oops, forgot key part: I asked a question about being scared about drinking alcohol, and it was an answerer there that said: "How many other things we do socially and recreationally are a little scary?"

Crap, forgot another thing: I asked the question on Yahoo answers.

Alcohol can be scary. Over drinking has many consequences. If you don't want to do it, don't.

As for risky without reckless, try sports.

many sports are reckless and have consequences, as does driving, running, biking, interwebbing ....

Dammit. I was going to respond seriously until I saw Yahoo Answers.

Yahoo answers isn't a part the question I'm asking, it's just a part of the backstory to the question.

I agree that sports is the way to go, if you want that. Try rock climbing, its very exciting yet very safe. White water rafting is also good if you're near mountains. But just because you don't do risky things doesn't mean your life is boring. That's the completely wrong way to look at it. If you're doing stuff that makes you happy, then your life won't be boring

Those are good ideas, but I don't just want to do isolated risky things, I want to take more risks in my everyday life, which is pretty boring. How can I do that as well?

Well, it sounds like your problem isn't that you're not doing risky things, its just that you're not doing things...if that makes sense. I mean, here's the average days for me after school when I was in high school.
typical wednesday....
2:15 - school ends
2:15-3:00 - lead a trumpet sectional
3:30-6:30 - Crew practice (rowing, to those of you who don't know)
7:00-9:00 - Jazz ensemble rehearsal

on a tuesday it would be...

2:15-3:00 - run a Key club meeting and go to Spanish Honor Society meeting
3:30-6:30 - Crew practice
7:00 - 8:30 - Boy Scout meeting.

Just find some activities for you to do and you'll be fine. Boy Scouts left me with lots of bruises and burns haha.

But if you want to take risks in everyday life? I don't know....spend less time on the computer?

Less time on the computer. That would probably be good. Quick question though, when did you do homework?

risky isn't the way to go, since, if it really causes come sort of peril that's unnecessary, then it's reckless. But if it doesn't have any real peril, then it has no real risk. I recommend going for challenge. Like a sport, you have to work at it to be good. Or being a camping (not the doomsday prophet :)) officianodo: something that requires a degree of expertise in order to be skilled.
Or simply doing stuff, like gfinger suggested. More activity means more to engage the mind and ward off bordom.

late hahaha. Usually from 10 to 1 abouts. Any time I could, really. I was also fortunate enough to not have a heavy workload, and to almost never have to study for tests (graduated #2 in the class. Could've been #1 but chose to have a life haha).

But I really didn't have too much homework. Often, when I didn't finish it, I did it in homeroom, in class, or immediately after school.

First off, drinking's completely up to you. It's like a lot of things you do in life: okay/good in moderation. Of course you have your alcoholics, but you also have those who are dry. You're in high school, don't worry about it. You'll find out enough on your own when you're ready.

You don't need to take health risks to have fun either though, unless this was a question about getting to the grave quicker. If I could do high school over again though, I'd be more productive for sure. I'm 23, progressing in my career already and am loving it, but I feel like I grew up too fast. Enjoy being in high school, DO those after-school activities, meet some new people, discover interests you didn't know you had, all that inspirational mumbo jumbo that actually has a damn good point. Haha.

+1 Plenoge

And yeah man, I'm 19 and just started drinking this year. Its no big deal, so don't worry about it.

@gf: 10 to 1? When did you sleep? During school I go to bed at 11 and wake up a 6:30.......

Also, let me rephrase a bit. I have trouble doing things in everyday life that are even the tiniest bit scary. I have trouble killing spiders because I'm too scared. So how can I do things that scare me more often?

Well drinking isn't something to be afraid of. If you don't want to do it accept that. But if you do go on and do it. If you are drinking the question should be how? And Why? Sure you can have a good time drinking, it makes boring shit more interesssting a lot of the time, but, esspecially in high school, most of the drinking that goes on isn't non chalant and people a pretty immature when it comes down to it. So what I'm saying is is avoid the people you drink because they think it's cool, and the " fun" thing to do, people who can drink like mature individuals, like a beer or wine with food, or just enjoying a drink for relaxation etc. The problem is that in high school the drinking "scene" is dominated with petulant and pugnacious assholes who think they are the "shit". But it's crucial to not be afraid of drinking, or be averted to drinkers, look beyond the alcohol at what's actually going on and who's acting how.

Maybe your looking for courage or bravery, when you talk about being scared. What I would say is just let it be, enlightened apathy. Don't be scared of the spider, and don't feel like you have to bash it's head in... So just ignore fear and ignore courage and act. Most of our problems stem because we are, or want t be, certain one way or another but it's futile, and you keep on living regardless so it's just time to act in spite of uncertainty.

I still don't think I'm being quite clear enough. I would say that I'm too scared to live life the way I want to live it (as well as the way God wants me to live it as well). And I don't know what to change or how to change it so that I can actually start living.

to elaborate, i would say that im scared to do anything that has any chance of causing physical or emotional pain, as well as the unknown. and when im afraid of doing something, i usually don't do it.

overcome your fears, whether that means killing spiders or whatever else... just take it one step at a time and start small.

alcohol is great, though overall i think it is a waste of money, i'd definitely suggest you try it once or twice in a positive social atmosphere and thus know what you're talking about if you choose not to indulge.

As for everything else, good luck!

Maniac's guide to taking risks.

1/. When a woman asks 'does my bum look big in this?' pause slightly before replying 'No, you look fine.' The pause is the risky bit.
2/. Walk on the cracks in the pavement - the bears will only get you every 2945 miles on average.
3/. Find a ladder, erect it against a wall at a 30degree pitch. Tie the ladder at the top and then secure stabilisers at the bottom. Ensure no one is on the ladder or anywhere near it and then walk under it.
4/. Fly a kite on a bright sunny day with just enough wind, but not too much. Never use kites with pointy bits as they can have your eye out.
5/. Wear a condom. Always - not just when having sex. When having sex wear two. However, one can kiss with using only a barrier cream.

Hope that helps.

Alcohol is nothing you personally should be afraid of. I'm definitely not an abstinent but I never drank myself to the point where I didn't know about myself. And I definitely dislike needlessly dangerous activities like jumping over stuff, parkour style, just like you do. People like us have a safety switch in our heads which automatically kicks in when there's a risk of losing control. You'll drink and get merrier and merrier but when you'll get really fuzzy, your consumption will become slower, you'll visit restroom more often, maybe even drink there some water in order to not get dehydrated, propose a relocation to others to buy you time for little sobering, that sort of counter-measures. Unless you hide a secret alcoholic potential, you'll be fine ;) And if you're still afraid, eat a lot of fat food before going out drinking, you'll dissolve ethanol quicker that way.

Not drinking is a weakness because it shows you aren't capable of handling it.
Drinking too much is a weakness because it shows you have weak character.
A man without vices can't be very virtuous.
A great rule of thumb, never more than one drink with a meal and never more than one
Drink alcohol for alcohol's sake and for no other reason.
Don't drink to get drunk.
Don't drink to avoid dealing with something.
Drink because you want the refreshment.
Drink because you want the medicinal benefit.
Drink because you want to enjoy the singular pleasure of the alcohol you are drinking.

Drinking alcohol in reasonable boundaries is perfectly acceptable (and healthy). Becoming alcoholic is not. There is limits everyone should respect just like in any other situation in life. People died from playing games all the time without the pause, from to much drugs, alcohol, sex, food, etc. I got drunk few times, and 2 times I had total blackout with no recollections at all what happened to me. It was fun, but I would not recommend it though :)

@Dejan - Does that apply to young teens? IIRC, CM isn't even 16 and I know he isn't 18 (much less the legal age of 21).

@CM - Doing things that scare you some and taking reasonable and acceptable risks are all fine and good, but if I am remembering, you are like 15? All these fools saying "try alcohol" aren't thinking about that. At your age, alcohol can still have an effect on the formation of your mental faculties even if you don't get drunk. And if you are out with friends drinking, I assume at least one of them is old enough to drive, you are a driver's ed movie waiting to happen.

Keep the risks reasonable. Play sports or get into BMXing, snowboarding, or something like that. Don't mess with stuff that at your young age could affect your future just yet. There will be plenty of time for drinking when you're in college.

I am like you, Conservative Man, but maybe a little older than you (in my mid 30s). I do not drink. Did in college and I dislike losing control and it just made me sick. I somehow made it through life without alcohol since then.
Though I have thought about having one drink socially at late night work functions, since one drink won't make me lose control, but that's about as far as I think I'd like to go.

@Draugnar
It does not apply to teens. I thought CM is over 18. My mistake, sorry. In my teen age I drunk alcohol extremely rarely.