Straight Edge Discussion

About a week or so ago, I responded to a question by Max Fisher on comparisons between NoFap and Straight Edge. For those that don't know, straight edge is essentially abstaining from drug and alcohol use for various reasons (some take it further and factor in diet, sexuality, etc.). I searched and I couldn't seem to find a cohesive thread for talking about the philosophy/lifestyle/music of that sect. Thus, I asked myself "Why the hell not?" and here we are.

So, I don't know if I should outright decide to "become" straight edge after multiple attempts to drink and smoke with friends. I have never gotten drunk, high or even the slightest bit tipsy, but the whole ordeal just doesn't click with me. Maybe I should consider it.

Yesterday, my friends and I got together to play Dungeons and Dragons like we usually do on Sundays. The special occasion was that one of my friends turned 21, so drinks are certainly in the equation. Another friend, who basically never drank seriously, got into it because he promised the birthday man(? person? boy?) that he would when the time came. All I could muster was a beer, but it just didn't feel good to me. I felt like I was drinking what would be found in a Metro station urinal. Mind you, I'm under 21 and have never gone to parties, so this kind of thing is still alien to me. Overall, I got a headache from the pressure (I didn't want to state that I hate alcohol on a good friend's celebration) and I felt like a loser who only had one beer.

In general, I don't get why certain people drink. I understand the social aspects of it like with weddings, ceremonies and concerts. It just doesn't add anything cool to an experience, though. I think about all the concerts I've gone to see and how the smell of Bud Light and Corona wafts through the air like a reeking "piss phantom" and wonder why the hell people bother spending money on it. What makes being tipsy or straight up wasted at a concert so appealing?

Same thing with marijuana and party drugs/heavy stuff. I used to play music with this guy about a block away (another guitar player) and the dealbreaker for me was that him (and any friend that joined) got stoned out of their gourds when we were playing. I felt like he didn't care about what we were doing. He did this at another house, where I thought we were going to really hit it off (haha) with this wicked drummer. After the "smoke break," which felt like hours, that powerhouse drummer just flopped on the couch and played phone games. The guitarist and the bassist played a faux-Grateful Dead jam. Smoking pot/marijuana ruined all the energy and productivity we had. Later, I found out the guitarist was doing acid and (allegedly) cocaine. I haven't spoken to him for a while.

Jesus, this turned into a rant. I apologize. If anybody has their own "drug/alcohol alienation" stories, here's a thread.