As a reflex, many people immediately reach for their cell phones on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings just to check and see who they called the previous night. They scan their phone menus for "recent calls," and are usually relieved to learn that their last call was to Dominoes at 11:30 p.m. However, for some, different numbers follow?numbers that exacerbate hangover-related migraines, tempt callers to hurl their phones from third story windows, and make them want to hibernate until someone else bears the brunt of excruciating mortification. These are the numbers of old boyfriends/girlfriends, bosses or parents.
And these people are plagued by the common and universal tendency to make regrettable phone calls while under the influence of alcohol, widely known as drunk dialing. In an article by Cara E. Lee, "Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk," survey results cite that 95 percent of respondents reported to have dialed drunk at least once in their lives.
Taking into account this staggering statistic, Australia's branch of Virgin Mobil has created a system in which its customers can block their cellular phones from dialing certain numbers on nights when they fear making inopportune decisions. The ban ends at 6:00 a.m. the next morning, and the customer has circumvented humiliation, at least for another week.
Bowdoin students, however, have mixed feelings about Virgin Mobil's plan. There's no way around it; drunk dialing is funny.
Every student asked about drunk dialing anecdotes laughed even before beginning to tell the story.
"I let a friend take my phone while we were both very drunk and let him call random numbers in my phonebook," said Clara Cantor '08. "I got some concerned calls the next morning, and a bad headache."
Z-Z Cowen '08 has a more lighthearted opinion of drunk dialing. "I save drunk messages from the weekends so that I can listen to them whenever I need a laugh," she said.
First-year Travis Dagenais noted, not without a hint of pride, that he has "drunk dialed the three girls who live across the hall from me, various other friends from Bowdoin, a few friends from home, parents of two different friends, and, most regrettably, my dad."
Although "regrettable" is the most common adjective linked to drunk dialing, a surprisingly high percentage of people are not reluctant to speak candidly about their drunk dialing escapades.
"When I was in high school, I used to drunk dial boys I liked, which doesn't make them like you anymore, I found out," said Dana Borowitz '08.
Those who disagree with Virgin Mobil's drunk dialing plan argue that it simply gives people another opportunity to shirk responsibility for their actions. Those prone to drunk dialing agree that, although drunken calls feel cathartic at the time, they solve few long-term problems. "You lose a sense of practicality when you're caught-up in the drunken moment" said Dagenais.
Although drunk dialing has been traumatic for some, it is generally considered inevitable on college campuses. "It's pretty much a tradition," Dagenais continued. "[These calls] are foolish, but they're also something I'll remember and be able to look back upon as a youthful pleasure."
Ivy Blackmore '07 concurs. "Drunk dialing keeps life interesting, at least in my case."
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