Alcohol Is Like Truth Serum
Ever want to know what someone is really thinking? Ask them while they’re drunk. Alcohol is like truth serum. It makes people say what is really on their minds. The key to this is that you remain sober while listening. You may want to get drunk after hearing the truth, but that is another story.
How did I learn this? Quite by accident. An ex was bragging while inebriated and spouted off about an exploit. Well, this exploit took place while he was supposed to be at work. I can add. 2 + 2 = 4, not 5. Thankfully I also had a video camera close at hand as he was telling his wonderful story. Gotcha, Baby! The next day I asked questions pertaining to this event. He acted as if I lost my mind. But I could tell he was also wondering where I got my intel. Then I pulled out the camera and played it for him. Guess what. Ex could add, too. He realized what he had done and, of course, gave the obligatory apologies. I was too mad. But it was the silent fury when you know it is better to back away because you’re unsure of what might happen next. He sat there like a scared little boy and I let him squirm. All day. I didn’t say a word. It was much more fun to torment him silently than to say anything. His mind was coming up with worse scenarios than I was. Finally we hashed it out. But not until I was satisfied that he was sufficiently guilt-ridden and truly sorry for his actions.
Another incident with alcohol and the truth was when a “friend” told me how she really felt about me. I thought this person really was my friend. I cared about this person deeply. Then the booze came out. She was drunk and I was sober. And I was going through an emotionally traumatic time. And she said to me slurring, “Ya know what? I’d have dumped your ass a long time sooner than he did.” That’s when I realized that our friendship was quite unbalanced. I was already hurt by the other trauma and then here was additional pain I wasn’t expecting. I extricated myself from the situation and haven’t looked back.
There’s a lesson in all of this. First, if you have secrets, be careful if you drink. You might cross the line and tell a little too much. Second, if you want to know secrets, get them drunk. You might learn a few things. Either way, be prepared for the consequences. You might not like what happens in the end.
