The Specifics

As a general overview, I have mainly portrayed the Edgies as people who abstain from using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The following question was raised in regards to the lifestyle:

Does this lifestyle say anything about sexual activity or is it more oriented towards "drugs, alcohol, and tobacco"?

This is where things can become hazy, because there are different interpretations, or rather, degrees of the Straight Edge lifestyle. What I have always stated (no drugs, alcohol, or tobacco) is the bare minimum, and it serves as the foundation of all the variations. To be clear, there are not different denominations; everyone is just labeled as "Straight Edge."

To begin with, I will answer the posed question. Sexual activity, to some Edgies, is completely okay. However, to others it is not. When the sexual activity can be considered promiscuous, it violates the lifestyle. When we consider the pursuit of the "clear body and mind", it becomes clear why this type of sexual activity is considered bad. The likelihood of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease is increased, making the behavior destructive.

There are even dietary rules that some Edgies will incorporate as part of their Straight Edge lifestyle.

Caffeine is everywhere these days. It can be considered a drug if examined very closely (at least that is what my high school nurse always told us). When one consumes this substance, it has an affect on their body, causing a excited state that later comes down. This is exactly what Edgies try to avoid, which is being in an impaired (even if it is very slight) state.

Another dietary standard some Edgies embrace is that of Vegetarianism/Veganism. The best connection I am able to make with these diets and the Straight Edge lifestyle goes with the concept of the "clear mind." Watching a video produced by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals such as "Meet your Meat" can make someone feel really guilty about eating meat. This guilt can stand in the way of having a "clear mind", so adopting one of these diets will make the Edgie feel less of this guilt. This explanation is only a theory, and I would like to believe that having these diets goes more beyond a trend. What do you think?

Breaking Edge

On few occasions, Edgies will cease to be Straight Edge for whatever reason. This is called "breaking Edge." It's the same concept as a Vegetarian eating meat in a moment of weakness, or just quitting the diet altogether. Either of these lifestyles could be dropped as if it were just a "fad" or a "phase" in someone's life, which they very well could have been. I now pose the question: are there any drawbacks to this choice of no longer living this lifestyle?

In my opinion, no, aside from the health risks you would have from adopting an abusive intake of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol. Otherwise, it's your own life and you should live it any way you see fit.

There are, however, consequences outside of my personal opinion. Due to the ethnocentric values that can sometimes be found in the Straight Edge culture, anyone who "breaks edge" can become a candidate for isolation. It is a slim possibility, but nonetheless the threat is present, and if the Straight Edge culture is all they knew, they could have a hard time readjusting.

Another problem that could arise is determined by whether or not the individual decided to mark themselves with a Straight Edge tattoo. If they had marked themselves with the traditional one or three Xs, then they will have a false proclamation on their skin. Of course they could have it covered or removed, but both of those are lengthy, painful processes.

"Breaking edge" is simply just a change of lifestyle, but it goes to show that people will always have different levels of commitment, and the way one finally decides to lead their life does not make flaws upon their character for having explored other lifestyles.

Johnny Cupcakes

Within any culture or subculture, there are celebrity-like figures to be found. Typically, the Straight Edge celebrities consist of people who are in bands. However, there are a few exceptions. One notable exception is entrepreneur, Johnny Earle.

Johnny Earle owns a very unique clothing company that shares his nickname, Johnny Cupcakes. Growing up, he explains, it was very easy for people to tack on words to his name and create new nicknames for him, such as "Johnny Appleseed". One day he was dubbed "Johnny Cupcakes" and he really liked the sound of it. He then created a T-shirt with the brand's now famous cupcake and crossbones logo on it. People would always ask him if they could buy one, so following supply and demand rules, he complied. These simple back-of-a-van transactions have now blossomed into an admirable chain of stores, with one opening overseas soon. Being called Johnny Cupcakes can obviously create some confusion, and many people often enter the store expecting a bakery. Earle responded to this misconception the only way he knew how: by building his stores in the image of a bakery. Shirts are kept in miniature ovens, fridges, and bakery-style display cases. New T-shirt designs are referred to as "freshly baked". There are even "Nutrition Facts" posted on the walls. The response to his creativity has been very positive, and he attracts a customer base of not only Edgies, but also Hippsters and various other creative-types.

A more detailed story, pictures, and clothing can all be found on the Johnny Cupcakes website.

But alas, when one finds themselves wrapped up in the food-themed clothing industry, they are bound for trouble. This trouble has a name, and it's Pyknic Wear.

Pyknic Wear was founded by Stephen Thompson and Andrew Marshall, who also go by "The Butcher" and "The Chef". Their T-shirt designs cover the full spectrum of food, whereas Johnny Cupcakes keeps a firm grasp on baked goods. Pyknic Wear is not spawned from the Straight Edge lifestyle, but at the same time, it exists within the same "scene" as Johnny Cupcakes (the "scene" refers to a subculture that exists under the combined music genres of Pop-rock, Emo, Post-Hardcore, and countless others). Thompson and Marshall apparently saw Earle as competition and have recently been uncovered as the culprits behind a recent controversy. Basically, they were "hating" on Johnny Cupcakes. They created a fake identity on Emptees.com (a popular T-shirt-centered social networking website) and began to bash Earle's brand on various message boards. The smack talking was very personal, and could without a doubt have Thompson and Marshall labeled as "creepers". Eventually, Earle and friends uncovered the true identity of their haters through a little "creeping" of their own. To get the juicy details on this T-shirt brand drama, click here.

Johnny Earle found many of Thompson and Marshall's attacks personal because they challenged him on the fact that he is an Edgie. The following is one of the many posts made by user, gonehoggin84, or, Thompson and Marshall, followed by Earle's response:

My apologies on the quality. It can also be found on the link provided above.

This argument is centered around the subject of Ethnocentrism, which I have already discussed in a previous Blog Post. I believe Earle handled his portion of the argument very well, stating that he is not among those who look down upon people who are not Edgies. He clarifies that he is in no way trying to impose his lifestyle on others. Someone's lifestyle is very personal, and the choices they make should in no way, shape, or form affect anyone other than themselves.

Tattoos and Piercings

Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember

Many times when I see Edgies, a good majority of them are fairly tattooed and pierced. The tattoos typically cover the full length of one or both arms ("full sleeve") and the piercings are usually gauges (those piercings that make large holes in the earlobes). What has always puzzled me is the fact that these forms of expression can be equivalent to body mutilation. This may seem like an extreme comparison, however, when we think of Edgies' desire for the "pure body", it seems like anything of this nature could stand in the way of that. Then again the tattoos and piercings would not affect an edgie's sobriety or "clear mind", so in those regards it would be perfectly fine.

The scale of how many Edgies partake in getting tattooed or pierced is also intriguing. When considering the fact that the Straight Edge lifestyle is derived from Punk Rock it almost becomes surprising that not all of the Edgies are covered in "body art". This obvious explanation did not satisfy my curiosity, so upon research I found that it creates Straight Edge identity. Usually tattoos and piercings are a way to show off one's individuality, but in regards to the Straight Edge subculture, it is a way of showing you belong.

It is in my own opinion that Edgies' lifestyle choices are really personal, and subscribing to any group that would have you alter yourself in such an extreme way outwardly seems like you are changing for the wrong reasons. It is great that there is a defined culture for this lifestyle, because then its members have each other to look to for support. It just seems like they are conforming too much. Tattoos and piercings have individuality within themselves, but with Straight Edge they become more uniform-like. Essentially I believe it's okay to be Straight Edge and have tattoos/piercings, but you sacrifice your individuality when you get tattooed/pierced because you are Straight Edge.

What They Talkin Bout, Willis?

There aren't too many people out there who are, per say, out to "get" the Edgies. At least not any more, however, there was a big controversy surrounding the emergence of the Straight Edge subculture. Perhaps it was the charismatic, mohawk-sporting leaders that Edgies had during the era of Punk Rock that caused such a ruckus. If that's the case then the mohawks have now gracefully fallen into what we call the "emo swoop", symbolizing, if you will, a new era of respect between schools of thought.

Despite there being no arguable objection to the Straight Edge lifestyle in itself, there is always the topic of drinking for me to discuss. Often times when my friends are conversing about alcohol and such, they ask why I do not drink. Upon telling them that I see no point to it, I time and time again receive the same reply.

"But it helps you loosen up, and you are able to talk to people better."

Standard Straight Edge beliefs revolve around the prospect of "the clear body and mind" so obviously the opposing point will come from the fact that alcohol intoxicates individuals and impairs the mind. The socialization that those who drink associate with the behavior does not register when compared to the pursuit of "the clear body and mind."

As individuals we pursue different things in our lives, so therefore neither side of this argument can be considered correct at any point. It's all a matter of what is believed personally.

A Bit of Housekeeping

Often as I write my posts, I grow frustrated at the constant use of the phrase: "those who live a Straight Edge lifestyle." There are other awkward variations as well such as: "Straight Edge people." I find it redundant to have to rely on a phrase to describe a group of people so often. We do not say, "those who follow a Vegetarian diet" whenever we talk about Vegetarians, we say, "Vegetarians."

So without further to do and for lack of a better word, I present to you what I will now be using in place of all the meticulous phrases (drum roll, please): "Edgies!"

Will this word one day become the standard term, thus eliminating the red underline of bad spelling? Probably not, but for this Blog it will work just fine!

Ethnocentrism

"Drugs are bad, mkay."

The utterances of "South Park" character, Mr. Mackey, seem to amount fairly to the beliefs held by some of those who live a Straight Edge lifestyle. That is if we take into account Mr. Mackey's disdain for anyone who thinks contrary to him.

Often I find that when Straight Edge people describe their lifestyle to others, they tend put on a mask of superiority. Such is the case in Kiriakos Vilchez's article, The Straight Edge Lifestyle. From the beginning, Vilchez makes the statement, "I am Straight Edge. Period." The underlying message in these five words is one of defiance to all opposing views. If Vilchez wishes to raise an argument on why his generation would benefit from being Straight Edge, then he should at least provide the opportunity for discussion. His views will be less easily received because he portrayed himself in such a closed manner.

Once Valchez stated the message of the subculture, he follows himself up with, "Unfortunately, my generation fails to hear the message." By focussing on his choice of the words "fails" and "unfortunately" we see that he looks down upon those who live different lifestyles. As stated, we know that Valchez is in a college environment, so he finds himself faced with a more amplified version of the culture he is arguing against, so it is somewhat understandable his argument will be amplified as well. However, in my opinion, placing himself above anyone else is a poor decision. He is asking for a challenge of his authority rather than a constructive challenging of his ideas. If he wishes to obtain the change he desires, he needs to bring himself back down first.

Valchez offers a cut and dry argument for a Straight Edge lifestyle that is strongly supported with facts, but he lacks the ability to create an open environment for discussion. Being Straight Edge does not make you better than anyone, it is simply a lifestyle - something personal that affects no one other than yourself.

XblogX

Have you ever seen a user on any given website where they have strategically placed Xs on either side of their username? Or have you noticed the three Xs tattooed on the forearm of that one guy who works at Grill Works in Top Dog? What exactly is all the hubbub concerning these Xs?

The fact of the matter is these people and many others are "Straight Edge." This is a lifestyle in which those who practice it abstain from abusing alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. There are many variations and interpretations of this lifestyle, all of which will receive further examination in future posts.

The Straight Edge lifestyle is of interest to me because as I grew more and more fond of Post-Hardcore music, all of the intricacies of its underground culture became apparent to me. Suddenly, things expanded. Throughout life we are propagated with famed images of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco (in recent times some more than others) whether it be through our advertisements, music, or other media outlets. All the while there exists a subculture that has values contrary to those who willingly participate in the mainstream society. Furthermore, this lifestyle is fronted by its artists. Straight Edge is derived from the early Punk Rock movements, while cultures and subcultures that hold similar values tend to stem off of Religious or Political affiliations. Another intriguing part of the Straight Edge lifestyle is its application to society and where exactly it fits in to everyday life.

In conclusion, there is more to Straight Edge than what we read as the definition. With this blog I hope to accomplish an insightful investigation and evaluation of this subculture, bringing to light what usually goes unseen.

About Me

My name is Dudley. Despite the practice I've received filling out "About Me" sections on various social networking sites, I have yet to know exactly what to say or know where to begin.

I decided I would post my facebook "About Me" and critique it in a way that would have the end result being the fact that it is terribly outdated and I've changed a lot since filling that out. However, upon the retrieval of said "About Me", I found that I no longer have a legitimate one. Instead there was a solemn greeting that read, "Hello person" in its place. Touche to myself.

So I am back to square one, debating which miscellaneous facts I should pelt my readers with.

To begin with, I love music. If you were one of the individuals who earned brownie points for picking out the A Day To Remember reference in my Blog's title, then you have also probably figured out my favorite genre is Post-Hardcore. I consider live music to be an incredible experience, and playing music is just as enthralling.

Another passion of mine is drawing. My realistic drawing style has so far been limited to police sketch pranks my friends have me partake in. Otherwise, I exclusively draw cartoons. My first published comic strip was called Rock'in Comics (only a few of the comics made it online), and it ran in the Virginian Pilot newspaper every other Friday for two years. I hope to revive the comic and have it published in The Breeze sometime before I graduate.

I really enjoy laughing and humor is a big part of my life. Conan O'Brien, Simon Rich, and Nick Thune are among my favorite comedians. One day, I too wish to be involved in the entertainment business, hence my major being Media Arts and Design.

This is me very simply put. I hope you all enjoy reading my blog posts to come!