so will this documentary show any positive side to straight edge or just make us all look bad?

Mike - The documentary is even handed. The filmmakers covered people from all different segments of people from the straight edge culture. Please take a look at the show next week to see.

Thanks for tuning in to the channel.

Greg

My comment is to Mike before me, I don't really see how this clip makes straight edge look bad. I am not Militant, I am surely not hardline, but taking drug dealers money and giving it to charity is not negative. It may not be what straight edge means to you, I surely have never done it, but I don't think it's 'bad.'
On the other hand, I do hope that NGC will give all sides of straight edge equal due and let us other kids have our say too.

Its typical for media groups to usually go straight for the negative aspects of any subculture. FSU carries no positive weight at all, even if they claim to have kept skinheads out of hardcore way back when. Anything with a gang mentality is bad news. The other side to straight edge which strays from violence and approaches a more positive path is much better. Its silly to try and justify beating up drug dealers and taking their money even though they claim to give it to charity. The means in which you get it in the first place is low and it makes you no better than pushers.

I absolutely disagree. You are no better than media groups for blindly blanketing anything you may not agree with as "negative". While it may not be "positive" it is surely 'industrious' that kids who were struggling found a way 'outside of society' to get by without following the usual pitfalls of drug dealing/addiction. And giving some of the money back to charity is probably a lot more than most of us have done. It's true that FSU would later come to represent something completely different, but 15 years ago it was street kids surviving. I'm from Boston and no one in Boston would ever claim Elgin James or the other original members as being negative thugs. A lot of them have openly addressed the shortcomings 'the gang' would later have. But like most 'organizations' it started off with strong ideals.

any bands featured in this?

stay out of hardcore.

I'm really excited about this. And comparing the two clips they've made available, National Geographic really went to great pains to show all sides. Much appreciated.

that was directed towards national geographic. the media's grubby hands will only poison hardcore... and the kids will follow.

Keep stupid kids out of hardcore.

How many Straight-Edgers did you ACTUALLY speak with?
How can you justify portraying us like this? You put up two videos. One shows an extremist who bludgeons every drunk he sees. The other shows and Edge "friendship club". Why haven't you spoken to the bands, or gone to the shows? Next time you do this, actually talk to more than fifteen of us. Because so far this "documentary" looks like it's going to be completely inaccurate. And frankly I amongst others, am thoroughly insulted.

Raven - seems pretty silly to be insulted before seeing it - or only seeing two clips, but that's your choice. Documentaries are difficult to get all sides - most people who see them know its only a slice of life. When the doc is about something you care about, its hard to see it from an objective lens. You clearly have a lot of bias on how the show should be done - you don't know everyone involved in straight edge - so don't speak for all of them. If you want to over-react and be insulted from videos - again, your choice - I'll make my own opinions and know that the day after the documentary airs, life will still go on and I can make my own choices in this world.

Raven - seems pretty silly to be insulted before seeing it - or only seeing two clips, but that's your choice. Documentaries are difficult to get all sides - most people who see them know its only a slice of life. When the doc is about something you care about, its hard to see it from an objective lens. You clearly have a lot of bias on how the show should be done - you don't know everyone involved in straight edge - so don't speak for all of them. If you want to over-react and be insulted from videos - again, your choice - I'll make my own opinions and know that the day after the documentary airs, life will still go on and I can make my own choices in this world.

I see nothing wrong with this, anyone who knows how sxe started and evolved know there has always been different factions involved, This clip..I personally see nothing wrong with it at all, it is just another aspect of straight edge, stop whining, and learn about your roots, early on Ian and the old DC crew were pretty much into brawling early on too, and don't even start about SSD, Violence hate to say is a part of the hardcore scene, and in turn part of straight edge's history, like it or not.

I am 30 years old, still edge, and think this clip is more true to life, than the straight edge youth group thing, cool they are doing something positive and all, but you need to realize there is a violent side to our subculture too.
This documentary is backed.

Raven, you just watched a clip where someone says they've specifically singled out and robbed drug dealers because they were drug dealers and victimizing others, and yet you presented it as "they clobber every drunk they see". I don't think that puts you in a postion to position to criticize a documentary you haven't even seen in full yet over it's alleged "spin".

I've heard this all before... anyone remember Dark Planet?

I hate the glorification of violence in the straight edge scene, but understand that violence has been a part of straight edge's collective history.

I reached out to the crew during the filming, and was assured that the documentary would be objective- and to be objective they would have to cover the good and bad. It just seems that the media always focuses on the more sensational aspects of straight edge and hardly glazes over the positive.

But I will save my final judgment until after I view the film in it's entirety.

You really can not pass judgement or be mad at National Geographic as they are doing the correct thing by showing the diffrent sides to the straight edge lifestlye.
Over the years of being straight edge and meeting other straight edge people I have learned alot of them are ignorant and truly do not have the correct concept of what being straight edge is, and those are the people that tend to make people look at our lifestyle negativly, I am very anxious to see how this documentary pans out as I feel there needs to be these kinds of things happening as there is alot of false information that is out there about straight edge.

xjoshx. I hope you aren't trying to imply that the people in this clip are "ignorant", and "truly don't have the correct concept of what straight edge is". These are people that have been straight edge and in hardcore for 20 years. Have played in bands from Wrecking Crew to Righteous Jams. They may have a 'different view' than you, they may take the concepts you share (drug free) and then take them a step further (putting themselves in physical harm to keep drugs out of neighborhoods).
What truly gives Straight Edge a bad name is all the passive aggressive, internet chatter and arrogance of privileged middle class kids judging people who's shoes they could never even fit in, never mind walk in.
But I"ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you weren't commenting on these people pre se, just like I'm giving National Geographic the benefit of the doubt that they covered as many aspects of straight edge as they could find. And while I'm sure not being perfect, will at least have a wide enough spectrum.

the violent side is the best part, more violence less youth group

Militant is just the way it has to be sometimes...

WHOA BELL BOTTOMS!

Elizabeth

I did not mean the people in the clips, I just mean in my experiences over the years meeting and speaking with diffrent people, I think the documentary will be fine due to the fact it is going to explore diffrent sides of Straight Edge. Hope this clears up any confusion.

Elizabeth

I did not mean the people in the clips, I just mean in my experiences over the years meeting and speaking with diffrent people, I think the documentary will be fine due to the fact it is going to explore diffrent sides of Straight Edge. Hope this clears up any confusion.

Josh

It definitely does Josh, thanks! Sorry if I sounded a little belligerent.

Well, this clip starts out with what seems to be a title for the segment: "The Militant" which gives me the impression they may have other segments, which might be titled "The Posi" or "Vegan Straight Edge" or "Hardline" or "Christian Straight Edge" sooo ya.

Well, this clip starts out with what seems to be a title for the segment: "The Militant" which gives me the impression they may have other segments, which might be titled "The Posi" or "Vegan Straight Edge" or "Hardline" or "Christian Straight Edge" sooo ya.

Well, this clip starts out with what seems to be a title for the segment: "The Militant" which gives me the impression they may have other segments, which might be titled "The Posi" or "Vegan Straight Edge" or "Hardline" or "Christian Straight Edge" sooo ya.

I really hope this shows the positive side of Straight Edge

I can't believe kids are whining about this clip. Look at these dudes. They are out of their minds. One is Marvin Gaye meets Carlito's way and the other looks like John Walker Lindh on steroids. They were called murderers in Rolling Stone magazine, and homeboy posed smiling. They don't give a F*ck. And I respect that. Stop whining, These dudes don't even know you exist, and they're a thousand times more bad ass (or at least sociopathic) than Ray Cappo or whatever Posi God ya'll are worshiping at the moment. You can wear your 'sick' hardcore band shirt with brass knuckles, but this dude will stomp you with his bell bottoms and look handsome as hell doing it. God, I love Boston. They are all out of their minds!

Right or wrong...

dude's hot.

All right, I said it.

We'll see tonight the job that NGC has done. This violent mentality is one aspect of straight edge. Hopefully they've given as much due to the other sides. Some of us have jobs and degrees (or are working towards one) and don't recognize ourselves in this militant mind set, just like I'm sure they don't recognize themselves in ours. But we are all part of the same sub culture like it or not.

this is going to be wicked awesome. i cant wait to see how people view the "sXe" scene.

i was watching the documentary and three minutes into it they have their facts wrong. the three rules are NO DRINKING, NO DRUGS, NO PROMISCUITY.

This show was complete garbage. You talked to all the wrong people. Those arnt hardcore kids, they are jocks who call themselves edge. They dont belong to my scene, and they never will. This movement is ALL ABOUT being positive. Once you chang that you DO NOT represent edge anymore, no matter what you or your tattoos say.

xAFBx!

im straight edge and so are most my friends and i believe that this clip only shows a small bit of the straight edge lifestyle. as for beating people up, most are against violence to solve the problem, not all of them. i just feel like yes this is a good awareness video but it doesn't have enough detail and information. i'm glad you guys made this though, i was very excited about it.

I just watched it and I think it is very negative to straight edge it scares people that are thinking of joining telling them they could be labeled as a gang and get in trouble with the law. It gave alot of information but was more focused on how bad it is getting not that it brings people together and makes them feel like they belong without the need of Alcohol and drugs. In my opinion it talks more about the problems then the good of straight edge. I am glad it was made though becuase it did give information but if Nat Geo is going to make another they should make it more positive.

In all honesty, though I fully support and chose a straight edge lifestyle, I think the documentary did a fine job of looking into the straight edge scene. I also believe that they could have ventured out to other cities besides the two most heavily associated with their edge violence, but no matter what people will always find a way to complain about something
. Fact of the matter is that Natgeo did explore the 2 mosy widely and most popular ways of edge living and did a decent job of describing both. You can't deny that almost everything stated in the show was pretty true to an extent. However I still disagree with all the gang accusations... That's still a little too extreme in my opinion. But what it comes down to is that people will form their own opinions no matter what Natgeo says. I think that the end of the show did a PERFECT job when they said that each person is edge in their own ways and to their own extents and I think that there was no better way to sum up the show.

I was edge for 9 years. Not once did I ever engage in violence against someone that was not straight edge. No one I knew ever took a violent approach towards anyone that was not edge. I think the violence makes up for maybe 3% of the straight edge scene. The other 97% are in it for themselves, the music, and the message.

The show started out GREAT but after about 15-20 minutes went downhill fast. Reno and Salt Lake City always seem to be the exmaples.

my favorite part was when one of the Reno911 police officers was explaining to a ( locally notorious) straight edge kid about the " bad apples"...

and he absolutely, purely represents the "bad elements" of straight edge...

I have been edge for 17 years. I continue to call myself edge even as I see the scene deteriorate with jockcore, metalcore, emocore...etc.
But the main reason why I am still edge is there, I have a conviction against the stupidity and hedonism involved with drugs, alcohol or the mainstream "normal" life.
I am anti-consumerist, but I don't dumpster dive because I do have a job and don't see a need. If the time came when I absolutely had to squat or dumpster dive, I would have no problem doing it.
As for militancy, personally, I feel to be edge, a certain amount of militancy is needed. To just walk away from drunks that re harassing you or your friends and know that the only reason they are doing such is because of an impairment THEY chose, seems to me a cop-out. If i'm at a show and someone is drunk/stoned/ etc... and causing me or people I know problems, I will confront them and if violence is the only thing they understand, so be it.
I'm not trying to act tough because the amount of fights I have been in is minimal because I am a rational person, however, not everyone is.
If you read SXE lyrics from as far backs as Teen Idols, GI and Minor Threat, you will see that the passive hippie way is NOT what SXE is about. If you want to be a hippie, fine, but don't drag the edge down with you.
FSU has turned into something FAR from what it originally meant. FSU IS now a gang and it IS at war with Bloods, Crips, Hell's Angels, Pagans, etc...it is also NOT A STRAIGHT EDGE GANG. Elgin knows this and so does anyone with a half a brain in hardcore today.
With that said, I have no problem with edge vs. non-edge violence, but in-fighting is stupid and sxe kids need to realize that. No one else is fighting for US, so why should we fight EACH OTHER?
Support edge people and bands deny those trying to use this scene for their own deterioration.

i think this video shows what real XXX is, it is more than a social scene its a movement.

i think this is a awsome example of XXX, its not just a social scene its a movement.

this show only scratched the surface of hardcore. yeah... edge was created in washington but what bout all the bands that are not straight edge that have contributed so much to the scene? Bryan from DBD, white trash Rob from ramallah, a whole bunch of kats from FSU. Sworn enemy, Death Threat, blood 4 blood. I dont believe NGC did enough research. yea straight edge is a big part of hardcore but there are many more aspects to it than that. Like standing up for yourself and your friends, and not taking b/s from bullies Im not edge, but i respect it and i still believe in what is was created for... in the words of scott vogel
"Its about friendship, honesty, commitment
and searching and looking for justice
in this messed up world.
Its about living your life for yourself, and no one else.
Be yourself, and be happy.
screw everybody that tells you whats right and whats wrong.
Look in your heart." This is what hardcore is and im sure a lot of people will beg to differ but thats what is and nothing more. Its bout finding yourself and finding friends and family where you had none. I honestly believe that NGC could have covered the other aspects of hardcore. The scene that i come from is of CO-EXISTANCE. Straight edge or not. Its bout the music and the principles. Next time, NGC should do a little more home work b4 you belittle our kind with your stupid media b/s. You totally blew this out of proportion... oh yeah not mention all the hypocrisies that were coming out of those kids mouths. this show was a JOKE. NGC knows nothing and neither does John Q public bout the real world of hardcore

I don't know what's worse, the dude who thinks FSU is engaged in a gang war with Crips and Bloods and biker gangs, or the dude who thinks that the documentary was supposed to be about the entire hardcore scene and not just one part of it(and ironically, they showed DBD and Buddha from BFB in "Straight Edge dvd" footage).

I feel that National Geographic could have done better in two aspects of this documentary one being that they could have tried to give a little more education about The Straight Edge Lifestyly, and the second being that they focused way too much on the violent side which in the end makes us all look bad.

When are people going to wake up and realize that violence solves nothing?? What the hell does beating up a drunk person, or a person who is on drugs going to prove look at it this way it's just like winning the special olympics your still retarded. I am straight edge but never would I go to the extent of causing physical harm to someone or force my beliefs down someones throat. Just remember that when your out acting like a meathead your giving us all a bad name

I remember the orig FSU at the Channel and elsewhere when it was a handful of dudes. Hanging with all, drunks, nazis, etc. Race and straight edge were not big factors. I remember them talking about lookin out for each other in their tough neighborhoods.

As an afterthought, the Channel parking lot was the first time I saw a kid show off a handgun at a HC show. He was an unnamed one of the bunch. It was innocent enough (as much as it could be) just one of those "check this out..." things.

I cant imagine any person caring about what some over privledged white kids are doing. Show me a documentary on kids getting thier arms cut off for stealing in Africa. Those kids are way more punx than these retards.

hardcore sucks - get over it

40 oz for ever

i have been straight edge for years now, never touched any type of drug or anything like that (never will) honestly i watched the show and EVERY straight edge kid i know isnt violent or anything, this show really makes me upset i think its pretty harsh on straight edge kids if you wanted to make a show about us go for the real straight edge NOT THE HARD EDGE KIDS.

i agree with mike,

i have been sxe for so long never touched anything ever and never will

and my take on this show was totaly wrong about straight edge kids. it seems to me you wanted to focus on the HARD EDGE kids not the true straight edge kids which yes the hard edge kids have more of a dramatic appeal but i just find this totaly miss leading for the most part about straight edge kids.

Not all stright edge kids are dangerous and go around beating down drug dealers and drunks. I am not stright edge but i have alot of friends who are and i have the up most respect for their way of life and this documentry does not do them or their way of life jusitce at all.

No coverage of sell outs...bummer. It would have been awesome to hear the intelligent things they had to say.

The documentary was about Straight Edge, not about Hardcore music.
I think they did a pretty good job on it too!

When will this air in Europe?
I really want to see the entire film.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

This is probably one of the funniest videos I have ever seen.

"He turned straight edge at age 13" AKA he turned fucking retarded at age 13.

HAHAHAHAHA

Straight edge losers are the dorks in high school who had no friends...you know who you are stupid ass Throwdown fans.

PS Im drinking a beer and smoking a blunt while writing this...its great.

Just remember we are only human. If people think beat downs really change people minds, you have only become the people you thought you were different from. It's so sad to me when someone say's something like "we beat these drug dealers up and took their money only to give it to charity" it's like look at me we did this to be positive. well sorry to burst your mislead bubble but that is not positive...

Beatdown ideas not people.
What you are missing is that the 'robbing drug dealers' situation arose from poor kids who were living homeless at the time. Not white, middle class suburban kids(your typical straight edgers). They were street kids who decided to rob the drug dealers in their neighborhood, rather than fall into the typical snares of selling drugs or robbing innocent people. It wasn't a 'straight edge' action. It was an action by kids who happened to be straight edge. And while robbing in general surely isn't 'positive'. Robbing from criminals and then giving money to charities is a hell of a lot closer to being positive than your giving it credit.

I thought the documentry was good. Although i say that, i do believe it made it seem as though RENO is the worst area to live; and because of all the straight edge at REED and in that area its seems dangerous. i live there, i go to that school, and i live in that city. Because i choose to live my life drug free, why should i be critized for what other people like "hate"edge do? You did show few girls...there are more edge girls than you make it seem. Being edge inst a bad thing... its a way of life.

wow....the ignorance of some people. Edge is about being positive and staying free of influences and the poisons of teen life. I would think people would be happy to see so many teens commiting to this. I do not attack and rob drug dealers, but i will not tolerate them around me and the people i care for. and to mr."straight edge is gay" thats why you will be in rehab with a dead end job in a few years when im enjoying using all of my brain cells instead of burning them up.