DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I went out to brunch with a friend I have known for many years, we became a little intoxicated, and through the course of laughter, my friend said to me that I am much more fun when I’m drunk.
She isn’t the first person to say this to me, and this particular friend has said it a few times now. Another friend once said to me that the drunk version of me is more fun to hang out with.
I’m always unsure how to respond, because the implication, no matter how it’s worded, is that I’m not fun when I’m sober. I have a great sense of humor, and I use it often. Maybe I am sensitive, but I know I’m not an uptight person; I can be silly and cut loose, especially with my friends, even when sober.
How do I respond to this statement that I feel is more insulting than complimentary?
GENTLE READER: “Oh dear, what a bore I must be when I am sober. But as the alternative would be acquiring a drinking problem -- and neither of us wants that -- I am afraid you will have to continue to put up with me.”