Dating

[Mystique]

Cultural question Americans.

What exactly is a purpose of a bar, first and foremost?
Because to me that signalls 'club' (there's a bar in a club), where going to dance without alcohol can be an objective, hence meeting some dreamy dude who knows how to moooove~~
*coughs*
(Think of all those dance movies like Honey, or save the last dance, the bar is just an addition)

Or going to get wasted and then drunken dance. (Uni students)
Or going to drink a little, mingle and watch others dance while socialising.
So many ways/opportunities and usually from there, one would catch a number and arrange to meet up in a cafe or something for a real 'get to know each other'.

The other alternative is a pub, but the use/purpose of it resides in a culture similar to Japan and izakayas (just a little) with food, drink, homely feel, families visit on weekends, can play darts, pool or have karaoke or bingo nights.

It's definitely a good place to socialise/mingle and get to know those around the community and yes once again alcohol can be involved if one wants but it's not the 'be all and end all' as I'm seeing so many replies here.

Ugh, bar, I don't want drunkards!!! *rant rant*
Kinda thing, lol.
So it makes me wonder, what exactly is the function/scene of those in America, sounds awfully limited...

[lightsenshi]

Originally Posted by Sumeragi

I tend to drink sake and traditional soju, but I'm also up for vodka. For some reason, I can't tolerate undistilled drinks, like beer or wine.

That's because beer tends to remind (me) of urine and wine of fruit juice. I personally tend toward mixed drinks or just straight up hard liquor. And dating gets harder as you get older.

[Ricky Controversy]

Originally Posted by Mystique

Cultural question Americans.

What exactly is a purpose of a bar, first and foremost?

Depends on the bar, really. Fairly prevalent in America is the "sports bar," which is typically a bar with a third-rate grill menu, but the main purpose is to go watch a sporting event on a large screen with a ready supply of beer and sympathetic viewers: in a sense, an elaborated version of the "guys' game night." Bars are, as you say, also frequently attached to dance clubs in the United States. There are also, of course, bars that are literally just nothing but trash heaps full of drunks and their favored libations, but that's what you'd call a Honky Tonk. XD

We do have 'elite' bars here, usually part of high-class hotel as an amenity, but also sometimes part of a music venue. Well-established Blues and Jazz venues frequently have high-class bars. Either way, bars that like serve two purposes: for exhausted and well-off businessmen to use alcohol for relaxation without having to deal with the riff-raff, or for people who savor fine cocktails to enjoy the work of a skilled bartender.

[Lost Cause]

^ And then you have an honest to God bar! A place that's been well established for years, where one can go with family and/or friends watch the game on a big screen, take in the local gossip, eat really good BBQ, and have a blast with a local band or the Rockola in the corner.
Some places are "dives" and some are elitetist pig styes, but most are home to your typical blue collar folks who are just looking to unwind, have a good time, and maybe get lucky or make new friends!

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Lost Cause

^ And then you have an honest to God bar! A place that's been well established for years, where one can go with family and/or friends watch the game on a big screen, take in the local gossip, eat really good BBQ, and have a blast with a local band or the Rockola in the corner.
Some places are "dives" and some are elitetist pig styes, but most are home to your typical blue collar folks who are just looking to unwind, have a good time, and maybe get lucky or make new friends!

These are the best bars.

I don't actually go to bars anymore because my retarded state thinks they're smart and banned smoking in bars. WTF California? The purpose of a bar is to drink, smoke and listen to bad bands play!

Booze and tobacco go together like peanut butter and chocolate for fuck's sake!

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

I don't actually go to bars anymore because my retarded state thinks they're smart and banned smoking in bars. WTF California?

Though our budget for education is immense, we actually spend one of the lowest amounts per person on education. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[Samari]

I think I like dive bars. Small, low-key ones. Where I can try new beers/drinks and it's not too noisy.

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

These are the best bars.

I don't actually go to bars anymore because my retarded state thinks they're smart and banned smoking in bars. WTF California? The purpose of a bar is to drink, smoke and listen to bad bands play!

Booze and tobacco go together like peanut butter and chocolate for fuck's sake!

Smoking, another reason I go out less often these days. And it's quite funny in Hamburg and Munich when the weather is not horrible you see more people outside than indoors.

Originally Posted by Samari

I think I like dive bars. Small, low-key ones. Where I can try new beers/drinks and it's not too noisy.

That's another annoying issue, when I go out and especially when meeting new people, the main thing that I want to do is talk with them (not dance, not show off), and it is impossible in clubs, and most bars because either their crappy selection of music is too loud or some blocks are screaming something incomprehensible while watching some match

[lightsenshi]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

WTF California?

There's your problem right there.

[Zeppuotaku]

Sounds like ya typical Haram game to me =3 Hope you get your *happy ending*

[Samari]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

That's another annoying issue, when I go out and especially when meeting new people, the main thing that I want to do is talk with them (not dance, not show off), and it is impossible in clubs, and most bars because either their crappy selection of music is too loud or some blocks are screaming something incomprehensible while watching some match

A lot of folks don't know that clubs and bars where there is booming music and it's dark, is the worst place to meet people. But common sense gets clouded in our culture by the mystique of the night and sex appeal that some of these places have a reputation of portraying.

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

Smoking, another reason I go out less often these days. And it's quite funny in Hamburg and Munich when the weather is not horrible you see more people outside than indoors.

Pretty sure the nanograms of diluted cigarette smoke one might inhale by standing next to smokers outside is far less harmful than breathing in the exhaust of thousands of cars every day, over and over.

I'm not going to argue against the issues second-hand smoke can cause children or those with health concerns when the smoke is heavy and in a poorly-ventilated area (i.e. stupid parents smoking inside around their kids).

I don't know if I was doomed from the start, since my parents both smoked indoors and never avoided me when I was young... and I started smoking when I was in my teens. Dumbest thing I ever did, but no matter how many times I've tried to quit I can't seem to do it.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Pretty sure the nanograms of diluted cigarette smoke one might inhale by standing next to smokers outside is far less harmful than breathing in the exhaust of thousands of cars every day, over and over.

I'm not going to argue against the issues second-hand smoke can cause children or those with health concerns when the smoke is heavy and in a poorly-ventilated area (i.e. stupid parents smoking inside around their kids).

I don't know if I was doomed from the start, since my parents both smoked indoors and never avoided me when I was young... and I started smoking when I was in my teens. Dumbest thing I ever did, but no matter how many times I've tried to quit I can't seem to do it.

I dropped because I got hospitalised.

[xl_Legit_lx]

Fuck a bar, just go to a club with drinks....it's more live anyway.

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Pretty sure the nanograms of diluted cigarette smoke one might inhale by standing next to smokers outside is far less harmful than breathing in the exhaust of thousands of cars every day, over and over.

My usual argument too

Originally Posted by xl_Legit_lx

Fuck a bar, just go to a club with drinks....it's more live anyway.

Clubs, especially dance ones are the worst, too loud, way too many show off's, horrible quality, slow service, stink of sweat, and are filled with immature and annoying kids.

[synaesthetic]

I knew I wasn't the only one!

I hate clubs because the overpowering stench of male BO just kills me.

[Malkuth]

There are worse... when a drunk jailbait dances next to you, effectively using you as her towel, and is pissed with you because you try to ignore her kids these days

[synaesthetic]

Female BO just doesn't smell as bad to me as the stink of unwashed hairy man, though this might be because living in the Bay Area, I constantly run into dirty hobos who smell like concentrated BO essence. *facepalm*

[DonQuigleone]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

These are the best bars.

I don't actually go to bars anymore because my retarded state thinks they're smart and banned smoking in bars. WTF California? The purpose of a bar is to drink, smoke and listen to bad bands play!

Booze and tobacco go together like peanut butter and chocolate for fuck's sake!

If you're a non-smoker (IE most of the population) those laws are a godsend. I used to suffocate on entering a pub. There was always a layer of haze from head height up. It was awful. Now smokers, they love the smell of smoke. The rest of us hate it.

I don't really care about the health effects. I just like the fact that the air is clear now. I used to not be able to see the roofs...

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Pretty sure the nanograms of diluted cigarette smoke one might inhale by standing next to smokers outside is far less harmful than breathing in the exhaust of thousands of cars every day, over and over.

I'm not going to argue against the issues second-hand smoke can cause children or those with health concerns when the smoke is heavy and in a poorly-ventilated area (i.e. stupid parents smoking inside around their kids).

I don't know if I was doomed from the start, since my parents both smoked indoors and never avoided me when I was young... and I started smoking when I was in my teens. Dumbest thing I ever did, but no matter how many times I've tried to quit I can't seem to do it.

Got to kick the habit. Makes you look 10 years older. When you hit 40 your voice sounds like a vaccuum cleaner, and your teeth look like you came off the set of Pirates of the Carribean. That's not even getting into the health risks.

You also stink. Sorry to say it, but it's true. Smokers stink.

It also costs how much per day?

Also smokers absolutely hate me. I love to tell the young dudes standing on the corner all about how they're probably going to be impotent by the time they hit 40 . (Their response: "What's impotence?")

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Female BO just doesn't smell as bad to me as the stink of unwashed hairy man, though this might be because living in the Bay Area, I constantly run into dirty hobos who smell like concentrated BO essence. *facepalm*

I like my manly body odour. The really weird thing though is that I smell just like my dad. It was pretty weird when I first realised it. What next, am I going to start telling kids to get off the lawn?

[synaesthetic]

I know it smells, I know it costs a lot, I know it's not good for me... but my fiancee refuses to quit, so unless I dump her, I am not going to be able to quit unless she does. And she gets really mad if anyone pokes her about quitting smoking and then starts ranting about people being obsessed with weed but hating on tobacco.