For (1), when asked why I don’t drink, I say “I don’t know. I don’t smoke either.” People seem to recognize that some people just don’t like to smoke, and that this type of thing carries over to other voluntary activities.
When I get a disdainful look or am being chided for being a stick in the mud, I steel myself by remembering Richard Feynmann’s wife’s exhortation: “What do you care what other people think?”
Yes, I think this is the best suggestion so far. Smoking has become low-status, and while drinking isn’t, drawing the comparison is likely to slightly flummox the questioner in a way that works to your advantage.
This is true, but implying that you see it the same way you see smoking also may come off as passing judgment on the drinkers, which won’t endear you to them.
True. Though if they actually articulated that, which they wouldn’t, I’d be able to ask them why they’re being so judgmental of smokers. Which would endear me to them still less, but would make me smile.
When I said “flummox,” I was thinking of the way it draws into contrast the social associations of nonsmokers (strong-willed, healthy, virtuous) with the social associations of nondrinkers (slightly immature, possibly unhealthy or weak).
I don’t drink (and never have).
For (1), when asked why I don’t drink, I say “I don’t know. I don’t smoke either.” People seem to recognize that some people just don’t like to smoke, and that this type of thing carries over to other voluntary activities.
When I get a disdainful look or am being chided for being a stick in the mud, I steel myself by remembering Richard Feynmann’s wife’s exhortation: “What do you care what other people think?”
That’s a great line.
Yes, I think this is the best suggestion so far. Smoking has become low-status, and while drinking isn’t, drawing the comparison is likely to slightly flummox the questioner in a way that works to your advantage.
This is true, but implying that you see it the same way you see smoking also may come off as passing judgment on the drinkers, which won’t endear you to them.
True. Though if they actually articulated that, which they wouldn’t, I’d be able to ask them why they’re being so judgmental of smokers. Which would endear me to them still less, but would make me smile.
Not so much “flummox” as “reframe as a lifestyle choice”, I think.
When I said “flummox,” I was thinking of the way it draws into contrast the social associations of nonsmokers (strong-willed, healthy, virtuous) with the social associations of nondrinkers (slightly immature, possibly unhealthy or weak).