Boo!
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,417
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Post by Boo! on Nov 5, 2013 8:34:11 GMT -5
Firstly it's a GREAT cause and as someone whose own mother is a 'survivor' I appreciate that as well as anyone.
But for the WWE, did it make sense choosing that as it's cause? The audience is dominated by men, young men at that. Awareness around breast cancer, while totally commendable, does seem to be somewhat wasted on a large section of their market. Of course it's done some good but if you want to really raise awareness for breast cancer surely the biggest impact would be to do it to a large female, or even general audience. The WWE viewership is dominated by males who, while they support the cause, find themselves as little other than passive supporters of it.
Why not raise awareness of an issue that directly impacts your audience. A show whose demographics is dominated by young men every week which raised awareness of testicular cancer in the same way would do a tremendous amount of good. More so than getting 4 million men watching at home to agree that breast cancer is a bad thing.
It just seemed odd. The campaign, once more, was highly admirable but it seemed to be being pitched at the totally wrong audience. Like The View running 'prostate cancer awareness week'. The causes are fine but maybe when you have an audience dominated by one gender, as WWE do, it's a bit naive if not maybe irresponsible to pick a health awareness campaign that's going to be largely irrelevant to those watching.
Not saying that women's issues should be promoted on female-watched shows and male issues on male-watched shows, exclusively. But if you have the power to spread awareness about these things surely to have greater impact you pick a cause that'll resonate more with your audience and have a greater legacy.
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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Nov 5, 2013 8:39:00 GMT -5
The NFL promotes Breast Cancer Awareness month as well.
It would be nice if they did that for prostate, or pancreatic cancer. Or hell, went against the notion that only women get breast cancer, and point out men get it as well. Make the focus for everyone, instead of only focusing on one gender.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2013 8:45:26 GMT -5
I'd just wish they stopped using Susan G. Komen. I know its widely documented already, but they hardly give any of their actual revenue to cancer research. They aren't a charity, they're just an advertising firm for breast cancer.
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Chip
Hank Scorpio
Slam Jam Death.
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Post by Chip on Nov 5, 2013 9:01:13 GMT -5
I'd just wish they stopped using Susan G. Komen. I know its widely documented already, but they hardly give any of their actual revenue to cancer research. They aren't a charity, they're just an advertising firm for breast cancer. Agreed, this reflects badly on WWE for me as well seeing as it's only what, 15% of the merch price actually going to the charity? With WWE offering such a small slice and the charity itself not exactly being..... charitable you're left wondering just how much is actually going towards helping someone.
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Post by Lazy peon on Nov 5, 2013 9:09:13 GMT -5
I'd just wish they stopped using Susan G. Komen. I know its widely documented already, but they hardly give any of their actual revenue to cancer research. They aren't a charity, they're just an advertising firm for breast cancer. Agreed, this reflects badly on WWE for me as well seeing as it's only what, 15% of the merch price actually going to the charity? With WWE offering such a small slice and the charity itself not exactly being..... charitable you're left wondering just how much is actually going towards helping someone. 20%, with the other 80% going towards elevators in Cena's mansion.
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67 more
King Koopa
He's just a Sexy Kurt
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Post by 67 more on Nov 5, 2013 12:32:22 GMT -5
My only problem with it is that they refuse to acknowledge that men get breast cancer too.
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Post by crowwreak was WRONG on Nov 5, 2013 12:40:53 GMT -5
I'm surprised that Wade Barrett doesn't wear a Cancer Research UK shirt, seeing as they actually give money to charity
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Post by A Platypus Rave is Correct on Nov 5, 2013 12:47:20 GMT -5
My only problem with it is that they refuse to acknowledge that men get breast cancer too. Yeah, but that's not solely a WWE issue. Granted its more common among women but men can get it. It's not a prostate / ovarian situation.
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67 more
King Koopa
He's just a Sexy Kurt
Posts: 11,585
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Post by 67 more on Nov 5, 2013 12:52:52 GMT -5
My only problem with it is that they refuse to acknowledge that men get breast cancer too. Yeah, but that's not solely a WWE issue. Granted its more common among women but men can get it. It's not a prostate / ovarian situation. Oh, I completely realise that it's not just a WWE issue. At some point, it needs to be addressed properly. Instead we get stupid crap like "save the boobies!".
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Post by Old Jack Burton on Nov 5, 2013 13:24:28 GMT -5
Well, there's the argument that most women are already fairly "aware" of the dangers of breast cancer, but many men don't understand how common it is and how it weighs on every woman's mind. So WWE's campaign may be beneficial in educating men and making them more sympathetic to the issue.
However, I'll just come out and say it: I hate the pink. It ruins the look of the show, and I truly believe the massive overdose of pink shit during the month of October has done more harm than good. People get annoyed by its omnipresence, and eventually they start to associate that annoyance with the charity.
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Nov 5, 2013 13:29:58 GMT -5
I'd just wish they stopped using Susan G. Komen. I know its widely documented already, but they hardly give any of their actual revenue to cancer research. They aren't a charity, they're just an advertising firm for breast cancer. Agreed, this reflects badly on WWE for me as well seeing as it's only what, 15% of the merch price actually going to the charity? With WWE offering such a small slice and the charity itself not exactly being..... charitable you're left wondering just how much is actually going towards helping someone. I find it refreshing that the WWE comes out and says how much exactly goes from the merch to charity. Most places give you a nebulous proceeds and leave it at that. Honestly if you want more to go to charity give directly to said charity.
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Boo!
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,417
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Post by Boo! on Nov 5, 2013 13:32:29 GMT -5
But if they're picking a cause why wouldn't a show dominated by male on-air talent and a male audience promote one of the vastly under promoted male health issues? It seem so strange to think that promotion/awareness is that important that you get involved and promote a cause that let's face it is heavily promoted elsewhere, yet do nothing about anything such as testicular cancer that enjoys nowhere near the same level of publicity but which your involvement could help save the lives of many in your audience.
If you're a a kids show running an awareness campaign it makes sense to raise awareness of an issue that affects children. Ditto a show watched by elderly people, you tailor your awareness issues accordingly. A television show dominated by men, with an overwhelmingly male audience and the issue they tackle is breast cancer? I know men can get it too but rarely. Meanwhile testicular and prostate cancers go undiagnosed as they're not considered 'glam' enough to promote on TV. I think it's a dereliction of duty in some respects on behalf of companies such as WWE when they do little about it yet favour promoting issues that with all due respect to them are largely redundant to most of their audience.
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Post by carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) on Nov 5, 2013 13:33:10 GMT -5
Truth is, the Komen Foundation has such a stranglehold in people's minds about "medical charity" that there isn't any other equivalent. There's no other way to publicly support cancer charities (and get immediate, intuitive appreciation for doing so) than to go the pink route.
There's a lot wrong with Komen. But the WWE wants credit for supporting a charity, and this is the only charity that's branded itself so well. No other options.
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Post by Hit Girl on Nov 5, 2013 14:45:05 GMT -5
Pinkwashing and little more.
I am skeptical that WWE really gives two shits about cancer awareness, anti-bullying initiatives etc...
It's just good PR
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2013 14:53:13 GMT -5
I wish they'd observe Movember.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2013 14:56:40 GMT -5
Yes WWE is mostly watched by men but everyone has a mother and a grandmother. So yeah it directly impacts all of us.
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Post by Todd Pettengill on Nov 5, 2013 15:23:35 GMT -5
But if they're picking a cause why wouldn't a show dominated by male on-air talent and a male audience promote one of the vastly under promoted male health issues? It seem so strange to think that promotion/awareness is that important that you get involved and promote a cause that let's face it is heavily promoted elsewhere, yet do nothing about anything such as testicular cancer that enjoys nowhere near the same level of publicity but which your involvement could help save the lives of many in your audience. I like healthy boobies.
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Post by A Platypus Rave is Correct on Nov 5, 2013 15:24:56 GMT -5
Yes WWE is mostly watched by men but everyone has a mother and a grandmother. So yeah it directly impacts all of us. this right here.
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Post by Big DSR Energy on Nov 5, 2013 15:31:42 GMT -5
Well, there's the argument that most women are already fairly "aware" of the dangers of breast cancer, but many men don't understand how common it is and how it weighs on every woman's mind. So WWE's campaign may be beneficial in educating men and making them more sympathetic to the issue. However, I'll just come out and say it: I hate the pink. It ruins the look of the show, and I truly believe the massive overdose of pink shit during the month of October has done more harm than good. People get annoyed by its omnipresence, and eventually they start to associate that annoyance with the charity. This, coupled with the fact that none of the other cancers get a whole month...I don't like to say it, but breast cancer comes off like a "trendy" disease. I know it actually effects people and I certainly don't think it should be devoid of attention. But it feels like people jump on the wearing pink and supporting the cause in a bandwagon-y way, which is off-putting.
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Boo!
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,417
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Post by Boo! on Nov 5, 2013 16:44:14 GMT -5
Yes WWE is mostly watched by men but everyone has a mother and a grandmother. So yeah it directly impacts all of us. Only in the same way every child knows someone with a car so raising awareness of c02 emissions is relevant on pre-school programming. Young men die out of ignorance because hardly anyone wants to do anything about it. WWE, a bastion of entertainment for young men, with some of the most recognisable TV personality of young men have a chance to promote a cause and they promote one that not only is incredibly well promoted elsewhere (and rightfully so, I might add) but one that's going to be of direct irrelevance to the audience. Yes everyone has a mother or a grandmother. But if you've got an audience of young males, given the ignorance and death that surrounds testicular cancer, it's an absolute travesty to ignore it. Even if they weren't doing the breast cancer thing I'd happily criticise them for not promoting male health issues. But the fact they've chosen one and as a result they're contributing towards young men believing cancer is a 'female thing', I think it's borderline shameful.
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