Edge 'til 22?
So recently I've grown increasingly disillusioned and frustrated with the ideology of straight edge. The more I seriously consider it as a personal choice, the more I realize how problematic and weirdly judgmental my reasons have been. The more I consider it as a cultural and political movement, the more I realize how fundamentally I disagree with and find troubling most of the principal assumptions, justifications, and goals.
I will no longer advocate straight edge or "drug free" philosophy, doctrine, morality, whatever. Please consider my resignation effective immediately.
One:
Probably the most fundamental aspect of straight edge ideology-as-movement is the idea that drinking and drug use serve primarily as a temporary distraction from a life or culture or world for those who are tired of dealing with the "real" (sober) world. So if the world were perfect people wouldn't "need" intoxication because they would be too busy actually living in a "real" world that is already fulfilling and meaningful. Example.
But no one ever seems to get to the part where they ask, hey! How come I assume that happiness and meaning derived from intoxication and substance is less authentic or valuable or "real" than happiness and meaning derived from love or revolution or whatever? And to me that's not any different from saying that the emotional or intellectual interaction people have with "low" culture outlets (reality television, pop music, Mandy Moore movies) is less beneficial or valuable or authentic than those one has with Godard films or contemporary art or Derrida. It just seems really... patronizing? Contrary to basically everything I believe?
Two:
The rhetoric of vulnerability/awareness, for example as in this post, which is very possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read in a good long time. Admittedly, one of the main reasons I don't drink or use drugs is because I always want to be rigidly exercising self control and generally have a fear making myself vulnerable. Reading that entry last night, after first exclaiming, "WHAT? SERIOUSLY? WHAT THE FUCK?" to myself, I next thought that this worry planted in our heads about being so responsible and so in control all the time because if we aren't and something bad happens it's our own fault for letting our guard down is really, really messed up? If anything, the world I want is one where people are less, not more, anxious about letting their guard down, and where the onus is on people to not take advantage of others' vulnerability (emotionally, sexually, otherwise) rather than on people to avoid making themselves vulnerable.
Three:
Lately I have been thinking about how much my gender socialization has been tied to an idea of femininity as being "precious" and good. Being pure, and virtuous, and adhering to proper morality and manners. I kind of think abstention is maybe really tied up in that? I am aiming to interrogate my preciousness, as of late, so I have to think about that part some more probably.
I have been wanting to talk to someone about this for a good month and a half but couldn't think of anyone who would give me the conversation I want to have. Now that the decision is mostly made, I guess I can converse away. It's weird, because deliberate and considered abstention from drug and drink has been a very fundamental part of my identity for my entire life. It is weird to have that taken away. It is weird to want nothing to do with it.
For the record, this doesn't necessarily mean I will start doing anything I don't currently. Habit is a compelling force.
I will no longer advocate straight edge or "drug free" philosophy, doctrine, morality, whatever. Please consider my resignation effective immediately.
One:
Probably the most fundamental aspect of straight edge ideology-as-movement is the idea that drinking and drug use serve primarily as a temporary distraction from a life or culture or world for those who are tired of dealing with the "real" (sober) world. So if the world were perfect people wouldn't "need" intoxication because they would be too busy actually living in a "real" world that is already fulfilling and meaningful. Example.
But no one ever seems to get to the part where they ask, hey! How come I assume that happiness and meaning derived from intoxication and substance is less authentic or valuable or "real" than happiness and meaning derived from love or revolution or whatever? And to me that's not any different from saying that the emotional or intellectual interaction people have with "low" culture outlets (reality television, pop music, Mandy Moore movies) is less beneficial or valuable or authentic than those one has with Godard films or contemporary art or Derrida. It just seems really... patronizing? Contrary to basically everything I believe?
Two:
The rhetoric of vulnerability/awareness, for example as in this post, which is very possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read in a good long time. Admittedly, one of the main reasons I don't drink or use drugs is because I always want to be rigidly exercising self control and generally have a fear making myself vulnerable. Reading that entry last night, after first exclaiming, "WHAT? SERIOUSLY? WHAT THE FUCK?" to myself, I next thought that this worry planted in our heads about being so responsible and so in control all the time because if we aren't and something bad happens it's our own fault for letting our guard down is really, really messed up? If anything, the world I want is one where people are less, not more, anxious about letting their guard down, and where the onus is on people to not take advantage of others' vulnerability (emotionally, sexually, otherwise) rather than on people to avoid making themselves vulnerable.
Three:
Lately I have been thinking about how much my gender socialization has been tied to an idea of femininity as being "precious" and good. Being pure, and virtuous, and adhering to proper morality and manners. I kind of think abstention is maybe really tied up in that? I am aiming to interrogate my preciousness, as of late, so I have to think about that part some more probably.
I have been wanting to talk to someone about this for a good month and a half but couldn't think of anyone who would give me the conversation I want to have. Now that the decision is mostly made, I guess I can converse away. It's weird, because deliberate and considered abstention from drug and drink has been a very fundamental part of my identity for my entire life. It is weird to have that taken away. It is weird to want nothing to do with it.
For the record, this doesn't necessarily mean I will start doing anything I don't currently. Habit is a compelling force.