Straight edge or not?

GFF isn't exactly a haven for straight edge kids, but I was just wondering exactly how many of you there are out there? (Though I'm a little hazy on the exact definition of straight edge, I'll admit.)

If you're straight edge, why? If you're not, why? Did you used to be?

Myself, I am very straight edge in terms of GFF, but I'm usually considered the "deviant" in my close group of friends. I was raised by extremely conservative parents, and I don't regret it. I do occasionally still get smacked in the face with yet another culture shock from the "real world." Coming to GFF was like that.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by andkeener

For all the people that ARE straight edge (im just curious and want to know) how many of you have sex? And how many of you are vegetarian/vegan? I really don't know what the connection is, but i've met quite a few kids that are straight edge and they also don't have sex and most all of them have been vegetarian. Is there some sort of connection between these things?

I actually kind of consider being a virgin as part of the whole "straight edge" thing. I wouldn't really consider someone who had sex to be straight edge. I could be misguided in that definition, but that's how it is in my head.

That being said, I'm a virgin and an omnivore. Holy crap, I love my chicken. You've no idea. In fact--this is truth--I have a chick-fil-a chicken sandwich in front of me at this very second.

I don't think chickens would consider me straight edge.

Oh, and by the way... I'm SO MAD at your sig. It made me freak out... "oh my GOSH there are suddenly all these bugs crawling on my computer!"

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Hey! Where's your confession that you tried to WIPE ANDKEENERS SIG OFF YOUR SCREEN??

Don't try and hide it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by nabhan

It's one thing not to drink, do drugs, or smoke. It's another to live under a stupid label which never really had any meaning. The whole "movement" is so ridiculous that the guy who fuckin' started it has disassociated himself from it.

Basically, it's a personal decision, but for the love of god, would everyone stop throwing the term sXe around so lightly because 'hay! that's sort of like me!"

EDIT: Post above for a perfect example. Being straight edge would mean that you have made a serious resolve not to do any of the above.

That's not the way language works, though. If people use a word in a different context enough, it picks up a new meaning... It's not a bad thing. Curse words are an excellent example. They used to all have very specific meanings, but they were used less and less in those contexts and now can be thrown in just about anywhere. Language evolves... so??

Labels aren't always bad things, either. They're shorter ways of saying something, and they help the human brain to organize better. Why get bent out of shape over them?

That being said, I never knew that it was a movement or that there was a specific "guy" associated with it. That's interesting!

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Bernard Black

I'm not one or the other. I drink, smoke, occasionally do drugs, and I'm not a virgin. But I'm not devoid of morals either.

I don't think you can call yourself anything unless you are without trying. Saying you're straight edge when every fibre of your body is willing you to act out is just stupid.

Hmm, I thought someone would be saying the opposite. I mean, most people have wanted to do those things at various times in their lives, but have had to make an effort to abstain. Isn't that what often makes a certain trait or quality admirable? What I'm hearing you say is, "If you have to try, don't." There are many other reasons people might have for being straight-edge... good reasons--so they make that effort. My family, for example, would be very upset if I began smoking--my mom, in particular. That's a good enough reason for me to put the effort out not to do it (with the exception an experimental cigarette, perhaps).

I was speaking idiomatically.

I dunno... most kids I know who are "straight edge" aren't that way to be cool or be part of a movement. They do it because they were raised that way... just as many non-straight edge kids were raised in a more lax environment.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by nabhan

I know what you mean. There are lots of people who go edge for a healthier lifestyle or ethics or whatever. I just think the term has become jaded, and to me doesn't mean too much. Especially when the sXe kids push their lifestyle, or vice versa.

;_;

Yeah, I think I get what you're saying. As for me, though, I'm straight edge due to being raised by ridiculously conservative parents. I wasn't allowed to say "gosh" or "gee." I was barely ever allowed to watch TV, either.

It took me a while, but I'm beginning to mellow a bit more.

FELIPE NO

Okay, you people are definitely getting too stuck on the definition of straight edge.

ALL I MEAN IT AS IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T DRINK, SMOKE, OR DO DRUGS!!! Sex optional.

Geez, why you hafta make things so complicated? I'll make up a new word for it, if you'd like.

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Well said, Summonmaster.

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Originally Posted by Hydelloon

The problem is every straight edge I've met has tried to tell me to stop. In fact, every straight edge I've met also carries this false sense of "superiority" because they are clean and untainted. Doing drugs and drinking don't make me better than you but also the other way around. Don't try to push your life style to me. Just don't do it.

Hyyyyde!

I hope you don't feel that way about me.

I'll admit that it can be tough, though. Those of us who were raised conservatively were taught that those things are bad, not to hang around kids who do that, etc. We were taught--however subtly--to dislike kids who weren't "straight edge." I've had to pull myself out of that rut--something that my parents never did. Sometimes I think it's a lack of compassion; sometimes I wonder if it's just how they were raised. People were a lot less "tolerant" back in the day.

At any rate, I think that's why so many straight edge kids come off as so high and mighty. I really hope that I'm not one of them--or at the very least, that I am improving rapidly.

On the other other hand, some people might try to convince you to stop because they care about you and think it's what's best. I'd like to make sure that case is distinct from the "better-than-you" case.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'm really sorry I used the words "straight edge" in the first place. I simply meant it as an easier way of saying "someone who does not smoke, drink [excessively], or do drugs."

PLEASE get over the label. It was just a descriptor; talking about how stupid the label is won't enhance the thread any further... we're over labels.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.