In the mid to late 80's, straight-edge hardcore reached a zenith,
    especially in the greater Metropolitan area of New York City.  This 
    atmosphere led to the creation of Gorilla Biscuits, Bold, Wide Awake 
    and arguably the most prolific band of the era, Youth of Today. While 
    the bands of this period did much to popularise straight-edge, they 
    also contributed to its closeminded and antagonistic aspects. The 
    attitude between straight-edge and the rest of the world often took on
    adversarial tones during this time, largely becoming "The positive 
    youth crew versus people who drink, smoke and/or do drugs." Many people 
    dislike straight-edge and its adherents because of such intolerant 
    views. [4]

    In a 1995 interview with the Thicker fanzine, Ian MacKaye denounced the 
    stringent attitude prevalent in the culture he is widely credited with 
    founding. "The whole straight-edge thing for me was never about this 
    kind of puritan lifestyle, where I was supposed to be leading the 
    masses towards a better tomorrow," he said. [1]

    On 03 Jul 1997 Koontz Christopher Noel <iy17@jove!acs!unt!edu> wrote:
    "One can be a non-smoker, a teatotaler, and a vegetarian, and yet still 

    go see devil metal bands. Usually, everyone got along and had fun 
    because at the time, it was all there was. Maybe it's different now 
    that things are so much bigger and glitzier, or maybe Louisville has 
    just always been a lucky city."

    On 30 Oct 1997 Mikesolation wrote:
    "I've been going to shows since '83, and hardcore has changed its face 
    a hundred times since then. I like "new school" just as much as I like 
    "old school" and I dont think that there is much difference in its 
    attitude. Sure it was faster angrier punk back in the early 80's, and 
    then there came a metal influence, and hardcore became too metal to be 
    punk, but too punk to be metal. But its attitude has always remained. 
    It's easy to live in the past, and say it was so much better then, and 
    in some ways it was. But I wouldnt have traded the last few years for 
    anytime back in the 80's. I have great friends, and talk to kids all 
    over the country. I just lost one of my closest friends, and I cherish 
    the time I had with him, because he, to me, personified what hardcore 
    is about. He had also been going to shows for a long time, and loved it 
    all; punk, hardcore, metal, whatever. You don't have to take sides, old 
    or new, you just have to appreciate what you got.

    "Milwaukee Mike
    SEB LIVES"