Straight edge or not?

I think that the feeling of being superior that most of the sXe kids nowadays have is pretty silly. I don´t do drugs, don´t smoke and I avoid alcohol if I can - but I never used the term straight edge to describe my lifestyle. I avoid these things because I am aware of the negative effect they have on my health.

It´s understandable if people who do the above are annoyed when someone wants to push their lifestyle on them, I detest behaviour like that as well and would never tell someone to stop drinking (unless a friend of mine drifts off to addiction.. that´s a whole different story of course).
Okay, granted - I´m annoyed if someone smokes beside me but I´ll try to respect that and not breathe the smoke in . And I hope most of the smokers respect it if someone doesn´t want to have smoke around him and try to control their urge...

Minor Threat and Fugazi rock though, and I think sXe nowadays is not what Ian MacKaye intended it to be. I heard of hardcore sXe "gangs" that beat up people who do drugs (could very well be bullshit, but everythings possible nowadays, don´t you think?)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Dark Nation

Hmm, I guess I COULD have been Straight Edge at one point, but I don't like the idea of restricting myself based on just because its the cool thing to do.

I don´t think "restriction" is the fitting word to describe a drug-free lifestlye. The choice to not do some things, I think, has nothing to do with restriction. Personally, I don´t feel the urge to smoke, do drugs or get drunk - so I´m not restricting myself in the way of "I want to, but I try not to". I don´t feel that I´m missing out either.

I agree, a lot of the sXe kids stay edge for a few months because it´s cool and not because of an inner conviction. For them, it´s something to call themselves and a scene thing. That´s why I can´t stand the label (sorry thread opener, I promise I won´t mention the label again )

There's nowhere I can't reach.