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seeyatAn interesting difference between "sobriety" and being straightedge is the very intentional avoidance of promiscuity. While many people define edge for themselves and the core tenets are radical sobriety and abstinence from toxic addictions like gambling, we also fully embrace an 'intentional living' mindset which invites limitations on addictive media consumption of any kind and gaming.
It's a community consciousness that supports radical self-expression, human-centered thinking and the traditional punk ideologies of anti-establishment, progressive thought and advocacy for change.
There's also some very empowering hardcore music... which you don't always have to listen to but I enjoy quite a bit of it, when it's in support of awareness and not exclusively damning the suicidality of substance consumption (on any level - moderation is bullshit).
As for promiscuity... it's about hook-ups and meaningless sex for the sake of using a body for your own body. Straightedge aligns with my values for sensual, intentional connective sex. Collaborative at its core.
I've also had a few discussions with straightedge people in the kink community.
I finally have a sense there's a home for me in this world.
I sure as hell don't feel at home in a house with people consuming alcohol or smoking, let alone those who could be clinically diagnosed with substance abuse disorders.
I've spent far too much time witnessing people's recovery struggles and seen far too much death around alcohol alone.
Straightedge is who I am. Yes, I accept it as part of my personality. I'd also say photography and sitting in front of a PC not to game but to edit photo and video is part of my personality.
How does this fit into the kink community? Well, I'm more aligned with composition and filling a frame with intrigue and narrative than subject so I don't necessarily see that being kink-immersed for me.
Straightedge? I know I lose a great many 'opportunities' with that alignment but I also open myself up to truly fulfilling and secure connections. ...connections that might become lifelong friendships with whom I could spend time at our family "lake house" (the home our grandparents built on a developing lake when it was initially dammed and flooded).
I think there's more potential found in connections with like-minded people than to potentially surrender my values and lose myself.
Less risk. More reward.
It's a community consciousness that supports radical self-expression, human-centered thinking and the traditional punk ideologies of anti-establishment, progressive thought and advocacy for change.
There's also some very empowering hardcore music... which you don't always have to listen to but I enjoy quite a bit of it, when it's in support of awareness and not exclusively damning the suicidality of substance consumption (on any level - moderation is bullshit).
As for promiscuity... it's about hook-ups and meaningless sex for the sake of using a body for your own body. Straightedge aligns with my values for sensual, intentional connective sex. Collaborative at its core.
I've also had a few discussions with straightedge people in the kink community.
I finally have a sense there's a home for me in this world.
I sure as hell don't feel at home in a house with people consuming alcohol or smoking, let alone those who could be clinically diagnosed with substance abuse disorders.
I've spent far too much time witnessing people's recovery struggles and seen far too much death around alcohol alone.
Straightedge is who I am. Yes, I accept it as part of my personality. I'd also say photography and sitting in front of a PC not to game but to edit photo and video is part of my personality.
How does this fit into the kink community? Well, I'm more aligned with composition and filling a frame with intrigue and narrative than subject so I don't necessarily see that being kink-immersed for me.
Straightedge? I know I lose a great many 'opportunities' with that alignment but I also open myself up to truly fulfilling and secure connections. ...connections that might become lifelong friendships with whom I could spend time at our family "lake house" (the home our grandparents built on a developing lake when it was initially dammed and flooded).
I think there's more potential found in connections with like-minded people than to potentially surrender my values and lose myself.
Less risk. More reward.
