“A lifestyle. A personal choice. A philosophy.”
These are definitions that definitely deal with subcultures, and the Straight Edgers are no exception.
The Straight Edgers are a subculture of their own that branched off punk rock music in the early 1980’s. The term became popular with the punk scene when band Minor Threat introduced this new lifestyle in their song, “Straight Edge:”
"I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Then sit around and f*** my head
Snort white s*** up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need
I've got the straight edge"
So basically, straight edge people are centered around hardcore music who have rules including primarily not drinking or doing any kinds of drugs. Some are even vegans and vegetarians and restrain from “casual and promiscuous” sex. Some even avoid caffeine and other stimulants. The main objective is to not poison the body in any way, and maintain self control. (Sounds similar to the Word of Wisdom?) There are n dietary or religious beliefs tied to straight edge however.
The Symbol X:
The letter “X” is prevalent among straight edgers, commonly worn as a marking or tattoo on the back of a hand. (X because it is a marking given to underage partiers at bars banning them from buying alcohol.) Sometimes the number 24 is used to represent straight edge because X is the 24th letter in the alphabet.
The Irony:
Some accuse straight edge as being a militant gang, and in many ways it is. They form tight-knit straight edge communities who use their intense focus on wiping out substance abuse as a justification for violence. If you are affiliated with straight edge don’t obey the straight edge “rules”, you are in danger of being beaten up. They just don’t tolerate misbehavior.
The straight edge subculture is so interesting to me and so I ask you: How do you feel about the straight edgers? Do you know anyone who is a member of this group? If not, what are your attitudes about gangs and other “brotherhoods” of this nature?
31 comments:
I personally don't know anyone like this, but I think that the straight-edge kids are a funny group.
They seem so strong in upholding a good belief such as not doing drugs, but then they go out and commit violence against people.
I think the idea of zero-toleration is prominent among most gangs. They don't tolerate any behavior that goes contrary to gang beliefs or practices. A lot of times gangs are at odds with each other because of conflicting beliefs.
So, I like that these straight edge kids are doing something right and avoiding drugs and alcohol, but their fanatic enforcement of these rules and intoleratance is not very admirable.
Are you sure that kid didn't get that tattoo because he's a huge fan of Vin Diesel's movie xXx? Just Kidding. Obviously gangs are usually bad because they generally use violence to force their ideas on other people like the straight edgers. I hadn't really heard of the straight edgers until I moved out here to Utah to go to BYU. But, I've only heard of them and haven't really seen any of them. Then again, maybe I have and just didn't realize it. I think their idea of abstaining from alcohol and drugs is great! But there are other ways of advocating that idea and encouraging others without using violence or being a bully.
straight edge kids...wow. It is pretty ironic, like Chris said, that they are all about being good citizens in regard to no drugs or alcohol and even sex in some situations, but then go and beat people up for not being exactly like them. It doesn't really make sense. I still have yet to hear of them, let alone see them, here in UT. (or anywhere else for that matter)
Nope, I can't say that I have heard of these people outside of our classroom. This could be way off, but they kind of remind me of satans plan for us, in the premortal exsistance, when he wanted to force us all to be good. No body ever has agency when somone is forced to be good, so it completely defeats the purpose of even trying to make things right.
I don't know any straight edgers of anyone like them. They seem like complete hypocrites to me. I mean they don't encourage drugs and claim to be straight edge but the measures they take to uphold their ideals seems to go against what they say.
I am fascinated with gangs and groups and brotherhoods, I was watching some documentary on the bloods and the crypts and the loyalty within the groups and what they do to members that aren't loyal is crazy.
Straight edge kids seems to have the right ideas, but their way of taking their ideas and making them into actions seems to be messed up.
While I don't think the militant, no tolerance actions are great, I think the concept of straight edge is at least a little better than the alternative...it's always kind of weird to me to think and read about other people that don't drink, use drugs, etc. I remember a lot of my friends in high school referring to me as "straight edge" because I didn't participate in a lot of the common activities of the party scene where I lived.
I don't know any straight edgers, and all I know about them, or think that I know about them is the movie American History X. I don't even think that the characters are straight-edgers, but I think that they do have some similarities to them. From what I have read it sounds like they are a lot better than some gangs. It's weird that they don't believe in drugs and even caffeine. I guess it wouldn't be too hard to baptize one.
Like others who have already commented, I've never heard of the Straight-edgers either. They really are an ironic group to be strong believers in both peaceful and violent extremes.
You don't have to belong to a group to not do bad stuff.
I also do not know any straight-edgers. I think the whole thing is a little odd, and ironic, as others have mentioned. They have good intentions, until they decide that they need to be violent. I don't really understand why anyone would even want to be involved in a group like this.
I really think there are good and bad things about gangs and brotherhood groups. They provide a support system and like the Straight Edge group, they sometimes promote good things. But of coarse there are also a lot of bad activities that are influenced through such groups. I met some people on my mission who were involved in gangs and such, but it didn't mean they were bad people, I was surprised to find that many of them were great, honest people. I think it really just depends on the specific gang or organization.
I don't know anybody who is a straight-edger, but they appear to me to be very hypocritical. I think straight-edgers, like many other groups like them, are just confused. They resort to violence to compensate for insecurities they have, and I find very little honor in their lifestyle. Do I sound judgmental?
I wasn't really aware of Straight Edgers but what first came to mind (but is unrelated) is the film "American History X". Oh, as well as "Triple XXX". Same thing? Just curious about this. Gangs are pretty scary because there is most likely something bad and violent going on among them. They honestly freak me out. I try to act cool around people I suspect to be in gangs but... I just think that they should put their energy into something productive
Like everyone else, I don't know any straight edgers. I think they do more harm than good, although they apparently aren't that infamous yet. I think they shun more bad than they cause, so that's a plus. To be in that scene and resist drugs and stuff is hard, I commend them for being different and taking a stand. I agree that they shouldn't behave like a gang and be violent. People need the right to choose, if somebody wants to snort some coke that's between him and...well, yeah. All kidding aside, I look forward to learning more about these "Straight-edgers."
I can't say that I know anyone who is a straight edger. What I feel about gangs and other groups of such a sort? I think that everyone inherently wishes to be part of something bigger than they are. It's unfortunate to me that whatever "that thing" is, can be negative as well as positive. The ideas of brotherhood on a basketball team compared to that of a gang...not much different in my mind, they are just focused around something different. I've always wondered...how do you channel that desire to always be for good?
I had some straight edgers at my high school, in Utah they are known as being more violent and more aggressive. I always knew that it was good to keep away from them and not get involved. They seem to be a great irony; they counter some bad behaviors like drug use and casual sex with other bad behaviors like violence and hate.
While I think straight-edgers have a good overall goal, they seem kind of hypocritcal when you think about the violence and all that. I knew a kid who was straight-edge in high school, he even gave me a mix CD with a bunch of straight-edge music once. I don't think he's like that anymore though, as I've seen pictures of him smoking...
I think Straight Edge ideals are rad. Nothing wrong with no drinking, drugs, etc. But forcing it on people is lame. I remember growing up and straight edgers used to beat kids up constantly. That's super lame to force ideas militantly. Isn't that what we're fighting overseas?
I think that the whole straight edge philosophy, at least that which I've come into contact with, is very hypocritical. They don't do drugs or alcohol because they don't want to "harm" the body, but I've seen tattoos and piercings which I imagine aren't to great for the body. Not to mention the fact that when they resort to violence to make a point known, they're causing "harm" to another person's body. I think it's just an excuse for someone to belong to something and take there "anger" out on someone else.
They seem to go too far into the extremes. Most of what they value is good, but the manner they go about it is wrong. Gangs are dangerous when they decide to take enforcement into their own hands. People with no self-control it seems, when actually abstaining from all of this requires a great amount of it.
I feel like they are imblanced and unpractical. Someone who never smokes but then commites vilent acts is just as guilty as any crimanl in prison for their committed crimes. They need only break one societal norm or law to be unexcepted. They cross the line, and seem very hypocritical. Not my type of crew to hang with
I think that they are an odd bunch, but I guess I'd rather that they be attacking people who do drugs rather than people who don't. It's like the anntithesis of drunk driving accidents.
straight edgers are lame, they take the tough core of punk and apply it to wimpy things like christianity. It seems more spawned of suburban and farm-hand born-agains without anything to do. I'm not ragging on religion (i'm very religious) or sobriety, but it doesn't need to be enforced by a bunch of whiskey tango.
It's a form of simulacrum, it involves perverting a more noble cause from a virtue to a vice.
I think at the core, straight-edgers have a great idea. It was originally started as a way to live a healthier lifestyle. However, the current trend of militantly following their beliefs and inflicting physical harm on those that don't make them much less credible as a group. How can someone want to follow a group that is preaching a better lifestyle, when they aren't practicing that?
I agree to many of the comments that call straight-edgers ironic. When I first thought about this group,that has such strong beliefs, I was amazed at how these beliefs included violence as a means to an end. It seems so ironic that these vegan, no drug people are so violent. Then I thought about the music that unites them and it started to make more sense. The hardcore music promotes violence and the idea of violence has been incorporated into this group.
Straight edgers are pretty legit. I had numerous friends in high that were. They were great kids they stood up for what they believed but didn't hurt anyone. So i respect what they stand up for as long as its within reason.
Straight edgers are pretty legit. I had numerous friends in high that were. They were great kids they stood up for what they believed but didn't hurt anyone. So i respect what they stand up for as long as its within reason.
I first heard of this when a friend from Utah told me about them when I was in junior high. I never saw them or heard anything about them in Arizona (where I grew up).
I think they're a joke. Speaking of satanic, this is just another one of Satan's fun little ploys to limit freedom.
God invites and even entices; Satan compels and forces.
i don't fear straight edgers. probably because i have a lot of the same beliefs as they do. now, not the violent ones, but as far as how they believe they should live their lives.
i knew a couple straight edgers back in high school. they were very nice people.
I don't know any that is close to the definition of a straight edger. But it seems to me that straight edge is such a paradox of different subcutures blend together. However, just like many above, I think it's lame to force their belief on others, especially by violence
i think that the problem with straight-edge kids is that they're set of "rules" aren't really set in stone. there really is no parameters specifically set forth. drugs, alcohol and sex is banned, unless its your in love, then sex is okay, and if its just beer and not hard liquor then alcohol is okay etc.
To a certain extent...aren't we all straight edgers? While we might not beat somebody up for drinking a Miller Lite....have you never seen an LDS group shun somebody when they heard this youth had pre-marital sex? Wasn't he forever labeled the kid that had sex before he was married? I don't think that we're all that different in practice, even though in teaching we should be different.
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