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I hate being asked why I am Straight Edge; I feel like it should be a decision that needs no external reasoning. People don’t often ask questions like “why do you breath air?” or “why do you eat food?” So why is it that they feel it’s necessary to ask me why I make the choice to care for myself? I feel like people who question others about their choice to claim are just waiting their turn to rebut the plethora of rehearsed responses; and I hate listening to dissertations on how Straight Edge is all about sobriety and community.
Straight Edge is not community nor is it sobriety and reducing it down to two so simplistic ideals is both ridiculous and insulting. Granted, Straight Edge will mean different things to different people; it’s not a religion and there are no rules. However, universally speaking, those who limit the confines of their Edge to the concept of sobriety alone are really missing the point and the benefit.
When I claimed Edge almost 9 years ago I was just barely 11 years old and everyone has always insisted since then that I would change my mind, as I got older, and fall away from it. Now, if they were addressing my perspective on sobriety, they were correct. At 11 I felt that no one should ever drink, smoke, or use, and those who did were just “lowlifes”. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that there is a sophisticated and adult side to alcohol and even smoking; it may not necessarily be healthy but it doesn’t make someone a “lowlife”. As for drugs, I still very much do not condone using, but I do feel I better understand that the majority of people are not innately “bad” they simply make “bad” choices and using is one of those “bad” choices. My point being that I am and have always been completely sober, my edge solidifies that decision for me, but it has very little to do with why I am sober. As for the concept of Straight Edge being about community, it’s completely garbage. Is there a community of people who are Straight Edge? Yes. Is there a benefit to relating to others who feel the same way as you and don’t pressure you? Yes. Do you have to be part of a community to be Edge? No. Is the point of being Straight Edge not, to a certain extent, to reject the conforming world opinions of how adults and teens should enjoy themselves within their communities? You decide. But for me, if hardcore punk disappeared, and no one felt the same as me, I’d still be rockin’ my X’s. Just sayin’. In my opinion the essence of being Straight Edge is very simple; It’s about physical and mental clarity, accountability, and integrity. That’s all there is. I chose to claim edge at such a young age as a commitment to trusting my gut and following my word. I knew that I was frightened by the idea of ever being dependent on anything but myself to keep me happy. As a result, I promised I would never willingly or knowingly allow myself to become dependent on any kind of mind or mood altering substance. I was afraid of the kind of crutch that even casual use of substances can cause and I never wanted to enter a place where my mind or my body wasn’t aware of its surroundings. I wanted to know who I was, and to be accountable for everything I did, both good and bad. I’m no longer afraid of substances, and instead now, I am simply confident that my life is more clear and sure without them. Having a mind free of drugs and alcohol helps you to face your realities no matter how grim or unpleasant they may seem. Life is not a waiting game, and if you don’t have the state of mind to see your problems or to face your consequences how can you ever change them or improve yourself. Essentially for me clarity through straight edge has granted me the ability to continually grow and the inability to hind from myself. Through out the years I have also learned to apply the principals of my Edge to so many facets of my life. It has become for me a commitment to clarity more than sobriety. I have learned to push myself to avoid as much instant gratification as possible. What I mean by that is that I have learned to look upon anything that doesn’t build me as a person, but gives me momentary satisfaction, as something that is not worth my time and hindrance to my progress. I’m not saying I don’t watch movies for fun, eat Thai food when it sounds delicious, or sing particularly loud to my favorite bands just to feel my heart race. I just make an effort to avoid things like compromising my values to work in a job where I might make more money, hanging out with people who may make me feel more “popular” but have no intention of being a good friend to me, or even something as simple as ignoring my internal feelings about something as a way of avoiding the reality of it. For me this also includes the issue of sex. Sex without compassion or connection is just a way to get an adrenaline and serotonin rush. Intimacy is a way to build a closer relationship with someone you care for; sex is a way to get a natural high. I don’t argue with people about this, it’s just how I feel. Being Straight Edge has allowed me the ability to always own up to my responsibilities, troubles, and conflicts while also allowing me to acknowledge my perseverance, my triumphs, and my accolades. To break it down for you, before my mom, my family, my boyfriend, my Buddhism … it is my Straight Edge that keeps me “real”. Without it I may not have been able to appreciate the wonderful people who I am privileged to call my close friends, to love every moment of everyday as much as I can, and to push past every trouble the world throws my way. I don’t want everyone to be Edge; the world needs variety to keep the cogs a rollin’. I guess what I am saying though, is that if you look at your Straight Edge as a personal conviction and promise, you can gain so much more from it than if it’s a label or a rulebook.“I won't settle for cheap escape, won't watch my life go down the drain, won't give up my control in an attempt to numb the pain.”- Go It Alone
Comments (59)
  written by Elena, December 22, 2008
I like your closing sentence alot :
"I guess what I am saying though, is that if you look at your Straight Edge as a personal conviction and promise, you can gain so much more from it than if it’s a label or a rulebook." You make a good point. Making sXe a promise makes it so much real to you. Great read, Betty.
 written by Morgen Starren, December 22, 2008
Thank you. I am so sick of hearing "You can't be sXe if you are not into the hardcore scene." Fuck you. I learned about edge from someone in a goth/industrial band. Take that and shove it. And that was when I was 15. I am 24, and am now getting into hardcore music.
 written by Brennan Kaye  ,
December 24, 2008
I love you.
Perfect conveyance, and definitely feelin' the mutual views.
 written by friggy ,
January 08, 2009
hell yeah, hardcore shmardcore.. have any of you ever vaporised? it is marijuana but you aren't burning it, so it actually isn't hurting your lungs, are you allowed to vaporize? it just kinda bakes it a little, and you can get pretty fucked up.. are you allowed to since it doesn't release any carcinogens?
great article!
 written by fizzle, January 09, 2009
beautiful. i also claimed at a young age. when i tell people about it, i always say that i was straight edge, but i just didn't know there was a word for it.
 written by Vijaya ,
January 28, 2009
"Straight Edge will mean different things to different people; it’s not a religion and there are no rules."
The problem I have with this statement is it implies there are no rules at all to being straightedge, but of course there are basic rules of no intoxication or promiscuity. If there were no rules it wouldn't have any meaning, you could claim to be edge while drinking, taking drugs or whatever! There are rules, and for good reasons, though the boundaries of those rules differ to different people but the basics remain. Same thing with religion or spirituality - there are rules for reasons, and to follow them blindly is dumb but to understand the benefits of following them is using intelligence. Hence, straightedge isn't that different to religion and many religions follow the same tenets to achieve another goal. Hence both sXe and religion can be both good and bad depending on the individual, and to talk about either pejoratively isn't right because there's good and bad examples in everythiing. Aside from that, nice article - thanks! Vijaya ;0)
 written by dalton, February 18, 2009
i have been a straight edger for as long as i can remeber but i didnt know there was a name for it until iwas prolly 13 when i heard 7 seconds for the first time the i was 16 when i joined up with f.s.u chicago crew because i was getting shit from skin heads
written by dalton, February 18, 2009
i joined up with fsu chicago crew when i was 16 i was getting shit from skin heads
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April 24, 2009
Lets all Impeach Osama Bin Obama. He so fake!
 written by Joel Gamba ,
April 29, 2009
I‘m here for one purpose: to get as much enjoyment out of life as I can. Pain and suffering are evils that must be avoided at all costs. The main thing in life is to always feel good.
What do you have to say about this statement.
 written by kalene humphrey, July 15, 2009
people ask 'why edge?' and i asked 'why do you use drugs and alcohol?'
amazing article, i hope you go far with your opinions and beleifs.
 written by stayxcold, August 11, 2009
Although I don't claim edge or nowhere near it, I like this a lot. I like what you're saying.
 written by Madison Ann Machado, January 23, 2010
I get that a lot, people constantly asking why I'm Edge. Its for obvious reasons. I'm only 13 years old and a lot of people don't take me seriously one bit. And I could understand why, because yes Im young. But I don't want to live a shitty life. I made a lot of mistakes at an early age. Enough to say that I'd like to stay clean for the rest of my life. I can't wait to prove everybody wrong 10 years from now.
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 written by xJACInTheBoxx, March 17, 2010
Labels are as harmless for personal sake. Whats an Otaku? Like tattoos if you hang with a way of life or promote something like edge then someone to think its cool. Pros: You can have a larger beach mosh pit or a larger home mosh pit. Cons: People will take it the wrong way and turn it into reject camp either that or who's straightedge for personal gain also betray the Purpose (F%$# a stranger get a baby or drink some booze then listen to Whore music).
written by xJACInTheBoxx, March 29, 2010
If your wearing edge and say your edge but not in the edge scene then your a F***'N POSER! Once again its not a pretty boy brand to say "oh I'm so clean but can't stand hardcore straightedge" so your a F***"N POSER PANSIE! Its a stance, its a created trait, its a resistance from STD's, LIFELESS DRUGGIE PIMPS and STUPID BILLBOARD CUTOUTS!
Once more "YOUR NOT BORN EDGE RETARDS"!
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i stumbled upon this article at the right time.
during a conversation with a new friend of mine, he expressed annoyance towards people who ask him "why edge?" personally, it was never something that frustrated me. if anything i looked forward to the opportunity to share something that means so much to me with others. however, my experiences and perspectives can only bring so much clarity. thanks for the piece of mind.