Grey’s Anatomy – 03/22/07
Besides being a boring episode, we have to wonder about a) Would Izzy and George really have done 'it', even if they were off their faces? They've not expressed anything but friendship/brotherly-sisterly love thus far. In fact, George isn't even Izzy's type. She likes her men a bit rugged and hairy. b) Would George really have not remembered anything from the night before, and then suddenly recalled it at least opportune time? c) If George was that drunk, would he have been in any shape for sex?
Personally, I have never been so drunk as to forget where I was or how I spent the night, so I cannot relate. As to whether it can happen, let's ask Alice:
Dear Reader,
Yes, indeed. Blackouts, defined as periods of amnesia (memory loss), are caused when alcohol consumption levels prevent the formation of memories in the brain. These levels vary from person to person, and the time frame of these memory lapses is not always marked by visible altered states of consciousness. For example, you and your friends could go to a bar tonight, have some drinks, and talk about politics. But tomorrow, when your friends recall in detail the previous evening's discourse, you may not recall the actual conversation even though you were a full and competent participant. This point is important because blackouts are often confused with passing out, which does constitute a change in consciousness.
Blackouts are common among alcohol abusers and can be a warning sign to drinkers and their friends that alcohol-related problems exist. Blackouts are also considered an early high-risk indicator of alcoholism. For problem and healthy drinkers alike, blackouts are often troubling or traumatic when serious and typically unforgettable occurrences are impossible to remember, such as... I don't recall slapping her! You're kidding, I took my pants off and danced on the bar? Did I have sex with that guy last night?... Or even, was he wearing a condom? It can be pretty sobering to realize that, in the end, we are responsible for our actions, whether we remember them or not. It's too bad when we forget, for life, really pleasurable things like a party, meeting new people, or intimate moments of sexual pleasure.
So there we have it. Apparently it is all too possible to be so drunk as to have no memory and be able to successfully have a romp in the sack. Score one for realism. As to whether it would all come rushing back... well, score one for dramatic license, I guess.
