FOMO Infiltrates Beer Culture

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by LambicPentameter, Feb 23, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 3
  1. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    http://allaboutbeer.com/fomo-infiltrates-beer-culture/

    This is a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in beer over the past decade (?) or maybe less. Walez, mulez, bottle limits, beercations, trade-bait, truck chasing, and more are all behaviors can all be traced back to this underlying attitude.

    So my question is this: how does the FOMO (EDIT: "fear of missing out") feeling relate to you, and how can we fight that fear and learn to appreciate what we do get to experience more than we fear what we might not?

    Personally, it's difficult to completely eschew the FOMO feeling and behaviors that accompany it, but I've also found that if you simply accept that you won't be able to try everything and move on, your appreciation for the things you do get to try is enhanced.

    Case in point: a local bottle shop that I frequent had a two-year anniversary celebration back at the end of December wherein they tapped a bunch of awesome Midwest beers, including the headliner, Barrel Aged Abraxas. I was out of town for the holidays with family and was disappointed that I would miss out, since my lifestyle doesn't really allow me the time/opportunity to drive to St. Louis to pick up a bottle of the stuff and I wasn't really interested in compiling the trade bait to get a bottle. Then last week I discover that another bar in town is doing a Stout Day, which will include... ta da! ...Barrel-Aged Abraxas.

    Now here is the part where it's almost impossible to completely forego the behaviors that accompany FOMO, because I did end up going and lining up 1 hour before the place was to open so that I would be assured to try the beer. So clearly, FOMO was still present to some degree--however, by just accepting that sometimes you will miss out for more important things in life (like family), you find that things work out anyway.
     
    #1 LambicPentameter, Feb 23, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2015
    Jaycase, sharpski, BrettHead and 11 others like this.
  2. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I used to freak a little over the thought of missing out, I'm a little OCD and a bit of a control freak...but I've since mellowed, now my FOMO is virtually non-existant
     
    #2 TonyLema1, Feb 23, 2015
  3. guinness77

    guinness77 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,554) Jan 6, 2014 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    That link crashed my phone. So I'll just ask, what the hell is FOMO?
     
    #3 guinness77, Feb 23, 2015
    LambicPentameter likes this.
  4. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    :-)

    I had to read down into the article to find what FOMO meant so I guess that means I have FOMO....
     
    #4 drtth, Feb 23, 2015
    rgordon and LambicPentameter like this.
  5. will_eye_e

    will_eye_e Pundit (849) Jul 29, 2013 Florida

    Fear Of Missing Out
     
    #5 will_eye_e, Feb 23, 2015
    guinness77 and LambicPentameter like this.
  6. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Fear of missing out
     
    #6 paulys55, Feb 23, 2015
  7. ribonucleic

    ribonucleic Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2015 Utah

    I live in a beverage control state run by religious types who frown on caffeine.

    Believe me, I've accepted that I won't be able to try everything.
     
    #7 ribonucleic, Feb 23, 2015
    GeezLynn, Sludgeman, LMT and 9 others like this.
  8. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is what I dealt with for a while some years ago and why I'd feel a little panicked if I didn't know at exactly what moment something would drop. From a timeline perspective, this was when like Bigfoot would fly off the shelves, and you'd miss out if you weren't on top the delivery schedule. Then the reality of life crept in. All it took for me was missing out on a few releases for good reason (too busy doing things with family, work, myself, etc.,...), seeing the sun rise the next day and enjoying something else instead. Over a few years the butt burn of missing out has been replaced by the knowledge that my search (or lack thereof) didn't make me feel like a fanboy, dirty or compromised. I do however admit that this is my arrival at an opinion as it relates to me and my life, not a criticism on anyone if they have the time, money and lifestyle that allow them to participate in the chase. FOMO for me was at one time a real thing but as it turned out, pretty short lived. That being said, I'll still make a more passive attempt to get in on releases (the limit of succumbing to FOMO tendencies I dearly hope) but not to the point where I turn my life upside down in order to do so.
     
    #8 gopens44, Feb 23, 2015
    Jaycase, maximum12, Immortale25 and 2 others like this.
  9. KegKicker

    KegKicker Devotee (399) Aug 11, 2008 New York

    Did I miss out on something?
     
    #9 KegKicker, Feb 23, 2015
    crob3888, NiceFly, AlpacaAlpaca and 4 others like this.
  10. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    There was a relatively short period where FOMO was a slight issue for me, but:

    1. I quite quickly realised that 95% of the beer that's not normally available to me is not any better than the beer that is available.

    2. NYC was pretty heavily reliant on out-of-state breweries up until recently, but in the last couple of years we've had an explosion of great local breweries - this makes me care less about a limited release or a brewery expanding to NY
     
    #10 rozzom, Feb 23, 2015
    Hodgson, BeerMeBro720, ODYSEYY and 5 others like this.
  11. Rysk22

    Rysk22 Savant (1,240) Nov 12, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I wouldn't say fear, but of course I get jealous of people drinking some great beers I haven't had the opportunity to try yet.
     
    #11 Rysk22, Feb 23, 2015
    Fargrow and Fox82791 like this.
  12. charlzm

    charlzm Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2007 California

    I am in treatment for FOMO. I think it's working as I'm about finished going to beer release events and trying to get seasonal/annual beers.
     
    #12 charlzm, Feb 23, 2015
    Scrapss likes this.
  13. cincysig

    cincysig Pundit (755) Sep 15, 2010 Connecticut

    Acceptance is the answer, but not an easy practice. IF you want something badly enough, you can likely find a way to get it. The BIG question is -- what is the price you pay? I'm not talking strictly cash, but peace of mind, time on other things, etc. Also, there comes a time when you realize you're going to miss out on something every day, week, month. Pick your battles wisely. Can't get to Russian River for Pliny the Younger? Missed out. Or…say to yourself…not this year. I have found a healthier state of mind around this hobby by looking at it as a long game versus one of instantaneous gratification.
     
    #13 cincysig, Feb 23, 2015
    Fox82791 likes this.
  14. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    FOMO is just human nature. We all want to be in the cool guys club and fear that if we don't do stupid s**t we will not be considered cool enough.
     
    #14 bluehende, Feb 23, 2015
  15. papat444

    papat444 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,961) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)
    Pooh-Bah

    Nope...that's the point :wink:
     
    #15 papat444, Feb 23, 2015
    KegKicker likes this.
  16. MostlyNorwegian

    MostlyNorwegian Pooh-Bah (2,236) Feb 5, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Once in a great while I think about it. Then I stop.
     
    #16 MostlyNorwegian, Feb 23, 2015
  17. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't feel like -- or fear that -- I've missed out on anything beer-related.
     
    #17 herrburgess, Feb 23, 2015
    UrbanCaveman, rozzom, yemenmocha and 1 other person like this.
  18. R3ason

    R3ason Pundit (950) Aug 13, 2014 Colorado

    Guilty as charged. Thankfully, living responsibly and a budget keep me in check. Mostly.
     
    #18 R3ason, Feb 23, 2015
  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    No FOMO for me. I refuse to wait for hours to purchase beer and I refrain from purchasing bombers (except for an occasional Sierra Nevada 24 ounce bottle).

    We are very fortunate that there are plenty of high quality craft and imported beers that can be obtained by simply going to a beer retailer and buying those beers.

    Cheers!
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Feb 23, 2015
    Scrapss, Gemini6, bushycook and 2 others like this.
  20. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I struggle with it routinely but, like OP said, when I miss out on something, take a step backand remind myself it's only beer. When I do that, things usually do end up working out to where I get to try what I missed out on a bit farther down the road.
     
    #20 Immortale25, Feb 23, 2015
    R3ason likes this.
Page 1 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.