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GatoradeNipples t1_jdzl0vn wrote

I feel like this is possibly the worst match of "location" and "business concept" in the history of moneymaking.

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Rosebunse t1_jdzrre5 wrote

Not necessarily, it is a way to be different. The problem is that for many of us who don't drink, we like to do more than just go to a bar. And for those who do drink, they want alcohol. This might appeal to alcoholics whos are recovering, except many doctors are saying that even pretend alcohol can cause people to relapse, so they might need to avoid bars completely depending on what they are going through.

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Jairlyn t1_je04wfk wrote

Their point is that if there were many of you in Dublin, this place wouldn’t have failed. Yes there are those who don’t want to drink like you lost but are there enough to make a successful business?

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Calamitous_Stars t1_je05qvg wrote

There are a lot of businesses that don't serve alcohol though...?

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keyserv t1_je0aagx wrote

Yes and they usually have some other service or product to sell. That much should be obvious.

A person that doesn't drink alcohol can still definitely go to a bar.

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Calamitous_Stars t1_je0hx94 wrote

That wasn't a part of the question i was replying to..

They had asked whether or not there were enough people who don't drink at every location they shop at to justify a business not serving alcohol..

To which my answer was a reminder that many non-alcohol related businesses do in fact exist and many are quite profitable.

IOW: pedantry for the sake of a mildly amusing loophole in grammar.

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Jairlyn t1_je1n435 wrote

No I absolutely wasn’t talking about every location people shop in any type of business. We are talking only about alcohol free bars. The rest of us understood that just fine.

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Calamitous_Stars t1_je1npl1 wrote

That was the joke... do you not understand what "pedantry for humor" means??

My question is: why does this topic have your panties in a knot?

Gotta turn off notifications for reddit- I forgot how prickly y'all are. Life's more enjoyable if you learn how to relax. The people who got the joke laughed, you don't gotta get mad about it.

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Jairlyn t1_je21fia wrote

Ah yes the popular “it was just a prank bro” defense followed up with the equally popular acquisition that I am emotionally out of control.

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Calamitous_Stars t1_je22co4 wrote

If you say so- my first reply after my joke mentioned how it was a joke and what i found funny, but reading too hard, i understand.

Why are you this sensitive? Look at my first Response in this thread. The people who understood the joke laughed(or at least did that slight smile with a sharp nose exhale). Just because you didnt get it, doesnt mean it wasnt there. You could just be an alcoholic.

Like you're trying to argue, but I keep telling you there's no argument to be had and you still dont get it.. like it's oddly personal for you somehow?

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Jairlyn t1_je1m8ri wrote

Nobody is denying that there are businesses that don’t serve alcohol.

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ThatsMrDickfaceToYou t1_je238oa wrote

No, it would still fail. Drinkers buy 4-15 drinks a night. No one’s dropping $50 on non-alcoholic drinks.

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GatoradeNipples t1_je205zq wrote

You're misunderstanding me.

I'm not saying the concept is bad, in and of itself. I'm saying putting it in Dublin, a city particularly known for its drinking culture within a country particularly known for its drinking culture, is more or less just asking to lose money.

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Rosebunse t1_je234xp wrote

I think that is probably why they thought it could work. It could, you know, stand out.

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Thercon_Jair t1_je0ih1n wrote

"Pretend alcohol" generally still has a low amount of alcohol in it. So no, you wouldn't want an (ex-)alcoholic to try it.

−5

KittyBizkit t1_je0qdl6 wrote

As a recovering alcoholic I can tell you that NA beers have been critical to me getting sober. I still felt compelled to drink something at night and NA beers really scratched the itch in a way other options simply couldn’t. I am 5.5 months sober and don’t think I would have made it this far without them.

Also, it’s worth pointing out that orange juice contains more alcohol than many NA beers. So does a ripe banana. And even bread can contain much more alcohol than an NA beer.

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Wisco1856 t1_je0shr6 wrote

Keep up the good work. I drink NA beers and NA spirits to maintain my sobriety as well.

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Mutive t1_je19fli wrote

Yeah. It's always weird to me when people freak out about the negligible amount of alcohol in NA beverages. Like, there are small amounts of alcohol in practically everything. But it's not really an issue to slam 0.5% NA beer (or kombacha or orange juice) because the amount it would take to have a noticable amount on almost any human is enormous.

I can see how NA beer might be triggering to some. But I love the idea of an alcohol free bar. (I remember seeing such things in the Middle East and loving them. I also like that there are more and more non-alcoholic mocktails on menus at normal bars. It's great being able to go out and not drink if I don't feel like it.)

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itskdog t1_je3yak6 wrote

I don't drink by choice - don't see what's so special about alcoholic drinks - and I too appreciate when there's a good selection of Mocktails. Saves having to stick with the same old cola or lemonade.

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Mutive t1_je577qk wrote

Me too. I really loathe going out to a bar with friends and having like, tap water (or a sprite - I can't drink caffeine at night if I want to sleep which rules out a ton of beverages) while everyone else is having something fancy. While I love going to a nearby bar and sipping on a mocktail while listening to live music. It's nice having alcohol free options. (And I say this as someone who also enjoys options with alcohol. I think it's great having both!)

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eLishus t1_je0d9ft wrote

Possibly, and adding that what makes bars profitable is the incredible markup of alcoholic beverages. A single served drink costs as much as ½ a bottle in many cases. And even normal bars close all the time, especially in this financial environment. Not to mention, I assume they’re serving “mocktails”, of which people will buy (maaaybe two) vs people drinking regular cocktails will have multiple drinks. There needs to be another form of service (i.e., food) or entertainment (i.e., live music) to keep something like this afloat.

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Bumish1 t1_je15i04 wrote

That's called a restaurant or a music venue.

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eLishus t1_je1kheo wrote

Those all serve alcohol and their main component is food or music, not an accompaniment to socializing (when was the last time you went to a restaurant to socialize with people you didn’t already know?). The concept is a place to gather that doesn’t have the vice of alcohol but still has an element to inspire social interaction. Without the addition of alcohol for entertainment and to loosen inhibitions, bars are generally boring. Something with rotating themes might work well. Open mic nights (poems, comedy, acoustic guitar), food truck Fridays, taco Tuesdays, etc, would add an element besides non-alcoholic beverages. Hell, people might even love a booze free sports “bar”.

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limpingdba t1_je1levf wrote

Most/many bars in Dublin sell food and have music. They nearly all serve the same function as somewhere to socialise, have a few drinks, enjoy music and maybe eat some pub grub. They aren't really the distinct activities as you are making out.

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Cynykl t1_je3ucj9 wrote

> Open mic nights (poems, comedy, acoustic guitar), food truck Fridays, taco Tuesdays, etc

That is called a coffee shop.

This is a concept trying to fill roles already filled better by other venues.

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Breadloafs t1_je1s7g2 wrote

Most craft mocktails these days use non-alcoholic distillates which often cost nearly twice as much as the well liquor even higher end bars will use. We have a couple mocktails at the restaurant bar I work at whose ingredients cost more than most of our house cocktails. They're subject to the same bullshit markup as liquor, but our margins on NA drinks are much lower.

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eLishus t1_je29rpt wrote

Yeah I don’t drink booze any more but I bought some of those fake booze things. For one, they’re gross (lol)…but they’re also expensive. And all the added ingredients can add up. So it makes sense that margins are lower, and places like these would have a hard time making ends meet.

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Breadloafs t1_je2diqk wrote

Yeah, stuff like Wilderton can be nasty if you drink it neat. I treat them in the same way I treat Saler's or Campari in that they're strictly mixers.

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eLishus t1_je3288l wrote

I tried a couple of the Seedlip bottles. I was exited to just mix it with some soda water or other general “mixer” but the suggested ingredients in the menu of mocktails was something only a bartender/mixologist would have. It was gross with lemon infused soda water…or at least not something I would drink without the fun part of alcohol lol

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Careless_Relief_1378 t1_je2cpni wrote

You think the mark up on alcohol is absurd but the mark up on mock tails is way way higher.

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TKDbeast t1_je0krcm wrote

Where else is a person going to get a non-alcoholic drink in Dublin? I could see a world where it worked out, but I’m not too surprised it didn’t.

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SnowProkt22 t1_je0uo5o wrote

All bars have non alcoholic options. Water, soda, juice, etc....

1

Responsible_Bake_756 t1_je1l3lm wrote

Put it this way man - I live in Dublin and this is the first I’ve heard of the place 😂

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itsnever2late4now t1_jdzevjm wrote

I mean...

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[deleted] t1_je0h95z wrote

[removed]

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−34

alexbeowolf t1_je0b8sr wrote

if alcohol is free there idk how they ever made $ in the first place

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ZVreptile t1_je1svqs wrote

Are you trying to be funny? Because you know they mean they don't serve alcohol, like trying to be a bar for sober people😜

−28

alexbeowolf t1_je1t871 wrote

Yessir, Captain Obvious.

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ZVreptile t1_je1up4x wrote

Dude you just had to clear that up, I prefaced it with that question

−19

alexbeowolf t1_je3gc10 wrote

On one hand, I did have to clear it up for you. But on the other hand, I had to flip the disrespect back at you. "trying to be funny"

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thecoolerllcoolJ t1_je0aziv wrote

I found this old dive bar in sandiego that was turned into a smoothie and kombucha plac. They didn’t change the atmosphere at all and was a cool concept. Dive bar but no alcohol. Think they lasted a couple months.

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DamnBunny t1_jdzlhga wrote

I heard thats the same way Radio Shack went out when they open their store in an Amish settlement.

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[deleted] t1_je0l5uz wrote

[deleted]

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idontknowwhereiam367 t1_je0pd86 wrote

It’s not a question of tech, and more a question of “worldliness” that breaks a community apart. As tech advanced back in the day they saw communities drift apart and didn’t want that to happen to them. It just so happened that these types of spiritual movements and awakenings were a big thing back in those times.

Also it depends on the community of Amish as well. Many of them use their own off the grid power, and even use computers and power tools for their businesses and shops. In that sense it’s more about self reliance at that point

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wicklowdave t1_jdzfzqo wrote

What were they thinking?

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velifer t1_je0i8is wrote

There was one in Columbus Ohio. The idea was that people who don't drink don't really want to hang out with drunks.

Except this one was run by right-wing extremists.

It might shock you, but the cross-section of sober right-wing extremists in a fairly liberal Midwest college town was surprisingly not sufficient to support their business.

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aoeuismyhomekeys t1_je0lijc wrote

Today it's the alcohol-free bar that closes, tomorrow it'll be the food-free restaurant, and then what? Where will it end? With the book-free library? The money-free bank? Heaven help us if they shutter the stageless theater and the artless museum.

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JesseB342 t1_je0ry84 wrote

You know I could actually see that. Some crazy artist commandeering the entire gallery only to take all the paintings down and paint all the blank walls bright blue or something. Then claim the entire building was one big piece.

Man I really don’t get art.

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__Arty__ t1_je0h812 wrote

Makes about as much sense as a meatless butcher shop.

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mechapoitier t1_je1mdhk wrote

Well people don’t go to the butcher to hang out all night

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__Arty__ t1_je1mu14 wrote

Hey now, don't mock my Friday night plans...

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cyniqal t1_je2ohcf wrote

Sounds more fun than hanging out at the mocktail club…

A glorified Jamba Juice

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Insufferablelol t1_jdzmkbd wrote

I think quite literally the only point of having a bar is for the alcohol. You might as well just open a small restaurant then lmao.

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Thirty2wo t1_je08ox0 wrote

Fun bars have pool, darts, and games tho

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__Arty__ t1_je0h3l0 wrote

Those are called pool halls and arcades. Bars have alcohol.

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Thirty2wo t1_je0htxt wrote

Yes. Thank you for confirming? Or more likely, whoosh.

His point of a bar without alcohol might as well be a restaurant, but fun bars can have games. So, yes, alternatively just like I was saying, there are more options than just being a restaurant as the original commenter suggested such as a pool hall or arcade.

−1

Kaiser93 t1_je08fum wrote

>>Alcohol Free
>
>> in Dublin

Lmao.

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Rosebunse t1_jdzrkgr wrote

Now, I don't drink, but I feel like an alcohol free bar defeats the purpose.

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BaltimoreBadger23 t1_je142sh wrote

I feel like the business plan was solid if they had opened in Riyahd or Dubai.

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AhRedditAhHumanity t1_je1ua64 wrote

The drugless coke dealer in my town sadly shut his doors as well. Turns out no one wanted baking soda deliveries on Saturday nights.

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Halfmoonhero t1_jdzgcij wrote

Who would have known. I’m sure they had a solid business plan.

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9lukemartin t1_je0o0q3 wrote

Isn't an alcohol free bar just called a restaurant or Cafe? How is it different? Do they just serve non-alcoholic drinks with no food?

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cyniqal t1_je2p72n wrote

At least cafes and restaurants serve the correct item for their location. Sitting around in a bar setting without alcohol and with other completely sober people doesn’t sound fun at all. I imagine a lot of holier-than-thou and other stick-in-the-mud types frequent those.

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JesseB342 t1_je0rhz1 wrote

And that 10 minutes shall never be spoken of again!

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jdbrew t1_je1kpmm wrote

I've never in my life heard of an alcohol free bar. I guess maybe fuckin Jamba Juice? if you don't want to drink, you don't have to order alcohol, but an alcohol free bar is a losing proposition

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ThatsMrDickfaceToYou t1_je232ms wrote

This business model is doomed to fail. No one goes out and blows $100 a night on non-alcoholic drinks.

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Wulfbak t1_je0864a wrote

I could never imagine why.

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colin8651 t1_je08fzx wrote

Did they really blame the closure on a bad economy and rising energy cost?

I would think it being a bar that doesn’t sell alcohol would be it.

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kytheon t1_je08k9k wrote

Free Alcohol Bar? Sign me up laddy

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MostlyCarbon75 t1_je0an7i wrote

It was right next to the foodless grocery.

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realpolidick t1_je0yhp7 wrote

Maybe making the alcohol free wasn’t the best business idea

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Last-Relationship166 t1_je22soy wrote

There's a joke in James Joyce's Ulysses: "Good game would be to walk through Dublin without passing a pub." That's why this story is Oniony.

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Erongeo t1_je0jaai wrote

I felt like the stereotypical Paddy

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castaneom t1_je0t5co wrote

This reminds me of when Taco Bell tried to open some restaurants in Mexico. It didn’t work. lol

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jang859 t1_je0vtd6 wrote

Maybe they shouldn't have used that stupid religious name that offends the religious, turns off the irreligious, and also turns away anyone who is tired of these dad joke territory names.

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bigbangbilly t1_je1agc2 wrote

It was like a place for alcoholics to get together without the alcohol or Alcoholic Anonymous stuff

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FlamingPileOfKidneys t1_je2rzcm wrote

In a related news story, the only food-free restauraunt in Italy just shuttered it's doors permanently. Baffled owners, surprised by the lack of patrons, blamed President Obama.

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YourWordsMatter t1_je3c73x wrote

Only vegan steakhouse in Texas closes forever. News at 11...to nobody.

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whodisacct t1_je4y41t wrote

Haha Austin has (or had) a vegan bbq food truck !

Edit: Had

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YaxYaxx t1_je1gpwk wrote

Go to a coffee shop ya fucking twats.

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imnoobhere t1_je39ncx wrote

I guess people will have to find a different movie theater to read their books.

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riamuriamu t1_je4ce6e wrote

Nothing more lonesome, morbid or drear...

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Kickstand8604 t1_je7gnjr wrote

This is like trying to run a vegan restaurant in texas

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LilG1984 t1_je8xaaz wrote

Their game of drink must be boring

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Kraken160th t1_jdzxhaz wrote

How is this oniony? This makes sense. It be oniony if it posted record profits.

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dzhastin t1_je0l79i wrote

It’s oniony that someone opened a bar that doesn’t serve alcohol. That sounds like an oxymoron, like a zoo with no animals.

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Last-Relationship166 t1_je2297t wrote

Opened up a bar in Dublin that doesn't serve alcohol. FTFY

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dzhastin t1_je31ypx wrote

I wasn’t going to go with the racism but fine, there you have it

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Last-Relationship166 t1_je3jkh1 wrote

"Racism"? Really? It's a cultural phenomenon. James Joyce attested to it. He was an Irish author. He also drank like a fish. He always had to ask his patroness for more money, because he was constantly drinking it away. Joyce died of a bleeding ulcer from...you guessed it, the effects of alcoholism. My favorite novel is James Joyce's Ulysses.

I'm not making racist assertions. Ireland has anthropologically documented issues with alcoholism.

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dzhastin t1_je3mblg wrote

So because James Joyce liked to drink it’s okay to paint the Irish as alcoholics? How can you be intelligent enough to read Ulysses yet be so ignorant?

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Last-Relationship166 t1_je3p1c1 wrote

How can you not get the joke that the humor lies in the fact that a non-alcoholic bar in Dublin is an oxymoron?

The culture involves alcohol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism_in_Ireland#:~:text=Binge%20drinking%20is%20considered%20the,deaths%20a%20day%20in%20Ireland.

Why can't a joke be a joke without everyone getting bent out of shape? Would I assume someone was an alcoholic because the person was Irish? Of course not! That would be stupid. Am I going to feel all offended because someone makes a joke about the very real situation regarding alcohol and Irish culture. No! That would be stupid, as well.

The more one uses humor against tropes, the more those tropes lose power.

Mel Brooks wrote comedies about the Holocaust, The Spanish Inquisition, and racism to combat and to criticize and to mock those very mindsets.

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dzhastin t1_je3pzpy wrote

I got the joke, I understand the cheap stereotype of the Irish all being alcoholics. I just don’t find it amusing or clever. It’s cheap and facile.

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Last-Relationship166 t1_je4g71c wrote

Cheap and facile...because it involves a stereotype....Uh huh....as cheap and facile as assuming that someone who laughs at this post thinks all Irish are drunks?...what reductionist thinking. It's cheap and puerile if you ask me. It saves someone the "hard work" of considering context. You should read Brave New World sometime. I never thought the citizenry would pursue such a society until recently.

I happen to feel that humor is the best lense through which to present stereotypes, because it acknowledges their absurdity.
Would you find Blazing Saddles cheap and facile because it incorporated stereotypes about black people? That movie was written by Richard Pryor. He understood the power of humor.

Also, Ulysses is rife with humor about all sorts of things..including stereotypes. How can you assert it's an intelligent work? Shouldn't you be advocating for its censorship or, if nothing else, condemning it, here?

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Quake_Guy t1_je1ew0c wrote

Where's the Family Guy Ireland was once an advanced and futuristic society clip, lol...

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Zeus_Hera t1_jdzp51i wrote

It's like having a Dublin, Ireland where you can't smoke weed. Who ever thought of that?

−8

Last-Relationship166 t1_je22h1l wrote

No...it's like having a place in Amsterdam where you can't smoke weed. Have you people ever even heard of Dublin?

0