I skimmed through the Raw thread and I'm a little surprised there isn't any discussion on the PSA that appeared during Raw. If you missed it, here it is:
Yup.
(edited by Kawshen on 13.2.08 1035) The preceding post was brought to you by the letter K and the number 22. kedzie.net
Considering the lifestyle that these guys lead, and the fact that they get extreme cardio several nights a week, how in the world do you maintain those physiques without "enhancement"?
Just cause it isn't an anabolic steroid, doesn't mean it isn't a shortcut.
Where is the poster that says that the wrestlers are adults who, unless they have blinders to the world, have enough statistical and medical data to make their own decisions on whether or not they want to use performance enhancing drugs?
This message is aimed at children, who may not have the same access, and for their own well-being, need to be informed about possibly horrifically bad things. If John Cena (example) wants, at his own risk, to use steroids, he can. He may face both legal and physical consequences from doing so, but that's his choice. It's WWE's choice to put him in a commercial for kids, because he appeals to children.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearWhere is the poster that says that the wrestlers are adults who, unless they have blinders to the world, have enough statistical and medical data to make their own decisions on whether or not they want to use performance enhancing drugs?
This message is aimed at children, who may not have the same access, and for their own well-being, need to be informed about possibly horrifically bad things. If John Cena (example) wants, at his own risk, to use steroids, he can. He may face both legal and physical consequences from doing so, but that's his choice. It's WWE's choice to put him in a commercial for kids, because he appeals to children.
Why is it so hard for people to understand this?
If your way of protecting kids is to lie to them, then sure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Future_Self_n%27_Me "Well, you know what us ultra-liberals say, when it comes to children and drugs, lies are OK."
I think Cena being in the video is especially odious, given his recent miraculous return from injury months ahead of schedule. Several people even mentioned the possibility of drug involvement in the Royal Rumble thread.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearWhere is the poster that says that the wrestlers are adults who, unless they have blinders to the world, have enough statistical and medical data to make their own decisions on whether or not they want to use performance enhancing drugs?
This message is aimed at children, who may not have the same access, and for their own well-being, need to be informed about possibly horrifically bad things. If John Cena (example) wants, at his own risk, to use steroids, he can. He may face both legal and physical consequences from doing so, but that's his choice. It's WWE's choice to put him in a commercial for kids, because he appeals to children.
Why is it so hard for people to understand this?
I don't think that's the argument anyone is making. I think it's just the pure hypocritical bullshit of the WWE to start running ads saying "don't use 'roids" a few months after lists linking most of their upper roster to steroid purchases of some type. Not to mention that the company itself has a sordid history with steroid abuse.
The "there are no shortcuts in pro-wrestling" argument is equally baffling to me, as 90% of pro-wrestling success is based on shortcuts. There's very few stories of guys that have achieved an amount of success in the industry equal to the amount of 'good old fashioned hard work' that they put in. You look at all professional 'sports' in the States and you won't find out there that relies more on politicking and less on pure talent then pro-wrestling.
Originally posted by KawshenI skimmed through the Raw thread and I'm a little surprised there isn't any discussion on the PSA that appeared during Raw. If you missed it, here it is:
Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco (2nd post of Raw #768 thread)The highlight for me was the John Cena 'Don't Use Steroids/or take shortcuts' commercial. It was the first time I've seen it and it makes his comeback all the more magical to me.
Originally posted by redsoxnation (6th post of Raw #768)No Drugs, No 'Roids. Finally, after all these years, they found a writer who can do comedy.
The part that stuck out to me is "No Second Takes" when they do that all the time for Smackdown tapings, and also edit blown spots out of PPV matches for the DVD release.
Also it irritated me that they abbreviated "steroids" like that.
Also the message of "no shortcut to your goals" is bullshit when it comes to professional wrestling.
Originally posted by AlexThe part that stuck out to me is "No Second Takes" when they do that all the time for Smackdown tapings, and also edit blown spots out of PPV matches for the DVD release.
Also it irritated me that they abbreviated "steroids" like that.
Also the message of "no shortcut to your goals" is bullshit when it comes to professional wrestling.
If you wanna pick it apart completely even if you'd argue that the standard pyro they use for entrances doesn't strictly count as "special effects", i'm pretty sure 'Taker summoning lightning from the ceiling back in the day wasn't legitimately his having magic powers.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoI think Cena being in the video is especially odious, given his recent miraculous return from injury months ahead of schedule.
My assumption on the Cena return was that they did the Scotty bit where the actual prognosis was "he'll be out two months" and they told everyone "tell people he will be out six months and then when you come back at Royal Rumble it will freak everyone out."
At least that is what I would have done.
(The "Scotty bit" refers to the ST:NG episode where Scotty reveals to Geordie that his reputation on being a miracle worker was built on consistently lying about how long it would take to fix something.)
Originally posted by Tribal ProphetI think it's just the pure hypocritical bullshit of the WWE to start running ads saying "don't use 'roids" a few months after lists linking most of their upper roster to steroid purchases of some type.
Doesn't that kinda make them damned if they do, damned if they don't? Do nothing, and the next teenage wrestling fan who decides to take steroids will be dragged on CNN with a tearful parent demanding to know why didn't the WWE DO ANYTHING to tell kids the drugs were bad. Do something and they're hypocrites.
Personally I think their primary responsibility is simply to condemn the use of steroids and take all reasonable measures to ensure their employees aren't using, but I can see why they felt the need to take a more public statement.
The "there are no shortcuts in pro-wrestling" argument is equally baffling to me, as 90% of pro-wrestling success is based on shortcuts.... You look at all professional 'sports' in the States and you won't find out there that relies more on politicking and less on pure talent then pro-wrestling.
I'm not sure the comparison is entirely fair in that talent in pro-wrestling is a much more subjective matter, with (like it or not) realtive intangibles like charisma, appearance and so forth play a part. I mean they could've gone with "there are no shortcuts, but at the same time if you're a butt-ugly, charisma sapping poster boy for an eating disorder you're fucked regardless how much work you put in" but it dilutes the message
Besides we fans can't even formulate a consistent attitude for ourselves toward steroid taking across different sports. In (especially) athletics druggies are branded evil, their career achievements forever sullied and/or wiped from the record books and lengthy bands ensue (Marion Jones, Dwain Chambers being recent high profile examples).
In football, no biggy. Four game ban and we'll say no more about it. Unless you're dumb enough to get caught again. And again (looking at YOU Ricky).
And in baseball hatred is directly proportional to level of success achieved, which given how the success was achieved may be about right actually.
Anyway, my point. I had one. Yeah, just seems a bit much to get on at them for perceived 'hypocrisy' when
a. they probably felt they had to be proactive about putting out a very public anti-drug message and
b. a fair number of us plebs are pretty hypocritical about steroid use in our own way in any event.
End of the day, can't imagine there's any wrestlers on the roster taking drugs who could claim to be ignorant of the risks, and (publicly at least) the WWE seem to be doing what they can to combat it. Works for me.
EDIT: Oh, and on Cena, what Llakor said. They lied about the severity of the injury, but it was a well intentioned lie.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoI think Cena being in the video is especially odious, given his recent miraculous return from injury months ahead of schedule.
My assumption on the Cena return was that they did the Scotty bit where the actual prognosis was "he'll be out two months" and they told everyone "tell people he will be out six months and then when you come back at Royal Rumble it will freak everyone out."
At least that is what I would have done.
(The "Scotty bit" refers to the ST:NG episode where Scotty reveals to Geordie that his reputation on being a miracle worker was built on consistently lying about how long it would take to fix something.)
FWIW, they did do that bit - but they had announced as a one year out on TV, and six months internally.
Anybody know when McMahon gets his day on Capitol Hill for hearings on steroids in wrestling? Is it still being investigated after the Benoit situation? Can you imagine Russo/Jarrett and McMahon sharing the same table? I'd like to be the dude in the middle.
Doesn't that kinda make them damned if they do, damned if they don't? Do nothing, and the next teenage wrestling fan who decides to take steroids will be dragged on CNN with a tearful parent demanding to know why didn't the WWE DO ANYTHING to tell kids the drugs were bad. Do something and they're hypocrites.
Well, yeah. As long as they continue to push roided-up guys, the choice is between failure to do anything, and hypocrisy. The solution, of course, is to stop rewarding the roid physique.
Doesn't that kinda make them damned if they do, damned if they don't? Do nothing, and the next teenage wrestling fan who decides to take steroids will be dragged on CNN with a tearful parent demanding to know why didn't the WWE DO ANYTHING to tell kids the drugs were bad. Do something and they're hypocrites.
Well, yeah. As long as they continue to push roided-up guys, the choice is between failure to do anything, and hypocrisy. The solution, of course, is to stop rewarding the roid physique.
...but...but "that's what the people want to see"...
So let me throw it out to the crowd - I know that none of you get HDNet and I'm not even sure any of you are watching this show. That's right. They pulled HDNet about a year ago and the only way I can keep up with ROH is via web.