I'll start by sharing that I'm a year older and only a couple IQ points short of you... And married to the same woman I started out with in 1969. Thus, I dimly understand that you don't understand as I live with the same problem.
To be clear... Drunkenness (alcohol, drugs, whatever) is not something that mixes well with the pursuit of anything dangerous. This is an unquestionable truth. Then again, folks smoke and do other things that place their lives (and that of others) at risk every day.
As to damascus-type guns I couldn't agree more with your comments. My point being that the intentional overload of a irreplaceable gun makes me cringe... But that's exactly what proofing does. Thanks, but I'll pass.
Damascus and nitro loads... A much different nitro then compared to now. How it might stack up against today's loads, I have no idea. I expect a good set of tubes then will take the best we can give now. What I'm not sure of is the process it takes to really find out.
The intended destruction of an old clunker... Sometimes good for an afternoon's entertainment. Not much different than taking an old Briggs & Stratton and winding the heck out of it until it won't... And the world will miss neither.
A touch of whiskey, a glass of beer or cola... I see no hurt in any of these IN MODERATION... SEVERE MODERATION!
Assuming we're still on the subject of proofing, I don't mean a quart of whiskey, a half keg of beer, or gallons of sugar and caffeine between tests. Not when body parts could be at stake.
All the above taken in the context of what I've tried to say... I see no harm should several friends decide to test the limits of an old clunker safely. Should they happen to share a very limited amount of any of the beverages in question, so be it. They might even enjoy a good cigar at the same time.
I'm certainly NOT condoning anything that might cause the loss of good judgement on the part of one involved in such activities. Then again, I not sure that proofing (in the context of the PBR thread) is the best idea that anyone could come up with either.
And to the obvious humor intended... If a reader here isn't smart enough to understand that these are the very things to avoid, then I've severely underestimated the collective stupidity of mankind.