By Rebecca Harrelson, Staff Writer

Published in print Apr. 15, 2015

Being a woman at a bar is a very interesting social occurrence.

Being able to watch men around you get completely hammered and act like buffoons is also another interesting social occurrence. Now as a disclaimer, not every man acts like this, and some women even take the cake for acting like a fool in bars more often than not.

However I’ve been witnessing this epidemic of drunken men who can’t seem to control their language or their emotions for a couple years now and something definitely needs to be said.

  Society plays a huge role in making men feel as though they need to be a certain way, controlling of the situations around them, macho, overly unattached and “hard” and that they must sexualize or degrade every woman that passes by. 

So, for your reading pleasure, I’ve put together a list of ten top things men need to keep in their arsenal for when they decide to go out.

If you are easily offended by women’s thoughts and judgments you may want to just skip this article completely.

1. Pace yourself while you’re drinking- even If you plan on getting pretty inebriated its always safer and less sloppy when you pace yourself.

2. Definitely stop staring at women you do not know. Also stop touching women you do not know. If you want to hit on them, air completely on the side of respect and caution.  If they’re not interested don’t get angry, too many men jump to anger first. Being defensive before sympathetic is not an attractive quality, it makes you look like a caveman. And let us all remember women owe you nothing.

3. Don’t you dare start a fight. Plain and simple. You have come a long way from caveman days, do not digress.

4. Refrain from using derogatory language, it is 2015, just stop. Slurs, sexiest comments, raciest stereotyping aren’t flattering and make you look like an inbred.

5. In this new age of technology we have the internet and social media right at our finger tips, and when drunk some flock to texting, instagraming, facebooking(I’m guilty of that one myself). When really we need to be more present, look around and see who you are with and think about why you are with them. Probably because they are your friends, talk to them, don’t drunk texts some people and make yourself look like a hot mess. Women know a drunk booty call, you aren’t fooling anyone, go home (safely) drink some water and sleep it off.

6. Refrain from whipping you junk out just anywhere to pee. Once again, plain and simple. Also…wash your hands more. 

7. Don’t drink and drive. Ever. There is no excuse for that stupidity.

8. Don’t come into the bar hooting and hollering unless there is good reason. And definitely don’t assume you are God’s gift to women, your cockiness is never flattering. Confidence and intelligence however is.

9.  When you hear the word “no” that means No. In 2015 you’d think I wouldn’t have to say this but I do. If the individual isn’t interesting, continue the conversation or just walk away. There is no talking someone into wanting to sleep with you. How pathetic do you want to seem, because, news flash- pity sex isn’t a thing.

10. Do not drink and drive. If the safety of those in your city doesn’t seem to concern you, let’s talk numbers.

North Carolina DWI penalties are serious business. You will end up paying so much money, including court costs and lawyer fees.

Your license will be suspension or revoked. Possible jail time and for some offenses, the jail time is mandatory rather than possible. A hefty dose of community service will be given (which isn’t a bad thing). Amongst all those spectacular variables you will have MUCH higher car insurance rates.

Come on ya’ll let’s get smart here, start representing yourself in a less stereotypically trashy, unkempt, backwoods way. Society will be better for your respectful, intelligent handsome ways. Promise.