Well, I was basically edge for a long time before I pledged to be so for life. It's not a promise to anyone else - it's a promise to yourself.
I used to drink on occasion, but I can count on one hand with fingers to spare, the amount of times I've actually been drunk. I've never smoked, I've never touched drugs - even though I've had opportunity to do both.
For a long time I was really confused about being straight edge. I didn't claim it publicly, even though I felt it, because I didn't want to offend the people who have been straight edge for decades - like my friend Jay. But having talked to him and others about it, I would say that the really important part is how you feel.
In the modern scene, straight edge is quite detached from the bands and the genres that spawned it; it's much more about personal belief and lifestyle. And as long as it's true to your ideals and you have the conviction to stick to it (you couldn't really dip in and out - say, have some sherry at Christmas, and then go back to being edge the next day; that would be breaking edge. Once in, you're in or you're out.)
There are people like Andy Hurley, and Jay, who have been straight edge for years and years and it's pretty much on a par with Jewish people's choice to follow the kosher diet or not. It's serious shit, but you're only answerable to yourself.
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on 2008-11-03 01:17 am (UTC)I used to drink on occasion, but I can count on one hand with fingers to spare, the amount of times I've actually been drunk. I've never smoked, I've never touched drugs - even though I've had opportunity to do both.
For a long time I was really confused about being straight edge. I didn't claim it publicly, even though I felt it, because I didn't want to offend the people who have been straight edge for decades - like my friend Jay. But having talked to him and others about it, I would say that the really important part is how you feel.
In the modern scene, straight edge is quite detached from the bands and the genres that spawned it; it's much more about personal belief and lifestyle. And as long as it's true to your ideals and you have the conviction to stick to it (you couldn't really dip in and out - say, have some sherry at Christmas, and then go back to being edge the next day; that would be breaking edge. Once in, you're in or you're out.)
There are people like Andy Hurley, and Jay, who have been straight edge for years and years and it's pretty much on a par with Jewish people's choice to follow the kosher diet or not. It's serious shit, but you're only answerable to yourself.