(no subject)

[rosiedoes]

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]

Comments

[untelling.livejournal.com]

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.

[nikitaquincy.livejournal.com]

I'm sort of #2, though I do have to take (prescription) drugs for medical reasons. I used to drink, but I can't anymore. I don't claim edge, because I didn't give alcohol up by choice, but I'm fine with not being able to drink. I couldn't afford to even if I wanted to.

[vinylsigns.livejournal.com]

I should qualify my answer in that I'm not opposed to sXe at all, but I don't have any interest in drugs whatsoever, and the only thing that would be my exception of actually being edge is that I very occasionally drink. But that's infrequent.

[edgiko.livejournal.com]

Its interested me.

What i question is what if you use alcohol for food? I could go my life without drinking [drugs? forget it. Been there. done that. Not my thing], but a lot of recipes I like use wine or tequila in them.
I know that sounds like a stupid question, but I'm curious.

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

I'm not edge, voted never will, but I totally understand those who do.

[byabsence.livejournal.com]

I always feel like I can't to be claim edge, even if most people I'm around mostly consider my to be edge. While I follow it pretty strictly (no drugs, drinking, tobacco of any kind) and plan to continue to follow that for the rest of my life, the no sex part of it is the only aspect I feel I can't honestly say I'll abstain from and be able to be completely honest saying I will. I'm pretty young (almost 18) and while technically, I have abstained from sex so far but I can't say for certain that'll be the case in a couple years, so claiming to be completely straight edge is something I don't feel I can honestly do and respect what edge means.

[moondarri.livejournal.com]

i made the decision to drink again. i'm slightly conflicted. funny, i haven't actually told anyone.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I'm in two minds about this because while I do stick to the core things of sXe - no drinking, no illegal* drugs and no smoking, and even refrain from promiscuity too, I'm wondering if it is slightly hypocritical to claim to be Edge when I'm a former addict of both drugs and cigarettes and still do 'other' negative things to my body...

_{* It is my understanding from reading about Edge that it does not actively discourage the taking of any prescription medication as directed.}

[kimpuff.livejournal.com]

I claim edge. I never really wanted to do any of that stuff before, but after living with a drunken mom since I was ten (so for five years now), I know first-hand what kind of negative effects drugs and alcohol have on your loved ones, and pretty much anyone around you.

After going to my mom's rehab (she's been four times I think?) and seeing all the druggies and alcoholics and hearing their stories, I made a promise to myself and my friends that I would never do any of that, ever. It's so unappealing. Not only that, but it's been proven that alcoholism runs through families, and I'm afraid that if I started, I might not have any self-control, like my mother. =/

[darkmoon711.livejournal.com]

I've never been really sure what Edge is. I don't do drugs or smoke tobacco. I drink rarely. I'm the counted on Designated Driver more then half the time.

So an explanation would be helpful. I put down the I don't claim edge... because I'm not sure if I could. *Shrugs*

[jedi-iwakura.livejournal.com]

Woah, loaded question, loaded answers!

I'm right in between the last two choices, so I didn't cast a vote. I think it's pretty cool though no matter what other aspects of life are rolled into sXe on a personal preference, and I'm not about to fuck with anyone over their lifestyle choices. Nor do I feel the need to justify what I do to and for myself to others. I only answer to myself about it, as should anyone else. Never did anything hard but the liquors since I was legal, and even as of late I don't drink a whole lot of anything because of my plasma donations. I don't believe my medications count. They help me eat.

:D And I like to eat.

[vinagrette.livejournal.com]

What an interesting bunch of comments!

Well I think it's probably clear which one I chose. I know you have strong feelings about it, so I was kind of scared to press the button - haha! Anyway, I am interested in learning about it, yes (which is probably why I find reading these comments so cool), but I can't see becoming edge myself. However, I will never be the drunken slut girl puking up all over public transport because that is TOTALLY not how I roll.

[tiny-tear.livejournal.com]

but I should add never touched drugs or tobacco in my life, never even had a drag of a cigarette ever...

I do drink, but not to excess anymore

[shewho.livejournal.com]

to clarify - it is highly unlikely i will ever live and claim edge, but i'm not uninterested in hearing more about it. a less dismissive version of the last option, i think!

indeed, i didn't realise until reading the comments that there was a kind of celibacy aspect to it as well.

[prototypicgirl.livejournal.com]

For Life.
It really was the best decision of my life.
I honestly believe that there is no excuse not to be... you will destroy your body.
A clean life is the only life for sure.

[shiny-starlight.livejournal.com]

If I'm not for life, then the tattoo was a big mistake.

[beachsidebingo.livejournal.com]

straightXedge and "breaking edge" was a lot of drama for some of my friends in high school. Basically petty hs stuff that I didn't really get at the time. When really it was someone claiming edge and then going back on it after discovering the "wonders" of alcohol or weed.
I've grown up pretty straight laced. I've never had any interest in drugs, in fact I was resolutely against them in my youth and it cost me one of my best friends. I've chilled out as I've grown older, but still have no interest in drugs myself. My family's policy on alcohol has always been really lax. If you can have it at home they won't be sneaking out to parties to drink and get drunk. So I've been drinking, in my family's company since I was about 12. Because of that I never saw the big deal about going out and getting drunk. I have a drink every now and then socially.
I smoked cigarettes for about a year when I was 18, but have since quit. I hated smelling like smoke and it did nothing for me.

[eruwenfuin.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up living by that lifestyle in the end. I already don't smoke, I think drugs are about as stupid as Sarah Palin supporters and I occasionally indulge in alcohol. But recently that's come to a near halt and I've only ever been drunk twice. (seriously did not like it at all,well the second time)

I'm surrounded by stoners, half of the people I know are on weed. My father and uncle are practically alcoholics and my ex-step dad was one. Due to them I've cultivated a great dislike of drunks and I have promised myself that I will do anything to stop myself from becoming an alcoholic. There's better things in life than narcotics (like knitting and bandom;)).

So I'm not claiming it, but I might.

[evel66.livejournal.com]

I claim edge, though it wasn't always that way. A couple years ago I tried smoking and then off and on I'd drink with friends but I hate both and I've never tried drugs. Sometimes if I go to a party (I actually rarely go to parties, but) I want to drink but I try not to. I don't know if I'll always be this way though. When I turn 21 I might drink, might not. Which really wouldn't make me sxe but I don't know what else to say.

Most of my friends drink/smoke cigarettes/pot and it's really frustrating for me to be around them. Some of them don't but they've at least tried smoking pot and I shouldn't be upset by that but I am and no one understands. I hate everyone viewing me as some goody two shoes.

As for the sex, I don't have it anyway, so that's out. I don't view cursing or caffeine as sxe-related but I know a lot of people do.

[fredtheguava.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing: I think I was edge before I even knew what it meant. I decided in Year 9 not to drink - whether to just be contradictory or because I just didn't want to, I don't know. But I didn't drink, take drugs or do anything of the sort for a long old time. I didn't drink til I was 19, and I experimented a handful of times with drugs before deciding it wasn't for me.

I drank too much for a while - not alcoholic levels, but a bit. And it wasn't fun, I lost respect for myself and I lost the respect of others. I chilled it the fuck out and reclaimed my life - at around the time I decided it was time to kick my ED once and for all.

But I like a drink. I like a mulled wine at Christmas, a glass of wine with dinner. A couple of drinks and some dancing for a friend's birthday. I very rarely, if ever, get wasted, but I do sometimes get drunk. And I'm okay with that - I definitely now feel like I am the one in control of it.

I have SO much respect for you, and those of you that claim edge. But it's not for me, anymore. Things have changed. Havign relationships with two people who were alcoholic or vergeing on it has made me very aware of the damage it causes, but I don't feel that I'm doing that to myself. I'm sure you have evidence to back up your point of view, and I completely respect that. But I do, once in a while, like an alcoholic drink. That's my choice, as edge is yours.

I know we differ on this, so I hope that you can offer the level of respect I will - not to drink around you, for example, if we go to dinner. Because that would just be rude - much in the way that I hate people smoking around me.

That said - do you and Julie want to go for dinner for Thanksgiving? I doubt anywhere will actually be doing a proper Thanksgiving dinner, but I thought it might be nice in honour of our shared trip into the States : 0