King Silva
King of Kings
Number of posts : 32652
Age : 34
Location : Sacramento, California
Favorite WWE Wrestler : ---
Current and Former:
The Rock, JoMo, Ziggler, Edge, Orton, Y2J, Hardyz, + Rhodes!
Favorite WWE Diva : -------
ALL TIME
# 1} Lita
# 2} Trish Stratus
# 3} Mickie James
# 4} Gail Kim
# 5} Michelle McCool
Favorite TNA Wrestler : ----
Favorite TNA Knockout : ---
Registration date : 2009-09-30
 |  Subject: Stephanie McMahon Responds To Bullying Question On WWE TV. Fri 30 Aug 2013, 1:33 am | |
| http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_73018.shtml#.UiAebz9YRi0
WWE executive/on-air character Stephanie McMahon responded to a question about how WWE is able to promote their B.A. Star anti-bullying campaign while showing unanswered bullying on their WWE TV programming.
Twitter Q: "What do u say to those fans who say @WWE is going against their own Anti-Bullying campaign w/ showing HHH & Ryback bullying?"
Stephanie A: "No diff than bullying in a movie, WWE is Entertainment @beaSTARalliance is real."
Public Relations expert Marc Kruskol of MJK Public Relations responded to Stephanie's answer on Twitter: "That is utter nonsense and (bad) PR spin. How does she know that the kids can differentiate it? You cannot profess one thing, then show something else. Kids mimic what they see on TV, right or wrong. It's not the respective medium's fault, but if it's not there, there is nothing to mimic."
"Kids play cops and robbers because they see it on TV and movie. They also try to perform wrestling moves and sometimes people get hurt. Again, it's not the wrestling company's responsibility to be a parent, but it IS the company's responsibility not to be hypocritical."
Caldwell's Analysis: I would add that there are no consequences to the actions of Ryback and Triple H, which sends a message to kids that it's okay to bully because no one will do anything about it. Especially in the case of Ryback, who has bullied "people beneath him" such as scrub wrestlers, caterers, and backstage interviewers without any punishment doled out or wrestlers stepping up to fight him. (Of course, WWE has emasculated the roster the past two weeks, but that's another issue.) Ironically, the only response from the announcers - the "voices and on-air representatives of WWE" - has been Jerry Lawler's canned, dry line about Ryback "not being a representative of the B.A. Star initiative." But, that's empty words, especially when the announcers simply sit there looking at each other before moving along and there are no authority figures in-place or wrestlers stepping up to tell Ryback that it's not right.
I agree with Marc that younger viewers who WWE cater to are not able to separate "reality" from "entertainment" because WWE presents what is shown on television as a reality world. Ryback and Triple H will of course eventually get their comeuppance, but the message being sent to the younger audience right now is it's okay to bully because no one will do anything about it because everyone is either (a) too scared to speak up, empowering the bullies or (b) complicit in their bullying activity. | |
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