I think a lot of people who are againt straightedge dont understand the true meaning of it. I think it depends greatly on where you come from. I grew up in Boston which along with Minor Threat in DC was where Straightedge really evolved. A lot of people have taken on the label of straightedge without a true understanding of what it means. I have been to SLC and attended shows there and a bunch of Mormon kids claiming edge (which is pretty pointless since they were raised not to drink and didnt make the choice) wanted to fight my buddy cause he had a beer in his hand. That is just pathetic to me.
I still get offended when I am lumped in with kids like that cause to me, being edge is more than just not drinking or smoking. A lot of it relates to my life in hardcore and what it has meant to me. I dont think I would be where I am today if I wasnt edge. A lot of my friends got caught up in a lot of bad things when we were younger. Without skiing and hardcore I dont think I would be in the position where I am in life.
To me getting an edge tattoo was as much a reminder of where I have been as what I am. It represents all the shows, friends, and places I have been thanks to hardcore. Just like the rest of my arm represents the 4 years I spent in college and going to sea on ships...a lot of people get nautical themed tattoos cause they are traditional.
Thats even more fashionable than getting straightedge tattoos. If you know the meaning behind a lot of tattoos you would think its silly when you see 18 year old kids from Ohio getting them. Swallows represented 5,000 miles traveled at sea. Anchors represent you sailed across the atlantic. Golden Dragons are you sailed the south pacific (China/Japan).
Straightedge has been latched on to by people with little understanding of the true history of it and that has diluted the true meaning of it to many. I still believe in what it means...to mean its more than tattoos, clothing, music...whatever.
Tattoos are all about fashion they are a permanent accessory. A lot of people get them because they like the art without an understanding of what it represents.