The Straight Edge

So I have decided to post on this topic after hearing uninformed judgments being made about a group as a whole based on the actions of a few.

Excuse the lack of structure...

The Straight Edge movement was started by a member of the hardcore band Minor Threat back in the 80's when he looked at the straight edge of the ruler he was using on a poster and it reminded him of he and his band mates straight lifestyle (no alcohol, no drugs and no sex - hence the XXX symbol often identified with straight edge). The band subsequently wrote this song:

Straight Edge - Minor Threat

I'm a person just like you, but I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head, hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose, pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed, that is something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you, but I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope, cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thoughts of eating ludes, laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch, never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

That's how it began. The basic deal is no alcohol (of any form), no drugs (incl; painkillers unless prescribed) and no promiscuous sex. Over time people following the straight edge philosophy have also adopted vegetarianism, veganism and some even ban caffiene from their body. These are not requirements for straight edgers. There are also the militant fundementalist Straight Edgers who are refered to as Hard Liners, the ones who kill, assault, or otherwise attack people (and often establishments) who don't adhere to a straight edge lifestyle. The majority of straight edgers condemn these acts as straight edge is a personal choice and they state that if you don't think it's for you-don't do it - it is a lifelong commitment and a personal and individual choice and can't be forced onto those who it isn't right for. It's not fair to judge a whole group as arrogant, forceful, fundementalist thugs based on the actions of only a few! How do you 'heretics' feel when people assume because you're a christian (or at least follower of Jesus in some capacity) that you hold all the views of say, Brain Tamaki and Destiny Church? It's the same thing.

Straight Edge however is NOT a religion, there is no deity or worship. It's more about accountability. By saying you're straight edge you publicly show that you want to be clean, clear and in control of your mind and body and after making such strong claims leads people to pay more attention to what you do.

There are a number of Christians who claim to be straight edge. Hard Liners again are the ones who believe that Christians shouldn't identify themselves as straight edge (and some shouldn't) because it's not about religion but again most real straight edgers don't think it's a big deal because as straight edge isn't about religion, it doesn't matter what faith you have be it Christianity, Buddhism, Islamic etc; Your sexuality also isn't a factor, it's whether you have casual, meaningless sex that is as such things become addictive.

Avoiding addiction is part of straight edge too because once you are addicted to something it has a hold on you and you're no longer in control. There's an emphasis on being responsible for your own actions.

Hmm, well rant nearly over. I subscribe to the straight edge philosophy. It makes sense to me, it's a personal choice and my own experiences led me to that decision. It took a year of thinking and research to come to that conclusion and it was a decision not made lightly. So please feel free to mock, challenge or whatever but do a bit more research first :). And don't expect me to smack you in the head with a baseball bat or feel I'm above you because you're drinking alcohol or taking panadol. I'm not hard line, I'm Straight Edge.