Actually there were 5 straight edge kids, so I don't know where you heard it was only three. The point of including Hammered was to show the side of Straight Edge that isn't militant, the kids that can and do interact peacefully with non-edge kids. Don't you see the contrast between that and the portion on FSU?

Here's the point Slam is trying to make...

You aren't showing a positive and strong side of the straight edge community. What you are showing is a club that kids who don't drink go to.

You're showing some kids who aren't really that dedicated and by their own words "think they are giving something up" by not poisoning themselves. There are plenty of positive groups of straight edge kids who are strong examples of dedication without violence.

Your documentary, if these clips are any evidence of, is blowing everything out of proportion by showing two sides of the community that are the fringe groups of people in order to blast the differences and get more viewers through hyperbole and exaggeration.

"in all different forms"

Doubt that until they show us a clip of some centrist edge kids who aren't crazy militant, but aren't the local university loser club.

Neither of these clips shows an example of what the community as a whole is about, and it's extremely doubtful that a documentary like this is going to show anything but the extremities of the straight edge community.

i agree with patrick.

I hope they talked to more than just these 2 groups, if not you're missing a huge portion of straight edge kids. The ones that live and love hardcore music and dont need a support group to not drink, the ones that don't feel pressured to drink because they are comfortable with their decision and wouldn't have it any other way.

I hope they talked to more than just these 2 groups, if not you're missing a huge portion of straight edge kids. The ones that live and love hardcore music and dont need a support group to not drink, the ones that don't feel pressured to drink because they are comfortable with their decision and wouldn't have it any other way.

Would those kids perhaps be the same 5 kids that are actually Straight Edge?

And I assume the other kids don't know anything about hardcore because people that went to that bowling night have told me most of the people there that night only showed up to be in the documentary. I made it pretty clear I'm not saying ALL those kids have nothing to do with hardcore, just the MAJORITY of the 14 or 15 kids shown going bowling in that clip.

I'm not saying this club has no members that are Edge or anything, just that they are Straight Edge kids who happen to be a part of a college's drug free club. That's cool and all, but the clip sold it as being Straight Edge kids who have a Straight Edge club and do Straight Edge activity projects, when that's not the case at all.

You don't think these kids know anything about straight edge? What do you base this off of? You don't know any of them, if you did you'd see that, as stated before, some of them are into hardcore, and are friends with prominent bands in the scene. The way the directors decided to portray straight edge in the documentary has nothing to do with the people in the documentary. Where do you get off with this "Edge-ier than thou" attitude? None of you seem to get the comparison that FSU spreads edge through violence while hammered spreads it by acceptance and showing people that you don't need drugs and alcohol to have fun. I personally am ok with both methods. Does anyone commenting actually know anyone in the documentary? I'm betting no... so before you try to make yourself feel better by judging the people in here, take a good look and see that some of these kids do know hardcore and straight edge, probably better than most of you. Not all of the kids in the documentary, but the straight edge kids who were interviewed before bowling.

Who do you know from the bowling night group? I'm starting to see your point, but you still can't just assume that these kids have no clue about straight edge based off of a short video. They're just as straight edge as you (assuming you're edge) or me.

Don't get me started on the creator of Hammered... I'm not a big fan of him. I totally agree with what you say about him. I agree with your comments about the girls, I know them and you're right. I guarantee you that the kids in the smaller meeting know about straight edge and are into the hardcore scene, because I know them very well and because I'm one of them (I asked who you knew because I was curious if it was me). National Geographic found us because of Hammered and got to get a look at 5 straight edge kids who have a totally different perspective on straight edge than groups like FSU. As for the bowling, what college kids wouldn't gladly accept a night of free bowling? Would you turn that down?

Drew, I think Slam is getting at the point that both of these clips are complete misrepresentations, they're saying one thing but they're actually depicting something else.

FSU, like Slam is saying is not exclusively edge. Hammered isn't either. So why on Earth were these two groups of people chosen to be representations of something that they aren't? That seems dumb as hell to be honest.

Sure some of the kids in Hammered are probly into hardcore, that's great, maybe the documentary should have taken those kids and filmed them at an edge show instead of a bowling alley with a bunch of non-edge kids within a university supported dry group.

These clips are not representations of the straight edge philosophy or lifestyle except for the fact that the kids on them are saying they don't poison themselves.

Patrick, I agree with you, it would have made more sense to film us at a show but we didn't have much say in what they wanted us to do.

And Vince, some of the kids in the documentary are "real straight edge" kids. Are you saying that I'm not a "real straight edge kid"? You also imply that no one in college is straight edge... which is a ridiculous assumption. As a real straight edge kid I was more than happy to talk with National Geographic about straight edge. I'm in the hardcore scene and I'm in college so there goes your ridiculous statement. Who made you the ultimate authority on straight edge? Did I miss a memo or something?

Drew, I'm in college and straight edge as well... I'm not sure he was implying that you can't be in college and edge.

I think what he was saying is that they're taking a fluff group that isn't associated with edge and applying that as a definition of edge. He's also right that college campuses are not good places to get an idea of what the SXE lifestyle is about or what the community is about, mostly because 99% of kids at college are junkies or drunks.

Shows would have been a better place to interview people, get a feel for the community and really express everything.

A good format would be to take the clips they asked to be sent in, contact those kids, find shows, go to the shows, interview kids at the shows and then ask the kids they thought were good representations if they could further interview them in other settings etc etc.

The core of the community is the music, the music should have been the obvious choice on a venue to get edge kids to interview.

I agree with slam...seems like this clip is mixing up between Drug Free kids and Straight edge kids...there is a difference

THESE KIDS NEED TO BE FIRESTORMED, BEING A CHEESY CHRISTIAN DOESNT MAKE YOU STRAIGHT EDGE.

This is Mark Andersen, a straight edge punk activist and writer in Washington, DC. I am 48 years old. For whatever it is worth, I have never been drunk or stoned in my life. This hasn't made me any better than anyone else, but it has at least kept me from slipping into the addiction (or related foolishness) that has haunted each of my three siblings, as well as two nephews, a niece, and many, many friends. It has also helped me to pursue my dreams, more fully realize my gifts. One of my books, Dance of Days, chronicles the beginning of straight edge here in DC. SE was, and is a smart idea that provides a constructive alternative for people both young and not-so-young. I am eager to see the full documentary, as to have a more fully informed opinion. I have no problem with the "Hammered" section I have seen, as such. Just as more violent and/or intolerant versions of SE are now part of the story, this club seems to be as well, and at least provides a constructive alternative in an otherwise alcohol-drenched context. I will say that none of us who were part of the early SE scene intended it to be any of the above-mentioned things exactly. We were, and, in my case, remain aspiring revolutionaries who wanted to create a fundamentally different society, past consumerism, conformity, apathy, greed, meaningless sex, and violence. An activist group I helped found in 1985, Positive Force DC, rose out of the SE context, but was never narrowly focused on simply being against drugs... we were for a world free of racism, sexism, homophobia, war, and so many of the other evils that haunt our world. This is to say that we were PUNKS fist and foremost, and didn't choose our friends or allies solely on their stance towards drugs, meat-eating, etc. SE can obviously help us to achieve radical social change (by helping us to be in control of ourselves, be responsible), but it can't be forced on anyone, or be a reason to look down on people, much less hurt them. If it becomes these things, SE is part of the problem, not part of the solution. This, of course, is just my opinion; no one really owns SE, or gets to define it exactly, not even my friend Ian MacKaye who wrote the song that started the whole thing back in 1980-81. Thanks for considering my thoughts and caring about the SE idea. I simply hope that the NG film is a reasonably accurate representation of an idea that has touched many, many lives across the world, mostly for the better.

Slam wrote that NGC failed to portray that the Elgin James/FSU's actions were INFLUENCED by their beliefs. Not actions to ENFORCE their beliefs. That is the most intelligent thing written on these blogs. And I bet all the money in the world that the people portrayed in the clip
would agree with you.
Still I'm excited about seeing this... We can't nitpick everything. It will surely be better than AMW's version.

Straightedge is a way of life. Not just any random person can claim edge. Someone who is truly straight edge has had an upbringing in an underground punk or hardcore setting.

A random group of college students that do not drink or do drugs are just plain sober. It doesn't matter if they made a conscious decision to be sober or not, that is all they are: sober. I doubt any of the kids in this group know anything Youth Crew or where straightedge came from. Real straightedge individuals do it for themselves and do not need a support group to get them through life.

As a punk, straightedge individual, I am borderline offended by this documentary. They should have had someone who is straightedge be the one telling the story or editing this film. I do not want people to associate myself with people shown in this clip.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad that someone is trying to enlighten people about the subject... but right track wrong train guys. Try again.

This is just a youth group in college,
They might know alot about straight edge, and they're beliefs, but they're missing the facts, like how straight edge was really started, and what it represents,
the fight, the struggle,
i'm not complaining, I think this documentary sheds good light on the edge/non edge Hardcore community.

Good job national geographic.
haha.

WHACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This documentary seemed to mostly focus on the negative parts of straight edge. Reno, Nevada is not representative of the whole movement. There is minimal discussion on straight edge roots. They barely touched on Minor Threat and the influence and importance of hardcore and punk music. I have never experienced violence, or heard of gang type relations pertaining to straight edge in the DC scene. Overall I feel that this documentary only focused on a small aspect with a large amount of drama, as opposed to more of the positive sides.

I'm a Richmond Hardcore kid from Richmond, Virginia and am your average Straight Edge kid. I have read all of these posts of people saying that straight edge kids are crazy militants, out of control, blah blah blah blah blah.

First thing I read that made me kind of irritated:

"Drew" posted this, which I am quoting-

"None of you seem to get the comparison that FSU spreads edge through violence while hammered spreads it by acceptance and showing people that you don't need drugs and alcohol to have fun."

The Boston Hardcore dvd "Boston Beatdown" circulated a few years ago, is not really accurately depicting real Boston Hardcore. I respect Elgin James for being a hardcore kid and all, and him being active in Righteous Jams, but the video honestly is a compilation of every one of the worst fights Boston's Hardcore scene has seen. Not all of those fights happened at once. It was made mostly to "intimidate and scare off posers trying to get into Boston's scene". That is a direct quote from the producers. Quit bashing FSU for being "militant" at times. They are not trying to spread Straight Edge, or be violent to people that arent. They are a brotherhood standing up for one and other when need be. For example, when one MAKES them violent and militant. They are a crew, and if you dont know about crews in hardcore, dont make judgements about them because you are most likely wrong.

The second thing I just want to put out:

I do not believe from what I saw, that all of these kids are Straight Edge. They are just a bunch of Drug Free kids. Like someone said, there IS a huge difference in being "drug free" and straight edge. Straight Edge is a lifetime commitment. Theres no "one week I'll be clean, and next week I'll go to a party and get wasted". Straight Edge is involved in hardcore. It was born in Hardcore, and it will stay in hardcore. I saw like two kids that looked like they were hardcore kids. The rest were just those kids you see with "hugs not drugs" shirts on.

Straight edge is pointless. There is no need to label yourself in the name of sobriety, abstinence, or being drug free. Millions do that everyday WITHOUT t shirts, bands, tattoos, and other self righteous and self anoited badges of pride. Kids become infatuated with this subculture just the same as any other. It serves as a sense of meaning and affiliation. Nothing more, nothing less.

Amanda - You couldn't be any more wrong when you say ". I doubt any of the kids in this group know anything Youth Crew or where straightedge came from." I'm in this portion of the documentary, I'm in the Pennsylvania Hardcore scene, and since moving to Boston I've been going to shows here too. I am straight edge, I know the history. I'm not a just a religious kid that doesn't drink, I'm not religious at all. And in Hammered, I'm not the only one, several members are also into hardcore and are legit straight edge kids. You are a "holier-than-thou" judging dolt who has to make negative posts just to feel good about yourself... Don't come on here and say we don't know what straight edge is, learn a thing or two then come talk trash ok?

'Kids in Hammered are friends with FSU, both Philadelphia and Boston, bands like Death Before Dishonor and Have Heart, so again, you assume that they don't know about hardcore, and you couldn't be any more wrong."

way to name drop, drew.

AND I'M AS BAD AS THE SHIT YOU BREATH INTO YOUR LUNGS.

This entire documentary is embarassing to the edge community I respect so much, me not being edge or even close, even I was embaressed. Come to cincinnati, this entire piece was a joke!

FIRST OFF WTF?!?! THIS KINDA CRAP IS SERIOUSLY HILARIOUS TO SEE IT AIRED . I GIVE YA 2 THUMBS UP FOR MAKING HARDCORE AND STRAIGHTEDGE LOOK LIKE A BUNHC A ASSCLOWNS WAY TO GO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. NOW I IANT NEVER BEEN EDGE N I HAVE EDGE FRIENDS AND THIS IS FUNNY. SECONDLY WHO GIVES A GODDAMN FLYING MONKEYS ARSE ABOUT SOME COLLEGE FOOLS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY AINT COOL IF THE EDGE OR WHATNOT ?!?! I SURE AS HELL DONT! I MEAN THIS DOCU IS SO BAD IT MAKES THE EDGE OF QUARREL FILM LOOK LIKE ACADEMY AWARD MATERIAL.!!! AND YEA I KNOW SOME YOU SHARMOOTS WILL TAKE OFFENSE TO WHAT I SAID BUT HEY GUESS WHAT THIS IS STRICTLY REAL AND UNCENSORED SHOOT ON THIS WHOLE THING WHAT A JOKE IT IS OT SEE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BUTCHER HARDCORE AND STRAIGHT EDGE ITS AMOST AS RIDICULOUS AS THE CRAP THESE SHARMOOTS DO ON SKINHEADS AND THEN LUMP NAZI AND SKI NHEAD TOGETHER AND ITS AN OXYMORON IN ITSELF AND HONESTLY I WISH THESE SHARMOOTS WOULD STOP DOING THAT AND NOT EVEN GIVE THE LAME RACIST SHARMOOTS ANY MENTION NOR AIRTIME !!! BUT IT WAS ENTERTAINING TO SEE AFB HAHA SINCE THEY GOT STOMPED AHAH LETS JUST SAY THIS THEY F'D WITH THE BULL AND THE BULL WON HAHA AND I DONT DONT CARE WHAT YA SHARMOOTS GOTTA SAY CUS THIS IS PATHETIC AND SAME FEELINGS GO OUT TO YOU SNIVILING LITTLE SUBURBAN KIDS THAT ARE PISSIN ABOUT THINGS AND THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT EDGE OR HARDCORE . BOO FUCKIN HOO NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU TRUST FUND BABIES . SO ENJOY AND DIGEST THIS DIATRIBE AND CHOKE ON YOUR DISADAIN FOR A NON EDGE HARDCORE SKINHEAD TO LAUGH AT AND POINTOUT HOW PATHETIC THIS IS AND REST YA SHARMOOTS CAN KEEP ON ARGUING ABOUT WHO BELONGED IN IT AND DIDNT BUT WHEN THE SUN SETS WETHER YOUR EDGE OR NOT EDGE WE ALL ARE THE SAME SO GET OVER IT!!!

I think that this is a great group. It really shows that you can still have a great life without drinking and doing drugs, also without being violent. I think that it is ridiculous that you think this would be a Religious group. It is just a bunch of people trying to find an alternative to drinking and drugs while having fun. Wouldn’t you rather be with a group of people that are you could hang out with and not worry about drinking and drugs? I would love to be in a club like this.

The videos not what i expected, but there doing there own thing, and thats cool. as for you whiney motha-licka's that keep arguing about it, get over it, and go to a show!