Straight Edge

[qwertyMike]

For you young DU-ers
I asked my son (19) if he drank or did dope and he replied "No I am Straight Edge" as if I should know what this means. His sister (21) agreed. He held out his wrist and had a black "X" on the back of his hand. Not a tattoo, magic marker. I've noticed his friends have X's on the back of their hands.
Save me a Google and explain to this old Dad. (62)

Thanks
Mike

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Organized prudery.

Let's hope it's just a phase.

[DarkTirade]

2. The Xs are just a sign to identify who's 'straight edge'.

It's just a way of announcing "I like to party as much as the next guy, but I don't sleep around and put weird chemicals in my body to do it."

I don't know why they feel the need to announce it... all it takes is a few times of saying, "No thanks" when someone offers something you're not interested in, and people will start to get the idea. I don't think I was ever offered drugs after my first year of college because by that time everyone just knew I wouldn't accept. And I never needed to draw a symbol on my hands to do it.

[ghostsofgiants]

11. I stopped wearing the X's on my hands after about a year of being straight edge.

I've been straight edge for 7 years now. I have to deal with assholes like my (soon to be former) roommates trying to spike my drinks and shit.

[DarkTirade]

12. Well your roommates are complete assholes.

And I'm thinking that might even be illegal, coercing someone to partake of intoxicants like that. Slipping someone a roofie is illegal, isn't it? I'd assume it's the same even if the intoxicant itself is legally acquired.

[ghostsofgiants]

16. Yeah, that's old news, haha.

I'm out of here at the end of the week though. Woo!

[swag]

3. Here's where it started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAqUnG_qqU4&feature=rela...

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's something I just don't need

I'VE GOT 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 thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I'VE GOT STRAIGHT EDGE.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Word...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT-V5JA7jbE

[flvegan]

4. So long as he's not into violence, might be a good thing.

You should read up on it, though. It's a lifestyle that you may want to know more about, both positive and negative.

[driver8]

5. Exactly!

Some straight-edgers decide that they don't like alcohol or drugs, but really enjoy beating the shit out of people!

I'm sure your son is not one of those people, but reading up on Straight Edge might be a good idea.

[qwertyMike]

7. I posted this in GD too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Interesting thread

Some people

Mike

[asthmaticeog]

15. Yep.

In the '80s it was always the sXe guys who were beating the shit out of people at shows, knocking beers out of people's hands and threatening them, yadda yadda yadda.

And every last one of those pious assholes took up drinking after they turned 21, too. Every. Last. One.

It's a *lot* more benign nowadays, though, less preachy, certainly less violent, and it's often tied closely to the heavy DIY lifestyle. I've seen sXe 'zines recently that included articles on DIY organic gardening, becoming vegetarian/vegan, how to knit a sweater, stuff like that.

[LeftyMom]

6. It means he doesn't drink, do drugs, etc.

He probably has friends who feel likewise.

It's kinda funny to be that wrapped up into an overreaction to the prevalence of drug abuse in the hardcore scene before he was born, but I figure most parents would be pretty happy to have kids who weren't out drinking, getting high or fucking around (edgers generally object to casual sex) even if the cultural reasoning behind it was a bit odd.

Edgers can be annoyingly dogmatic (Ever listened to a really intense discussion on whether chocolate is a drug, because there's a little caffeine in it? Sadly, I have. I swear a part of my soul died.) but they're principled and usually very thoughtful, and I usually respect them for that even if some of them annoy the fuck out of me.

That said, in some places the cops give them a hard time. I tend to think that's an over-reaction.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. I'd heard the term, but never knew what it meant. Are you a straight edge?

[LeftyMom]

25. Oh god no.

But a lot of edgers are vegan, so I know quite a few through vegan/AR stuff.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

8. Here's what you need to know about it.

I'm 20, going on 21... I don't claim to have ever been or be straight edge, but I did/do have friends who chose that lifestyle. First things first: the term comes from a very specific time period, that is from those people in the 80s hardcore scene who felt as if the drug lifestyle associated with punk was becoming too prevalent (I'd suggest renting American Hardcore, which talks about this a bit) and dangerous. Now, "straight edge" is fairly common vernacular associated with the choice not to use recreational drugs (this can be a number of things to different people - some don't even drink caffeine).

Yeah, it can be very tough to explain to others the rationale behind being straight edge, but for some kids, straight edge can really come into their lives at a point where they need something to hold on to. It is something that people don't usually need their entire lives. For one of my friends, his being straight edge was a necessity... life was spinning out of control for him and the only way he could see to stop it was to become committed to something - for him, this was stopping his drug use completely and living a more healthy lifestyle. Today he is no longer straight edge, and definitely smokes and drinks, but when he was in high school it was out of control and putting him in jeopardy of not finishing school. Straight edge (and late 90s hardcore) helped him from becoming just another poor kid who didn't go to college, you know?

Some kids can be preachy about it, but it's not because they're being prudish or are huge squares, but because they've become so committed to a certain lifestyle and sometimes can only see the good in what they're doing, and the bad in anything that diverts from it.

[ghostsofgiants]

10. I am straight edge.

As long as he's not a belligerent/violent jerk about it, then don't worry.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

18. haha

Violent straight edge kids are scary... the kind that have so much built up rage inside that they really go all out punching people at shows.

But you're pretty cool, I suppose.

[ghostsofgiants]

19. Psshh, you suppose?

I figure if a kid is violent because he's straight edge, he'd probably be a right prick when he's drunk, too.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

20. oh i've known some former straight edgers who started drinking again...

they are the MOST violent.

[ghostsofgiants]

22. Yeah, violent douchebaggery isn't inherent in being straight edge...

It's just a shitty personality trait that some straight edge kids happen to have.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

23. agreed.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. primate1 is straight edge. You could do a lot worse for a son.

primate1 is absolutely awesome. Great, great kid.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. Aww, thanks midlo!

[Rabrrrrrr]

21. I wholeheartedly concur!

[Jamastiene]

14. The Straight Edge movement has been around since at least the

80s. Basically, they are a group of punk fans who do not do drugs, don't drink, don't smoke, and some of them get religious as well.