Our Attemps to Break the Ice

My favorite icebreaker goes like this:
Me: How much does a Polar Bear weigh?
Lady: Uh, I dunno.
Me: Enough to break the ice. Hi, I'm Tom.

As a society we have countless strategies to reduce our anxiety in social settings. In college the most prominent of these is drinking. In some peoples minds drinking has become a necessity for any social situation. This is why "pre-gaming" (drinking before actually going out) has come into such prominence. What separates depending on alcohol for social situations from alcoholism. It is a very fine line.

Social awkwardness has become socially acceptable in my generation. It is now commonplace to point out awkward situations at social gatherings. This is probably a healthy alternative to drinking, but it is interesting how we come up with countless ways to reduce our anxiety.