h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yeah, and he barely concealed it, he didn't reorganise it or anything and left the words intact. Seeing as he must have copied it by hand you'd think he'd change it around a bit.

What, you mean the guy who administered the version I was converting?

No, some web page had the FAQ on it uncredited.

Can we do a cover of "Sitting around at home" by Gorilla Buscuits I really want to say "Freestyle" during a song.

I was just listening to 'Biscuits, as it happens. Sounds fine to me - as long as we can play "Stand Your Ground" and "Big Mouth" too!

Dan says he's able to rehearse tomorrow. Wow!

Really. That is good news as I went to the trouble of rearranging my shift I was expecting Dan to cancel on us. The number of dirty looks I get in Basing playing that album in my car. Those songs seem acceptable. "Freestyle!"

During the holiday, I want to get some good piccies of us for the website. We want to be back with a vengance - and some recent, legible pictures would go well with whatever we record, as well as updated profiles, song lists etc. etc. Ski's got a good digital camera, I say we spend a day in good locations around Basingstoke and take some piccies. Of us. Being silly.

Good idea. We could also try and put some of the footage from the video we made on there. Dates I can make (assuming I have a job) are saturday-tuesday on the first week, and tuesday-Thursday on the second week. I'm also off the rest of this week if we have an opportunity

*twiddles thumbs*

Sorry Sea, we'll stay on topic in future.

Oh, how about we post some questions and answers for the FAQs on the bottom of the entry?

You go girl!

that's quite all right... no big deal.

what kind of questions? the standard-issue "what is it? why do this? are you insane?" type questions?

Yeah, maybe some general history of the scene stuff. I just got some good information from an interview I read with Ian so I may use that when I get round to writing it up.

Hello, I have already met most of you. Question: can I call myself Straight Edge? First, I don't listen to the kind of music mentioned here. Second, I don't believe in lists of rules - and I gather that's not the sXe attitude either. But for Straight Edge to mean anything there has to be something involved. Well, this is me: *As a principle* - I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't even drink coffee or soft drinks, I don't eat fast food, I don't even eat beef or chicken, I don't use drugs, I don't engage in casual sex, I don't believe that money or posessions is very important (and if you have them you should take care how you use them), I believe that humans ought not to mess up the natural environment of the planet, I believe we should consider future generations of people whenever we do something that might affect them, I believe we must consider poor, deprived, oppressed people all over the world and try to do something to improve matters for them, I believe we should mind the influence we have in the society in which we live, consider the feelings of other people, and so on.

Basically for me this means I live according to a very strict code of honor and discipline that I've figured out for myself, based on my experience of things, and I think it can be good for people to do this - figure out their own principles, modify them when necessary, and stick to them as far as possible. Every person should use his/her own brain, feelings, and powers of discernment and judgement to decide what to do and what not to do. Whatever the principles, they should be adhered to with a sense of responsibility, discipline, and consideration.

The messsage I would like to give to people is that it is possible to have an extremely rich, extremely free and extremely satisfying and rewarding life while - better yet, as a result of - subjecting yourself to this kind of 'deprivation'. It is not something forced on you by someone else. It is you deciding what in the world is worth doing or going after and what is worthless b******t and not worth the time and the effort. It is liberating and empowering to be able to make this kind of distinction. I don't tell others what they should do, I'm just saying that this kind of thing is being neglected in the society we live in right now. Is this Straight Edge, or not?

Thats a really difficult one. I would say yes you are sXe if you want to call yourself that. However what is the difference between being teetotal and sXe? I think it lies in wanting to keep control of yourself and not rely on substances as crutches. I think some people would say that an appreciation of the music is neccesary but I don't think so. The music is mainly there as a fuel to support people (*mixes metaphor*) and whatever does this for you is OK. As for the set of rules there isn't really one, it's just that the natural elitism of most people makes them want to prove they are better at being straight edge than other people. "...there are no set of rules, I'm not telling you what to think..." so go for it if you want to call yourself sXe.

I'm inclined to agree with Rumble.

Basically, if you call yourself sXe, then I'd say in your case that you are. You display all the similar traits - and more. Being sXe isn't exclusive - most straightedgers share the same basic principles, but all have their own agenders, philosophies and ways of living - be it Veganism, environmental concerns (these two traits are common in straight edge circles), or complete abstinance from any chemical substances. This is because people do it for so many different reasons.

Of course, I'm sure 'hardline' sXers might say you're not because you don't like the music and aren't into the 'scene' - but we're not exactly hardline people on here. I hope...

Most of the hardliners I wouldn't even class as sXe they seem to want everyone to be exactly like them, with no possible differences, which is basically the opposite of the point of sXe. The FAQ says that you have to be in the 'scene' but like many of the comments in there it tends to be best to stick to the middle ground.

Alright, I'm gonna call myself straight edge and whoever has a problem with it can go right on having a problem with it. But I would like to know more about the music and the 'scene'. My problem is I live in a small town in South Africa where there are no people who would know anything about the bands mentioned, and no places where that kind of music is played. I like music, but of a diversity of styles. If I ever hear music that can be called strict 'Straight Edge' I would probably like it, provided it is musically good, but where on earth will I be able to hear it?

"If I ever hear music that can be called strict 'Straight Edge' I would probably like it, provided it is musically good"

Er... oh dear. Well, I'm not going to make any promises about sXe music being "musically good". Or even musical. But it IS good.

You can get basically any CD from Amazon, but I can't tell you that without being moderated. I'd reccommend Minor Threat: Complete Discograpy, as a must-buy.

But I think you would probably like Fugazi most. THEY are actually MUSICALLY very good. While they don't call themselves straight edge, they actually (apparently) share very similar lifestyle philosophies to yourself.

However, the rumour that they all live in one house without any heating is a lie. *Sigh* I've just realised I can't give you any Fugazi links, either. Trawl through my Personal Space, you might find one there, if it hasn't been moderated...