The album cover of The Teen Idles' Minor Disturbance showing straight edge symbols

Find a large variety of home applicance, hardware, tools at low prices.

Edgers

Straight Edge (sXe, or "Edge") refers to a lifestyle, a personal commitment, a philosophy, and a subculture that is closely associated with hardcore punk music. Straight edgers abstain from recreational drugs, including tobacco and alcohol. more...

Home

Heating, Cooling & Air

Home Security

Kitchen

Major Appliances

Outdoor Power Equipment

Chainsaws

Chippers, Shredders &...

Edgers

Parts & Accessories

Engines, Multi-Purpose

Hedge Trimmers

Lawn Mowers

Leaf Blowers & Vacuums

Manuals & Guides

Other Outdoor Power...

Tillers

Tools

Window Treatments

Some followers of the straight-edge philosophy also abstain from promiscuous sex, abstain from the use of painkillers, abstain from the intake of caffiene, and/or practice vegetarianism or veganism.

Originally inspired by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, straight edge has spread around the world, but is most popular in more economically developed nations. Although straight edgers do not necessarily identify with a particular world view on social or political issues, straight edge is sometimes associated with the precepts of anarchism, socialism, and atheism.

Overview

There are various reasons why people may choose to be straight edge, and there are various interpretations of the practice and various applications of the precepts.

Some use the lifestyle as a 'stepping stone' because they believe it will allow them to be more involved with their own mental and physical health. For many, straight edge involves refraining from promiscuous sexual activity. Rather than promoting strict abstinence, many straight edge persons believe in sex within caring relationships rather than one-night stands.

The appeal of straight edge has broadened beyond the initial scope of punk and indie culture and has appealed to youth of many cultures who eschew recreational drug use. Many people who are straight edge became attracted to it as a Counterculture option to what they see as a widespread drug culture.

Straight edge is considered to be a choice by many of its followers. In this sense, no one is born straight edge or has been straight edge their entire lives. Labeling oneself straight edge is a conscious decision that someone makes for themselves and is generally not seen as a label that is obtained by default. One is not straight edge simply because they don't drink, smoke, or do drugs; it requires an active decision and participation in the subculture.

Attitudes towards spirituality

Straight edge is not a religion, it is a philosophy. Some straight edgers feel that having a clear mind is a better way to approach life and/or spirituality. Many are atheist, such as Good Clean Fun, or agnostic, often believing in personal-responsibility and rejecting the idea of a deity or any divine moral law. In many circles, the lifestyle has associations with spirituality—there were at one time significant Hare Krishna straight edge movements.

Christians involved in the punk/hardcore subculture sometimes consider themselves straight edge; indeed, the rejection of illicit substances, alcohol consumption (particularly underage), and premarital sex, is commonly encouraged by many mainstream churches and their youth groups. It should not be assumed, however, that the self-identification as straight edge is a casual replacement of one label with another. Prominent self-identified Christian straight edgers include the ex-bassist of Throwdown, at least one member of Comeback Kid, and at least one member of Stretch Arm Strong. There has also been criticism of Christians being involved within the straight edge community—reflected in songs such as "This Ain't No Cross On My Hand" by Limp Wrist, "Real Edgemen Hate Jesus" by XfilesX, and "Straight Edge Punks Not Christian Fucks" by Crucial Attack.