The reaction of a local bartender/musician
Not too long ago, I shared a story about an unfortunate incident at a local Hoboken bar. It involved all the drama of a bad soap opera, with the addition of beer. I posed the question, “What is the point of going out to have fun, but ending up nearly ruining everyone’s night?”
I was pleased to get this answer from Noah Gittell, a local musician and bartender at Carpe Diem here in Hoboken:
Great update. I can tell you what the hell is wrong with those people who get angry at bars and pick fights, by the way.
They are sad, angry people. People like you and me who go to bars, get drunk, and laugh our asses off are not sad, angry people. We are relatively happy with our lives. But a person like your pool-playing acquaintance is angry at himself, angry that his life sucks. So when he drinks, when he gets too drunk to make a pool shot, he gets mad at himself for being so drunk, and he is so drunk because his life sucks. It’s a very quick domino effect that leads to profound anger.
I know because I used to be a little this way and have spent time with people who are A LOT this way. It makes me mad at the time, sure, but I try to be zen about it. I try to remember that these people are absolutely miserable every second of the day, and that pity is a good weapon.
Well put! Thanks Noah!!
See Also:
Fool Table
Carpe Diem
Noah and the World’s Fair
