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Straight edge?


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I don't know if this has been addressed in an earlier thread, but I was wondering who all on board is straight edge and how you define that for yourself. I 'spose I'm straight edge, though I've never really labeled myself as that.

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Ah yeah, I guess I should've been more specific since it's associated with hardcore. I mean in terms of abstinence from alcohol, tabacco and drugs, etc. I've never really defined myself as 'straight edge,' but when a lot of people find out I don't drink and such, they ask me if I am.

 

Here's more about it in case anyone else was wondering:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_edge

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Ah thanks then mate.

 

Im Straight Edge then.

 

I personally dont like alcohol, but will take like a sip or two of something I never had before just to see how it tastes (and I normally just give it back because I don't like it). Would that make me not straight edge? Or would I still be since i dont go out and buy alcohol and drink it all the time (I just sip just to taste it and thats it).

 

The rest I fall in it though. Still a virgin and don't plan on breaking that till I am married (if ever even).

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straight edge is a conscious decision. you decide one day that you want to label yourself as "straight edge", and you vowe to never touch alcohol EVER again, not even a sip. the same goes for smoking and premisucous sex. so unless you vowe to permanently give up those things, and label yourselfe edge, you arent sXe, youre just drug-free.

 

kollision, you would be "drug-free".

 

I'm a virgin as well and waiting til I'm married/in love.

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straight edge is a conscious decision. you decide one day that you want to label yourself as "straight edge", and you vowe to never touch alcohol EVER again, not even a sip. the same goes for smoking and premisucous sex. so unless you vowe to permanently give up those things, and label yourselfe edge, you arent sXe, youre just drug-free.

 

kollision, you would be "drug-free".

 

I'm a virgin as well and waiting til I'm married/in love.

 

 

OOo I see, thanks a lot for the definition.

 

So is wine considered not being straight edge? I mean it has cases of it being healthy for you and all? And if this is the case, does that mean those that take medicine is not straight edge as well? Or there are limitations?

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I've heard the term loosely defined. Thanks for the clarification, Topher. Count me out, though - I do like me some wine in cooking.

 

 

the purpose behind straight edge is to not let substances control you.

the alcohol burns off when you cook. so you could still be straightedge and cook with wine if you wanted, as long as your intentions arent to get #@$#@ up off it. so cooking with wine is fine since it burns off and just leaves the flavor.

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I've heard the term loosely defined. Thanks for the clarification, Topher. Count me out, though - I do like me some wine in cooking.

 

 

the purpose behind straight edge is to not let substances control you.

the alcohol burns off when you cook. so you could still be straightedge and cook with wine if you wanted, as long as your intentions arent to get #@$#@ up off it. so cooking with wine is fine since it burns off and just leaves the flavor.

 

Well I sip alcohol without the intention of getting drunk either, just to see how it tastes like.

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I consider myself straight-edge by definition. No drinking, no smoking, no drugs, no illicit sex. I was first exposed to the concept at the age of 14 when my brother told me about it. At that age when alot of other kids were starting to "experiment" with intoxicants and the like to fit in, we simply had no interest in it. In some ways we probably felt like outsiders. But then discovering that there was a youth movement formed in the early to mid 90's called "Sraight-Edge" gave us a whole new form of motivation to keep our bodies clean. Soon enough my brother discovered the band Youth of Today. Lead by Ray Cappo, who is from Connecticut (my state), they started the whole movement. As Ray Cappo started to also become well-versed in eastern philosophies and spirituality, vegetarianism also became an unofficial part of the movement. While not a "requirement," many straight-edge kids adopted this straight-edge vegan diet because it fit in with the whole lifestyle and also the idea of keeping the body clean and pure. Incendentally, Ray Cappo's vegetarianism was bolstered by his interest in Krisna Conciousness...(I actually have a close friend who was a krisna monk for a while), his interests expanded greatly into the world of spirituality. While the ever changing hardcore scene fluctuates as usual, the spirit of the straight-ege movement is still there in many people. From the people in their early 30's who first embraced the movement then, to the teenage kid today who rejects the current societal embracement of teenage intoxication as a normal occurrence and right of passage...the straight-edge message is still strong. For those who are confused. Straight-edge is not a club or organization, so there are no "requirements." But it is a label that can hold a group of people together who stand for the same beliefs and simply for the individual who won't make compromises on his convictions. The rejection of drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, and for most meat-eating makes so much sense. I once viewed it almost as a sign of rebelliousness from the mainstream, but today I am the same way. Although I never really X'ed up (putting X's on your hands to mark that you are straight-edge), although my brother and friends often did, I still call myself straight-edge if someone asks me. It is so healthy for the body and shows that you stand up for what you believe in! Straight-edge vegan for life...no compromise!!!

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I always get annoyed when people cite studies proclaiming the benefits of red wine. If you read further into it, the part of the wine that makes it "healthy" is just the nutrients that are released from the grapes. The same effect can be achieved, but more efficiently by drinking a glass of grape juice. The way I see it, not consuming intoxicants is not about labeling yourself straight-edge, but it is rather about respecting this God given body. Anyway you slice it, alcohol is poison. It has all the characteristics of poison...concentrated doses in large amounts will kill and its consumption can affect motor skills and the nervous sytem. I won't consume alcohol because it is poison for the body. About prescription or over-the-counter drugs, I won't consume them either. They most certainly do more harm than good. Instead of treating the cause and identifying what caused the sickness, the drugs only try to fix the sympotoms. This has lead me to embrace naturopathic medicine and I am striving to become one. The straight-edge movement is about keeping the mind clear, the body clean, and the soul pure. It is most certainly a philosophy we all can embrace!

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I always get annoyed when people cite studies proclaiming the benefits of red wine. If you read further into it, the part of the wine that makes it "healthy" is just the nutrients that are released from the grapes. The same effect can be achieved, but more efficiently by drinking a glass of grape juice. The way I see it, not consuming intoxicants is not about labeling yourself straight-edge, but it is rather about respecting this God given body. Anyway you slice it, alcohol is poison. It has all the characteristics of poison...concentrated doses in large amounts will kill and its consumption can affect motor skills and the nervous sytem. I won't consume alcohol because it is poison for the body. About prescription or over-the-counter drugs, I won't consume them either. They most certainly do more harm than good. Instead of treating the cause and identifying what caused the sickness, the drugs only try to fix the sympotoms. This has lead me to embrace naturopathic medicine and I am striving to become one. The straight-edge movement is about keeping the mind clear, the body clean, and the soul pure. It is most certainly a philosophy we all can embrace!

 

This sounds like Kevin Trudeaus "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About"

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i agree with elements of straight edge.

 

promiscuous sex is bad, within a loving relationship is where it needs to be.

 

alcohol is bad when taken to excess. i never drink more than 2drinks in a day, and have not been drunk for over two years. i have done it, it felt shit, i wont do it again. however alcohol is fine when taken in small quantities. i personally love the taste of beer and wine. also there are a huge variety of different wines/beers to try, which is great fun. there is no logical reasoning for entirely cutting out alcohol (personal choice is different, though it still cant be logically supported) as a small amount occasionally is good for you. i know that you get all the same nutrients from grape juice but the alcohol itelf thins the blood and puts you at a lower risk of strokes/heart attacks.

i hate the drinking culture here but i do not subscribe to it. it is lovely however to take a trip the beach and share a glass of wine with your partner.

 

drugs are a different matter. the problem for instance with cannabis (not that it is particularly harmful) is that it often leads to harder drugs. also most people smoke it with tobacco, leading to all the same diseases. i do not believe that cannabis should be illegal, because as well as it having medicinal uses (to treat chronic pain) it is harmless in small quantities.

harder drugs like heroin are highly dangerous and more needs to be done to control them.

i would also like to point out that although i have tried cannabis on several occasions (three years ago now) i disliked it, and it made me feel sick. i have never tried any other drug, and nor will i, but i do believe that in moderation, caffiene, alcohol and cannabis are fine.

 

jonathan

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But then discovering that there was a youth movement formed in the early to mid 90's called "Sraight-Edge" gave us a whole new form of motivation to keep our bodies clean. Soon enough my brother discovered the band Youth of Today. Lead by Ray Cappo, who is from Connecticut (my state), they started the whole movement.

 

Um, gotta go a little farther back than that. Straightedge grew out of the DC hardcore scene in the early 80's. Ever heard of Minor Threat? Ian Mackaye? They even coined the term with their song "I've got straightedge".

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nice to see some guys on here into hardcore. i've been 'edge' my whole life. i dont go wearing it on me or even telling people. it's just who i am. never drank, never had the desire and probably never will. i think it goes along well with an all around healthy lifestyle. i was in a couple 'edge' bands. still rocking out in hardcore bands, lifting weights and all that.

pm me or IM me anytime ([email protected])

see ya

brett

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Cool!

 

All of you sXe! (almost).

 

I've been drug-free all my life, never drank, never smoked, never doped. I never called myself sXe though, but i guess that's what i am. I did not need to vow that to myself

 

i do not believe that cannabis should be illegal, because as well as it having medicinal uses (to treat chronic pain) it is harmless in small quantities.

I disagree. Even small amounts of THC can cause psychosis. Rather than legalizing THC, i'd prohibit the already legal drugs alcohol and nicotin

No, i don't think that's possible. In a better society, no prohibitions would be needed, though.

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here's a great FAQ about straight edge.

 

i was introduced to straight edge thru minor threat. it was the first time i ever heard some question the reasons behind drinking, smoking, and doing drugs. since i was involved in the punk/hardcore scene at the time, that was a big statement. i began to question why i was doing something i didn't really enjoy and was not going to help me in the long run. i came to realize i had no real reason behind that activity, aside from it was just what we were suppossed to do, what was expected of us. the reasons given were usually "be a man, drink the beer, don't be a fag" etc.

 

the way i see it, minor threat was someone within that punk/hardcore community standing up and saying "this is bullshit". calling out, the emperor has no clothes! it's not cool, it's not fun, it's not rebellious, and it doesn't make you a man. we don't have to drink ourselves stupid or drug ourselves up just because that's what is expected of us. for me, straight edge is just a different way to live your life, a different way to view things. and it made it ok not to drink.

 

sorry if i started ranting there.

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I really don't get the thrill in drinking, especially to the point of intoxication. I go to a Big 12 university where it's pretty rare not to booze it up on the weekends. I'm around people who drink all the time ... I live in an apartment where there are huge drinking parties ... but I just don't get into it. I really, for the life of me, can't see how alcohol-induced puking and being rushed to the emergency room for alcohol poisoning is cool either. There are so much more interesting ways to have fun, even at parties where people are drinking.

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The tradition of using a marker to put an X on your hand if you're straightedge started in DC in the early 80s. The doorman at punk clubs used to put an X on your hand if you were under 21, signifying to the bartender that you couldn't drink. Straightedge kids started putting X's on themselves, signifying that they didn't drink by choice

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