Yup, we now have a full 3.5 minute video of the Drunk Dial combining previous years best entries. Check it out!

The following is the official 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial press release:

Don’t Drink and Drive! Drink and Dial the St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial!

Introducing the World-Wide Debut of the St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial!

“Drunk Dialling” is a world wide phenomenon affecting millions of unsuspecting people when intoxicated friends and family are struck with an uncontrollable urge to phone their loved ones. Many of us have been victims of these early morning calls and now, thankfully, there is a way to avoid those 3 a.m. phone calls.

This year for St. Patrick’s Day, instead of drunk dialing loved ones, why not phone the St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial and share your St. Patrick’s Day experiences. Your message will be saved on the web allowing your friends and family, and other St. Pat’s revelers, to listen at their leisure.

The St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial began a few years ago when a group of Canadian college friends, who had spread around the world since graduation, wanted to get in touch with each other during St. Patrick’s Day festivities. As with all good ideas, the idea grew over the years. In 2008 the Drunk Dial was covered by CBC Radio Newfoundland and on several online newspapers. We’ve had so much fun; this year we wanted it to spread the laughs to more than just our friends.

Not only does the St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial help you avoid alienating friends and family, and possibly avoid that embarrassing drunken phone call to your ex, it may even help pad your wallet in these tough economic times. Each call will be published online and the most humorous entry will win a $100 (US) prize. This year there will also be “People’s Choice Award” with a prize of $50 (US).

From last year’s winner Dan Niederloh:

“St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday, due to the sanctioned Guinness drinking. I was enjoying it at home in Hawaii with my two sons and read of the Drunk Dial online. I thought it a brilliant idea for sharing the festivities with folks far away, and my sons encouraged me to get “drunk enough” to leave a memorable message. So after a bit of libation I imagined what it was like for those to whom the holiday is a source of melancholy, and left a message at the number provided. The next day I had all but forgotten what I growled into the answering machine, until a phone call came telling me I won the contest!”

Anyone who is struck by the St. Patrick’s spirit can participate, regardless of what other “spirits” may have been consumed.  Many of the best entries have been from tea totaling sober types who are just plain funny. While we acknowledge that, for many, a drink or two is all part of the festivities on St Patrick’s Day, we want everyone to drink responsibly. No one should drink and drive when they can drink and dial the Drunk Dial… before they call a cab to take them home.

How to Participate:

1. Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day between 12:01am ET, March 13 and 12:01am ET March 23

2. Dial 1-888-734-1285 and leave us a funny message or just say hi! The number is Toll Free in the US/Canada, normal air-time charges may apply.

3. In the event the above number does not work, dial 1-802-752-4671 (this number is not toll free)

4. Visit http://stpatsdrunkdial.com during the week of April 1 and we’ll announce the winner.

5. Come back to our website to listen to your message over and over again!

Remember the St. Patrick’s Drunk Dial is about sharing stories, a few laughs and keeping the bonds of friendship strong across the miles.

Contacts:

For more information on the St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial please contact Duleepa Wijayawardhana (dups@stpatsdrunkdial.com) or phone 1-888-734-1285 and leave a message. You can also get more information at http://stpatsdrunkdial.com

I love technology and I embrace technology incredibly fast. However, I have issues with using technology in ways that it was not meant to be used or technology used in ways that aggravate the hell out of me. For example, using a shovel as garlic press is a bit ridiculous. Oh sure, I know that this post will make me sound like a curmudgeon, but so be it.

Let me give you a guide to texting on a cell phone to someone like me. I know I have broken some of these rules, but from now on I intend to stick to it like glue considering how much cellphone text misuse has recently annoyed me.

1. If you are within walking distance of me and can actually come talk to me, do not ever text me. Come talk to me. Especially if I have to pay to receive your text or I have to pay to send you a text. The only exception I have for this is that you are dying, cannot yell, one arm and one leg have been sliced off and therefore have lost the ability to do anything but to get your phone out and send me a text message.

2. The following conversation should not be by text:

A: Hi
B: Yes?
A: How are you?
B: Good what’s up
A: What time can I come up?

If your conversation with me will involve multiple texts, please phone me. I do not want, nor care to exchange pleasantries over text messages on a cell phone.

3. If I ask a question in a text, send me an answer. For example the following is not what I would call useful.

A: We are leaving in 10 mins. Where are u?
B: The weather is nice here

Please note the above will likely end with me screaming and you being gutted with a spoon… a very blunt spoon.

4. Complex plans and situations should *never* be done over text messages. For the love of all that is going to keep you alive. The following is likely to make me scream and throw my phone away or at the very least turn it off:

A: We’ll meet at X in 5 mins bringing three people
B: Front entrance or back?
A: Side entrance instead.
B: There’s a side entrance? Okay see u there?
A: Actually going to be late, 2 pple going to front entrance.
B: Which entrance should I go
A: Side entrance then front entrance in 5 mins
B: ok
A: Oh pick up tickets
B: where?

At this point, the vein on my head will start throbbing. Chances are, you will see smoke out of my ears and then a scream of pure undiluted frustration. The voice functions were invented to have conversations and for people to plan. Please use the appropriate technology.

5. If you are going to be indecisive, please do not do it over text messaging.

A: What time will you be there?
B: Not sure, when do you want to be there?
A: 6pm
B: Hmmm not sure…

At this point, if you do not phone me I will likely decide that sitting in a clown bar by myself and having a fake red nose pinched every 2 seconds for the next 12 hours will be a much better circle of hell.

6. Do not have conversations with multiple people over a cell phone text messaging system. It was not created for such use; I do not know who else you have texted and I cannot see their replies to you. This is not how to plan something. If you are going to plan something, use the phone and voice call people and take responsibility to lead.

A to BCD: Meet at 6pm?
B to A: Can’t, coming at 7pm
C to A: When is everyone else meeting
D to A: Sure
A to B: ok
A to C: 6pm or 7pm
A to D: ok
B to A: is C coming?
…

You get the picture and why I might suddenly get aggravated.

Now don’t get me wrong, text messaging is a fantastic technology. When travelling it is the best way to get a hold of people, or a quick message such as “We are here” or “am coming” or “address is xxxx”. Just not every text conversation should continue as a text conversation. Take it upon yourself to stop, think about what the other person might be feeling and go voice as appropriate.

I hope this guide is useful, your mileage may vary.