A Repost, Yet Still Important...

I wrote this a few years ago, I think, and it still applies as much today as it did then. If you're new to Athens and you've just stumbled upon this website, then please read this and take it to heart before you drink yourself into a fucking vomit-soaked blackout this weekend after your first full week of school. Seriously, be careful.
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Something I've noticed, and have expected, is the influx of kids - girls, especially, because they make great targets - who have no experience, or business or that matter - being in bars downtown. They aren't aware of their lack of a tolerance, they're not totally familiar with downtown and the places they should or should not go after dark, and overall, to stay in touch with their friends when out drinking.

So if you or your friends are new to the downtown "experience", then please watch out for each other. Especially since there are so many freshmen around who don't know their limits, gamedays with 8-10+ hours of drinking, and a plethora of jerkoffs who have no problem taking advantange of underaged, drunk girls.

Keep an eye on your drinks. Don't leave them unattended. Recently, there was an instance of a guy being caught slipping xanax into a girls drink and was busted doing so. Thank God the cops were around because if it was up to me, we would beat these people senseless.

It's easy to become complacent in caring for your own safety, especially in an environment like downtown on the "college side" where everyone seems friendly and similiar in age, but trust me, there are people out who don't give a shit about who you are, where you came from, or who your daddy is. They're only out to get what they want, and they don't care who they hurt to get it.

If you have a problem, or you've lost your friends, or feel threatened by anyone, grab a cop. They're riding around on bicycles all night. Tell a doorguy or a bartender. Contrary to recent comments, nearly all of us are guys who will go out of our way to help anyone truly in need, and I don't know any doorguy who wouldn't do all that he could to protect a girl being harrassed by shithead guys.

So please, don't make yourself a target. Watch out for each other. Ask for help if you need it. Take care of each other when you've had too much, take a cab home or make sure you have a sober ride, and most of all, stay with your friends at all times.

This ends your friendly public service-type announcement.