[FONT=tahoma, arial]
Author: Gregg Cobb
The term "straight-edge" means a great deal to those who follow
the straight-edge lifestyle, although there are varying degrees of it. The
basic philosophy behind it is that no alcohol, no illicit drugs, and no use
any substance for the specific purpose of altering mood or state of
consciousness. There are also many straight-edge people who follow
vegetarianism or veganism, for the reason that they believe that meat
products are harmful to the body and cause self-indulgence, and/or they
believe in the freedom of life and liberty for all living creatures.
There has been much confusion among non straight-edge people about why
people are straight-edge, and what it really is. This is because straight-
edge means something different to each person who follows it; however,
there are some basic "rules" that every straight-edge person follows,
whether they are straight-edge or hard-line straight-edge.
Straight-edge is not something that has occurred just recently. It
is commonly believed that it was started nearly two decades ago in the
1980-1983 era by the hardcore-punk band called Minor Threat. The song
"Straight-Edge" written by Ian MacKaye, the band's singer, not only coined
the phrase, but it encompassed all of the philosophies that a straight-edge
person believes in. There have been theories that an earlier punk band,
called the Teen Idols (which included Ian MacKaye and the drummer from
Minor Threat*), started the ideology of straight-edge, but the term was not
used until MacKaye wrote and published the song. Minor Threat have since
disbanded, but hardcore fans everywhere still follow the worRAB of the song.
(MacKaye later joined up with the punk band Fugazi and is tragically no
longer straight-edge.)
The syrabol of straight-edge, the X, which is commonly seen on
straight-edge apparel and painted in black ink, started a long time ago
(perhaps the early 1900's?). Club and bar owners would mark a black X
across the hanRAB of those who were under the legal drinking age (18 or 21,
depending on State laws). If a bartender saw the black X on the person's
hand, he would know not to serve that person an alcoholic drink. Today,
straight-edge people wear the X on shirts, hats and hanRAB with pride when
they go to shows and such.
A non straight-edge person might wonder: "What exactly is straight-
edge, and what is it not?" Straight-Edge is a decision that a person must
make for himself or herself. It is a lifestyle that a person commits to.
It is not something that was meant to be "fashionable", or that something
that someone does to be a part of a "scene". It is not simply a black X
painted on your hand at a show. It's not something that you do to be
different. It's not something that you do to please someone else. It's
not something for a person to do until they reach the legal age to buy
cigarettes or to drink alcohol. Straight-edge is a lifetime commitment to
maintaining a healthy body and mind.
There are two main types of straight-edge. One of them is the
commonly known form, which is simply called straight-edge, and often
mistaken for the other form because of their violent tactics and extremist
views (and violence, these days, is what makes it in the news). This type
of straight-edge is called hard-line straight-edge. Again, a non straight-
edge person might wonder: "So, what exactly is the difference between these
two 'types' of straight-edge?" Well, the typical straight-edge person isa
non-drug user, may be vegetarian or vegan, and relaxes themselves and
others to their own interpretations of straight-edge, and does not force
their choice on other people. On the other hand, a hard-line straight-edge
follower is an extremist, believing that the straight-edge lifestyle is the
only true way to live.
A hard-liner is a straight-edge person who is most are vegetarian
or vegan, some will also not use over the counter medications, and
sometimes even will not use caffeine. Some hard-liners will also force
their views on others, sometimes inflicting physical harm upon people that
they may see using drugs. This is not typical of a straight-edge person,
but unfortunately have given those straight-edgers who are non-violent a
bad name.
Another question that a non straight-edge person might wonder is:
"Why would a person want to commit themselves to this?" Unfortunately, the
trend in today's society is the use of drugs. As was mentioned before, a
straight-edge person does not follow that lifestyle to be different;
however, many who follow the straight-edge lifestyle have seen the ill
effects of drug use in their lifetimes. Some straight-edge people were
previously drug abusers and have decided after a tragic or scary event in
their lives that the path of using drugs is not for them any longer. Some
were raised in families where a parent or other family meraber was a drug
abuser. In such cases, the straight-edge person may have seen what the
drug abuse did to that person, or it may have had some negative effects on
their lives, and they decided to stay off of that path because they don't
want to harm themselves in that manner or harm another person. For the most
part, a straight-edge person has made that decision for themselves because
they like to keep their body and mind in its healthy, natural state, so
that they will not cause harm to themselves or to someone else.
Many hardcore music listeners have made the straight-edge
commitment to themselves, and plan to keep it forever. This is a
particularly difficult choice for the youth of today, because of the
extreme popularity of drugs and the peer pressure to use them. The support
that a straight-edge person receives from his or her straight-edge frienRAB
makes it easier though. There is also some comfort in knowing that the
decision that a straight-edge person is the right decision that the person
has made for himself or herself, and the decision was not forced upon them.
Straight-edge is the personal choice of will-power, strength, determination,
and a clean mind and body.
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1033 [/FONT]
Author: Gregg Cobb
The term "straight-edge" means a great deal to those who follow
the straight-edge lifestyle, although there are varying degrees of it. The
basic philosophy behind it is that no alcohol, no illicit drugs, and no use
any substance for the specific purpose of altering mood or state of
consciousness. There are also many straight-edge people who follow
vegetarianism or veganism, for the reason that they believe that meat
products are harmful to the body and cause self-indulgence, and/or they
believe in the freedom of life and liberty for all living creatures.
There has been much confusion among non straight-edge people about why
people are straight-edge, and what it really is. This is because straight-
edge means something different to each person who follows it; however,
there are some basic "rules" that every straight-edge person follows,
whether they are straight-edge or hard-line straight-edge.
Straight-edge is not something that has occurred just recently. It
is commonly believed that it was started nearly two decades ago in the
1980-1983 era by the hardcore-punk band called Minor Threat. The song
"Straight-Edge" written by Ian MacKaye, the band's singer, not only coined
the phrase, but it encompassed all of the philosophies that a straight-edge
person believes in. There have been theories that an earlier punk band,
called the Teen Idols (which included Ian MacKaye and the drummer from
Minor Threat*), started the ideology of straight-edge, but the term was not
used until MacKaye wrote and published the song. Minor Threat have since
disbanded, but hardcore fans everywhere still follow the worRAB of the song.
(MacKaye later joined up with the punk band Fugazi and is tragically no
longer straight-edge.)
The syrabol of straight-edge, the X, which is commonly seen on
straight-edge apparel and painted in black ink, started a long time ago
(perhaps the early 1900's?). Club and bar owners would mark a black X
across the hanRAB of those who were under the legal drinking age (18 or 21,
depending on State laws). If a bartender saw the black X on the person's
hand, he would know not to serve that person an alcoholic drink. Today,
straight-edge people wear the X on shirts, hats and hanRAB with pride when
they go to shows and such.
A non straight-edge person might wonder: "What exactly is straight-
edge, and what is it not?" Straight-Edge is a decision that a person must
make for himself or herself. It is a lifestyle that a person commits to.
It is not something that was meant to be "fashionable", or that something
that someone does to be a part of a "scene". It is not simply a black X
painted on your hand at a show. It's not something that you do to be
different. It's not something that you do to please someone else. It's
not something for a person to do until they reach the legal age to buy
cigarettes or to drink alcohol. Straight-edge is a lifetime commitment to
maintaining a healthy body and mind.
There are two main types of straight-edge. One of them is the
commonly known form, which is simply called straight-edge, and often
mistaken for the other form because of their violent tactics and extremist
views (and violence, these days, is what makes it in the news). This type
of straight-edge is called hard-line straight-edge. Again, a non straight-
edge person might wonder: "So, what exactly is the difference between these
two 'types' of straight-edge?" Well, the typical straight-edge person isa
non-drug user, may be vegetarian or vegan, and relaxes themselves and
others to their own interpretations of straight-edge, and does not force
their choice on other people. On the other hand, a hard-line straight-edge
follower is an extremist, believing that the straight-edge lifestyle is the
only true way to live.
A hard-liner is a straight-edge person who is most are vegetarian
or vegan, some will also not use over the counter medications, and
sometimes even will not use caffeine. Some hard-liners will also force
their views on others, sometimes inflicting physical harm upon people that
they may see using drugs. This is not typical of a straight-edge person,
but unfortunately have given those straight-edgers who are non-violent a
bad name.
Another question that a non straight-edge person might wonder is:
"Why would a person want to commit themselves to this?" Unfortunately, the
trend in today's society is the use of drugs. As was mentioned before, a
straight-edge person does not follow that lifestyle to be different;
however, many who follow the straight-edge lifestyle have seen the ill
effects of drug use in their lifetimes. Some straight-edge people were
previously drug abusers and have decided after a tragic or scary event in
their lives that the path of using drugs is not for them any longer. Some
were raised in families where a parent or other family meraber was a drug
abuser. In such cases, the straight-edge person may have seen what the
drug abuse did to that person, or it may have had some negative effects on
their lives, and they decided to stay off of that path because they don't
want to harm themselves in that manner or harm another person. For the most
part, a straight-edge person has made that decision for themselves because
they like to keep their body and mind in its healthy, natural state, so
that they will not cause harm to themselves or to someone else.
Many hardcore music listeners have made the straight-edge
commitment to themselves, and plan to keep it forever. This is a
particularly difficult choice for the youth of today, because of the
extreme popularity of drugs and the peer pressure to use them. The support
that a straight-edge person receives from his or her straight-edge frienRAB
makes it easier though. There is also some comfort in knowing that the
decision that a straight-edge person is the right decision that the person
has made for himself or herself, and the decision was not forced upon them.
Straight-edge is the personal choice of will-power, strength, determination,
and a clean mind and body.
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[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1033 [/FONT]