On a recent episode of The Political Gabfest, the hosts were offering their answers to various conundrums as part of their annual holiday episode.
One of the conundrums that they were asked:
“If you could swim in a pool filled with anything but water, what would you choose?”
Admittedly, this is one of the stupider conundrums on the show, and it probably doesn’t even qualify as a conundrum, but in response, John Dickerson answered, “Gin.”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
My question:
Why? What about gin caused the audience to roar in approval?
I see the same reaction when storytellers or comedians mention things like whiskey or keg stands or phrases like “wine-o’clock” or “drowning my sorrows in bourbon.”
Mention anything like this, and there’s a good chance your audience will roar in approval.
It’s so weird. It’s as if people stop maturing past the age of 17 when it comes to alcohol. The excitement of their first keg party or their first stolen bottle of vodka from their parents’ liquor cabinet never goes away. Mention your love for alcohol in a slightly clever way (or oftentimes in an entirely un-clever way), and you’re likely to get a cheer.
The same is now true for marijuana as well. All someone needs to do is wryly mention that they “might’ve been high” in almost any scenario and the crowd cheers.
“I was taking my math test, and I might’ve been a little high…”
Boom. A roar of approval. Maybe even an applause break.
It’s weird. Right?
We afford the same reaction to alcohol and drug use as we do to someone who shares the story of a hard fought victory, a lifelong achievement, or an unlikely win.
I don’t really drink alcohol anymore save the occasional celebratory glass of champagne, and I’ve never used marijuana (or any other illegal drug), so perhaps my enthusiasm for these substances are less than average, but I don’t cheer when someone mentions Egg McMuffins or ice cream cake or the New England Patriots or golf.
Nor does anyone else.
At best you might get some moron offer up a cheer if their alma mater is mentioned in a story or joke. Maybe for a mention of their hometown if that hometown isn’t New York or Boston or Los Angeles.
Otherwise, “things” don’t typically get cheered unless those things produce an altered state.
I think it’s really weird.
