r/straightedge Jun 02 '21

___ READ THIS BEFORE POSTING ___

285 Upvotes

If you’re new to Straight Edge.

Straight Edge is a subculture that emerged in the hardcore punk scene in the early 1980s. It promotes a drug-free lifestyle through abstinence from alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Its origins can be traced back to the song "Straight Edge" by the American punk band Minor Threat, released in 1981. The song, written by frontman Ian MacKaye, expressed his personal commitment to abstain from drugs and alcohol. It struck a chord with many young people who were disillusioned with the prevalent substance abuse within punk and saw Straight Edge as a means of rebellion against the excesses of mainstream culture. They instead embraced the emphasis on personal integrity, self-control and social consciousness. Straight Edge has then seen a time of worldwide growth in the '90s, followed by various eras of ebb and flow since then. Due to increased awareness of environmental and animal rights issues prominent in the scene in the '90s, many of us adopted vegan or vegetarian lifestyles.

There are several good books on Straight Edge, including Straight Edge: Hardcore Punk, Clean-living Youth, and Social Change by Ross Haenfler (2006) and Straight Edge A Clear-Headed Hardcore Punk History by Tony Rettman and CIV (2017). If you don't know any straight edge bands, this Spotify playlist can serve as a good introduction, and xsisterhoodx is a straight edge/hardcore community supporting the women/girls of the straight edge/hardcore scenes established all the way back in 1995.

Can I take my medication and be Straight Edge?

We've received questions in the past about whether you can take prescribed medication [insert your type of meds here] and still be Straight Edge. Yes, you can. The person who told you otherwise can call our helpline now at 1-800-STUPID.

Straight Edge and recovery from addiction.

We are definitely supportive of your decision to make positive changes in your life, but please note Straight Edge isn't therapy or a recovery plan. Users of this subreddit who are both Straight Edge and in recovery have explicitly said on multiple occasions that just being Straight Edge is not a substitute for a recovery plan. We are neither geared toward nor equipped to offer active recovery support. There are better resources out there designed specifically for this purpose.

(People are Straight Edge for a range of reasons, but most of us do not have any desire to get intoxicated, some have never touched psychoactive substances, etc. - if you’re currently an addict with chronic cravings, be realistic about how our experience might differ from yours).

Having said that, the Straight Edge scene is not a bad place to be if you’re in recovery. We’re drug free and not shy about it. Again, drawing on the experience of users of this subreddit who are both Straight Edge and in recovery, we’ve heard how surrounding yourself with sober people is helpful in staying sober and how sxe hardcore kept them motivated to stay clean.

Academic research.

Yes, you can post your academic research survey requests in this subreddit. Please use #sxeresearch in your post. We appreciate it if you can provide some background information (subject of study, academic level, etc.), and maybe come back to share the results, if they are published. Thanks.


r/straightedge 5h ago

The reminder

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34 Upvotes

What do you do to remind yourself of the reason for the commitment? Attachment to items, a particular song, a hobby, etc…

Family, education, reliability, Cooking and going to the gym, the swatch, XXX music playlist, and my adidas sambas motivate me to remain committed and to follow through and wake up in the morning. Some days I feel like my brain is absolutely shot and then 15 minutes later after some laser focus everything is great knowing that I’m the absolute captain of this computer we have in our heads that we should be maintaining.


r/straightedge 3h ago

Discussion

2 Upvotes

When I was about 17 or 18 years old, I met a bunch of “straight edge“ people in the scene who turned out to not be edge at all, and it lasted about two months for me before I separated myself. I am now in my 30s and have a newfound understanding of straight edge. Since then I’ve battled with addiction with alcohol and have been sober for a few years now and have decided to claim edge based on the principal it actually means something to me now as opposed to when I was a kid trying to “fit in” for a couple months I know a lot of folks would have mixed opinions on this. I do have quite a large amount of edge friends who have been nothing but supportive and encouraging of me claiming edge again


r/straightedge 1d ago

Skanking Hank

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125 Upvotes

r/straightedge 20h ago

help find the photo on the backprint!

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9 Upvotes

r/straightedge 1d ago

i’m in for life now

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324 Upvotes

straight edge made me feel safe to go back into the punk scene without fucking up my life or my body to feel accepted again. im ready never to go back xxx


r/straightedge 18h ago

Is Taking a lot of melatonin with the intent of sleeping for a long time breaking edge?

0 Upvotes

I have bouts of depressive episodes, and I will have days where i don’t want to be awake. I’ll take 7-8 melatonin and sleep for about 10 hours and wake up and take more to go back to sleep. I’ve been sober for 6 months now and have been pretty good about doing this kind of thing. It was definitely prevalent when i was homeless sleeping on a couch. But i am curious if yall would consider behavior like this breaking edge? I guess it could be seen as like “escapism” because you’re using a medication to skip the day. I guess the only difference between booze is that you’re awake as with this you’re asleep. Also don’t do this! The rebound insomnia isn’t worth it.


r/straightedge 1d ago

Not edge, can I still rep Earth Crisis Merch?

0 Upvotes

I smoke and very occasionally drink at the shows, so I don’t want to cause any beef but I really am a huge fan of their music.


r/straightedge 2d ago

Can I be considered Straight Edge if I don't listen to Straight Edge bands?

0 Upvotes

Hey guys! So I go to a lot of concerts but most of the bands I listen to drink and smoke. The only Straight Edge bands I know are Sue and Have Heart. I first heard about Straight Edge in High School when the lead singer of Have Heart came to talk to us about being Straight Edge. I worry that if I start embracing Straight Edge with like patches and stuff I'll be seen as a poser. I've never smoked or drank and frankly it kinda disgusts me. I love the free water at concerts and hate when people spill beer on me or smoke near me. I also don't mind being mistaken for a minor when I get the X's drawn on my hands at shows.

Also 100% open to checking out more Straight Edge bands!


r/straightedge 4d ago

New XVX band from the Midlands

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56 Upvotes

Hello, my xvx band recently dropped an EP.

Can find it here: https://xdegradationx.bandcamp.com/album/freaks-to-the-front

We are looking for a drummer, we have some people filling in at the moment but would love someone permanent.

Thank you


r/straightedge 4d ago

Harm reduction zines 4 the community!

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28 Upvotes

Heya!! I went to this festival called Whole last year and loved it. I planned the whole year to go again this year. Health got in the way. To be honest, addiction.

So I’ve put my anger and resentment of not going to making some art, and produced a little pocket sized zine for craving management! If anyone would like to see it or buy one, let me know and I can send you a link for purchase, we can trade or I’ll just send you one for free if you feel like this is a tool you’d actually use 🖤


r/straightedge 4d ago

Straight Edge in Glasgow

14 Upvotes

Hey there, I'm planning on moving to Glasgow in the new year and have been told there's a decent edge community in the city - very exciting!

Anyone on here an active member of the scene? Got any recommendations for venues, local bands, other social things happening amongst sober punks in the city?

Would love to know some of the spots to be and even meet up with a couple heads when I move over if possible.

All the best 🙏🏻🤘


r/straightedge 5d ago

Australian Straight Edge bands?

20 Upvotes

Australia used to have some great edge bands back in the early 00's but what's around these days??


r/straightedge 5d ago

Straight Edge Culture in Santa Barbara CA

8 Upvotes

Does anyone here know about the straight edge culture in Santa Barbara, California? I go to UCSB and it’s possibly the least straight edge place I’ve seen in the world: everyone parties and drinks and hookups and I hate it. Is there a straight edge culture here at all? I want to meet like minded individuals


r/straightedge 5d ago

Straight Edge Metalcore - ABSENTLIGHT

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4 Upvotes

Hey everyone, my band Absentlight just recently put out our debut EP “A Side Effect of Mourning”.

We are a straight edge band out of Washington state and Illinois. I am putting the link to our Bandcamp in case anybody wants to check us out. We are also on all streaming platforms


r/straightedge 6d ago

Straight edge band from Ohio

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10 Upvotes

Check us out I guess 🤷‍♂️
You can follow us on instagram at @patronofbeggars too if you’re into that


r/straightedge 7d ago

Help find this merch

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22 Upvotes

r/straightedge 7d ago

West Mids UK

4 Upvotes

Any straight edge out here in the West Midlands UK? Seems impossible to find anyone


r/straightedge 7d ago

How has straightedge affected your gym routines? If at all?

17 Upvotes

For example I keep my original XXX playlist that plays 24/7 no matter what I’m doing with about 20h of old to new X music. I began building my kitchen routine around growth and my gym routine is traditional weightlifting like from Pumping Iron. Before X, I was not using the gym regularly and usually just during sports seasons which defeated the purpose of ever growing. X keeps my energy levels way more leveled out and my mental health plus the gym routine have made education and career choices much more close to me and more valued personally. The gym came with x is all I’m saying.


r/straightedge 7d ago

Top 25 Victory Records Albums (1990-2000) Part Three of Three

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13 Upvotes

https://youtu.be/UmKSU8T7p18?is=_xxotC4_TLrXawF8

From T&F Podcast/Hellsheart Merch Co-- the last part of the Top 25 Victory Records Albums of 1990-2000. What do you think should be on the list?

PART ONE OF THREE

https://youtu.be/P8u-p-Z5K6s?is=A99GGGUHfwDPxEql

PART TWO OF THREE

https://youtu.be/D4YMoqgzyOA?is=E7KDK1oG_sAL_cBl

T&F INSTAGRAM

http://instagram.com/thetandfpodcast

T&F DISCORD

https://discord.gg/urbmb9DCE


r/straightedge 8d ago

Straight Edge Powerviolence??

49 Upvotes

Is there much straight edge powerviolence out there like explicitly edge shit? I'm fairly new to the whole subculture and have only really stumbled upon the metallic hardcore and beatdown and youth crew sorta stuff and I was wondering if there were any out there


r/straightedge 7d ago

Would you break edge for charity? What's your price?

0 Upvotes

Let's say it's a hypothetical fundraiser for your favourite worthy cause.

Would you break edge for charity? What's your price? Would it matter if you had to drink one drink or actually get drunk? What other factors should be considered here?

No, there's no "we'll double your contributions, if you cover up your tattoos" clause, haha.

I'm coming at this from a microeconomics perspective, but I also think this is less offensive and less unethical than other scenarios where people's identity / lifestyle could be leveraged this way (vs for example religion, or being vegan, etc).

(Disclaimer: I think too much about the effectiveness of charitable giving, etc.)


r/straightedge 8d ago

It Is Going To Get Dark - Album by No Cure | Spotify

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47 Upvotes

Been absolutely pumping the hell out of this album since it dropped last week!!


r/straightedge 8d ago

straight edge and gen z?

35 Upvotes

Hey y'all just asking since I was born In 2001 and have been edge for 3 years asking if there's any fellow Gen z edgers?? gen z's drinking less than previous generations.