Thread: Wrestling

Does anyone here agree that Wrestling on TV being aired during periods of the day where children are potential watchers is something that should be stopped? I guess the real question is, as an entertainment value, is Wrestling adequate for children from ages 15 and under?

I don't have a formulated opinion yet. Really I don't. I don't allow my daughter to watch, but I base that decision on an uninformed general principle. I never actually bothered much giving this an hard thought.

There is a governmental proposal on top of the table over here in Portugal where such type of shows will probably be stopped from airing at all for any period of the day up until 23:00. The current government is not particularly conservative in nature. What I found interesting though was that no one seems to disagree, except for the TV stations themselves... and the children.

EDIT: children, I must add, that have been consuming this show in great numbers.

Why should it be?

I do not agree. Children imitate what they see on televison. I personally think that is how some crime begins. Violence is violence. You see it in many forms, from TV to computer games.
If the government can do one thing to prevent some form of violence being shown to a younger audience, then I agree they shuold either move it to a different time slot or ban it altogether.

That said. some kids will go out of their way ( and their parents ) to watch it. Be that in the form of a freinds house or on DVD. Violence is with us and will be with us for a long time to come I am afraid to say. There is no possible sure proof way to block it from kids eyes forever.

The problem with wrestling is the same as a famous saying:

Monkey See Monkey Do

Do you think it's the kids watching wrestling that is causing the problems or the lack of a positive adult influence?

Possibly a bit of both. As I said, kids imitate most of what they see, but the adults have responsability as parents to teach their children the right and wrong way to go about things

>Do you think it's the kids watching wrestling that is causing the problems or the lack of a positive adult influence?

Adults that make and air these shows, you mean?

However, I'm not completely oblivious to your point. It is fact many parents, teachers, neighbors, ... we all influence a child behavior. It seems almost sad that we then impose on them principles we don't have. Both in language and actions.

But I think that will always be our way as a society. It's then a matter of seeing where we can at least make some sort of difference. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I think I'm misunderstanding your post, Mario.

> It seems almost sad that we then impose on them principles we don't have.

Like what?

> Two wrongs don't make a right.

What does this have to do with anything?

> Two wrongs don't make a right.

I think he mean:

wrong 1: Kids watch wrestling cause they enjoy voilence
wrong 2: Adults ( parents ) allow or encourage them do do this

I could be wrong, I was figuring out what mario meant

That's only the case if you assume that watching wrestling is wrong to begin with. If the parents monitor what they're watching and impress on them that "hey, you shouldn't throw someone through a table", I don't see what the problem is.

What's the difference between kids watching wrestling and watching, say, US football or rugby or something?

There isnt. All the sports you listed involve voilence. Take football, its all contact sports. This is one thread that most people are not going to agree on

>Like what?

Well, in general adult behavior is anything but correct when seen at the light of what we then try to transmit to our children. Two adults fighting aggressively on a line, cussing at other drivers, arguing loudly with their spouse... not to mention beating them,... too many examples from our general behavior in the street to our general contempt inside out houses.

We then move on imposing a correct behavior to the children, we don't really show. So yes, I agree the biggest factor is indeed our irresponsible behavior, not what children see on TV.

But...

>> Two wrongs don't make a right.
> What does this have to do with anything?

A lot. What if there is no regulation? Why is it ok to stop smoking or alchool commercials before 23:00, but it's not ok to stop a show where violence is distributed as a form of entertainment to the children? Why is that ok to not air pornography on open tv channels, but it's ok to see a bunch of guys beating each other?

I just think that perhaps there ought to be some form of regulation. Something that at least helps those few parents that give a damn. Personally, I think Wrestling affects out children behavior. I've seen actors there pulling the finger or cussing on TV to an audience of children.

However, I'm in no position to be affirmative around this. I just don't know if I'm right. And that's the really troublesome thing. That no actual real, incisive, comprehensive study was ever made about TV influence (or lack thereof) on the society in general.

Two wrongs don't make a right, if you believe Wrestling is cheap violence. You have one wrong (adults not being a good example), and you have another wrong (because of that, who cares if children watch violence).

> So yes, I agree the biggest factor is indeed our irresponsible behavior, not what children see on TV.

OK, we agree on that, then. Like I said, I wasn't sure what you were saying before.

> Why is it ok to stop smoking or alchool commercials before 23:00, but it's not ok to stop a show where violence is distributed as a form of entertainment to the children? Why is that ok to not air pornography on open tv channels, but it's ok to see a bunch of guys beating each other?

I don't know how Portugal does things, so maybe you can clear the air here. Are action movies shown on TV during the day?

> Personally, I think Wrestling affects out children behavior. I've seen actors there pulling the finger or cussing on TV to an audience of children.

I think it's the parents' responsibility to decide whether or not this is appropriate for their children. Of course, I don't have any children, but that is how I feel and I'd like to say I'd feel the same if I did.

> That no actual real, incisive, comprehensive study was ever made about TV influence (or lack thereof) on the society in general.

There are a million studies about this, but they're all going for one angle or another. I'd be pretty surprised if there was an unbiased study about this, though.

Yes. I guess this is pretty much a mute debate. The most decisive factor, is not what TV shows and at what time of the day... but how parents behave and what they allow or not allow their children to see.

> I don't know how Portugal does things, so maybe you can clear the air here. Are action movies shown on TV during the day?

Yes. And also sexual-explicit movies. Go figure eh?
I don't think the government has much power over what a TV station can pass or not. Neither perhaps it has the right because steps were taken to make sure freedom of communication is not just something people talk about.

However, on some key points they were able to put some constraints. The most ridicule ones were tobacco and alcohol. So, this is how it goes.

tobacco tv commercials were banned altogether. There's none whatsoever. Period.
alcohol tv commercials only after 23:00.
sexual-explicit movies are okay.
violent movies are okay.
COPS being aired at any time of day almost as an educational program is ok.
Jerry Springer being aired in the mornings is ok.

and now... to put the cherry on top...
Sexual education programs with true educational content... only after 23:00

You guys can show sexually explicit movies but can't show sex ed programming? Sounds like Portugal has higher priorities than wrestling.

Ive been watching WWE n WWF every since i can remember, and i really dont think that ive grown up to be a criminal or someone who likes hurting people or any of the stuff that they show in the wrestling matches..hell, im almost 20 now, but i still love watching wrestling..it completely depends on the kind of environment you are in, some silly TV program doesnt really influence the mind of any child to that great an extent..