain. it's as if they were asking, "what the fuck is wrong with you?" then i get the usual guesses.

it's just not the norm to abstain from drinking. i know that, and i have my reasons. if you cared enough, then i would tell you the reason why. to change the conversation, i usually just say, "i've had bad experiences with it."

the fact that it can be a social necessity sometimes bothers me. people who are drinking are uncomfortable around me, the sober one. i might be judging. i will be able to recount the next day all of the stupid shit you did. frankly, it can get lonely being the only sober one (when there's nothing to laugh at), so i can get uncomfortable too, ya know. what to do, what to do?

but i read a joke once by some anon who also didn't drink. it makes me feel better. they questioned why it's always such a big deal to know why one doesn't drink. because no one ever makes such an issue when someone confesses to never eating something like mayonnaise.

"you don't eat mayonnaise? why?? would you ever try mayonnaise? are you addicted to mayonnaise? is someone you love addicted to mayonnaise? is it ok if i eat mayonnaise?"