For the drawing or cutting tool, see Straightedge.

Straight edge is a lifestyle and subculture primarily centered in the United States where, intentionally, and in the face of actual opportunities, one does not:

• Drink alcohol
• Smoke tobacco
• Use recreational drugs
• Engage in promiscuous Censored page (although this is sometimes omitted)

It also generally involves some affection for punk or hardcore punk music. One can view Straight edge as a lifestyle only, or as a life-time commitment to one's self to stay away from the things listed above.

There are various reasons why people choose to be straight edge. Typically, the lifestyle is used as a stepping stone to allow one to be more involved with one's mental and physical health. In doing so, one may find some straight-edge people do not take in caffeine, or they choose to be vegetarian or vegan. Straight-edgers also have reservations about medication, particularly psychoactive medications, which they generally eschew. In its early days, straight edge tended to involve some abstinence from (particularly casual) Censored page, a practice still maintained by some members of the straight edge subculture. Many also feel having a clear mindset is a better way to approach life and/or spirituality.

"Straight edge" is sometimes abbreviated "sXe". It is still pronounced "straight edge", or occasionally "s-x-e", and not "sexy". "sXe" was also symbolized by large black "X"'s marked on a person's hands. At punk rock shows, it became common to mark an X on the hands of under-aged concertgoers to ensure that the bouncers would recognize a minor attempting to drink alcohol. Early adopters of the "straight edge" lifestyle voluntarily marked their hands to show their commitment to refusing alcohol. This practice is believed by many to have originated with Ian MacKaye's first band, The Teen Idles.

A "straight edge" lifestyle is not associated with or based on any religion.

Straightedgers' acceptance of drug-users are varied and change from region to region and group to group. Accounts exist of "straight edge" people exhibiting violent behaviour towards others who are not, but the majority of straight edge people do not promote violence at all. Intolerant interpretations of straight edge are sometimes referred to as hard-line. "Hard-liners" are typically looked down upon by the majority of Straight-edgers for giving the group a bad name associated with intolerance and violence. In turn, Hard-liners will target other Straight-edgers who don't adhere to any of a various list of activities, usually including veganism and sexual abstinence. The band "Vegan Reich" forms a notable example of a band following a violent interpretation of the hard-line philosophy.

Origins

In Our Band Could Be Your Life, MacKaye reports that he and friends often missed musical performances by their favorite groups because they were held in clubs in and around Washington DC that served alchoholic drinks and banned anyone under 21 years old from entering.

When MacKay's group, The Teen Idles made a brief west-coast tour in 1980, MacKaye encountered a club owner in Los Angeles who was sympathetic to youngsters wanting to see musicians perform, and had begun writing a large "X" on their handswith a permanent marker as a warning to bartenders that such persons should not be served alcohol.

Upon returning to Washington D.C., MacKaye suggested this same notion to various area club owners as a means to allow teenagers into the clubs, while preventing them from being served alcohol. Several clubs began doing so, and the "X" drawn on one's hand quickly became a symbol of a growing ideological stand against alcohol and drugs and coined the term “straight edge.” Ian’s first band, the Teen Idles, put out the “Minor Disturbance” EP in 1980 featuring two X’d up hands on the cover. The EP was the first release on the highly influential, D.I.Y. ethic’d Dischord Records, and it also marked the beginning of what would become the straight edge scene within hardcore and punk.

Deadhead, deadhead, take another toke

Deadhead, deadhead, you're a lousy joke

— "Deadhead" by The Teen Idles, 1980

The term "straight edge" was originally coined by the hardcore/punk band Minor Threat in the early-mid 1980s. It was not originally intended to be a lifestyle. The lifestyle is largely defined by the lyrics to Minor Threat songs, including the two listed below.

I'm a person just like you

but, I've got better things to do

than sit around and fuck up my head,

hang out with the living dead,

snort white shit up my nose,

pass out at the shows,

I don't even think about speed or weed

That's just something I don't need...

I've got straight edge!

I'm a person just like you

but, I've got better things to do

than sit around and smoke dope

because I know that I can cope

laugh at the thought of eating ludes,

laugh at the thought of sniffing glue

Always gonna keep in touch

Never wanna use a crutch!

I've got straight edge!

—"Straight Edge" by Minor Threat, 1981

(I) Don't smoke

Don't drink

Don't fuck

At least I can fucking think

(I) Can't keep up

Can't keep up

Can't keep up

Out of Step (with the world)

—"Out of Step (with the world)" by Minor Threat, 1981

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Straight edge is also a genre of hardcore punk rock advocating a straight-edge lifestyle.

Popular and Influential Straight Edge Bands

• Earth_Crisis
• Minor Threat
• Purification
• Chain Of Strength
• Project X, Judge
• Youth of Today
• Rise Against
• Boston Crew's DYS, SSD and Slapshot.

See also:

Minor Threat, Hard-line, Youth crew

Hardcore punk | Hardcore punk genres
Censored page - Skate punk - Straight edge
Grunge - Ska punk - Thrash metal
Boston - Los Angeles - Southern California - DC
Other topics
Bands

Another good resource is the alt.punk.straight-edge FAQ. It can be viewed at http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cultures/straight-edge-faq/