a lifestyle practiced ususally by hardcore kids. Fundamentals of Edgeism include the omission of promiscuous sex, drugs, alcohol, and often the omission of eating animals.
by Lynn November 8, 2004
Straightedge is a lifestyle some people follow, in which they abstain from drink, drugs (including alcohol) and casual sex. It is sometimes abbreviated to sXe.
Being straightedge is not a trend or fad however some people follow it, or pretend to, to seem cool. (see: scene kid, emo). Being straightedge doesn't mean a person can't have fun or is too scared to do drugs, it just means they don't have to do that to have a good time.
Some people who are straightedge have already experienced the drink-and-drugs way of life and have decided it wasn't for them, or there was no need for it, one famous example being Ian Watkins of Lostprophets.
As it is a lifestyle and not a set of rules, many people have their own form of it e.g. some straightedgers are vegan/vegatarian, don't drink coffee or refuse medicinal drugs; these are not principles every straightedge person follows though.
Straightedge has nothing to do with religion. Although the idea of refraining from casual sex, drugs and alcohol is one seen in many religions, you don't have to be religious to be sXe.
Many people are straightedge without realising it - they don't do it to be righteous or follow a trend, they just are. Some people wear shirts with slogans like "poison free" but these are the type who are often very smug about their lifestyle and want to show off or force it onto others. People like these, and the emo/scene posers, are the ones who give being straightedge a bad name.
Being straightedge is not a trend or fad however some people follow it, or pretend to, to seem cool. (see: scene kid, emo). Being straightedge doesn't mean a person can't have fun or is too scared to do drugs, it just means they don't have to do that to have a good time.
Some people who are straightedge have already experienced the drink-and-drugs way of life and have decided it wasn't for them, or there was no need for it, one famous example being Ian Watkins of Lostprophets.
As it is a lifestyle and not a set of rules, many people have their own form of it e.g. some straightedgers are vegan/vegatarian, don't drink coffee or refuse medicinal drugs; these are not principles every straightedge person follows though.
Straightedge has nothing to do with religion. Although the idea of refraining from casual sex, drugs and alcohol is one seen in many religions, you don't have to be religious to be sXe.
Many people are straightedge without realising it - they don't do it to be righteous or follow a trend, they just are. Some people wear shirts with slogans like "poison free" but these are the type who are often very smug about their lifestyle and want to show off or force it onto others. People like these, and the emo/scene posers, are the ones who give being straightedge a bad name.
Scenario of a person who is genuinely straight edge:
Guy: Hey, you want a beer?
sXe Girl: No, thanks, I'm straightedge
Guy: Oh sure, no probs
Poser sXe person scenario:
Guy: You want a beer?
Poser-emo-scene girl: Oh fuck yeah! Ignore the cross on my hand, that was just for show for my millions of myspace photos. Wanna go have illicit sex later?
Extreme sXe person, known as being hardline:
Guy: You want a beer?
Hardline girl: Oh my fucking god, what the fuck? Why the hell are you drinking?
Guy: Woah, chill out
Girl: No I won't! (spends next 3 hours forcing her beliefs onto him (including veganism and refusing medicinal drugs, may get violent if he refuses to listen)
Final type of sXe person- the smug one.
Smug sXe girl: I'm straightedge! I don't drink, take drugs or have casual sex.. no I know you didn't offer, but I obviously felt the need to tell you because I'm so smug about it.
The majority of people are the first example (and they might not even say they are straightedge) so don't lump all people who are sXe together. The real straightedge people will be the ones who are still sticking it out and staying clean in 20 years time, and who disagree with hardline people.
Guy: Hey, you want a beer?
sXe Girl: No, thanks, I'm straightedge
Guy: Oh sure, no probs
Poser sXe person scenario:
Guy: You want a beer?
Poser-emo-scene girl: Oh fuck yeah! Ignore the cross on my hand, that was just for show for my millions of myspace photos. Wanna go have illicit sex later?
Extreme sXe person, known as being hardline:
Guy: You want a beer?
Hardline girl: Oh my fucking god, what the fuck? Why the hell are you drinking?
Guy: Woah, chill out
Girl: No I won't! (spends next 3 hours forcing her beliefs onto him (including veganism and refusing medicinal drugs, may get violent if he refuses to listen)
Final type of sXe person- the smug one.
Smug sXe girl: I'm straightedge! I don't drink, take drugs or have casual sex.. no I know you didn't offer, but I obviously felt the need to tell you because I'm so smug about it.
The majority of people are the first example (and they might not even say they are straightedge) so don't lump all people who are sXe together. The real straightedge people will be the ones who are still sticking it out and staying clean in 20 years time, and who disagree with hardline people.
by Straightedge Girl August 30, 2008
a lifetime commitment never to drink, smoke, or do drugs. some people include abstainence from promiscuous sex. others abstain from caffeine. started in the hardcore/punk scene of the early 1980's in Washington DC.
by Lynn March 1, 2005
Movement started in 1981 by D.C. Hardcore band, Minor Threat. Drawn from the two songs "Out of Step" and "Straightedge", in which in the former, they emphasize the values of "Don't drink! Don't smoke! Don't fuck!" which means no drugs, alcohol, or promiscuous sex. The movement grew in the hardcore scene as it stood at the time as a stark contrast to the drug and beer-heavy punk 'scenes' of the time. It is still kept on today, although a militaristic and violent branch of straightedge known as 'hardliner' has become more prevalent in some circles, in addition to straightedge's marriage to veganism in others. There are still many out there that believe in real straightedge though, regardless if there're 'x's on their hands or not. It has also been looked down upon by many people as another brand of conformity nowadays.
"I've got the straightedge!"
by God. October 5, 2005
One who has chosen the life path of sobriety, doesn't ingest any kind of drug (with the exception of prescribed medication) or drink alcohol.
by coolcat99 July 14, 2009
Someone who doesn't do drugs, or drink. Others should not care whether someone is straight edge in this sense.
by Dragonslayer1318 September 20, 2005
A person who promises never to do drugs, drink, smoke, or have promiscuous sex. They may also abstain from other "taboo" things. However, the name of straightedge is being tarnished by people who act "high and mighty" and think they are better than other people just because they say it.
Ruins the name:
'Hey, I'm a straightedge, I'll NEVER do drugs or drink or smoke like any of you.'
'whoop dee fucking doo, we totally give a shit, and we totally think you're way better than us </sarcasm>'
A good straightedge:
'Hey, wanna go out for a drink and stuff tonight?'
'sure'
*at the bar*
'I'll have a nice, cold beer'
'I'll just have a coke'
'wha?'
'oh, I forgot to mention, I'm what you would call 'straightedge'
'OH, I totally respect that, at least you aren't shoving your beliefs up my ass!</sans-sarcasm>'
'Hey, I'm a straightedge, I'll NEVER do drugs or drink or smoke like any of you.'
'whoop dee fucking doo, we totally give a shit, and we totally think you're way better than us </sarcasm>'
A good straightedge:
'Hey, wanna go out for a drink and stuff tonight?'
'sure'
*at the bar*
'I'll have a nice, cold beer'
'I'll just have a coke'
'wha?'
'oh, I forgot to mention, I'm what you would call 'straightedge'
'OH, I totally respect that, at least you aren't shoving your beliefs up my ass!</sans-sarcasm>'
by Your Mother's Mother's Daughter's Daughter's MOM November 20, 2007