Are the fans wrong?

[Deleted]

There seems to be a sentiment that its not TNA's fault that they were able to garner record low ratings and SpikeTv forced them to go back to Thursdays.

The fault, some believe, lie in the "fans."

These fans either:
1) Cannot "appreciate" a good show like iMPACT.
2) Are "brainwashed" by WWE into thinking any show that's not WWE is not worth watching.
3) Didn't give TNA a chance as 2 months is not enough time to build a brand identity.
4) Are "brainwashed" by the negativity of various wrestling boards/bloggers into thinking TNA is not a good product.


I find this thought process to be hilarious because no matter how you shake it - TNA still failed, because the point of putting on a show is to entice people to watch. If they don't watch the show for any of those 4 reasons mentioned above (none of which I believe are true) then they still failed.

Does any one else see/hear this kind of faulty logic from people? If so, what can you attribute it to?

As an additional conversation topic - if one of these 4 reasons the "fans are wrong" are actually true - what can TNA do to correct it?

Find a different audience?
"Brainwash" their own audience?

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

Reason number four is the biggest fallacy because the same fans that claim that are the absolute quickest to claim that the internet fans "don't matter", when internet opinion goes against whatever a given company's doing.

[pks]

Sounds like Easy E in general

YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE!

[Deleted]

I hate when people say ''Oh they've been brainwashed into liking stuff like the Undertaker,Cena and Hornswoggle over such greatness as Rob Terry,Anderson and Abyss

You can't brainwash a national audience just accept the fact that people like shit that's different from you and that's why it's popular rather than try up with some conspiracy

[angryfan]

Honestly, it's not just TNA, but I do think you're onto something. Vince has always had the mantra of "you'll like what I tell you to", and I don't see Bischoff and Hogan as being any different. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it fails miserably, but the key is that, should it fail, the blame always goes to an entity or group (real or otherwise) that the person in power can point to and treat like they're Scooby and the gang.

"This angle would've worked, if it woudln't have been for..." followed by "smarks", "Internet", "dirtsheets", "Grimmace on crack", or something else to take blame away from the person responsible for writing and producing the product in question.

Again, this isn't exclusive to TNA by any means, Vince has been known to do the same thing. Cena in 2005-2006 is a prime example.

[Richard]

No, they failed because they had only 2 good to great shows in that two month span, while competing with WWE at its hottest period, they failed because they didn't have the foresight to think going against WWE when WWE cares was a bad idea.

[James McCloud IS John Godot]

"Why, no wants to watch "the Band", Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan! Am I so out of touch? No, it's the fans who are wrong."

If the fans are wrong and you refuse to change, then quit, close up shop. You're a business, not a no-profit enlightenment society.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

I remember from a business course I had to take a few years ago they were listing ground rules on random business types. One of the first rules for an entertainment based business was something along the lines of - If something bombs, don't blame the fans.

[Tapout]

Look, TNA used to have a product that pushed homegrown and indie guys like Styles, Daniels, Beer Money, Samoa Joe, etc., as well as pushing a well-developed women's wrestling division that was totally unique outside of maybe Japan.

This product connected with a certain number of fans that got them the consistent 1.1 in ratings.

Now, they've changed the product to de-emphasize the KOs, de-emphasize several of the original talents, and shine a much brighter spotlight on WWE castoffs and on Hogan/Bischoff.

The product has changed and those people who used to be into pre-Hogan/Bischoff TNA are tuning out. Also, not enough new viewers are tuning in to replace the fans that TNA has lost. This is why the ratings are down. This is also why there is even more complaining about the TNA product in this forum. There are things that people used to like about this company that are either gone or in the process of disappearing, and they're not happy about it.

[neal]

TNA is doing so many things right now to alienate their fans and prospective fans. They're trying to be the WWE. If we wanted that, we watch WWE. Makes sense, doesn't it? Why watch a copy when you can watch the genuine article. That's why TNA is a failure, more than any other reason. In all their years, they never once came close to establishing their own identity, they come across as a little kid trying on it's mommy's clothes.

If TNA wanted to be an alternative to the WWE (which I doubt) they'd have done better ratings years ago, and Dixie would have been given a copy of "The Death of WCW" and required to write an essay on it.

In a magical world where the streets are made of gold and the rivers made of milk chocolate, I would be in charge of TNA. And the first thing I'd do is fire Hogan, Bischoff, Russo, and for that matter any of their pals, and I'd see that Double J isn't allowed to make any more decisions about who is hired, fired, promoted or demoted. He had his chance, and he flubbed it big time when he hired Russo. I'd make ammends to past talent that were misused and hire a booker who believes that wrestling is the main course and the silly stuff are the side items, not the other way around.

[AriadosMan]

TNA has a stunning lack of regard for the fans that sustained it for so long; Bischoff's hateful diatribes against "The IWC", dumping people like Daniels like they were nothing, etc. They've alienated the audience that made them sustainable in the first place and not gained any "casual fans" whatsoever. Businesses run this poorly reap the whirlwind sooner or later.

[barley96]

How could us fans be at fault? This is TNA's fault for not producing enough good shows.

[AriadosMan]

May 5, 2010 14:30:05 GMT -5 barley96 said:

How could us fans be at fault? This is TNA's fault for not producing enough good shows.

He was speaking sarcastically. Its difficult to tell people that their opinion about a for-profit entertainment product that can't be viewed in a strictly objective sense is "wrong".

[josh]

I have always felt one aspect of it has been the brainwash thing by WWE. We've spent the past decade having it shoved in our heads that the only way to book is the WWE way and anything nto WWE is indy and bushleague. Which is a word I'm tired of hearing in this section.

[AriadosMan]

Hornswoggle only shows up in 1 brief comedy seg a show.

TNA plasters Hogan everywhere.

Who do you think does more damage to their respective league by showing up more?

[josh]

May 5, 2010 14:40:55 GMT -5 AriadosMan said:

Hornswoggle only shows up in 1 brief comedy seg a show.

TNA plasters Hogan everywhere.

Who do you think does more damage to their respective league by showing up more?

Still....I have yet to see anything on TNA that has made me just want to ram my head into a wall like I have on RAW in the past year. That doesn't give TNA a pass for the mistakes but I do think they beat the hell out of RAW now.

[Deleted]

May 5, 2010 14:34:53 GMT -5 josh said:

I have always felt one aspect of it has been the brainwash thing by WWE. We've spent the past decade having it shoved in our heads that the only way to book is the WWE way and anything nto WWE is indy and bushleague. Which is a word I'm tired of hearing in this section.

So you think people can't conclude for themselves what they will enjoy? This is a little close to the "sheeple" defense isn't it?

[AriadosMan]

May 5, 2010 14:43:09 GMT -5 josh said:

May 5, 2010 14:40:55 GMT -5 AriadosMan said:

Hornswoggle only shows up in 1 brief comedy seg a show.

TNA plasters Hogan everywhere.

Who do you think does more damage to their respective league by showing up more?

Still....I have yet to see anything on TNA that has made me just want to ram my head into a wall like I have on RAW in the past year. That doesn't give TNA a pass for the mistakes but I do think they beat the hell out of RAW now.

Then that's personal taste. I lost appetite for TNA at about the point they decided on turning Abyss into Hulk Lantern.
Some people may enjoy the TNA product more, but it is in no way looks a non "sports entertainment" prodcut. Its just as preposterous and silly as WWE, if not more so, at times...

[dreamer75]

[/quote]

This video sums up many of TNA's problems. Bad booking and ridiculous crap (really Desmond tripping over Flair really?!)

btw that video was hilarious I think all abyss (post monster/KaneMankind fusion) matches should have the Benny Hill music dubbed over the matches instead of commentary

[AriadosMan]

May 5, 2010 15:12:19 GMT -5 dreamer75 said:

btw that video was hilarious I think all abyss (post monster/KaneMankind fusion) matches should have the Benny Hill music dubbed over the matches instead of commentary

Okay, ask and you shall receive.