MrJoey wrote:How about, instead of trying to match some clique, just be yourself? If, as a person, you're normally "straight edge" Stupid ass name for it... then go ahead and be "straight edge." If you like drinking/sex (not to excess though...) then do it. Don't just try to be somebody you aren't, just makes you fake.
It's not often that I agree with MrJoey, but he really did sum this up perfectly.
Being straight edge isn't about "trying something out" or finding a label to conform to, it's a reflection of self. You don't simply become straight edge, you either are straight edge to begin with or your not. Straight edge is a label used to describe the person you are, not the other way around!
I'm 20, getting towards 21 and I'm 'by definition' straight edge. I don't smoke (I dislike the smell, it's gross) I don't do drugs (my friend went missing from a drug OD, so I'm quite against all forms of drugs), I don't drink (I use to when I was younger, but I don't any more, I find it to be boring, my dad is also a neglectful alcoholic which turns me off drinking) and I've never had sex (I believe sex should be an expression of love, I've never been in love, hence I'm a virgin). Do I call myself straight edge? No, because I'm not some dam hipster label. I'm me and I do these things for my own personnel reasons (as stated above), as opposed to being apart of some gay trend. Do I meet the characteristics of a straight edge person? Yeah, sure, but it's just another gay label people give themselves. I am me, I am a Twilliger. Nothing more, nothing less.
I believe what I believe because they are my morals. I have developed these morals as a result of my experiences in life and the way I have been raised by my family. I'm not religious, I don't belong to any social group and these morals weren't forced upon me in any way. They are me, they are who I am. My morals represent who I am as a person. Don't change your individual morals to meet a particular social group, or else your not being you. Your just conforming to some f
ucking lame social trend and people will disrespect you even more for betraying yourself.
MrJoey hit the nail on the head. Your actions should reflect the person you are and the ideals you represent. If your not acting on your own behalf, than you may as well not act at all.