rosiedoes | (no subject)

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This came up from a conversation that

likethepaint and I are having with

eyerenderingfan, and I would be really interested in knowing the following:

[Poll #1290143]

I don't claim edge. I've only ever tasted alcohol twice, and it's not my kind of thing. No drugs - no smoking - no sex (unfortunately). Just caffeine. Truth is, though, that I only learned what edge was around the time I started reading FOB slash. I never made a conscious decision to be that way, though it suits me fine to say that yes, I will be that way as long as I live.

Did I just claim edge? I know it's a lifestyle choice. But is it edge if you don't make the decision to be that way and you just live that way as a day to day thing? Am I making any sense?

Didn't think so. Oh well. Par for the course.

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.

Well, in that case, I guess I did just claim edge. I have no desire to do any of those things and it is a decision and promise I've made for myself to myself. A lot of it is in the way I've been raised, but then, I don't feel the need to do that stuff just because someone else might want me to. I just don't want to do them, so I won't.

Hey - how about that? I guess I really am edge! After all, I've been legal for cigarettes for 13 years, for alcohol for 10 years, and I've never wanted to partake. If I had wanted to, then I would have. So it really was a decision I made for myself.

(Not being glib, either. I really don't want to do that stuff, and I won't.)

*hugs* Good for you, dude. It's really something to be proud of, because there are so many pressures in life to take part in these things and really sticking to your choices can be really hard.

It's awesome that even without a motive to do so, you've been living the lifestyle all along.

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