Bob and Barb's drinking in the early 1980s -

[Naxra]

On the Abusive Babysitter page, it says that Chris was left alone with this babysitter while his parents went out drinking every night.

I don't know why, but I've always found this to be one of the most disturbing aspects of Chris' childhood. Sure, parents like to go out every now and then to get a break from the stresses of raising a child... but every single night? The idea that a couple of middle-aged parents with a baby acting like college students and dumping their kid in the process makes me feel nauseous.

It doesn't seem like there's a lot of information about this out there, but what do we know about this? Were Bob and Barb alcoholics? Were they just immature and self-centered assholes? For that matter, can anyone shed any light on their drinking habits in the 2000s; whether they did or did not drink alcohol?

 

[TrippinKahlua]

As a historian for the types of things like the 80s and such, I am mortified to imagine Barb wearing glittery make-up and blue Zebra leotards.

As for Bob walking around with his collar lifted up, shirt tucked in, and short short shorts, no thanks.

In the 1980s, people took a LOT more risks too. Perhaps it was all the alcohol and a little funny powder that had made Chris the autist he is today.

 

[RP 520]

As a historian for the types of things like the 80s and such, I am mortified to imagine Barb wearing glittery make-up and blue Zebra leotards.

As for Bob walking around with his collar lifted up, shirt tucked in, and short short shorts, no thanks.

In the 1980s, people took a LOT more risks too. Perhaps it was all the alcohol and a little funny powder that had made Chris the autist he is today.

OT: You know the funny powder makes me think, maybe the Chandler's house was painted in lead paint and Chris might have snuck a few paint chips when he was young?

 

[Constable Grant]

On the Abusive Babysitter page, it says that Chris was left alone with this babysitter while his parents went out drinking every night.

I don't know why, but I've always found this to be one of the most disturbing aspects of Chris' childhood. Sure, parents like to go out every now and then to get a break from the stresses of raising a child... but every single night? The idea that a couple of middle-aged parents with a baby acting like college students and dumping their kid in the process makes me feel nauseous.

It doesn't seem like there's a lot of information about this out there, but what do we know about this? Were Bob and Barb alcoholics? Were they just immature and self-centered assholes? For that matter, can anyone shed any light on their drinking habits in the 2000s; whether they did or did not drink alcohol?

Wait, they actually did that? I thought it was just hyperbole.

 

[Naxra]

I know it's frowned upon to speculate about what's wrong with Chris in addition to his autism, but I think it ties in with the Bob/Barb shenanigans, so here goes:

If Borb were drinking a lot after Chris' birth (and presumably before/during his conception), then Chris' autism might actually be fetal alcohol syndrome. There has been some research that suggests strong similarities between the two, and cases of misdiagnosis or dual diagnosis.

I also wonder if this might have been a factor in Chris' (initial) unusually strong disapproval of alcohol use.

 

[BillRiley]

I don't think it was anything more complicated than Borb were just redneck barflies who'd dump their reta­rded spawn on anyone willing to look after it so they could go make the rounds of the honky-tonks.

 

[Giovanni]

To be fair to Borb, if my kid was Chris, I'd go out drinking and snorting cocaine every night, too.

 

[Batman VS Tony Danza]

I always found it odd that there was no mention of Bob and Barb drinking later in Chris's life. If they did continue to drink then I imagine it would have been hard liquor and hidden in a few places. It could have become rarer as time went on. For all we know Bob got a bit plastered in the greenhouse now and again. I know I would.

 

[Naxra]

I always found it odd that there was no mention of Bob and Barb drinking later in Chris's life. If they did continue to drink then I imagine it would have been hard liquor and hidden in a few places. It could have become rarer as time went on. For all we know Bob got a bit plastered in the greenhouse now and again. I know I would.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking about actually. While "every night" might be hyperbole, there doesn't seem to be any indication they drank again later in life. Chris' super-anti-alcohol stance also seems a bit weird in this context...why so much antipathy? Then again, it is Chris...but...

 

[Lady Houligan]

I know it's frowned upon to speculate about what's wrong with Chris in addition to his autism, but I think it ties in with the Bob/Barb shenanigans, so here goes:

If Borb were drinking a lot after Chris' birth (and presumably before/during his conception), then Chris' autism might actually be fetal alcohol syndrome. There has been some research that suggests strong similarities between the two, and cases of misdiagnosis or dual diagnosis.

I also wonder if this might have been a factor in Chris' (initial) unusually strong disapproval of alcohol use.

I've wondered that as well, since he does fit a few of the markers for FAS. Which could also explain why there's no real mention of either Bob or Barb drinking later in life: perhaps they felt guilt over their son's state and tee-totaled after that.

 

[Bridechu]

I know it's frowned upon to speculate about what's wrong with Chris in addition to his autism, but I think it ties in with the Bob/Barb shenanigans, so here goes:

If Borb were drinking a lot after Chris' birth (and presumably before/during his conception), then Chris' autism might actually be fetal alcohol syndrome. There has been some research that suggests strong similarities between the two, and cases of misdiagnosis or dual diagnosis.

I also wonder if this might have been a factor in Chris' (initial) unusually strong disapproval of alcohol use.

Chris probably isn't FAS. While he kind of had the moon face as a kid, he's missing all the facial hallmarks.

 

[Batman VS Tony Danza]

Chris was raised by TV and during the 90's there was DARE and lots of stuff about the dangers of underage drinking and smoking in cartoons. Chris took this as the gospel... until someone finally took him out drinking in his late 20's. As long as his parents didn't drink straight out of the bottle right in front of him Chris would never stop to consider what his parents were sipping. Once he hit his teens they could have started getting sneakier about it.

Chris is not smart.

 

[Lady Houligan]

I know it's frowned upon to speculate about what's wrong with Chris in addition to his autism, but I think it ties in with the Bob/Barb shenanigans, so here goes:

If Borb were drinking a lot after Chris' birth (and presumably before/during his conception), then Chris' autism might actually be fetal alcohol syndrome. There has been some research that suggests strong similarities between the two, and cases of misdiagnosis or dual diagnosis.

I also wonder if this might have been a factor in Chris' (initial) unusually strong disapproval of alcohol use.

Chris probably isn't FAS. While he kind of had the moon face as a kid, he's missing all the facial hallmarks.

The facial markers aren't always there, though. I worked with a kid who had severe FAS and didn't have any either. It was all completely emotional/mental for him.

 

[theobservdr]

plus they were old when they had Chris, the chances of birth defects go way higher after 40 so... its anyones guess if they drank or not...

 

[Some JERK]

i'm gonna go ahead and guess that Chris was unplanned. Barb and Bob basically just wanted to get hammered and have fun acting like immature retards, and when Chris came along and it was obvious that he was 'special', they figured "Well, it's not like it's gonna screw the kid up.. he's already screwed up. Let's go get drunk!."

 

[Marvin]

I never took Cole's stories about Bob and Barb being drunks too seriously, because while it's possible, we don't really have much evidence, neither for nor against. Just hearsay from someone with parent issues.

 

[JarlaxleBaenre]

i'm gonna go ahead and guess that Chris was unplanned. Barb and Bob basically just wanted to get hammered and have fun acting like immature retards, and when Chris came along and it was obvious that he was 'special', they figured "Well, it's not like it's gonna screw the kid up.. he's already screwed up. Let's go get drunk!."

Like the Macho Man used to say: the cream rises to the top. Chris enjoys random access humor because his birth was random access humor.

 

[Batman VS Tony Danza]

Chris: "Dad, know what I want for Christmas?"

Bob: "Legos and some of those electronic videotape games?

Chris: "Mm, yeah... and a boyfriend-free girl"

Bob: "A boyfriend-fre- Oh god. I'm going to *stress sign* ... listen to some records in the greenhouse"

Chris, whispers to himself: "I bet that's where he's keeping her"

 

[homerbeoulve]

I wonder if they did binge drinking. XD

 

[CatParty]

who wouldn't go out binge drinking with chris chan as their child