The Straight Edgers Club

[KnaveMurdok]

I'd say I agree with about 80% of the straight edge philosophy, and here's why.

I've never drank, or done drugs.
My family history is so messed up on both of those things. I have an alcoholic dad, who himself had an alcoholic dad, who himself had an alcoholic dad, etc etc.
Half my mom's side of the family is in jail for drug charges. One of my mom's brothers is permafried, I dunno what he did himself in on, but talking to him now is like talking to a child, and he's in his 40's.
I made a decision when I was pretty young that I was going to be the end of this cycle.

That being said, I don't really identify with the the people who call themselves straight edge.
I heard stories of guys ganging up on someone because they thought they smelled cigarette smoke, fist fights erupting, etc.
I had a legit reason to abstain, but I didn't feel like I needed to be some self righteous asshole who shoved my views in everyone's face, or worse yet, resorted to violence if I crossed paths with someone who disagreed with me. This is what the people of the scene pretty much expected from me, it felt like they were trying to start some lame little drug free street gang... so I walked away.
Plus, some of the really fanatical ones will tell you that being straight edge means you need to give up sex as well. I think they say that mostly because with their attitudes, they weren't getting any anyway :P

So yeah, I never wore the X, I like booty, and I like sodas with caffeine, so sue me!

[Cassandra]

For the record, I don't judge people who decide to drink or whatever, I just detest that those of us who have healthier more cathartic lifestyles often become pariahed from most social situations, or are deemed the "freaks".

Yes, this really bothers me as well.

On another note, there are a few people I know that could be doing such wonderfully productive things with their talents but instead they spend nearly all of their free time getting messed up. It just kind of makes me sad.

[ThreeEyedGod]

Wow, this is going to get judgmental quick.

[The Empirical Guy]

Never smoked.
Hardly ever touched alcohol.
Never done drugs.

Living in Australia, alcohol is a big part of the culture. Aside from a large binge drinking culture among the youth, it's generally regarded as "unAustralian" or just odd to not like beer, but I detest it. A foul, foul drink. I grew up and from a very early age, saw other people at school getting in to alcohol... people at the age of 14 going out every Friday and Saturday night, getting so drunk they couldn't stand, having sex they couldn't remember with someone they'd never met, then passing out in the gutter and waking up in their own (hell, or other people's) puke. For some reason, these were considered the "cool" kids, and I didn't get it.
I've drunk alcohol before, I will drink it again, but I've never been "drunk". I've been tipsy, had enough that I started to get loud and "loose", but actually I didn't like it and felt quite sick. It didn't feel like me. I have a friend who recently put it nicely, she said she doesn't like not being in control of herself. Getting so drunk that you act in a manner that you wouldn't normally, and likely can't remember the things you did, what's the point? How is a hangover and blurred memories of embarrassing acts fun? I've always had enough fun completely sober, thank you very much. To have a substance blurring my thoughts does not seem like a good idea. I go out or to a party, I might have one drink, sometimes two. When I'm at home I sometimes have a small nip of JD, which helps me settle before bed.

Smoking? It's just plain stupid. It smells disgusting in the first place, but we now know so much about it and the dangers to your health that anyone taking it up now must have a slow, agonizing death wish. I firmly believe it should be entirely outlawed, if not at all then at least in any public space. When I pass someone smoking on the street I have an urge to hit them in the face with a shovel.

Drugs? Mostly just don't interest me, for a variety of reasons. The thing about not being in control of myself applies as it does to alcohol. Aside from that, I hate the smell of pot. I hate needles, so anything intravenous is out (heroin etc). The way my head is sober, there's no way I'm making it worse my doing anything psychedelic, and I'm not doing E's or anything because you never know who's toilet it was cooked up in, and on the basic principle of it being a dirty dance party drug. I suppose that only really leaves cocaine as an option, but let's face it I'm too poor, and I'm put off by the fact that I once read there's no such thing as a "safe" amount until you've tried it: some people can do massive amounts, others a single line and they'll have an OD. Not sure if that's true or not, I'm sure someone around here knows what they're talking about though. I also once had someone warn me against it by saying that it was "too good". They said after having it, everything else seemed shit and you wouldn't ever want to be without it again, so to just keep away.

As for Straight Edge goes, I've known a lot of SxE guys and, like most life choices such as religion or whatever, I have no problem if they keep it to themselves. Some musicians that I really respect and look up to are SxE, and I totally get where they're coming from with it. But anyone who claims to be SxE and then tries to force it, through pressure or violence, upon others has drastically missed the point. The same goes for those who decide to add in other elements, such as vegan straight edgers. It's your choice, not mine, so keep it that way. I mean I get and support them preaching their word and speaking out against those who are in direct opposition... for example, people getting blind drunk every weekend, trying to show them their errors and they harm they can do to themselves and potentially others... but don't tell me I can't have one glass on a Saturday night, you know?

[Dysmorphia]

I have never smoked, used drugs and rarely drink.
I believe in having total respect for your body and not indulging in practises that can alter your state of being.

I think smoking is revolting. It smells, does awful things to the body and is expensive. A lot of smokers I know argue that they have to die from something, but I cannot comprehend the desire to die from a smoking related disease and funding it. I get really angry when people smoke around non-smokers, especially children. If you want to damage your own body then that’s fine, I don’t care, just don’t be rude and compromise the health of others.

With regards to drugs, I never understood the appeal. I am capable of enjoying myself with out them. I have also had some scary experiences with friends who were heavy drug users and would never want to be that person to any of my loved ones.
My friends through high school thought I was boring for never experimenting with drugs but I really didn’t see a point in trying something when I had no intention of continuing with it.

I seldom drink, but when I do it is usually at a parties or concerts. I find that after three drinks or so that I become very lethargic and over it. I have never been drunk and I have no intention to ever be drunk; I do not like the idea of not being in control and I dread the thought vomiting. Frankly, I would take a strawberry milkshake or Dr Pepper over alcohol any day, alcohol doesn’t taste that nice to me and I don’t understand the mentality of drinking to get drunk. I am pretty sure that in the two years I have been of legal drinking age that I have drunk less alcohol than a 15 year old in one weekend.

[Celiny-O]

Smoking - No. Yuck. I've had one drag of a cigarette in my entire life. And that was when I was 12, in Year 7 and it was the first time I gave in to peer pressure. I don't even remember what it tasted like. I just knew I didn't like it.
I find the habit to be plain stupid. I have many friends/acquaintances who smoke, and I often get annoyed when, at parties/gatherings, I'm covered in a cloud of it. Just the smell of it gives me a huge headache.

Smoking? It's just plain stupid. It smells disgusting in the first place, but we now know so much about it and the dangers to your health that anyone taking it up now must have a slow, agonizing death wish. I firmly believe it should be entirely outlawed, if not at all then at least in any public space. When I pass someone smoking on the street I have an urge to hit them in the face with a shovel.

^ And this.

Illicit substances - Never tried any, never will. Maybe with the exception of pot. But I highly doubt I would ever do it more than once. Just out of curiosity I guess. The smoke makes my eyes sting anyway.

Alcohol - I drink occasionally. I get drunk occasionally. 98% of the time at parties/any kind of social gathering. Much less now. And I'm never the kind of drunk to completely lose control of myself (with the exception of a few parties around the age of 14-15) and my morals.
But ever since a particular party in late 2009, where I drank half a bottle of cheap supermarket vodka and ended up over the toilet for hours, alcohol often seems to make me very sick.
I'm now an extreme lightweight when it comes to booze, so I don't tend to drink much at parties anymore, or in general. And when I do drink at all, I try to take it easy, so I don't end up vomiting due to my weak stomach.
I'll admit, I have fun when I'm slightly drunk (and not so drunk that I can barely see, because that usually means there will be vomit. Plus, it's an uncomfortable feeling for me to lose control even slightly), but I don't need to be drunk (or to drink) to have fun. Alcohol makes me less shy around people I don't/barely know, but something as simple as having a close friend with me when I meet new people can help too.

I've never been addicted to any kind of substance. Any person who is dependant on a drug of any kind is someone I can not respect.
Although if I have a few spare dollars, I'm bound to buy a Big M iced coffee (I make a lot of impulse purchases when I have any money at all. I don't like to see spare change in my purse). Mmm...
;)

[Shangs]

I've read a lot of stories since waking up, and I can identify with quite a few of them. Particularly the family history stories. My entire family drinks. I can't be around them without them having loads of alcohol around. Even though I've indulged in it quite heavily in the past, I just gave it up because when I have a family of my own I don't want my wife, or my kids or their friends etc exposed to that. Plus I don't want to die before I hit my early 50's, which is the average life expectancy for people in my family.

As for the Straight Edgers, and I don't entirely consider myself one, the "mobs" however get under my skin. What gives them the right to gang up on someone for already doing damage to themselves? Why can't they just avoid those people that they think are vile and wasted specimens of life?

Now, I do smoke, and I do drink caffeine. That's it. I know smoking is a horrible, disgusting, and deadly. But at least I know that. I've seen the results and effects that it's had on people, particularly loved ones. But even though I want to kick the habit, I like to smoke.

I didn't expect the response that this topic has gotten. We should all form a commune or something. lol

[Allycat]

Shangs, back in the 80's punk subculture, sxe was a different animal. I don't recall the 'facist' mentality among any sxe folks I'd known. I kinda subscribe to its dictums myself, though I'm hardly strict about it. I enjoy mixed drinks and wine, but very moderate amounts. More than that, I feel nauseous. I will smoke a bit of offered weed.

While I'm not an advocate of promiscuity, I figure each to their own.

I'm primarily vegan, but don't get all anal if I eat dairy. I will never ever consume meat/fish/poulty, though...


I don't care if other people use drugs or booze, but I do detest that party animal mentality big time. And I hate to be around tobacco smoke.

[Ich_Bin_Du]

Well I'm in that experimental-teenie-age I suppose.
Me and my friends go out often, 3 times a month or so. There is a small club here, with nice people and stuff. When we go out, we most often drink, too. I don't get drunk very often, I just like getting a little tipsy. I've made one very bad experience with champagne and tequila once, but since that happened I didn't lose control again. I found my limit and I won't overstep it again.
Some monthes ago a friend of mine ended up in the hospital because of alcohol and after that we didn't drink anything for a while, which was pretty refreshing and proved that we can "have fun without alcohol", as you say.
I guess the reason for me to drink is that I'm a little more self-confident then... I'm always 'the shy one' and I'm pretty tired of that. After a few drinks I can just talk to people. It's not about making a night or a party good, more about making it better, I think. In my opinion alcohol is totally okay if you know your limit and don't drink too regulary.

To the smoking stuff: I've tried cigarettes, shisha (waterpipe) and pot. I feel sick when I see all those people smoking in school, early in the morning, before even eating something... That's just gross. :D The smoke also gives me headache. I only like cigarettes in the combination with wine and warm weather, don't ask me why. I only smoked shisha 4 or 5 times until now I think... It's pretty relaxing, but somewhere I read that's it's doing even more harm to your body than cigarettes. I didn't feel anything of (?) the pot, though. I guess I just didn't really know 'how to smoke' at that time and so I guess I'll do it again if the opportunity arises. I just like trying out all that stuff and I don't plan to do any of this on a regular basis.

Alright. I'm the bad example. Kill me. :D

I get really angry when people smoke around non-smokers, especially children. If you want to damage your own body then that’s fine, I don’t care, just don’t be rude and compromise the health of others.

I totally agree. It just makes me sick if I look into the car next to me and I see two young parents smoking with the windows closed and a little girl in the back of the car. Ugh.


Edit: Oh yes. To the vegan thing: I'm not vegan, but I do care about what I eat, since I saw some of those terrible videos about the mass husbandry. When I can, I don't eat meat anymore. And I managed to convince my family to have one vegetarian day in the week. :D That's a beginning.

[ShelfLife]

And I managed to convince my family to have one vegetarian day in the week. :D That's a beginning.

Good for you! :D I've got a few vegetarian and vegan friends, and they always throw together really exciting foods (artichoke pizza, basil-pesto+pumpkin bruschetta, sweet-potato+beetroot sushi...). A vegetarian-day is a really good opportunity to experiment with different flavour combinations, maybe I should try instigating one in my household...

Whilst I love meat too much to ever give it up completely, I no longer feel that every dinner requires some kind of animal sacrifice. If I had to, I think I could adapt to a mostly vegetarian lifestyle if my partner/housemates/family wanted me to, but probably not vegan. That said, cooking for vegans/vegetarians encourages me to get more creative in the kitchen, which is always fun. :)