Straight edge: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

If you are looking for the tool used for drawing or cutting in a straight line, see Straightedge.

Straight edge is a lifestyle and subculture where, intentionally, and in the face of actual opportunities, one does not:

• Drink alcohol
• Smoke tobacco
• Use recreational drugs
• Engage in promiscuous sex (although this is sometimes omitted)

It also generally involves some affection for hardcore punk.

One can view Straight edge as a lifestyle only, or as a life-time commitment to one's self to stay away from the things listed above.

There are various reasons why people choose to be straight edge. Typically, the lifestyle is used as a stepping stone to allow one to be more involved with one's mental and physical health. In doing so, one may find some straight-edge people do not take in caffeine, or they choose to be vegetarian or vegan. Straight-edgers also have reservations about medication, particularly psychoactive medications, which they generally eschew. In its early days, straight edge tended to involve some abstinence from (particularly casual) sex, a practice still maintained by some members of the straight edge subculture. Many also feel having a clear mindset is a better way to approach life and/or spirituality.

"Straight edge" is sometimes abbreviated "sXe". It is still pronounced "straight edge", or occasionally "s-x-e", and not "sexy". "sXe" was also symbolized by large black "X"'s marked on a person's hands. At punk rock shows, it became common to mark an X on the hands of under-aged concertgoers to ensure that the bouncers would recognize a minor attempting to drink alcohol. Early adopters of the straight edge lifestyle voluntarily marked their hands to show their commitment to refusing alcohol. This practice is believed by many to have originated with Ian MacKaye's first band, The Teen Idles.

A straight edge lifestyle is not a philosophy and is not associated with or based on any religion.

A few accounts exist of straight edge people exhibiting violent behaviour towards others who are not, but the great majority of straight edge people do not promote violence at all. Intolerant interpretations of straight edge are sometimes referred to as hard-line. Hard-line does not necessarily promote violence, however it is characterized by a markedly intense devotion to straight edge, and a usually strict interpretation. Hard-liners may abstain from sexual intercourse or be vegans. The band Vegan Reich forms a notable example of a band following a violent interpretation of hard-line philosophy.

Origins

In the early 80’s, clubs in the Washington DC area would draw big X’s on the hands of underage patrons, signifying their ineligibility to drink at the bar. A small group of punk kids, including Ian McKaye, soon to be singer for the legendary Minor Threat, adopted the X on the hand as a symbol of their stand against alcohol and drugs and coined the term “straight edge.” Ian’s first band, the Teen Idles, put out the “Minor Disturbance” EP in 1980 featuring two X’d up hands on the cover. The EP was the first release on the highly influential, D.I.Y. ethic’d Dischord Records, and it also marked the beginning of what would become the straight edge scene within hardcore and punk.

Deadhead by The Teen Idles, 1980

“Deadhead, deadhead, take another toke Deadhead, deadhead, you’re a lousy joke”

The term "straight edge" was originally coined by the hardcore/punk band Minor Threat in the early-mid 1980s. It was not originally intended to be a lifestyle. The lifestyle is largely defined by the lyrics to two Minor Threat songs.

Straight Edge by Minor Threat, 1981

I'm a person just like you but, I've got better things to do than sit around and fuck up my head, hang out with the living dead, snort white shit up my nose, pass out at the fuckin' hardcore shows, I don't even think about speed or weed That's something I just don't fuckin' need...

I've got straight edge!

I'm a person just like you but, I've got better things to do than sit around and smoke dope because I know that I can cope laugh at the thought of eating ludes, laugh at the thought of sniffing glue Always gonna keep in touch Never wanna use a crutch!

I've got straight edge

Out of Step (with the world) by Minor Threat, 1981

(I) Don't smoke Don't drink Don't fuck At least I can fucking think

I can't keep up Can't keep up Can't keep up Out of step with the world

Straight edge is also a genre of hardcore punk rock advocating a straight-edge lifestyle.

See also: Minor Threat, Hard-line

Another good resource is the alt.punk.straight-edge FAQ. It can be viewed at http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cultures/straight-edge-faq/