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What is Straight Edge?
Neo-ascetism Lite.
Not inherently a bad thing, though it can be said that abstaining from drugs, alcohol and sex does deny many experiences, both good and bad, it is, however, used frequently to grab the moral high ground so that one may look down on those who choose to indulge in such terrible, despicable, and ungodly vices.
See: The Junior Anti-Sex League, circa 1984
Erf... I can't conjure up a good enough example.
Straight Edge - video
Straight Edge - what is it?
(n.) Straiht edge is the term coined by Ian MacKaye (lead singer of the early 80's punk band 'Minor Threat'). To 'have the straight edge' one must hold a great responsibility for his/her actions and most commonly not get involved with casual sex, drinking, smoking, or any other substances (living a drug free life) some straight edgers even go vegan (or become vegetarians) being straight is just more of a philosophy on life; a religion focusing on strength, self-preservation, and self-respect, some may call it.
unfortunately, many people are beginning to see the straight edge as the popular thing to do and is now, more than ever, just a trend
1) Ive got the straight edge!
2) sXe, XXX
What does "Straight Edge" mean?
Branched off of a song by minor threat. Wasn't purposely created. Straight Edge is not a set of rules, nor a movement. It is an anti-stupidity, anti-obsession, pro-positive, pro-alertness thinking idea.
Some kids took it too far and now it is tagged with a gang or elitist mentality.
"sXe"
Straight Edge - what does it mean?
A name given to a personal lifestyle choice in order to make it sound 'cool'. The lifestyle consists of the respectful choices to not do drugs, have casual sex, or drink alcohol. Basically these people choose to respect their own body in every way. Some people that follow this lifestyle may put X's on there hands and a bandana over their nose and mouth in order to try and further make this lifestyle look 'cool'. For some that follow this lifestyle they may think it makes them better then everyone else and will go around letting everyone know they are 'straight edge', what these people don't realize is no one gives a shit. Others who follow this type of lifestyle will only let people know at appropriate times. These people are the respectful ones, but they still sound stupid calling themselves straight edge.
Guy 1: Dude do you want to smoke some, have a drink or find some girls to fuck?
Guy 2: No man I am straight edge.
Guy 1: Oh... alright dude that's fine, that's actually respectful, but I hope you know you sound like a Faggot when you say you are "straight edge".
Straight Edge - meaning
A lifestyle free of drugs, alcohol and casual sex. It has nothing to do with abstaining from *all* drugs (such as prescribed medicines or even caffeine - in fact the original straight edge dudes from Wash DC used to get hyped up on Coca-Cola as a sort of joke - "whee we can get crazy just on regular soda!" sorta thing). It also has nothing to do with vegetarianism - although many people that are into straight edge are big time vegetarians (including myself). Any variation or expansion of/on the "big 3" (drugs, alcohol, casual sex) is not straight edge in the classic sense.
WrongKid#1 "I don't take aspirin because I'm straight edge".
WrongKid #2 "If you eat meat you can't claim the edge".
KidThatKnowsWhatsUp - "Straight edge is about abstaining from drugs, alcohol and casual sex, period. No more, no less. This desire to keep my mind and body sharp has also opened my eyes up to the virtues of vegetarianism/veganism, but since I'm not a dumbass and know a little bit of punk rock history I'm aware these additional things simply compliment straight edge, but are NOT straight edge per se".
Straight Edge - definition
Straight Edge is NOT something to do just because everyone else is doing it... Straight Edge is a lifestyle. You live the sraight edge way:
XNo smoking
XNo Drugs
XNo alochol
XNo casual sex
you do not have to be a certian "label" to be straight edge!
No drinking, no casual sex, no smoking, no drugs... just have fun being Straight Edge!
Straight Edge - slang
X No drugs, X no alocohol, and X no casual seX
Im not straight edge to be different. Im straight edge because I know its right. Why do I want to get fucked up and forget all the shit that I did that night? No thanks, I want to enjoy my life by remembering it. Think for yourself.
Straight Edge
As said previously, this is an idea mainly thought to be coined by Minor Threat (thus being an offshoot of punk/hardcore).
Their song Straight Edge outlines their lifestyle that they choose to live... I've been told it was their drummer who was using a ruler to draw a poster and noted that the ruler's straight edge was a metaphor for their lifestyles...
The basic outline of straight edge is, as said before, not wanting to or taking part in:
Drinking (or any mind effecting drugs)
Smoking
Casual sex (without a loving relationship)
This is just a simple guideline of what the LIFESTYLE of an edge person is. It can be built upon with vegan/vegetarianism, no caffeine and other choices that keep your body poison free.
An X can be worn on the hands of people who are edge, along with stating poison free, straight edge can be abbreviated to sXe. The X on the hand is because at punk/hardcore gigs, an X was drawn on the hands of minors so that they would not get served at the bar. With this movement people started putting Xs on their hands to show that they did not want to drink.
The idea of straight edge is not to poison the mind and body with anything that is bad for it, this, to me includes being a general bastard to people… For me its being the best person you can be.
We are not boring people, I choose not to drink, it doesn't mean I can’t have fun, or go to parties, I just have fun while knowing what I’m doing and remembering.
Straight edge should unite people and not turn into a gang who discriminate against people who do poison their bodies... It's their choice, let them live with it, I don’t look down on people who aren’t edge.
Two good examples are:
Davey Havok (AFI)
Justin Sane (Anti-flag)
... These guys are modern day saints in my opinion
non sXe: do you want a drink/joint/smoke/one night stand… etc.?
sXe: No thanks, I don’t want to do that
(Straight edge is not a reason not to drink, smoke etc. A straight edge person will have their own reasons; straight edge is just a way of showing their lifestyle.)
Straight Edge
This covers a broad range of people, all of whom voluntarily choose not to take drugs, drink or engage in promiscuous sexual behavior. Other options include abstaining from caffeine, meat, etc. There are a few kinds of sXe'rs in my opinion.
1) Committed people honestly dedicated to keeping their body clean of all toxins for life. While I couldn't live your extremely pure lifestyle, I fully respect your choice to do so, more power to you.
2) Scenester kids who think because sXe is underground it automatically becomes "cool" and start wearing bandannas and the "X" on their hands. Even though I'm not sXe personally, speaking on behalf of friends who are, when you don't make a commitment to the philosophy, you just seem foolish.
3) Hardliners, the people who follow the philosophy to the letter, but more importantly will engage in mass ass-kicking of anyone who doesn't. Now, here's where my disagreement comes into play towards the hardliners. If you want to stay pure as possible, good for you, but for you to harass or assault anyone having a beer responsibly or eating a hamburger for pete's sake, you're a fucking idiot. Case closed.
4) Elitists, the people who honestly believe that because they are sXe, they are automatically better than people who aren't. Listen up elitist fools, (and especially the one who called me evil this past weekend for having 1 beer at a restaurant) whether you want to believe it or not, you're human just as we all are, and just because you keep yourself pure does NOT make you "better" than other people. Real sXe'rs dislike you because your high and mighty attitude discredits their philosophy, as well they should.
Real sXer: "I don't drink, smoke or take drugs."
Scenester: "sXe is cool, yeah!"
Hardliner: "How dare you drink a beer! I'll kick your ass!"
Elitist: "Being straight edge means I'm better than you!"
Straight Edge
Originated from the punkrock/hardcore scene. The philosophy/life-choice that humans should have strength, pride, dignity, honor, and self respect; that they shouldn't engage in activities that are a disgrace to their minds and bodies. (such as ingesting and/or becoming addicted to harmful substances for fun, lying and/or being two-faced, and sharing your body sexually with another person when there isn't even a true emotional bond there)
I'm straight edge you fuck, so no I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.