Straight Edge

[Lanfear]

Anybody on here straight edge??

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

A long long time ago yeah, are you?

[motion denied]

Fuck no.

[Sasha]

9VrKsbCens8

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Anybody on here straight edge??

This is what I have to say to the straight edge movement:

http://31.media.tumblr.com/d5ef7e0bddfb049f8feeda808071a413/tumblr_mw3hqxxUGg1t06ctpo1_400.gif

[DannyMorin]

I stopped drugs and smoking about ten years ago. I stopped drinking and eating meat last year. It's more clear to me than ever now how such things can ruin peoples' lives. I'd quite happily ban all of them.

[Sasha]

i respect everyone who abstains from whatever for whatever chosen reason, but people who get all the time in my face about their abstinince (let alone who want to dictate it to me) are just as annoying as druggies and drunks.

[Sasha]

also, having been around in the HC scene in the original sXe heyday its petty telling to see now all those people who would kick my beer out of my hand with their "sXe 4 life" tattoos and get in my face for doing a bit of descreet drugs once every so much months are now all having pretty serious adictions while i always had, and still have all my vice perfectly under control..
if you have a adictive personality there is no shame in abstaining but dont pretend i need saving too.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I don't really 'respect' straight edge people because I don't see what's to respect or why chosen sobriety is such a big friggin deal. Further what constitutes as 'drugs' is a societal concept I don't personally recognize. The FDA declares all these horrendous test chems (and not even the cool test chems like k2) cool but yet my medicine (marijuana + x) remains illegal and maligned and considered an insidious narcotic. I like being high. I'm always high. If that's your thing cool but keep your nose out of my medicine cabinet, kthnx. I support the full legalization of all drugs including heroin (<3) and cocaine.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc5XnjQvAbo/Ub4ZqEBOoFI/AAAAAAAATPo/111bXry80So/s640/tumblr_mmoch5NX351s87cmvo1_500.jpg

[DannyMorin]

I'm not saying this to anybody particular but the Communist position on this is quite funny to me.

"Religion is the opiate of the people!"

"Let's rid the world of religion... and legalise opiates!"

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I'm not saying this to anybody particular but the Communist position on this is quite funny to me.

"Religion is the opiate of the people!"

"Let's rid the world of religion... and legalise opiates!"

Not to derail the thread but...

Why not? I'm not cool with state atheism but why not? Do you think prohibition has ever worked?

[DannyMorin]

Not to derail the thread but...

Why not? I'm not cool with state atheism but why not? Do you think prohibition has ever worked?

Of course. It's working right now.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Of course. It's working right now.

Totally, that's why I have weed in my lungs as I type this, lolol, ok

[DannyMorin]

Totally, that's why I have weed in my lungs as I type this, lolol, ok

People still commit other crimes too. All laws are broken sometimes. That doesn't mean that law doesn't work.

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

This is what happens when people go "Skip a bit, brother." before all the passages in Marx, Engels and Lenin about the government over people being abolished.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

People still commit other crimes too. All laws are broken sometimes. That doesn't mean that law doesn't work.

Drug addiction is a medical and mental health issue, not a legal one. Criminalizing mental illness is wrong and the subsequent treatment of said individuals as such is intrinsically inhumane.

[PhoenixAsh]

ow...I forgot this still is a thing

god no.

[DannyMorin]

Drug addiction is a medical and mental health issue, not a legal one. Criminalizing mental illness is wrong and the subsequent treatment of said individuals as such is intrinsically inhumane.

I think we can both agree that we want less drug addicts. Where we differ is that I know the law is the most powerful tool in controlling peoples' access to narcotics and therefore directly impacts the rate of addiction.

We can even look at prohibition, which most people ignorantly regard as a failure, to see the power of a government ban:



We're not going to argue about whether Prohibition was right or wrong. But that's different from asking whether or not it succeeded. And, as far as anyone can tell, Prohibition pretty much did exactly what it was designed to do.

After all, you would expect that the measure of Prohibition's "success" would be the significant decrease of alcohol consumption during that time. And it did -- by 30 to 50 percent. Despite the fact that it didn't eliminate alcoholism altogether, Prohibition did sharply curb the number of deaths and arrests related to alcohol, which is what they wanted in the first place.

But what about all the organized crime that suddenly appeared along with Prohibition? Well actually, it didn't. Organized crime existed at pretty much the same level as before, during and after Prohibition. Scarface may have started selling whiskey as well as cocaine, but the gangster employment rate didn't exactly skyrocket. Nor can it be said to have been a more violent time -- the murder rate actually leveled off during Prohibition.

When people talk about what an embarrassing mistake Prohibition was, they usually cite the fact that it's the only time in American history that a constitutional amendment has been repealed, like we just sort of awkwardly swept it under the living room rug and asked everyone not to stare at the bulge. But really, the repeal had little to do with any perception that Prohibition had failed. It had much more to do with the fact that we simply changed our mind. You know, like in a democracy.cracked.com/article_20067_5-b.s.-political-arguments-you-hear-every-election-season_p2.html

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Aww the general nasty attitude you're met with when people find out is half the fun when you're an adolescent. Abstaining from anything loses meaning outside of specific contexts, but the smug sense of superiority and the persistent distaste for people can last forever if you want it to OP, don't listen to the naysayers ;)

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I think we can both agree that we want less drug addicts.

I think obesity is aesthetically repulsive and gluttony morally abhorrent but do you see me trying to put mandatory diets into legislation? No, again, addiction is clearly a medical issue often involving deeper underlining psychological issues. Further compounding this with the added trauma of imprisonment and being exposed to genuine criminality solves nothing.


Where we differ is that I know the law is the most powerful tool in controlling peoples' access to narcotics and therefore directly impacts the rate of addiction.

Not really. If I wanted, I could take a 5 minute walk around my neighborhood as get any drug I could possibly want, even fronts, at any time of the day, 365. Even in jail, I still managed a couple pinner joints of weed or spice and at one point and time in the place knew people getting dope in. I've also gotten high in rehabs and shelters and pretty much everywhere I've ever been ever. So, no, actually prohibition doesn't work. I need not mention jail hooch either. That's like saying because jails outlaw tobacco for inmates, we never sunk around and smoked anyway and just turned the showers on and sprayed bleach in the air vents.


We can even look at prohibition, which most people ignorantly regard as a failure, to see the power of a government ban:

cracked.com/article_20067_5-b.s.-political-arguments-you-hear-every-election-season_p2.html

hmmm, how very interesting (http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/)

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Is cracked.com affiliated with the magazine cracked?

[PhoenixAsh]

That quotation about the effects of prohibition conveniently leave out the sharp drop in jobs, sharp decrease in tax revenues and severe damage to the economy in certain regions. Breweries, the entire entertainment industry, transport industry as well as the restaurant industry took big hits. New York lost more than 70% of its sales taxes which were almost entirely based on alcohol related income....and the US itself lost more than 11 billion on tax revenue while expenditures to actually enforce prohibition also went up dramatically.

In fact...creating alcohol became somewhat of a hobby and there was actually a huge legal industry which enabled people to do so (concentrated fruit juice with specific warnings not to leave out too long because it would ferment into alcohol; pharmacies supplied by the black market which could still legally sell alcohol; religious institutions which ran illegal bars etc.)

Interestingly...while overall alcohol consumption went down...alcoholism actually increased. And after the prohibition there were more classified alcoholics than before. The 30-50% decrease people always mention in relation to the prohibition era is based on the initial 2 years...after that alcohol consumption rose steadily to near equal levels as they were after the period of prohibition.

The supposed health benefits mentioned are not placed in the light of the deaths due to alcohol poisoning because of illegally and untested alcohol consumption. Interestingly it seems that iodine and lead poisoning went up...which were never really directly linked to alcohol consumption of bootlegg....yet are now associated with some ingredients used in the process. So...there is that.

Death rates based on cirrosis occurances place the actual decrease in consumption at 10-20% over the entire span of the prohibition. If corrected for alcohol poisoning and deaths related to alcohol this is even lower. Alcohol induced crime went down the same amount. So that seems to indicate these figures are correct.

In contrast crime related to creating and smuggling alcohol went up dramatically...but rarely ended in convictions at all. They did however cost about half a billion dollars to enforce.

As well as creating a sharp rise in illegal trafficing and smuggling. The article is wrong on the account that prohibition did not entirely benefit illegal organized crime....and created a meriad of opportunities for a lot of people.


So....no...

Prohibition actually didn't regulate at all. Cost a fortune, created tens of thousands of unemployed, nearly ruined an economy.... and a good public awareness campaign for less than half the price has better results.

[Lord Testicles]

I imagine a life of hard work and wage slavery will appeal to straight edgers. I mean what else are they going to do? Have fun? Fucking nope!

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Grow up and use LSD?

[Sasha]

Also, let's not forget the about 10.000 citizens the US government murdered by deliberiately poisiong alcohol, three cheers for protecting the population health; http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2010/02/the_chemists_war.html

[Lord Testicles]

Grow up and use LSD?

I imagine grow up and become Mormons is the more likely scenario.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

No I'm serious I don't know anyone who was straight edge past 22 or 23, it loses all meaning after that point. This world is stronger and meaner than ideals lol

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Eh I take that back I know a guy with a face tattoo thats almost 30, but I feel like at that age it's just an obligation because of the tattoo

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

I imagine a life of hard work and wage slavery will appeal to straight edgers. I mean what else are they going to do? Have fun? Fucking nope!

I imagine straight edge peeps and BDSM subs will provide most of the domestic labour in communism.

[PhoenixAsh]

Prohibition had nothing to do with health. It was an economic decision based on increasing worker productivity. It helped that there was a large social movement which saw the expenditure of money on alcohol as economically detrimental and there was a huge expectation that banning alcohol would actually boost financial expenditure in other area's...that however did not happen.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I imagine straight edge peeps and BDSM subs will provide most of the domestic labour in communism.

Without going into too much detail, you would imagine wrong, I'm actually pretty lazy, hahaha

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

Straight Edge? Hell no. Far as I'm concerned that whole shit is one big boil on the ass of the hardcore scene. Right up there with Nazi punks.

[Creative Destruction]

No. I don't drink or do drugs anymore but that is primarily for my mental health. I fucking love whiskey and I fucking love pot and hallucinogens. But I'm never going to stop eating meat. I need to moderate my consumption, but I'll stick a fork in the eye of anyone who says that I need to stop eating meat. And then I'm going to eat their eyeball.

I do enjoy some straight edge bands, though.

[Dagoth Ur]

I remember that gangland episode where they showed the straight edge "gang". Shit was more boring than even the white trash biker episodes. :lol:

I'd rather die than stop doing drugs.

[Skyhilist]

I listen to Minor Threat, does that count?

I used to be straight edge though, for a few years. My years of being straight edge ended in quite dramatic fashion with a level 5 mushrooms trip.

[Slavic]

Without going into too much detail, you would imagine wrong, I'm actually pretty lazy, hahaha


ugh, a lazy sub.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I remember that gangland episode where they showed the straight edge "gang". Shit was more boring than even the white trash biker episodes. :lol:

I'd rather die than stop doing drugs.

http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-stay-trippy-mane-2.png

[Lanfear]

i respect everyone who abstains from whatever for whatever chosen reason, but people who get all the time in my face about their abstinince (let alone who want to dictate it to me) are just as annoying as druggies and drunks.

Hope you didn't think I was doing that. It's something's I've been wondering about for a while and was looking to know what peoples experiences with it were

[Hrafn]

Hell nawh.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Hope you didn't think I was doing that. It's something's I've been wondering about for a while and was looking to know what peoples experiences with it were

It's like 80% ego trip man. What are you looking to gain from the experience?

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

I mean, if people don't want to take drugs, alright, it's their body, whatever. But calling yourself "straight edge" usually amounts to saying "IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW I DON'T TAKE DRUGS AND AS SUCH AM BETTER THAN YOU".

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

if it hasn't already been said, there are few things that have given me as fierce an urge to drink as talking to a straight edge evangelist (which is apparently all of them) apart from trying to apply for student finance or talking to an energy company.

[consuming negativity]

Sometimes the amount of anti-drug shit on RevLeft worries me. There are a lot of people who think drugs are just evil and bad and should be banned. At least the tide is turning in favor of weed...

"Straight edge" to me more or less means "try-hard". I really can't stand people like that, to be honest. They can have their opinion, and I can have my opinion about their opinion.

[motion denied]

If you think sXe people are evangelists... Have you ever met a xVx (vegan straight edge)?

There you have it, full pedantic holier than thou Jesuit.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Really? I feel like revleft is pretty pro-drug. I've seen people complain about stoner culture but that's something separate from the drug, and stoner culture does kind of suck most of the time

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Really? I feel like revleft is pretty pro-drug. I've seen people complain about stoner culture but that's something separate from the drug, and stoner culture does kind of suck most of the time

I find weed culture or stoner culture to be cute even if campy and stupid sometimes. :)

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

If you think sXe people are evangelists... Have you ever met a xVx (vegan straight edge)?

There you have it, full pedantic holier than thou Jesuit.

In Jacksonville there was a group of vegan sxe dudes that had decided to take a stand against moshing for some reason and would intentionally try to hurt people who were doing their thing at shows. We referred to them as the dirty dancing crew.

[Lanfear]

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not anti drugs, far from it. I've dabbled in them in the past. Dabbled enough to know they're not my thing. That's just me though. I'm never gonna criticise anyone for taking them, everybody has free will and can do what they like - take them or not

[Lanfear]

It's like 80% ego trip man. What are you looking to gain from the experience?

I've never looked at it before as an ego thing but I suppose you could be right. What am I looking to gain from it? Good question. I've admired the scene for a while now - I'm 34. I've tried giving up the booze before but never stuck to it past a few weeks. Maybe this is one way I can. Like I said it's something I'm toying with, it's not a definite

[Tim Cornelis]

I'm pretty close, but not really, I guess. Pescatarian, don't drink alcohol, haven't smoked weed in months though I didn't really quit; don't smoke (tobacco); I've never done other drugs.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I've never looked at it before as an ego thing but I suppose you could be right. What am I looking to gain from it? Good question. I've admired the scene for a while now - I'm 34. I've tried giving up the booze before but never stuck to it past a few weeks. Maybe this is one way I can. Like I said it's something I'm toying with, it's not a definite

Oh sorry I kinda joked around so much if thats the case. It's been my experience that most people in the scene are going to be under the age of 21, so I think it would be really hard to relate to it as a newcomer at your age. But if that's what you think will do the trick you should go for it, who cares if it's an ego trip at that point. Good luck.

[Ele'ill]

most cliques, cults, groups, scenes, etc.. are unbearably obnoxious, doesn't matter if they are pro-meat, bodybuilding, vegan, straight edge, anti-drug, THC cult (although THC cultists are probably some of the worst around I really don't like them), some variation of punk, skin head, and so on

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

most cliques, cults, groups, scenes, etc.. are unbearably obnoxious, doesn't matter if they are pro-meat, bodybuilding, vegan, straight edge, anti-drug, THC cult (although THC cultists are probably some of the worst around I really don't like them), some variation of punk, skin head, and so on

Why do people hate stoners so much? I much rather have some dread head GD reject jaw on about like how hemp can make ropes and cure cancer and shit than some other extremist rant about something. Way more pleasant. Idk.

[Lanfear]

Oh sorry I kinda joked around so much if thats the case. It's been my experience that most people in the scene are going to be under the age of 21, so I think it would be really hard to relate to it as a newcomer at your age. But if that's what you think will do the trick you should go for it, who cares if it's an ego trip at that point. Good luck.

I'm not bothered about being part if a group mate so that doesn't bother me - tho as a teacher I spend a lot of time with kids aged 16-19. Cheers.

[Ele'ill]

Why do people hate stoners so much? I much rather have some dread head GD reject jaw on about like how hemp can make ropes and cure cancer and shit than some other extremist rant about something. Way more pleasant. Idk.

I'd rather not have anyone drone on at me about anything. When I smoked I used to like doing high things with friends and stuff and if I smoked I'd still like it. I'd like my friends to not be simply 'stoners' and when people get like that I think its a problem.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I'd rather not have anyone drone on at me about anything. When I smoked I used to like doing high things with friends and stuff and if I smoked I'd still like it. I'd like my friends to not be simply 'stoners' and when people get like that I think its a problem.

True but idunno, the world has a noise pollution problem anyway. I was just curious if I was missing something is all.

[Rosa Partizan]

Just saw this topic and am a bit surprised about all those negative comments. How many of you have been around for a longer period in that Hardcore Punk Scene and know plenty of Edgers?

I never considered being sXe, although I wouldn't have to change much, just skipping the occassional drinking, but why would I want to when it doesn't affect me negatively anyway? Nobody wants anyone to divide people in two categories, namely "sane sXe folks" and "inconsiderate junkies and drug addicts".

Having said that, I have VERY rarely encountered Edgers that apply the mentioned attitude. If they do so, they're in very most cases very new to that Edge thing, and the people being most big-mouthed are the ones that end up dropping Edge in no time. I know several people that have been Edge for more than 10 years, they would pose with alcohol for photographs, make jokes about themselves dropping Edge, hanging around with drunk people and driving them home. This is something I've seen at a lot of shows throughout the whole country.

And I prefer these people A LOT over people that think you can't party without alcohol or drugs, or that you're boring when you don't do drugs from time to time. This is a much more widespread and annoying attitude than some 17 year old edge kids that will be ashamed of their own behavior in a couple of years. I know that people on revleft are more like "oh fuck yeah, drugs, so edgy and revolutionary", but I just don't see why. It's not like it's such a non-mainstream attitude to glamorize drugs when you can get them at EVERY party, every club etc and you will rather be ridiculed when you abstain than when you try them out.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

there is one cool straight edge person i know and it's a weird middle aged guy who wears a corset and suspenders to a local nightclub every week for the last 32 years.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I don't think many adults view their drug use as an explicitly rebellious thing, in fact since it's so widespread it obviously cannot be. Whether the authorities view it differently is something else. My drug use is entertaining to me, when it stops being entertaining I imagine I'll stop taking part. I became straight edge after reading Brave New World as a teenager, I was convinced drugs were being introduced into society by the government in order to pacify and control people. Up until that point I had used marijuana pretty heavily as did most of my friends, becoming straight edge was in itself the 'rebellious' action to take at the time, and that fact reflected itself in my actions towards non-straight edge people (I was a major dick).

[Magón]

I have had no reason, nor do I have any, to stop drinking or smoking. And if I did stop either of those, I wouldn't start calling myself Straight Edge.

I really don't have a problem with people who are, but they sure seem to have a problem with me.

Also, this is a bit of a necro thread, isn't it?

[Illegalitarian]

You comrades don't subscribe to neo-Maoist notions of 'revolutionary sobriety'? I hear it's all the rage these days in RCP circles... no joke



most cliques, cults, groups, scenes, etc.. are unbearably obnoxious, doesn't matter if they are pro-meat, bodybuilding, vegan, straight edge, anti-drug, THC cult (although THC cultists are probably some of the worst around I really don't like them), some variation of punk, skin head, and so on

You forgot about the most obnoxious and pretentious of them all: leftists :laugh:


I read just as much on these forums and other leftist discussion groups that make me cringe tbh

[Os Cangaceiros]

Having said that, I have VERY rarely encountered Edgers that apply the mentioned attitude. If they do so, they're in very most cases very new to that Edge thing, and the people being most big-mouthed are the ones that end up dropping Edge in no time. I know several people that have been Edge for more than 10 years, they would pose with alcohol for photographs, make jokes about themselves dropping Edge, hanging around with drunk people and driving them home. This is something I've seen at a lot of shows throughout the whole country.

Why would those people even bother classifying themselves as "straight edge", though? That just sounds like people who made a personal decision that alcohol and/or drugs aren't for them, which is something I definitely respect. However all the sXe people I've met are really "ideological" about it, actually, which makes sense because musically sXe music is pretty boring...there are a million hardcore bands out there who know three cords and AREN'T sXe who sound just like any number of sXe bands. Anyway, I don't know of any sXe people who'd associate themselves with drunks or be comfortable in environments where alcohol or drugs play a significant role in what's happening.

I just don't really understand sXe as a subcultural identity. Drug subcultures are often equally dumb, but ultimately probably for a lot of the same reasons that sXe is dumb: drugs are ultimately frivolous entertainment, and it's just silly to base your identity as a person on something that superficial, in my opinion, whether in support or opposition.

[Rosa Partizan]

And those are the reasons to not like them? They leave you alone, let you consume whatever you want, offer you a ride home and you still can't stand them? I don't understand the motivation either, but it harms no one, neither them nor anyone around them. Btw you don't have to be sxe to feel uncomfortable in druggish environments. I've been at parties where I belonged to 5 of 50 people who did not consume anything and I was offered drugs ALL THE TIME, and guess what, as someone who abstains from drugs, I would've felt way more comfortable in a sxe surrounding. This has nothing to do with edge. Many sober persons feel annoyed when everyone around them is high, drunk, whatever. I just don't need that kind of entertainment, but those people made me have to justify for it. With edgers, I never had to justify for drinking in their company.

[Os Cangaceiros]

My point in simplest form is that, in my experience, straight-edge people are nearly always super judgmental and not people I'd want to hang out with. There are people I hang out with who do not drink or take drugs but they're not straight-edge, or at least they don't label themselves that way.

Maybe the straight-edge scene is different where you live, though.

[Illegalitarian]

My experience with Straight-Edgers is similar to those ITT, uptight frauds for the most part

[Sabot Cat]

I try not to tell anyone I don't drink or 'do drugs' because it's often viewed as a challenge. I'm not sure why they can't just respect my decisions? :(

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

its all bollocks anyway because most of them are addicted to camo-pattern cargo shorts

[consuming negativity]

I try not to tell anyone I don't drink or 'do drugs' because it's often viewed as a challenge. I'm not sure why they can't just respect my decisions? :(

Have you ever found a song or a television show or something else that you really, really liked, and you wanted to show it to someone else so they could enjoy it? It's a lot like that. People don't mean to be disrespectful; it's just that they think drugs are fun and they wanna get you to try because they think you'll end up liking them. Yeah, it sucks when someone is being pushy as fuck and not being respectful, but most people who aren't teenagers or assholes will get the point and back off if you say "no". Anyone else is just a dickhead or one of those people (see: teenagers) who unironically say "420 blaze it".

Actually, that's how I first ever started drinking. I was at this woman's 21st birthday party and she was just sort of "I don't care what you want, this is my birthday party, and you're going to have fun whether you like it or not". And so one of the dudes there split a fifth of Bacardi with me. I later thanked her (and him, of course) because I had a great time. Began drinking with them all the time and they remain some of the best people I've ever known. Not rude; altruistic. They knew something I didn't and forced me to step outside my comfort zone for my own benefit.

[motion denied]

I try not to tell anyone I don't drink or 'do drugs' because it's often viewed as a challenge. I'm not sure why they can't just respect my decisions? :(

blaze it

[Sabot Cat]

Have you ever found a song or a television show or something else that you really, really liked, and you wanted to show it to someone else so they could enjoy it? It's a lot like that. People don't mean to be disrespectful; it's just that they think drugs are fun and they wanna get you to try because they think you'll end up liking them. Yeah, it sucks when someone is being pushy as fuck and not being respectful, but most people who aren't teenagers or assholes will get the point and back off if you say "no". Anyone else is just a dickhead or one of those people (see: teenagers) who unironically say "420 blaze it".

Actually, that's how I first ever started drinking. I was at this woman's 21st birthday party and she was just sort of "I don't care what you want, this is my birthday party, and you're going to have fun whether you like it or not". And so one of the dudes there split a fifth of Bacardi with me. I later thanked her (and him, of course) because I had a great time. Began drinking with them all the time and they remain some of the best people I've ever known. Not rude; altruistic. They knew something I didn't and forced me to step outside my comfort zone for my own benefit.

There's a lot of assholes, is all I can say.

[Loony Le Fist]

I try not to tell anyone I don't drink or 'do drugs' because it's often viewed as a challenge. I'm not sure why they can't just respect my decisions? :(

Because there's this myth that everyone who doesn't do drugs buys the US's War on Drugs (USWD) propaganda. So these individuals often feel it's their job to evangelize to everyone how stupid it is. Sometimes they lack the tact to understand that no really means no. I agree that the USWD is counterproductive, though it isn't particularly productive to launch into a discussion about drug politics just because some person happens to decline a hypothetical offer to smoke a joint or something. The personal boundaries of others is much more important to me than promoting any particular political agenda. You can't win people over if you don't respect them and their autonomy. Those that do drugs for personal exploration ask for permission to be autonomous and have cognitive freedom. It is hypocritical for someone ask for cognitive freedom and autonomy while not respecting that of others.

[Quail]

I don't really know any straight edge people well, but I haven't met any obnoxious people that I recall. In fact, they don't even mind going to gigs where other people are completely trashed. At some of the gigs I go to the people there are either straight edge and sober or wasted, no in between.

On the other hand, most of my friends aren't obnoxious about drugs. If I'm offered something and say "no" then nobody is going to get in my face about it.

[Devrim]

I only first heard of this about a year or so ago. To me its a little bit strange. It is sort of like Islam, but without the rewards at the end.

Devrim

[newdayrising]

I have been straightedge for a long time and I have a few observations relating to my own experience:

-It makes zero sense outside the punk/hardcore music scene. While it does of course make sense to not drink or do drugs if one doesn't want to, straightedge is punk minus drugs not just any kind of abstinent lifestyle. The farther it gets from punk, the more stupid and pointless it gets.

-It's not a morally "better" way of living, it's just a name given to people who don't do drugs in a scene that was, at least in the past, strongly associated with self destruction. Not that everybody who drinks a beer is "self destructive". But it was an alternative to a real problem in this particular community, which is why it became popular.

-While it has been turned into its own subculture and developed some ideological traits, with idiotic, annoying people, it was never necessarily true for the majority of people who related to it. Maybe it seems like the opposite, but that's because "cool" straightedge people would not annoy you about it, so you wouldn't even notice them.

-I'm a grown up now. While it makes sense to me to not not drink or do drugs, I obviously don't relate so much to the subcultural aspects of it as I did when I was 16. But I have no problems with it either, it was fun and helped me get into important stuff, even politics, without some of the hangups of the rest of the punk scene, which I never liked even though I liked the music and "DIY" activities relating to it.

-It's much less big a deal than people here seem to think. Devrim said it seems like Islam minus the rewards, and that's true for people who might actually want to drink but for some reason find it "wrong" and make it some sort of personal sacrifice. I've never met anyone like this though, as far as I can remember. It's usually people who don't really like to get intoxicated or who had problems with it in the past and can't stand it anymore.

[Zukunftsmusik]

-It's not a morally "better" way of living, it's just a name given to people who don't do drugs in a scene that was, at least in the past, strongly associated with self destruction. Not that everybody who drinks a beer is "self destructive". But it was an alternative to a real problem in this particular community, which is why it became popular.

But there were certainly parts of straight edge culture that saw themselves as morally superior, or at least saw themselves fit to harass and beat up people that didn't abstain from alcohol, drugs and even sex. Not saying it was dominant, but your perception of straight edge doesn't represent all of it.

[Rosa Partizan]

@newday:
Very spot-on. I just wonder how many people posting in this thread were actually ever involved in that hc punk scene and know edgers right from the scene. I know some people using that term for themselves and it just doesn't make sense when they've never been related to hc punk in any way, and where this movement derived from and especially why.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

The violence was definitely a minority trend, here in the US at least, most edge kids were actually kind of nerdy. For some reason everyone hears straight edge and assumes that person is some meathead Boston FSU tool. People breaking cigarettes and talking shit shouldn't be lumped in with physical assaults.

[newdayrising]

But there were certainly parts of straight edge culture that saw themselves as morally superior, or at least saw themselves fit to harass and beat up people that didn't abstain from alcohol, drugs and even sex. Not saying it was dominant, but your perception of straight edge doesn't represent all of it.
I've been involved with it since te mid 90s, have personally known hundreds of people involved in it all over the world and the only place I've ever seen such people was on the mainstream news. There was a media frenzy about "straightedge gangs of Salt Lake City" for 5 minutes in the mid-late 90's and that was it. I've met my share of violent people and people with stupid ideas in this scene, but this whole thing about "beating people up for drinking" is an urban legend more than anything else, for the simple fact that most people drink, everywhere. It would be pretty hard for anyone to actually do things like this. In practical terms, the equivalent of it would be something like satanists who walk around beating up christians or gays who go straight-bashing, how would it even work? Not that it's impossible, but it's unlikely and unpractical, even if a couple of crazy teenagers somewhere might like to do it.
I could go on and on about stupid and problematic things in the straightedge scene, including violence. But this whole "beating people up for not being sxe" thing is not really relevant in the real world.

[Rosa Partizan]

I would like to add some of my experiences to what newday has already written. I haven't been in that scene for as long as you, not even remotely close, but I think that 6-7 years is enough to have a somewhat accurate insight. When people drop edge and their edge buddies learn about it, I've never heard any negative word. They would be very ironic about it, saying stuff like "so you broke edge? you know what that means", quoting sXe hymns like "straight edge revenge" or "edgebreak facebreak" :laugh: in fact, nobody fucking cares and I've seen edgebreaks a lot, especially with people in their mid-or end twenties. The people that have been edge for more than 10 years or so are the ones that no one would know they are edge because they really never talk about it, apart from when they're asked. The annoying smartass edgers are mostly insecure teenagers that need a lifestyle to define themselves. There was some media coverage about edge some years ago, they interviewed some edgers and no one of them was older than 20, and they sold them as "the average edgers", which was really bullshit, because I've very rarely experienced such stuck-up posers yelling "drugree" in everyone's face. But this sells way better than edgers who don't give a fuck about what you consume or don't consume.

[newdayrising]

Oh, and the no sex thing is also pretty much a myth. I don't think I've ever met anyone who was straightedge and believed it had anything to do with not having sex. I remember some people in the 90's saying stuff against casual sex, pornography and stuff like that from an anti-sexist/feminist angle and of course, there was that ridiculous krishnacore fad as well for a while but as far as people abstaining from sex because they were straightedge, never really seen it.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Do you guys actually still relate to "the scene" as adults? Opposition to casual sex was given lip service here but it was just talk.

[Illegalitarian]

The violence was definitely a minority trend, here in the US at least, most edge kids were actually kind of nerdy. For some reason everyone hears straight edge and assumes that person is some meathead Boston FSU tool. People breaking cigarettes and talking shit shouldn't be lumped in with physical assaults.

The idea of straight edgers being nerdy kids as being contrary to popular belief is hilarious to me for some reason

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I don't mean nerds like pocket protectors and bowl cuts, but more intellectual than the meathead stereotype. That also existed but it was a cultural thing tied to a couple specific cities, and even then it was mostly a front. If anything it was some kind of nostalgia for the scene of decades past. Of the people I've interacted, I would say that like 90% were more likely to be on the receiving end of an assault.

[newdayrising]

Do you guys actually still relate to "the scene" as adults?
Depends on what you mean by "the scene". If you mean the social interaction and young people looking for a collective identity part, not really. But as far as bands, shows, playing music, watching music and so on, I still enjoy it. It sure beats other hobbies adult people seem to like.
I like the part where you "do" things, but not the parte where you "be" things, if you know what I mean.
Oh, and I'm talking about punk rock in general, not about the "straightedge scene" in particular, which I don't really relate to anymore.

[Rosa Partizan]

When we say "the scene", we mostly refer to the negative image, like big, non-DIY shows with overpriced merch, tough guys posing in wifebeaters for tattooed girls that would hold their jackets while they mosh. The people hanging around in autonomous venues, making shows on their own, charging max 10 bucks per show and selling super cheap beverages, having the bands sleep over in their homes....they kinda don't refer to themselves as "scene". If all, they say community. Shared values, friendships, love for music, awareness for sexism, racism, nationalism, anti-semitism etc...when they say scene, they have a negative or ironic context. A guy I've been knowing for several years from that background once told me "so glad you re not a scene girl", because being a scene girl or boy is connected to those Images I explained above.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Depends on what you mean by "the scene". If you mean the social interaction and young people looking for a collective identity part, not really. But as far as bands, shows, playing music, watching music and so on, I still enjoy it. It sure beats other hobbies adult people seem to like.
I like the part where you "do" things, but not the parte where you "be" things, if you know what I mean.
Oh, and I'm talking about punk rock in general, not about the "straightedge scene" in particular, which I don't really relate to anymore.

I sort of get it. I've thought about going to shows recently, but then I remember how irritated I was by the presence of older people when I was into it. I dunno it's not mine anymore, that's ok I guess. I was just curious, like I said earlier in the thread I don't know many people personally who stuck with it passed their mid 20s but I'm always interested in people who do. I don't really have anything that defines me at this point aside from work and bills.

[newdayrising]

Well, Rosa an Ethics, around here the word scene is synonymous with "the community" and the shows I go to have none of this mainstream hardcore crap and there are people of all age groups, from 15 to people well into their 40s.
This whole "scene kids" concept as in post-emo teens with funny hair into metalcore or whatever is alien to my experience. It exists here too, but it's so far removed from proper hardcore/ punk that I even forget about it.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

There weren't many venues around so a lot of shows took place at peoples houses. It was weird to have random 30 year olds there with a house full of teenagers. Once or twice there were issues with them harassing girls, starting fights, etc. Rural ohio isn't the most cosmopolitan of areas. What city do you live in?

[Rosa Partizan]

There weren't many venues around so a lot of shows took place at peoples houses. It was weird to have random 30 year olds there with a house full of teenagers. Once or twice there were issues with them harassing girls, starting fights, etc. Rural ohio isn't the most cosmopolitan of areas. What city do you live in?

I'll be 30 in 2 years :mad:

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

So will I :-( I assume you're not harassing young girls or starting fights with kids for dancing but who knows I guess haha

[Rosa Partizan]

today, I saw a ladyfriend of mine and sneaked up from behind and slapped her ass, so this might pass as harassment :o

[The Modern Prometheus]

I've never looked at it before as an ego thing but I suppose you could be right. What am I looking to gain from it? Good question. I've admired the scene for a while now - I'm 34. I've tried giving up the booze before but never stuck to it past a few weeks. Maybe this is one way I can. Like I said it's something I'm toying with, it's not a definite

If you have a drinking problem i don't see how proclaiming yourself straight edge will help you quit but really if it works for you more power to you. As a former alcoholic i know how hard it is to quit the stuff so you have nothing but my deepest sympathies there. I would suggest start exercising once you shake off the last of any withdrawals as you will find yourself feeling rather bored and just kinda low in general. If you have any underlying problems that where causing you to drink in the first place that is what you need to get looked after. My mental health issues definitely factored into my drinking that's for sure. Anxious about a date? Have a few shots of Whiskey to steady yourself. Anxious that your date won't show? Have a few drinks to fix that. Anxious about being too anxious? Have a few shots (or bottles :o ) of rum to fix that. I guess the 1 perk of being a drunk is that you never have to worry if you are finally loosing it as everything can be blamed on the drink or lack there of. It really is a miserable existence though being a alcoholic and i certainly don't miss it.

As for the whole straight edge bullshit i am very thankful that it never took off here at all. Hell some straight edge band played in a downtown club here back when straight edge was in it's emo heyday and they got on the local news after complaining about how people here where not giving straight edge a chance and how people actually looked down upon them. I think maybe a dozen or less people showed up which in that area is pathetic for any band. Then again who the fuck is going to go downtown to see a band if they can't have a drink or whatever? That was a good laugh i'll say that much. Yeah 1 band noone has ever heard of and sucks to boot is going to turn a place that has drinking ingrained in it's culture straight edge right enough :rolleyes:

It's preachy morons like that that make me want to punch any guy that says they are straight edge right in the face many times. If somebody does not want to use drugs more power to them as that is their choice plus that means more for me :grin: . I like people who think they somehow have a say in what i can and cannot ingest about as much as i like the police that enforce those laws. If you do or don't want to take drugs that is your choice but however when you start trying to tell others that they can't be doing drugs cause they are evil or whatever you are really no better then the likes of the temperance movement. Not to even mention that people who want to keep drugs illegal are completely ignoring all the science we have on that topic. Also by being for drug prohibition you are supporting a war that serves no other purpose then to fatten the pockets of drug cartels, corrupt politicians and cops alike while throwing working class people and minorities in prison which in private prison systems like much of the US directly gives incentives for cops to make arrests and judges to find someone guilty.


I'll be 30 in 2 years :mad:

I am 2 years past 30 and i can honestly say that i would much rather be in my early 30's then in my early 20's. Things don't seem nearly as hectic for a lack of a better word and i am more at peace with my own self i guess as well. So i actually recommend turning 30 :thumbup:

[newdayrising]

What city do you live in?

Sao Paulo.

[Lanfear]

If you have a drinking problem i don't see how proclaiming yourself straight edge will help you quit but really if it works for you more power to you. As a former alcoholic i know how hard it is to quit the stuff so you have nothing but my deepest sympathies there. I would suggest start exercising once you shake off the last of any withdrawals as you will find yourself feeling rather bored and just kinda low in general. If you have any underlying problems that where causing you to drink in the first place that is what you need to get looked after. My mental health issues definitely factored into my drinking that's for sure. Anxious about a date? Have a few shots of Whiskey to steady yourself. Anxious that your date won't show? Have a few drinks to fix that. Anxious about being too anxious? Have a few shots (or bottles :o ) of rum to fix that. I guess the 1 perk of being a drunk is that you never have to worry if you are finally loosing it as everything can be blamed on the drink or lack there of. It really is a miserable existence though being a alcoholic and i certainly don't miss it.

As for the whole straight edge bullshit i am very thankful that it never took off here at all. Hell some straight edge band played in a downtown club here back when straight edge was in it's emo heyday and they got on the local news after complaining about how people here where not giving straight edge a chance and how people actually looked down upon them. I think maybe a dozen or less people showed up which in that area is pathetic for any band. Then again who the fuck is going to go downtown to see a band if they can't have a drink or whatever? That was a good laugh i'll say that much. Yeah 1 band noone has ever heard of and sucks to boot is going to turn a place that has drinking ingrained in it's culture straight edge right enough :rolleyes:

It's preachy morons like that that make me want to punch any guy that says they are straight edge right in the face many times. If somebody does not want to use drugs more power to them as that is their choice plus that means more for me :grin: . I like people who think they somehow have a say in what i can and cannot ingest about as much as i like the police that enforce those laws. If you do or don't want to take drugs that is your choice but however when you start trying to tell others that they can't be doing drugs cause they are evil or whatever you are really no better then the likes of the temperance movement. Not to even mention that people who want to keep drugs illegal are completely ignoring all the science we have on that topic. Also by being for drug prohibition you are supporting a war that serves no other purpose then to fatten the pockets of drug cartels, corrupt politicians and cops alike while throwing working class people and minorities in prison which in private prison systems like much of the US directly gives incentives for cops to make arrests and judges to find someone guilty.



I am 2 years past 30 and i can honestly say that i would much rather be in my early 30's then in my early 20's. Things don't seem nearly as hectic for a lack of a better word and i am more at peace with my own self i guess as well. So i actually recommend turning 30 :thumbup:

Cheers for this in depth reply. However, I never said I had a drinking problem. I enjoyed it - until recently - and like everyone else had times when I had too much. I don't think I ever drank because of some problem - barring the time I was told my dad had been diagnosed with cancer. I like the straightedge scene. However like you I can't be doing with the preachy fuckers, and that's not limited to alcohol and/or drugs. Whether you drink smoke take drugs or whatever is your business and bone of my concern.

[Sewer Socialist]

I'm no fan of jockcore bullshit, but this city could really use some kind of anti-drinking scene.