Straight Edge - moving along a straight edge

Straight Edge refers to the hardcore punk subculture that was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excesses associated with punk rock. Since the late 1970s, straight edge has become part of the punk scene. During this time, a wide variety of beliefs and ideas have been incorporated into the straight edge, including vegetarianism, animal rights, and communism. In many parts of the United States, straight edge is treated as a gang; however, recent research suggests that only a small minority of people who call themselves straightedges are violent.

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Straight edge symbol "X"

The "X", the universal symbol of the Straight Edge, originated in the early 1980s when music club owners marked the hands of underage concert goers with a cross to ensure bartenders would not serve them alcohol. Before long, the children deliberately marked their hands to inform the club staff of their intention not to drink and, more importantly, to make a statement of pride and defiance at not drinking. The movement appropriated X, a symbol that was supposed to be negative, turning its meaning into discipline and a commitment to a drug-free lifestyle. Young people wear crosses on their backpacks, shirts and necklaces; they tattoo them on their bodies; and draw them on your school folders, skateboards, cars and other things. X brings together the youth of the world by spreading a common set of values ​​and experiences. Straightedgers find strength, camaraderie, loyalty, and encouragement in their sex friends, valuing them above all else.

A variant involving the trio X, XXX is often used in flyers and tattoos. This can be used to show that the follower is extremely straightforward. In addition, this may seem ironic, since the three crosses in the cartoon represent alcohol or poison. This term is sometimes abbreviated by adding X to the abbreviation for "straight edge" to get sXe.

Straight Edge Core Values

Throughout Straight Edge's history, trends in the movement have come and gone almost as quickly as Straight Edge's proponents. Determining a core set of principles spanning time and geography is difficult because values ​​change, every scene has its own taste, and even people in the same scene interpret Straight Edge differently. Straight Edge supporters acknowledge that Straight Edge means something different to each individual, assuming an identity, and as with any group, individual members' levels of allegiance vary. However, while people are free to follow the philosophy in a variety of ways, often adding their own interpretations, there is a set of fundamental values ​​that underlie much of the Straight Edge movement: a positive/clean lifestyle, a lifelong commitment to the movement and its values, reserving sex for caring relationships, self-actualization, spreading the ideas of the subculture, and participating in progressive causes.

T-shirt slogans, lyrics, tattoos, and other symbols constantly remind Straight Edge supporters of their mission and dedication: "It's okay not to drink."

“Truth to Death” and “One Life Without Drugs” are some of the most popular messages.

Pure life

The foundation underlying the sXe identity is a positive, pure life. Straightedge mainly aims to subvert the drug scene and create an alternative drug-free environment. A clean life is a key precursor to a positive life. Many sexologists avoid even caffeine and drugs, and most of them are strict vegetarians or vegans.

Quitting drugs and alcohol has many meanings for individual Straight Edge supporters, including cleansing, controlling, and breaking up abusive family patterns. Cleansing literally means getting rid of toxins that threaten health and potentially destroy life. The movement gives young people the opportunity to feel they have more control over their lives. Many young people experience peer pressure to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or try illicit drugs. For some, this pressure causes a feeling of helplessness and lack of control; acceptance often depends on substance use. Strateggers report that the group enables them to feel accepted without using drugs and helps them maintain control over their personal situations.

Lifetime Commitment

Straightedgers are lifelong committed to a positive and clean lifestyle. They refer to their abstinence and acceptance of the Straight Edge identity as a sacred vow, calling it an oath, a promise, or a promise. When former Straight Edge supporters began drinking, smoking, or using drugs, adherents claimed they had sold out or lost their edge.

caring relationship

Reserving sex for caring relationships is an extension of a positive, clean lifestyle. Many sexists see casual sex as just another trap of the dominant society, their peers from other youth subcultures, and their more mainstream peers. It carries with it the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases and a sense of humiliation and shame.

Self-realization

Straight Edge advocates argue that resisting social standards and expectations allows them to follow their own, more meaningful path in life, towards greater self-fulfillment. Straight Edge proponents believe that we have incredible potential as children, which is "slowly crushed and destroyed by a standardized society and rote learning." Straight Edge proponents build a view of the world as mediocre and unsatisfactory, but they also believe that society encourages people to treat themselves with crutches like drugs, alcohol, and sex in order to forget their unhappiness.

Spreading the message

The resistance of the Straight Edge is superior to the mere abstinence of the participants. The Straight Edges often actively encourage other young people to get off drugs and alcohol. many sexologists take it upon themselves to convince their peers that quitting drugs, not drug use, will help make the world a better place. A minority of straight-taggers, described as combative or uncompromising by other sexists, are very outspoken, almost always use X and sex messages, and stand up to their drug-using peers.

Involved in progressive causes

Like representatives of other subcultures, straight tagers are often involved in various social affairs. Many saw their participation in social change as a logical extension of a pure life that led them to embrace progressive interests and participate directly at some level. A pure life and a positive attitude lead to clear thinking, which in turn gives rise to a desire to resist and fulfill oneself. This whole process gives them access to the problems of the world, and their concerns grow.

Driving on a straight edge

For many Straight Edge fans, it's more than just music, more than just posing for a show, but it's hard to define what sXe is outside of style and music. The Straittagers are a very diverse group, with members who interpret and implement the core values ​​of the movement in different ways. In many ways, subcultures are individualistic, heterogeneous entities.

Social movements typically differ from subcultures in their more formal structure, less emphasis on style, and focus on political change. Movements are organized, exist for a certain period of time and usually work for change outside the political system.

The sXe movement is not headquartered, holds no meetings, and maintains no membership list. There is no charter, mission statement, newsletter, or formal set of rules. The movement recognizes no leaders, collects no dues, raises few resources, and rarely challenges institutionalized politics. However, sXers around the world agree on a set of fundamental principles for the movement and act accordingly. The core values ​​of a clean life, a positive attitude, resistance to social pressure and community transcend national boundaries, despite Straight Edge's complete lack of bureaucracy. At the heart of sXe, punk rock, and many other youth cultures is the desire for individuality and self-expression. Members oppose mainstream society, which imposes conformity by suppressing individual thought and action. Strateggers do not "participate" in the movement in the way scholars usually think of participation in the movement: strikes, picketing, signing petitions, lobbying, writing letters, joining and/or supporting an activist organization, civil disobedience, and other common forms of social protest. . Loosely bound by a guiding collective identity and united in their

obligations, sXers tailor their participation to suit their interests and needs. A commitment to a meaningful identity is fundamental to various forms of participation.

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