[mister]

I've been Straight Edge for 7-8 years now. I never really promoted the title, nor did it ever really change my social life.

Although, I do save a lot of money and it allows me to take many pictures for future blackmail.

[Happy Boy]

Originally Posted by Sportman

Yeah, the title was tongue in cheek - I would never actually label myself as such.

^I agree with you, and the reason I want to do it is just that - build character.

I have an Islamic mate and it is amazing how well he deals with social situations and people in general. Even when everyone else is off chops, he has a great time and fits right in. Sure a lot of it is just him as a person, but I think never falling back on booze/drugs helped him develop.

Well thats just it, you get to the point where you feel comfortable enough with yourself to go and socialise and have a great time, and just don't drink any alcohol. Only last night someone said to me at a party that he thought I was a drinker and had never noticed that I didn't drink before until he asked what I'd like from the bar last night and I said oolong tea!! Thats actually a nice compliment to receive, at first you'll feel like a stiff and may feel very awkward in these scenarios, but you find your feet and people accept it, and even say those things that you said to your Islamic friend.

[Happy Boy]

Originally Posted by mister

I've been Straight Edge for 7-8 years now. I never really promoted the title, nor did it ever really change my social life.

Although, I do save a lot of money and it allows me to take many pictures for future blackmail.

+1. Its a free night at the movies sometimes as you watch the drama unfold!!

[Sportman]

Originally Posted by Oblivian

I was a major alcoholic (probably still am if I drank) until about a year and a half ago. I was a very functional alcoholic until a couple months right before I quit. My body basically started shutting down on me. On top of that, I would do a bunch of coke whenever I got my hands on it (not as easy to come by all the time in Indiana). I had also done every drug out there at least once, but booze and coke were what I loved.
I basically quit cold turkey. I "relapsed" (aka fucked up) twice since then. Both times, I got completely shitfaced. The funny thing is, I was trying to see if I could be "normal" and just have a couple drinks. Obviously, I can't.
The first couple weeks of "quitting" were hard. I wasn't able to sleep, it was hard to eat, I'd have anxiety, etc. After a few weeks, it didn't bother me at all. Occasionally (once every few months), I will think about how a certain situation I'm in would be nice to have a couple drinks at. To me, it's just not worth it anymore.
It's really not that hard to do if you have hobbies. Before I became a complete fuckup wildman, I still had hobbies including guitar + bass (I played in many bands), weightlifting (although the drinking interfered), skateboarding, reading, etc. Once I stopped drinking, I was able to really focus all of my time and energy into those hobbies. Your productivity will go through the roof.
I don't knock on anyone for drinking. As I say to all of my friends, I wish I could still party like I did but I can't. I don't mind being around drinking at all. I do mind being around drugs now because it's too sketchy of a situation. I never really cared when I was doing it, but I don't want to be around a bunch of cocaine if I'm not participating. However, I rarely go out anymore. I just don't see the point. When you go out, you sit around and bullshit for hours while getting smashed. It's really not that fun when you're sober. I have no problem going out if there is a show/concert going on, to shoot some pool, or something to keep my attention.
Everyone eventually has to either stop the partying or slow down. It's inevitable when you get older. For me, I got all of my wild times in up until I was 25. I figure I did more partying in my life before I was 25 than 90% of the population ever will.
It's worth a try. If you don't like it, go back to partying in moderation. There is nothing wrong with that.

Nice post, thanks for sharing that.

[Oblivian]

Originally Posted by Sportman

Nice post, thanks for sharing that.

One thing I didn't mention but Happy Boy has touched on is about the money. I don't know how much money you spend boozing, but I know I would spend at least $150-$200 a week. It feels great to be on the road to debt free while obtaining assets and toys on the way.

[chokingvictim]

Originally Posted by Oeshon

Im not straight edge but i dont do drugs.

I drink on the odd occasion but not like i used to. Its been about 1month since ive had a good drink

I'm the same way. I don't call myself straight edge, but I don't smoke, drink, or use drugs. A few times a year I'll drink a beer. In fact it has probably been at least a year since the last time I drank a glass of wine or a beer.

As far as going out and having fun w/out it, I have a lot more fun at concerts if I'm not drinking. But I guess that's probably because I like to do everything in my "normal" state of mind.
What I've found most interesting is that smokers don't care if you don't want to smoke a cigarette with them. At parties, if people have offered me drugs and I turn them down, they are fine with it. But when my office goes out for drinks once a week during tax season, some people cannot understand why I would order a Pepsi instead of a beer, and one of my supervisors actually got pissed at me during our end-of-tax-season happy hour thing we went to. You may find that people have a really hard time understanding why you aren't drinking when everyone else drinks (yet cigarette smokers and drug users aren't this way at all in my experience).

[The Stainy Yak]

*offers sportman a bong*

[Happy Boy]

Originally Posted by Oblivian

One thing I didn't mention but Happy Boy has touched on is about the money. I don't know how much money you spend boozing, but I know I would spend at least $150-$200 a week. It feels great to be on the road to debt free while obtaining assets and toys on the way.

Wow, maybe its Dublin's high prices but I would get through over €100 in a night on the town, around 10 pints in the pub and then on to the shots and cocktails after that at about €6 or €7 a pop!!

[KönigTiger]

I dotn do drugs and I dont really enjoy drugs much but I wouldnt ever call myself Straight Edge. I think my friend told me that straight edgers dont do the above and DONT HAVE SEX. Fuck that.

[Oblivian]

Originally Posted by Happy Boy

Wow, maybe its Dublin's high prices but I would get through over €100 in a night on the town, around 10 pints in the pub and then on to the shots and cocktails after that at about €6 or €7 a pop!!

I was in a college town. I'd hit the bars that had specials every night. The weekends I'd normally drink at a party or buddies house. Rarely did I ever go out without having over 8 beers beforehand. I was mainly drinking PBR, Old Style, or Budweiser at best. I figured I'd drink probably 20-24 beers a day. It's not too bad when you are drinking at bars with $1.50 pints and $3.50 pitchers. However, no matter how you slice it, a $600 to $800 a month drinking habit is hard to afford. It's especially bad when you are only netting about $1500 a month. That means you have the same amount of money to spend on rent + utilities + food as you have to drink.