Do kid wrestling fans ruin everything?

[Supersmark is a Troll]

kramrenllek said:

Fat, smelly teenage boys who carry replica title belts over their shoulders at house shows ruin wrestling for me.

Hey you just described me, (except for the title belt and I've never been to a house show.) that isn't nice

I do regret being cynical about the industry and I wish I could be a mark, but unfortunately that isn't the case.

[mcmxzyptlk]

Really, this reminiscing on and criticism of "markdom" *shudders* is nuts.

When I watch wrestling, I just watch it like I would Law and Order, an action flick, a sitcom or anything else that comes on TV that has a script behind it.

Like Nike, you just do it.

[El Cokehead del Knife Fight]

I'll post my two cents on this;

Kid wrestling fans (Actually children in general) irritate me but I'll also prefer an arena full of them to a handful of smarks sitting in the general vicinity.

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

I'd like to see eevryone banned from shows except me, so i could have all the comfortable seats and concession stands to myself while making up all the chants and demands.

[Painz_Daughter:HD]

Depending on what kind of mood I am in, children have the ability to either irritate the hell out of me or amuse the hell out of me. For the most part I find it adorable that children are wrestling fans. We were all kids once, and hell we probably started to watch wrestling as children, so why are some of you hating on the kids now? The kids don't have to worry about grown-up stuff yet. Let them be kids and little wrestling marks.

[Joekishi]

I don't like guys who take this stuff so seriously, i mean come on.

it's dudes in speedos play fighting and performing theatre.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

basicboogeynomix said:

I don't like guys who take this stuff so seriously, i mean come on.

it's dudes in speedos play fighting and performing theatre.

THANK YOU! You'll notice I recently added a very similar line to my sig.

[AriadosMan]

I don't like people who take it too seriously either.
However, I like "pandering" storylines like the Hornswoggle crap even less. Hornswoggle doesn't read like something that would appeal to kids so much as something that would appeal to adults desperate for "kid friendly" entertainment. For the record, kids generally like things that seem "adult" to them, not "kiddy".

[Loki]

mikebowski said:

loki said:

But a 10 years old kid has much more right to be happy/mad/sad for something that happened on a TV show featuring big men pretending to beat the hell out of eachother, than a 20-ish guy who's all bent out of shape because one of said big men ins't getting the role he thinks he deserves.

Ok, rambling rant time!

Ok, I'll ramble back

I disagree. Children don’t have any extra right to anything over anyone else. I hate that mentality. Get in line with the rest of the fans. We’re all equal in importance. I don’t subscribe to the beautiful and unique snowflake mentality most people seem to have here. I owe your children nothing. They mean nothing to me. Sorry. But it’s true. I respect passion for the business, and if they fall into that category, I accept them, and applaud them! Welcome aboard. But at the same time, I’m not mollycoddling their little sensitive dispositions if by chance there’s a certain issue or angle I feel strongly for or against. I’m not going to alienate them, mind you, but wrestling doesn’t “belong to them”. It’s all of ours. I’m not stepping aside for anybody. Sorry.

If a good portion of the show is clearly aimed at kids, they DO have the priority.
Kids are passionate about wrestling for totally different reasons than you and me. Expecting the same reaction to a 5* match from a kid and from an adult and long-time fan, is silly. Just like you won't mark for Hornswaggle or for Cena's/DX's poop jokes.
So, in a way, a big portion of programming BELONG to them.

That said, you don't have to denounce the older fans who have "Incorrect" reactions to what they're watching.

It's not "incorrect", it's exaggerated considering the topic at hands.

Kids have no more of a right to get angry or happy about anything than anyone else.

You bet they do! Unless you'll spank your kids for wanting an ice-cream or for whining about a bruised knee. Or you too get up in arms for such meaningless things... Either way, geez
Children aren't just "smaller adults" and we'd stop pretending they are.
There's an age when certain extra rights have to be conceded.

I don't subscribe to the notion that wrestling is just for kids and we adults need to just quietly go along for the ride. I look at wrestling like I look at any other TV show I'm emotionally invested in.

You don't have to sit quietly and go for the ride. You can sit and enjoy the parts you like, and ignore those you don't. Or even cry foul if you wish. But wanting everything going YOUR WAY is childish...

Just because a small child lacks the base intellect and common sense to sense something being absurd (and that’s fine), doesn't mean we don't have to notice it/comment on it. As long as we're not imposing our wills and ruining their approach to the sport, I don't see a problem. There's tons of people who watch and scrutinize the shows they love.

How can you NOT ruin their approach, if everything aimed at them is regarded as silly and worthless?
It's like giving your kids presents on Xmas Eve while saying "meh, Santa's just a stupid concept..."

I think it's a real simpleton approach to just blindly accept what you're being spoon-fed even if you don't like it. All the power to kids loving who they like, but wrestling also belongs to me, and I'm damn well going to love, hate, promote or bemoan whatever the hell I want to. I'm a paying customer and a life-time viewer and that's my right. Some people might think it’s silly to take certain things too seriously, but for a lot of folks, wrestling is a big part of their life. Something that’s seen them invest time and huge sums of money and emotion into.

Free to do what you want, but proclaiming your take and your take only is the right one, while the rest is for kids, simpletons etc is not part of your rights.

I don't understand Trekkies and other fringe fanatics of certain TV shows, but I don't go and criticize them for their educated opinions and love of their particular product. And I certainly don’t go around telling them that they need to compromise their beliefs and opinions, because newer fans are now more important than they are. Who says? I’m of the mindset that new people need to assimilate themselves into something, not the other way around. You’re joining a fraternity.

Wrestling is some sort of Mickey Mouse Club/Saved by the Bell if you will. You're free to stay but clearly the main audience is made of new fans and not long-time fans who're still hanging around...

[...] But hey, whatever. I’ll still respect your opinions as long as it’s done in an intelligent, coherent manner. But don’t tell me how to feel or what to think or that I’m wrong. Because, you can’t prove it.

Bottom line to my babbling is that when it comes to wrestling, no one is right. No group is more important than any other group. If you pay for and support a product, you’re important. You’re not a loser for over-thinking continuity, and you’re no less of a fan if you just watch it because it makes you laugh. We’re all equal. Let’s start treating each other that way for once. Kids, marks, smarks & casuals. Group hug, you strange mishmash of smart & stupid people. The end.

I'm not telling you how to feel. And I don't care about right and wrong.

Every fan can love it for whatever reason, but if the majority of the fans are kids/teens who enjoy the goofy/gimmicky side of the business, those who are smarter should just smile and silently (or vocally) enjoy what they like better.

Bottom line is: we're not better, they're not better. But we all were like them once upon a time, while most of them won't become like us.

[Robbymac]

loki said:

mikebowski said:

Ok, rambling rant time!

Ok, I'll ramble back



If a good portion of the show is clearly aimed at kids, they DO have the priority.
Kids are passionate about wrestling for totally different reasons than you and me. Expecting the same reaction to a 5* match from a kid and from an adult and long-time fan, is silly. Just like you won't mark for Hornswaggle or for Cena's/DX's poop jokes.
So, in a way, a big portion of programming BELONG to them.



It's not "incorrect", it's exaggerated considering the topic at hands.


You bet they do! Unless you'll spank your kids for wanting an ice-cream or for whining about a bruised knee. Or you too get up in arms for such meaningless things... Either way, geez
Children aren't just "smaller adults" and we'd stop pretending they are.
There's an age when certain extra rights have to be conceded.



You don't have to sit quietly and go for the ride. You can sit and enjoy the parts you like, and ignore those you don't. Or even cry foul if you wish. But wanting everything going YOUR WAY is childish...



How can you NOT ruin their approach, if everything aimed at them is regarded as silly and worthless?
It's like giving your kids presents on Xmas Eve while saying "meh, Santa's just a stupid concept..."



Free to do what you want, but proclaiming your take and your take only is the right one, while the rest is for kids, simpletons etc is not part of your rights.



Wrestling is some sort of Mickey Mouse Club/Saved by the Bell if you will. You're free to stay but clearly the main audience is made of new fans and not long-time fans who're still hanging around...

[...] But hey, whatever. I’ll still respect your opinions as long as it’s done in an intelligent, coherent manner. But don’t tell me how to feel or what to think or that I’m wrong. Because, you can’t prove it.

Bottom line to my babbling is that when it comes to wrestling, no one is right. No group is more important than any other group. If you pay for and support a product, you’re important. You’re not a loser for over-thinking continuity, and you’re no less of a fan if you just watch it because it makes you laugh. We’re all equal. Let’s start treating each other that way for once. Kids, marks, smarks & casuals. Group hug, you strange mishmash of smart & stupid people. The end.

I'm not telling you how to feel. And I don't care about right and wrong.

Every fan can love it for whatever reason, but if the majority of the fans are kids/teens who enjoy the goofy/gimmicky side of the business, those who are smarter should just smile and silently (or vocally) enjoy what they like better.

Bottom line is: we're not better, they're not better. But we all were like them once upon a time, while most of them won't become like us.

Robbymac applauds you sir.

[TRUTH TELLER]

I don't believe wrestling belongs exclusively to children. Until the day they remove any and all adult oriented content completely, no one can logically make that claim. So, given what we are currently getting, a hybrid of child & adult storylines, they as fans are no more important than adults are.

The fact you want it to be all about children doesn't make it so. And for the record, without sounding too much like a jaded prick, the joy of children is completely irrelevant to me. If they're having a good time, I'm happy for them. But when I'm told by bleeding heart parents who cater to their little turds every whim, that I don't matter, well f*** that. The Christmas analogy is not even relevant because wrestling is partially marketed to people my age. It just is. I’d agree completely with you and move on, if 50% of the show wasn’t still aimed at me. And I never said children have no place in wrestling. I just said it belongs to everyone equally. It's only half aimed at children. So, why get mad at me because as a paying customer I'm denouncing aspects I find intelligence insulting or flat-out not entertaining? As long as I'm not bullying them or ruining their views, what does it matter that I don't completely bend over for Vince? Despite the general view around here, my whole existence isn’t built around pleasing your children. It’s about pleasing me.

I hate the way the world is. I’m unapologetic about it. There's a movement of complacency sweeping this country where people no longer question things, and blindly accept everything that is thrown at them, because they're either too lazy, stupid, or weak to speak up about it.. If you're a paying customer in ANY medium, you can question and bemoan any aspect of YOUR product you want. That may not always be a popular stance, but hey, that’s just how it is. I'm not going to force my views on anyone, but I'm not having my personal opinions trampled on by parents or posters in here, just because a bunch of goody-two shoes want to create a childhood utopia of wonderment for a society of already mollycoddled spoiled brats whom are catered to enough already. I’m no more important than anyone else, and all I ask is the same consideration. Wrestling is also mine and people’s my age, and we’re not stepping aside for you, your kids, their bowlcuts, or anybody.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

[Robbymac]

mikebowski said:

So, why get mad at me because as a paying customer I'm denouncing aspects I find intelligence insulting or flat-out not entertaining? As long as I'm not bullying them or ruining their views, what does it matter that I don't completely bend over for Vince?

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Normally when I'm a fan of a TV show, and it stops being entertaining for me I quit watching said show. What I don't do is come on a message board and complain until I'm red in the face about it.

I'm not saying you do this, but there is a huge segment of fans that whine and cry and complain about every single segment of every single show and either never enjoy anything, or never bring up the things they do enjoy. If the show isn't entertaining to you then you can pick up that long black thing with the buttons on it next to your recliner and turn something on that does entertain you.

Take Cena for example. Everyone complains about him being the main focus of the show. Well here's how I look at it. I was a huge HUGE Soprano's fan, but I didn't like Janice. Had HBO made Janice the main focus of the show I wouldn't bitch about it. I'd just find something else to watch on Sunday nights.

[TRUTH TELLER]

robbymac said:

mikebowski said:

So, why get mad at me because as a paying customer I'm denouncing aspects I find intelligence insulting or flat-out not entertaining? As long as I'm not bullying them or ruining their views, what does it matter that I don't completely bend over for Vince?

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Normally when I'm a fan of a TV show, and it stops being entertaining for me I quit watching said show. What I don't do is come on a message board and complain until I'm red in the face about it.

I'm not saying you do this, but there is a huge segment of fans that whine and cry and complain about every single segment of every single show and either never enjoy anything, or never bring up the things they do enjoy. If the show isn't entertaining to you then you can pick up that long black thing with the buttons on it next to your recliner and turn something on that does entertain you.

I agree with you. And no, I'm not one of those people. I find things I love in every single show WWE puts on. Like say the entire Flair stuff last night. I actually felt teary watching the video package because it sunk in that it's winding down for the guy. The stuff I didn't like ( recently) was the Hornswoggle stuff. But not so much that I posted pages of hate or even turned the channel. It was just more of an eye roll if anything. My whole point was that I don't like being told I and people my age don't matter. People in this thread have pretty much said that. And to that, I couldn't vehemently disagree more.

[AriadosMan]

Unless if ALL adult content is removed from wrestling, then it's not strictly "for the kids". Only our civilization enshrines the ignorance of childhood as innocence. As an adult, I could never recapture that ignorance even if I tried. Therefore, I have just as much a right to change the channel during a Hornswoggle segment as little kids have to be bored by something else on the show that I like.
Besides, who wants to see kids acting like DX
I sincerely hope DX was intended as "adult" (teen-oriented) content

[Jeff]

No smarks ruin wrestling for the kids not the other way around

[chunkylover53]

I think too much of either side(enthusiastic kids or picky adults) can be annoying. I like to keep it at a happy medium.

[mysterydriver]

I just want to take a brief moment, aside from the numerous conversations going on in this thread to say:

I hate it when I'm on YouTube and see a kid under 10 talking like some of the people on this board. Hearing a 10 year old saying "Mark" "Over" "Push" and things of that sort hurts my inner child. It's like a punch in the gut. It's like the kid who goes around babbling about how (Insert Fictional Character) isn't real and says it like everyone should be proud that they know it. Good job, you don't get to have any fun and you can ruin for other people, let's eat the leftover milk and cookies since we know no one is really coming for them...

Kids don't ruin wrestling. The internet, however, has done a good job of making me depressed when thinking about the subject.

Now, from my other view point:

Do kids ruin everything? No. The original ECW wasn't geared towards kids and there seemed to be plenty of people who enjoyed it. ... Of course they did go out of business... But that wasn't a factor...I'm sure.

WWE likes to focus towards kids. Not a shocking thing really. They also seem to try and weigh in with some more teen/adult content. They've basically been trying to find the 'happy medium' as some might say (and probably have). Just because there is a segment where Hornswoggle "disappears" through a wall does not mean that wrestling is "ruined" because it gives away the fact that it's staged. Heck, it doesn't even do that much damage to the show since it takes up LESS than 5 minutes in a 2-hr program (That could go to another silent crowd watching London and Kendrick flip...Yea, I remember their feud with Cade & Murdoch, *Pin Drop*)

Meh, I'm probably repeating points people have already made and I apologize. To sum myself up: No, I don't think kids ruin 'everything' about wrestling.

[salTy]

[acressl]

We are the problem, not the kids. Without internet wrestling types, nothing would be questioned. You'd like some things and hate others, but you wouldn't watch with the expectations that you have now.

[AriadosMan]

acressl said:

We are the problem, not the kids. Without internet wrestling types, nothing would be questioned. You'd like some things and hate others, but you wouldn't watch with the expectations that you have now.

The Internet itself is the problem. You wouldn't see anybody questioning the WWE or acting "smarky" but for the Internet. Now, even 10-year old kids do because even 10-year old kids have YouTube access.
What this thread is really about is a return to the ignorance (or innocence) of a pre-Internet wrestling fandom, not about age. But you can't very well get rid of the Internet, can you?