Reply #71: My experience with them in the local scene has been all good

[RevolutionStartsNow]

In fact, I credit that scene for helping my daughter stick to her personal commitment to not drink or use drugs; the Straight Edge punkers at the shows she goes to gave her a way to feel part of something (very important to a teenager) while staying sober and having a lot of fun. They put the X's on their hands, it makes them feel cool -- and my 12 year old son is now starting to take notice, he wants to do whatever his sister is doing, which is great.

This may be a totally different scene than in other places, and I've heard about violent Straight Edgers, but locally these kids are very cool, very mellow, and just choose not to drink, smoke or use drugs, or have promiscuous sex. What more could a parent of a teenage girl ask for?

There also doesn't seem to be any division between the Straight Edge kids and the not-Straight Edge kids. They all mix together, bonded by the music.