It's OK To Be Edge

It's OK To Be Edge

It’s OK To Be Edge
John Carroll
July 10, 2008


Straight Edge. Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t fuck. It’s a life-long oath originated in the 1980‘s hardcore punk scene. Three simple principles that thousands of teenagers around the world follow. Although these ideals seem positive, there are many naysayer’s to this, as with any kind of lifestyle.

One of the strongest arguments against teenage straight edge is that those who claim edge, or pledge to the lifestyle, in high school aren’t old enough to make such big decision. There are, in fact, a few big decisions made in high school that can effect someone’s entire life. At the age of 16, anyone can take drivers education, a program that effects someone for the rest of their life. Through driving, a whole new world is opened up, just as the pledge to live life clean does. There are other serious decisions that teenagers make. At the age of 18, a teenager may register to vote. This is close to the biggest decision a teenager can make, having the privilege to choose who will run the entire nation. When a teenager makes such life changing decisions as those, there is absolutely nothing wrong with another great choice: the choice to remain clean for life.

Another argument about straight edge is that it’s just another label. Essentially, straight edge is a label. Although this may be true, it is impossible to live life today without using any kind of label. If a person groups someone else in with a bigger group, it’s hypocritical to criticize the usage of the label straight edge. Take for example, one kid calls another kid a punk for dressing the part and listening to the music, but passes off the idea of calling someone else straight edge. It is intolerable to believe that one positive lifestyle should be accepted, while another positive lifestyle is dismissed. It may seem difficult to compare straight edge to other subcultures because of the specific ideology involved, but the ideology is another determining factor, such as aesthetics or style. Straight edge is a label that centers around its ideology. There is nothing wrong with using a label.


Finally, the strongest argument against straight edge is that it doesn’t start until the age of 21. Some believe that straight edge in high school is easily dismissible because of the difficulty involved in obtaining alcohol due to legality. Yes, this does make sense on the surface, but in actuality, teenagers can find or obtain alcohol easily. Whether it be from a party, or simply from the fridge, it’s guaranteed that any teenager nowadays can get their hands on a bottle of Budweiser in one way or another. It’s absolutely ludicrous to believe that any one person under the legal drinking age has never been offered a drink. Illegally obtaining alcohol is a very minimal problem in today’s society. Similarly, it’s hard to believe someone would abandon their ideology because they can simply purchase alcohol or tobacco with no problems.

Straight edge follows the belief that a better life can be lived without the use of alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs, and/or casual sex. That’s not to say that these ideals should be pressed onto others. It is OK to make the decisions that effect your own life, as long as they are only for yourself, whether it be to stay clean or to drink. It is not OK to press your beliefs on someone else, forcing them to believe what you believe in. Straight edge can be for anyone. Drinking can be for anyone. Don’t force someone to drop the bottle, or force someone to pick up one. Don’t think you’re better than someone else because of they way you choose to live your life. This is another argument against the straight edge crowd, a sense of bigotry derived from purity. This is a problem that should be stopped to help improve the image of straight edge in today’s culture.