prick When it comes to insulting slang, look no further than the human body. Pussy, cunt, twat… these words can all be used as weapons when it comes to a verbal smack down. And while it's usually the female body that attracts the most slang terms, guys have contributed a few words of their own…which brings us to the word prick. Prick is mainly used to describe when someone is acting like a jerk, but it can also be used as a slang term for penis. The more PG definition of prick means, "to puncture or mark." So where did this term come from? And how did it get so many meanings? According to etymologists, the word prick originated in the Middle English (from prikke) or Old English (prica) and dates back to before the 12th century. Back then, it pretty much meant what it means today: to make a small hole by a pointy or sharp object. It was also used amongst farmers to describe a piece of sharpened wood that kept oxen in place, like a fence. Around the late 1500s, prick became synonymous with penis. Why? We can only guess that the penis was (and is) considered a sharp object that punctures or pierces the vagina/hymen. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that prick actually became an insult. In 1929, prick was defined as, "one in authority who is abusive or unjust" by the prestigious journal American Speech--in other words, someone who's a jerk. And just like today, the term was typically only applied to men. This is different than other body-inspired insults, like pussy, that can be applied to both men and women. Today, the term prick is still used for all of the meanings it has acquired throughout history. From the cult classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High ("No brain little prick.") to the mobster movie Casino, the term crops up all across pop culture. Now, the question is: Have you ever called someone a prick?

hater Have you ever felt really good about yourself, maybe after a big accomplishment, only to be shot down by someone who isn't (or is) as successful? If so, you've probably encountered a hater. A hater is typically someone who talks negatively about--or "hates on"--someone else. Hate is a strong emotion, and haters may not actually hate a person or group. They may, for example, just have some difficulty accepting someone else's success. Jealousy, racism and negative attitudes toward a group or an individual can also be telltale signs of a hater. Disliking someone or something doesn't automatically make someone a hater. Sometimes people are labeled as haters just for voicing their opinion. Constructive criticism (like telling your best friend something she may not want to hear) can also be mistaken for hater behavior. The word "hater" originated from the phrase, "Don't hate the player, hate the game." In other words, don't blame someone who fools around with a lot of people; blame the system (or whoever is allowing the "player" to fool around). For more about the label "player", click here. Hip-hop artists popularized the word "hater" during the mid-to-late 1990s. Lil' Kim released the song Player Hater in 1996, and Mase released the song Hater the next year. Over the years, "hater" has become more mainstream. Rock and pop artists use the word in their lyrics, and celebrities often use the word to describe people who put them down. For example, Hilary Duff recorded the song Haters on her 2004 self-titled album. The term "hater" isn't only used in the music scene: A 2003 episode of the Dave Chapelle Show mocked player haters in the skit, "Player Haters Ball." On the show, rapper Ice-T awards Dave Chapelle's character, Silky Johnson, with the title "Player Hater of the Year." When Silky Johnson makes his acceptance speech, the crowd boos instead of cheers. There are many variations of the word "hater." Mary J. Blige coined the term, "hateration"--basically a fancy way of saying "hatred"--in her 2001 single, Family Affair. The song is about letting loose on the dance floor without caring what other people think. Other songs on her album No More Drama are also about escaping negativity. "Haterade" is another offshoot of "hater." The word is a combination of "hater" and the sports drink Gatorade. "Haterade" refers to an imaginary drink that causes hatred. You may, for example, jokingly offer someone some Haterade if they are putting you or someone else down. "Hater" can also be spelled more than one way. When text messaging or talking to someone on the Internet, hater is sometimes spelled "h8r." The word can also be shortened to just "hata."

player "You see, there are two kind[s] of people in the world today/ We have, the playaz, and we have, the playa haters/ Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful baby..." - Notorious B.I.G., Playa Hater Simply put, if a guy hooks up, sleeps around or dates many women, he is usually referred to as a player (or playa). Charming and irresistible, there is something about this one person that makes the girls flock to him...and chances are, if you attend (or have attended high school), you've known a few guys who have gone by this label. So where did this term come from? Unfortunately, it's not really known. However, the general definition of the word player is one who participates and/or is good at a game. It's not a far stretch to see the metaphor of dating or hooking up as a game. Today, the term player is all over the place, and usually comes with specific gender connotations. Males are players, while women, if exhibiting the same behavior, would be called "sluts.". Just another case of the double standard that exists between the sexes... Within the hip-hop scene it's common to hear rappers refer to themselves and/or their entourage as players. For example, Snoop Dogg released a DVD in 2003 titled Boss Playa: A Day in the Life of Snoop Dogg and Nas has a song called, "Poppa was a Playa" from his album The Lost Tapes. The hit comedy program Chappelle's Show also touched on this term during its first season, when they aired a skit called "The Player Haters Ball" --a player hater being one who tries to put down, make fun or criticize another guy for being a player. During the show, the rapper Ice-T made an appearance and presented the award for "Player Hater of the Year" to Dave Chappelle's character, Silky Johnson. For those who defend the player lifestyle, it's common to hear, "Don't hate the playa, hate the game," which comes from Ice-T's song, Don't hate the Playa.

pervert What do gay people, MySpace users and Scarlett Johansson have in common? In the past two years they have all been called perverts in the mass media. Ms. Johansson was called a pervert in a gossip blog when she was seen staring at a male actor's body during a movie shoot; over twenty thousand MySpace users were referred to as perverts in the news after they were removed from the site in an effort to reduce the threat of sex predators; and gay people everywhere were condemned as perverts who should be put to death by Muslim cleric Yusuf Qaradawi. According to these sources, perverts are all around us…Or are they? The label "pervert" and its alternatives "perv" and "pervo" can conjure up some pretty creepy images: old men trolling the web for young girls, guys sniffing stolen panties, S&M enthusiasts decked out in black leather, etc. But, have you ever wondered where these associations came from? How did particular people, acts and things come to be labeled as perverted in the first place? According to the dictionary, a pervert is someone (of either gender) who has “deviated from what is considered moral or right or proper or good.” Originally, used only as a verb, the word pervert comes from the Latin word pervertere, meaning "to corrupt, turn the wrong way, turn about," from per- "away" + vertere "to turn." In the 1600s, people began to use the word pervert as a noun to describe "one who has forsaken a doctrine or system regarded as true.” It wasn't until hundreds of years later that pervert took on the sexual connotation it has today. This evolution of meaning is partly due to 20th century Western psychology. How? Well, before the 1970s psychologists referred to abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior as "sexual perversions" and classified patients with extreme sexual disorders as “perverts.” However, just as the antiquated medical terms "moron" and "imbecile" were removed from modern psychological literature, the label "pervert" has been deemed derogatory too. The concept of what is abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior has evolved over time. In 1973, for instance, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of sexual disorders. In fact, many sex acts most would consider normal now (such as non-missionary position sex, pre-marital sex and even female orgasm) were once considered perversions, and still are by some conservative groups. Though the medical community no longer uses the word pervert, you may still hear its use in casual conversation. As a verb, "pervert" is pretty neutral. For example, a political reporter might say, "Judge Smith perverted justice with her ruling," to express that the ruling was unjust. However, the same reporter would probably not say, "Judge Smith is a justice pervert," which would imply that the judge gets abnormally aroused by justice. (Though knowing judges, she just might…) When used as a label, pervert is often intended as a playful tease, e.g. "OMG, she just checked out his butt. What a pervert!" but sometimes it is used to accuse someone of being mentally ill or worse since labeling someone a pervert can have serious consequences. In many societies, including the U.S., sexual behavior that infringes on the rights of others can lead to long prison sentences or even the death penalty. While outrageous personal fantasies are legal in every state (how's anyone even going to know?) communicating those desires or ideas can actually be illegal if those expressions are deemed obscene by a community. What do you think of the word pervert? Do you use it to describe people?

MILF Guy #1: Dude, that chick's a MILF! Guy #2: What the hell is that? Guy #1: M-I-L-F. Mom I'd Like to Fuck! Guy #2: Yeah dude! Yeah! -- American Pie, 1999 A MILF is an acronym for Mom I'd Like to Fuck--and for most people, the term MILF was introduced when the movie American Pie hit the big screen in 1999. In American Pie, four high school guys make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. One guy in the group, Finch, ends up completing the mission, but not with another member of the senior class. Instead, Finch ends up doing the deed with his friend's mom; hence the usage of the term MILF. As for the origins of the word, it's hard to track down any real evidence of the word appearing before American Pie. Some people claim to have heard the word used around their neighborhood or local area before the movie, but there's really no solid proof. However, MILF quickly took off after American Pie and is openly a part of mainstream culture--some people even use the term with pride. For example, when Britney Spears was pregnant (the first time) she was seen around Hollywood wearing a shirt that read "MILF in training". Today, you can purchase tons of shirts with other sayings like "Future MILF" (who would wear them is another topic…). And, men are also not afraid to show their admiration for MILFs. In 2003, the band Fountains of Wayne released a song titled "Stacy's Mom," in which a young boy fantasizes about his girlfriend's mom: "Stacy can't you see you're just not the girl for me/ I know it might be wrong/ but I'm in love with Stacy's mom." It quickly became a number one hit on the radio and TV. Besides making a commercial mark, the term MILF has become popular within the porn industry. While there always was a market for younger men and older women, MILF has become the name for this particular category, and one very popular porn website is even called "MILF Hunter," which began after the term appeared in American Pie. Lastly, the term has been changed to reflect other people's desires: DILF (Dad I'd Like to Fuck), FILF (Father I'd Like to Fuck) and GILF (Grandmother/father I'd Like to Fuck). Have you ever used the label MILF? What do you think about it?

narc Ever witnessed someone "telling" or "tattling" on someone? Chances are you have, and chances are you might have heard whispers or snickers about the person being a "narc." Not sure what this means? Or where the term comes from? Read on… Simply put, a "narc" (also spelled nark or narq) is someone who turns you in or reports you to a higher authority, like a teacher, police offer or parent. The term can also be used as a verb, for example, "She totally narked me out." While it may seem like a recent word, this term actually began appearing during the mid-1800s. Two books published around 1860, The Vulgar Tongue and A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, both contained the word "nark." In these books the term was defined as "a person who obtains information under seal of confidence, and afterwards breaks faith" or "a common informer". However, the roots of "narc" go back even further. According to etymology sources, the word comes from the Romani (Gypsy) term nak, meaning nose. There are also several other cultures with similar spellings for the term nose--Hindi's "nak" and Sanskrit's "nakra" and "nasa." So what does a nose have to do with a "narc"? Well, since the 17th century, "to stick one's nose into" or to be "nosey" were popular phrases for someone who intrudes or interferes, much like the current definition. (Some sources also believe the term is related to the French word "narquois," which means to be deceitful.) Narc is also a shortened name for "narcotics" and is used in reference to the police who work in that department. However, this label did not appear until the 1960s, well after the term had been used to designate a snitch or tattler. What do YOU think a narc is?

wigger "Wigger" refers to a "white" person (usually male) who acts, dresses or talks "black." It's most likely a combination of the words "white" and "nigger," though some people say the "w" comes from wannabe (a person who wants to be something they are not). You may also see it spelled "whigger," "wigga," or "whigga." According to the Rap Dictionary white people use "wigger" to describe other white people who "act black" and socialize with black people--and it's usually an insult. The word "wigger" is based on the idea that there's such a thing as "acting black" and that everyone agrees on what that is. In many cases, when people accuse someone of "acting black," they are suggesting that they've adopted the style and culture of the hip-hop community. But there is also a class component to the word. For some people, a wigger is a rich white person acting "ghetto." White rappers (like Eminem) have been called "wigger," as have musicians like Justin Timberlake who names a black musician (Michael Jackson) as an influence. Films such as "Can't Hardly Wait" and "Malibu's Most Wanted" portray the "wigger" stock character in a humorous way. Which raises the question: Why do people think his way of acting, dressing or speaking is so funny? One answer: the wigger is trying to be something he is not--he's being a kind of "poser."But this idea perpetuates the idea that people are defined by the color of their skin and creates a rift between people of different races.

white trash Nowadays the term "white trash" might bring to mind the foul-mouthed guests of "The Jerry Springer Show," with their bad hair, narrow-minded politics and trailer park neighborhoods...just some of the stereotypes associated with poor, white, non-urban Americans. But the phrase was around long before TV. It was first used in the mid-1800's to describe poor white people who didn't own land. As a social class, they were regarded by other whites as economically worthless and expendable as garbage--indeed, "white trash." Calling someone "white trash" is still a putdown that means low-class. (It irks some blacks, too, because of the implication that they are the "regular" trash.) But it can also be a source of pride, sort of a working class badge of honor for "real" white Americans, living without pretense and embracing their roots without shame. By now the label has also firmly rooted itself in pop culture, in a tongue-in-cheek celebration involving everything fromrecipes to mullets.Punk rockers and stars like Kid Rock have embraced white trash culture, and now's there's even a Trailer Park Lounge and Grill in New York City.

wetback "Wetback is a derogatory term used to describe Mexicans who have immigrated illegally to the United States by swimming or wading across the Rio Grande--the river that separates the U.S. from Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol began using the word in 1944 to refer to illegal Mexican immigrants who were easily identifiable by their wet clothing. In 1954, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service made the word "wetback" official by naming the mission to remove illegal immigrants from the United States, Operation Wetback. In response to the increase of immigrants during the early 1950s, the agency developed the program to force immigrants (particularly Mexicans) back to their home countries. Approximately one million Mexican Americans were deported in one year. Today the term "wetback" is often used to express animosity towards Central American or Latin American immigrants--legal and illegal--who do not speak English. Meanwhile, in an attempt to reclaim the word, some Mexican-Americans call themselves Los Mojados, meaning "the wet ones."

wasp "WASP" is an acronym for white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. When someone calls someone a WASP today, they usually mean to imply that the person is uptight, reserved and/or elitist, regardless of their background. The stereotype of the uptight, upper class WASP is based on the assumption that white Anglo-Saxon Protestants are both genetically (white Anglo-Saxons) and religiously (Protestant) predisposed to acting like, well, snobs. The term "WASP" was made popular by E. Digby Baltzell in his 1964 book, "The Protestant Establishment: Aristocracy & Caste in America." Baltzell used the term to refer to the American cultural, political and economic elite--preppy, Ivy League and country club types. These days, the label is used much more loosely to refer to people--almost always white, sometimes Protestant--who fit the behavioral stereotype of a WASP. The Anglo-Saxon part of the term--which refers to descendents of Germanic and Danish people who settled in the British Isles and are by definition white--has become irrelevant

twat "To get the twat I got a knot, no more runnin' from the cops/ now I'm rollin' with Foxx because the block's hot."-- Jamie Foxx, DJ Play A Love Song Much like cunt, the word twat is mainly used as a slightly vulgar slang term for a woman's vagina. It is not recent slang, however. In Henry Miller's 1934 novelTropic of Cancer, he writes, "A man with something between his legs that could...make her grab that bushy twat of hers with both hands and rub it joyfully." So where did the term originate? While there is no specific background, the word can be traced back to old English, where the term twat was most commonly used in reference to hitting someone hard; for example, "I twatted him above the head." Eventually, this term came to mean the female genitalia. One of the earliest documented works was a satirical English poem from the 1660s, which read: "They talk't of his having a Cardinalls Hat/ They'd send him as soon an Old Nun's Twat." Today, twat can be heard in a number of songs, like the one quoted from Jamie Foxx's albumUnpredictable, released in 2005. The term also made an appearance in The Blow Job Song by Blink182 (which is a play off an old George Carlin skit). Besides referring to someone's vagina, twat can also be used to insult someone. One may call another a "twat" if he or she is acting like an idiot or jerk. In the 2001 Academy Award Nominated film,Billy Elliot, the main character, Billy, is called a twat by his grandmother. Lastly, one funny tidbit: today, in the United States, twat has another variation; it is the abbreviation for The War Against Terrorism (written, T.W.A.T.).

trick Today, the word trick--when used as slang or as a label--is known as a derogatory term for women. Usually used by males, calling a female a trick can imply that she is a tease, a ho or a bitch. However, trick hasn't always had this sexual meaning behind it. First introduced into the English language in 1412, the word "trick" was used to describe any act that was mischievous or devious. It didn't necessarily have to be an act sexual in nature. For example, think of the common Halloween saying, "Trick or treat." In 1915, the word "trick" was first used to refer to a prostitute's client. This lead to the phrase "turning tricks," which is used to describe the act of prostitution. Today, it is not uncommon to hear the term used in the media, especially in hip-hop music. Popular rappers frequently refer to women as tricks in their songs, such as the song "Baby If You Get on Your Knees" by the artist 50 Cent ("I ain't here hopin' that your baby daddy ova da shoulder/banks don't associate wit no tricks").Another such artist is Trick Daddy, who happens to use the word in his stage name. Females are not the only victims of this slur. In the gay community, a trick is known as someone who has casual sex. A 1999 film called "Trick," dealt with this subject matter when it portrayed two young gay men who randomly met on the subway and decided to engage in an affair.

tree hugger "Tree hugger" is a phrase used to describe environmental activists. The word originated in the 1970s in response to the Chipko movement in India, which was comprised of a group of villagers opposed to commercial logging. The group became known for its tactic of hugging trees to prevent them from being cut down by loggers. Although it began as a reference to activists who literally hugged trees, the phrase is now used metaphoricaly to refer to people who "embrace" environmental causes. The implication is that they love nature a little too much. In the United States, the term is applied to a wide range of environmental activists. Groups such as Earth First! that engage in acts of civil disobedience, as well as individuals like Judi Bari and Julia "Butterfly" Hill--who lived in a California Redwood tree for 738 days in order to prevent it from being cut down--are referred to as tree huggers.

tool According to dictionary.com, a tool (as a noun) is: "A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work," or "something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession," or even, "a person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe." The last definition is generally how the term is used today when referring to or defining someone else. For example, "She's using him and he doesn't even know. What a tool." Not knowing is the key. What separates a tool from someone who's just good at following directions is that the person doesn't realize (or doesn't care) that they are being used. Referring to someone as a tool was probably appropriated as an abbreviation of the phrase "tool of the man" ("the man" being someone very corporate or having lots of power). A tool of the man is used to execute his or her (yes, "the man" can be a woman) dirty deeds. According to Wikipedia, the slang usage of the word tool became popular in the 1990's. Its usage even seeped into late night television. In one particular skit, Jimmy Fallon dressed up as Carson Daly, a popular MTV VJ in the late '90s, and referred to himself as being a "massive tool." A tool can also be someone who just seems lame or is completely unoriginal. They are so used to conforming that they don't seem like they can think for themselves or think independently from what's popular. Tools have also been accused of trying too hard--expelling way too much effort in an attempt to fit in or join the mainstream or non-mainstream (whichever the case may be). Thus, sometimes also being labeled a wannabe or poser. Common derivatives of the word tool are: toolbox (generally meaning that this person is an extreme tool) or toolish (which means that someone is acting like a tool or in a tool-like manner).

thug "My first words were 'thug for life.'" --Tupac Shakur Think of the word "thug." Maybe you picture Tupac Shakur's famous stomach tattoo? Or possibly, a gang of mafia crime bosses? Most people might be picturing the same thing...so we wanted to find out what "thug" really means--and where it came from. Also, we wondered why the hip-hop/rap scene has such a strong connection to the term "thug." Before we get there, let's talk history a bit. Interestingly enough, the term thug is derived from an Indian cult, the Thuggee. The term comes from the Hindi word thag (thief) and from the Sanskrit words sthaga (scoundrel) and sthagati (to conceal.) The Thuggee was a network of secret fraternities who cold-heartedly murdered and robbed travelers. They operated from the 17th century to the 19th century and members of the cult were known as "Thugs." Over time, the term "thug" came to mean those who were ruthless, cruel--and more often than not--criminal. After the original Indian Thuggees, the term was not regularly used again until the 1800s and only reached mainstream language after the rise of gangster crime. Thug was a name used primarily for gangsters. For example, Al Capone, a notorious gangster, was considered a thug and his likeness has been depicted in numerous films like Scarface and The Untouchables. The term "thug" became more positive and popularized in the 1990s by rapper Tupac Shakur. For many, Tupac was a huge figure in the "gangsta rap" culture of the '90s and a major proponent of the thug life mentality. "Gangsta rap," while being one of the most controversial sub-genres of hip hop music, seems almost intertwined with the depiction of being a thug. Although the term was also used by other individuals, Tupac was one of the first to claim that being a thug was not necessarily negative. Tupac was respected not just for his music, but his gang and criminal involvement--just like the thugs of the past. He did not hide his involvement in illegal affairs, and thus appeared more genuine and relatable. However, in contrast to the idea of a thug as merely a thief, Tupac Shakur used the term thug to talk about issues of poverty and racism; his self imposed acronym for T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E was "The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Some argue that Tupac tried to de-villianize the ideas surrounding thugs and gangs. He felt that the evolution of the gang lifestyle was directly related to the harshness of how children in poor communities were raised. His views were that society creates the criminal and that those who commit crimes are merely victims of where they were raised. Today, the term thug is most often used in a negative way and is a label mainly attached to primarily minority men who show signs of aggression or who live in poverty.

tease When you were in elementary school, you probably got teased. Maybe you even teased a few people yourself, especially if you have younger siblings. However, as you got older, you probably heard the word "tease" more often in a different sense... The word "tease" has a literal meaning of "to pull or scratch"--as in teasing your hair (which was much more popular in the '80s than it is today). The figurative meaning of "to provoke or annoy" developed in the 1600s from the Old English word taesan, which meant to pluck or pull apart. Today, the word "tease" is used as an insult to describe a person (generally a female or gay male) who flirts and behaves in an overtly sexual manner in order to get the attention of (usually) men, but without the intention to follow through with sex. This usage has been around since the 1970s as a shortened version of the term "cock-tease"--which is why the term tease is not typically used to describe heterosexual men. Being a tease is not the same as being a flirt. Unlike flirting (which is lighter and less serious), teasing (in this sense) is seen as being purposefully misleading and sometimes, intentionally hurtful. A tease knows what she is doing and supposedly receives pleasure or a feeling of power from her actions. A common movie character is the girl who is wrongly accused of being a tease. She is usually a good girl with a nasty ex-boyfriend who became angry when she wouldn't have sex with him. One especially famous version of this character is Claire (Molly Ringwald) in "The Breakfast Club." The sexually frustrated male who calls his ex-girlfriend a tease is such a frequently used character that it was even spoofed in "Not Another Teen Movie," in which the main character, Jake, announces: "...Maybe you should get on that plane to Paris. 'Cause if you stay, we really only have the summer, then I go to college and we'll talk on the phone and spend the occasional weekend together, which is nice. But chances are, one night I'm gonna get wrecked and have unprotected sex with some girl in my dorm. You'll find her thong and call me a slut...I'll call you a cock-tease and we'll break up. So when you really think about it, what's the point?"

stud The female origins of "stud" may come as a surprise to all the men out there who aspire to the term. While "studs" nowadays are virile and attractive in a masculine, athletic way, the word probably comes from the German word for "mare"--and the Middle English "stod," basically a place for breeding mares. Hundreds of years later, the breeding definition still applies, but the gender has changed. Nowadays, a stud is a stallion, or a place where stallions are kept. Retiring racehorses are put "at stud" to be bred post-career, for example. (Mares can be put at stud, but they're never referred to as "studs.") At some point in the early 20th century, "stud" was extended to male humans as well--especially the desirable ones with lots of sexual partners, but not always. Sometimes the sexual references were less overt, such as in theBeat lingoof 1950s, where a stud was just a "guy." Just how sexual the term is and whether or not a stud is a sex object or a sexual aggressor is far from settled. Websites and magazines advertise men as studs to rent for money. But then there's the Michigan college student threatened with sexual harassment charges for using the term in a paper. --faiza

straight edge When someone labels him or herself straight edge, it usually means that they do not drink, smoke cigarettes, use drugs or have promiscuous sex. While these rules may change from group to group (some people believe you must be a vegetarian or vegan, abstain from caffeine and live medication-free to be truly straight edge), the term is most often used with pride. The first use of the term appeared during the turn of the 20th century and referred to eating habits. As early as 1900, there was a restaurant that served only health food called the "Straight-Edge Kitchen." There was also a comic from that period depicting several men, dubbed "Straight-Edgers," having a vegetarian meal. But the term, used as we know it today, didn't take off until the early 1980s, when the punk scene began to embrace the concept of a healthy lifestyle. When some punks became fed up with the self-destructive behavior they usually saw within the punk lifestyle, straight edge began. They continued to go to the shows and listen to the music, but decided to abstain from smoking, drinking, doing drugs and participating in casual sex. Many wore X's on their hands to show their dedication to the clean lifestyle. The X's were originally a sign that the wearer was too young to drink, but straight edgers of all ages wore the X's voluntarily as a symbol of the choices they were making. Minor Threat--one of the first bands to promote this clean punk lifestyle--wrote a song called "Straight Edge" in 1980. An excerpt of the lyrics: "I'm a person just like you/ But I've got better things to do/ Than sit around and fuck my head/ Hang out with the living dead/ Snort white shit up my nose/ Pass out at the shows/ I don't even think about speed/ That's something I just don't need/ I've got the straight edge." Today, the straight edge lifestyle is vibrant and full of many different types of people--punks or not. However, not everyone in the movement has been so open-minded to those who choose to live differently. Considering what a personal thing being straight edge is, it's surprising how often it's associated with violence. In Utah during the 1990s, several people claimed that there were straight edge based gangs and that these gangs attacked anyone who wouldn't conform to their lifestyle. The media coverage of these events led many people to form the mistaken opinion that being straight edge was about being violent. Most straight edgers stress that violence is not what they are about. For most, being straight edge is all about personal choice--being who you are and not letting destructive behavior get in the way of a healthy lifestyle.

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