Straightedge

[Sarah]

A board, or piece of wood or metal, having one edge perfectlystraight, -- used to ascertain whether a line is straight or asurface even, and for drawing straight lines.

[Sarah]

a lifetime commitment never to drink, smoke, or do drugs. some people include abstainence from promiscuous sex. others abstain from caffeine. started in the hardcore/punk scene of the early 1980's in Washington DC.

[Sarah]

Someone who doesn't do drugs, or drink. Others should not care whether someone is straight edge in this sense.

[Sarah]

A ruler, or something that can be used to draw straight lines.

[Britney]

Movement started in 1981 by D.C. Hardcore band, Minor Threat. Drawn from the two songs Out of Step and Straightedge, in which in the former, they emphasize the values of Dont drink! Dont smoke! Dont fuck! which means no drugs, alcohol, or promiscuous sex. The movement grew in the hardcore scene as it stood at the time as a stark contrast to the drug and beer-heavy punk scenes of the time. It is still kept on today, although a militaristic and violent branch of straightedge known as hardliner has become more prevalent in some circles, in addition to straightedges marriage to veganism in others. There are still many out there that believe in real straightedge though, regardless if therere xs on their hands or not. It has also been looked down upon by many people as another brand of conformity nowadays.

[Zipporah Schumaker]

[Straightedge] is a lifestyle some people follow, in which they abstain from drink, drugs (including alcohol) and casual sex. It is sometimes abbreviated to [sXe].
Being [straightedge] is not a trend or fad however some people follow it, or pretend to, to seem cool. (see: scene kid, emo). Being straightedge doesnt mean a person cant have fun or is too scared to do drugs, it just means they dont have to do that to have a good time.
Some people who are straightedge have already experienced the drink-and-drugs way of life and have decided it wasnt for them, or there was no need for it, one famous example being [Ian Watkins] of [Lostprophets].
As it is a lifestyle and not a set of rules, many people have their own form of it e.g. some straightedgers are vegan/[vegatarian], dont drink coffee or refuse [medicinal] drugs; these are not principles every straightedge person follows though.
Straightedge has nothing to do with religion. Although the idea of refraining from casual sex, drugs and alcohol is one seen in many religions, you dont have to be religious to be sXe.
Many people are straightedge without realising it - they dont do it to be righteous or follow a trend, they just are. Some people wear shirts with slogans like [poison free] but these are the type who are often very smug about their lifestyle and want to show off or force it onto others. People like these, and the emo/scene posers, are the ones who give being straightedge a bad name.

[Rihanna]

One who has chosen the life path of [sobriety], doesnt ingest any kind of drug (with [the exception] of [prescribed] medication) or drink alcohol.

[Kai]

A person who promises never to do drugs, drink, smoke, or have promiscuous sex. They may also abstain from other taboo things. However, the name of [straightedge] is being [tarnished] by people who act [high and mighty] and think they are better than other people just because they say it.

[Jessica]

The principle dont drink, dont smoke, dont fuck which came to be in the late 80s by [Ian MacKaye] and the band Minor Threat.
Most [straightedge] kids nowadays flaunt the fact that theyre straightedge by drawing Xs on their hands, wearing clothing that says Drug Free or XXX or [Poison Free], because for some reason they feel the need to let everyone know theyre drug free.
Some (but not all) straightedge kids are sXe because they feel the need to fit in to a group, and they can do so by avoiding toxins.
[Straightedge] is not to be confused with hardline kids, who are a violent version of straightedge and kick the asses of smokers and drug doers, because for some reason they believe people should not make their own choices.

[Gregory]

Person that doesnt do [drugs], [smoke], or [drink]

[Jessica]

the word staightedge is used to describe people who have made a life choice to [refrain] from drinking, drugs, smoking, and sex. [there is nothing] wrong with the people who have made this choice, and others should [accept] it, as well as they should accept others life choices.