The Smarks

[Guest RickyB]

I've been reading a lot of posts on here for a while even though I haven't been replying to most of them.  But I'm getting sick of almost everyone trying to be more "smarkish" than each other.  I'd hate to watch Wrestling through the eyes of some of you.

 

I think you've got to understand that Wrestling is just entertainment.  It's not like a serious sport.  When Edge and Booker T are feuding over a commercial it's supposed to be entertaining - whether it is or not is a matter of opinion, but you need to just take it as a bit of fun since that's all it is.

 

You've also got to understand that not everyone has the same opinion of you, i'm sick of seeing the "if you're a fan of Hulk Hogan/Big Show/Kevin Nash/Rock then you're not a Wresling fan" comments - just because you don't like them but I do doesn't mean that i'm not a Wrestling fan, think about it - Hulk Hogan is a Wrestler, i'm a fan of Hulk Hogan, therefore - i'm a Wrestling fan.  It's the same thing in the Puro/US Wrestling argument, as much as i've argued against Puro fans in the past (a lot of them seem to have this rose tinted vision that Puro Wrestling is perfect and everything else sucks) I understand (even if they don't) that it's all a matter of opinion and if they enjoy it then great... but that doesn't mean that because I enjoy US style and British/European Wrestling that I am any less of a fan or know any less than they do.

 

I also don't understand this whole "Anything Sports-Entertainment sucks" attitude.  I'll admit that the WWF style sports entertainment (Attitude era/Post-Attitude era) has gone too far, but the Sports-Entertainment in WCW mid-90's was usually very good (When Hogan-Sting-Randy Savage feuding amongst each other and against the Dungon Of Doom involved a lot of "Sports Entertainment" (late 95), Plus most of sports entertainment involving the nWo was great).  Just take it for what it is - entertainment.

 

Please take Wrestling a little less seriously - it's just entertainment

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I agree with a lot of your points, I really do, but this topic is about as beaten and tired as a Sting/Hogan match.

[Guest Loss4Words]

"I've been reading a lot of posts on here for a while even though I haven't been replying to most of them.  But I'm getting sick of almost everyone trying to be more 'smarkish' than each other.  I'd hate to watch Wrestling through the eyes of some of you."

 

Well, you don't have to watch through our eyes, just like we don't have to watch through yours. I agree with your sentiment, but if you've read a lot of the stuff I've written, I tend to give credit where it's due and criticize when I think I should. I think people who have this gripe are just casual fans. That's not said to belittle you, but I do just think most people who follow this line of thinking are nothing more than casual fans.

 

You have to understand that for some of us, we grew up watching wrestling and everyone thought we were freaky because while other people watched it and liked it, we lived it and LOVED it. There was nothing better in the whole world than watching wrestling. Then we found the Internet, not unlike the bumblebees in the old Blind Melon video and went crazy. We found other people who enjoyed it just as much as we did and things couldn't be better. We were introduced to new points of view and broadened our perspective and learned to appreciate all the detail work and intricacies that go into churning out what we see on TV.

 

So let's say something you've loved for so long and defended to the death against non-fans and hecklers starts becoming exactly what the naysayers say it is. You're going to start feeling a little offended, right? Of course you are. So since we can't exactly call our friends and bitch about things, we use the Internet as an outlet. Sometimes it does go a little overboard, just like anything else, but that's just the nature of the beast and you take the good with the bad.

 

I think to understand the taking seriously stuff that you talked about, you have to understand what its like to have wrestling in your blood. There's not a doubt in my mind that I have just as much passion for wrestling as most wrestlers, if not more passion than most.

 

"I think you've got to understand that Wrestling is just entertainment.  It's not like a serious sport.  When Edge and Booker T are feuding over a commercial it's supposed to be entertaining - whether it is or not is a matter of opinion, but you need to just take it as a bit of fun since that's all it is. "

 

Well, I think that it's fine if they want to do entertainment-based feuds, but making them entertaining should be the first step. I am entertained by logic and smart humor, two things the WWF has been lacking the last little while.

 

"You've also got to understand that not everyone has the same opinion of you, i'm sick of seeing the 'if you're a fan of Hulk Hogan/Big Show/Kevin Nash/Rock then you're not a Wresling fan' comments - just because you don't like them but I do doesn't mean that i'm not a Wrestling fan, think about it - Hulk Hogan is a Wrestler, i'm a fan of Hulk Hogan, therefore - i'm a Wrestling fan."

 

Very true, but the truth is that you have to understand that not everyone has the opinions of the general public, who like all the guys you just mentioned. It's a two-way street. I think that with the demise of WCW, ECW and the tepid state of the international scene, a lot of bitter smarks have been labeled "non-fans" when the truth is that it's not that they aren't WWF fans. They couldn't be bigger wrestling fans if they tried. It's just that they could always get something from those other companies that the WWF either couldn't or wouldn't give them, and now those companies are gone, and in their eyes, they are left with a wrestling company that doesn't do anything for them, yet they still like wrestling so much that they watch just to at least have something. It makes sense if you think about it.

 

"It's the same thing in the Puro/US Wrestling argument, as much as i've argued against Puro fans in the past (a lot of them seem to have this rose tinted vision that Puro Wrestling is perfect and everything else sucks)"

 

I've seen very few Puro supporters that have taken such a stance. It's not a question of thinking all Puro is beautiful, it's just acknowledging the great moments in Japanese wrestling that they see as superior to the great moments in American wrestling. Once again, it's a matter of opinion.

 

"I understand (even if they don't) that it's all a matter of opinion and if they enjoy it then great... but that doesn't mean that because I enjoy US style and British/European Wrestling that I am any less of a fan or know any less than they do."

 

No, it doesn't. Agreed. But I will admit that because they have had exposure to two totally different styles of wrestling, sometimes their thoughts are more backed because of what they have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of seeing.

 

"I also don't understand this whole 'Anything Sports-Entertainment sucks' attitude.  I'll admit that the WWF style sports entertainment (Attitude era/Post-Attitude era) has gone too far, but the Sports-Entertainment in WCW mid-90's was usually very good (When Hogan-Sting-Randy Savage feuding amongst each other and against the Dungon Of Doom involved a lot of 'Sports Entertainment' (late 95), Plus most of sports entertainment involving the nWo was great).  Just take it for what it is - entertainment."

 

The term "sports entertainment" is just a way for Vince McMahon to revision history to think that before he came along, wrestling shows didn't feature angles or interviews. THAT'S what sports entertainment is. Once again, that's fine if they want to make that their calling card, but they need to make sure they excel at it. If you're going to pick a genre that excludes some people, you damn better make sure you're doing the best possible job in that genre that you are capable of doing.

 

"Please take Wrestling a little less seriously - it's just entertainment"

 

I agree with this to a certain extent, and I hope my points helped you see the other side just a little.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You go on a message board to talk about stuff. This is basically a wrestling message board. We talk about wrestling. If you like or dislike something about wrestling, than you discuss it here. If I'm sick pf Stephanie McMahon's self promotion and she continues to do it, I am going to complain about it on here. If I don't like the Rock, I am going to complain about it.

 

Conversely, there are people who bitch for the sake of bitching. I admit when I enjoy something about wrestling, but everybody has their different tastes. It does seem like some people never like anything, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, I do think some people need to sit back and enjoy the ride sometimes.

[Guest razazteca]

Everybody has a different opinion and some people will strongly defend that opinion until they perceive that their opinion is the only one that is correct.  And then there are the bandwagon jumpers who believe the hype, without understanding the history.  And then there are the disgruntal fans whose fav company went out of business.  Which one am I, does it really matter?  

 

I am negative due to the fact that WWF has basically run everybody out of business and the WWF product is more entertainment than sport.  If you can call direct-to-video writing entertaining.

 

I believe Raw is War at Austin is a good start, it had a solid storyline (nWo as heels), some wrestling RVD vs Storm, Jazz vs Trish, Angle vs HHH.  But the low point of the show in my opinion was Stephanie putting herself in the main event.  What exactly does her vs HHH have to do with WMX8?

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

We aren't negative all the time.  Most of us like this weeks RAW.  It was the best in weeks.  We loved 2000 and early 2001.  We just have been grumpy lately because we have been fed nothing but crap.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Yes.

 

Crap in a giant sized HHH and Hulk Hogan size.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

"Crap in a giant sized HHH and Hulk Hogan size. "

 

And the Invasion.

[Guest RickyB]

I think people who have this gripe are just casual fans. That's not said to belittle you, but I do just think most people who follow this line of thinking are nothing more than casual fans.

 

I understand that your not saying this in a bad way but i'm definatly not just a "casual fan".  I've been watching Wrestling since 1990.  Saying that, I don't understand why you have anything against casual fans.  That's like trying to look down on someone against someone who only like one song by your favourite singer.

 

I think to understand the taking seriously stuff that you talked about, you have to understand what its like to have wrestling in your blood. There's not a doubt in my mind that I have just as much passion for wrestling as most wrestlers, if not more passion than most.

 

I'm not sure if it's possible to really have Wrestling in your blood, you might love Wrestling - as I do - but no-one is born a fan of Wrestling.  But I do love Wrestling, maybe even more so than you might think that I do since I started training last year but stopped for in December after some idiot almost broke my ribs with his knee when he landed wrongly trying an elbow drop in a practise match and i've been taking some time out to try and building some more muscle.

 

The thing is since you and I, and everyone on this board for that matter, are just fans of Wrestling we shouldn't take it that seriously.  We shouldn't watch it as though our lives depended on it being the greatest show of all time.  We should sit down, turn our brains off and enjoy the show for what it is - entertainment.  There are a few people on this board who have a funny way of showing that Wrestling is in their blood.  BPS for an example seems to just be happy that the nWo hasn't spiked the nWo's ratings because he thinks that it proves him right.

 

Well, I think that it's fine if they want to do entertainment-based feuds, but making them entertaining should be the first step. I am entertained by logic and smart humor, two things the WWF has been lacking the last little while.

 

Well i'm sure you know that Wrestling has never really been known for having logical storylines.

 

Very true, but the truth is that you have to understand that not everyone has the opinions of the general public, who like all the guys you just mentioned. It's a two-way street. I think that with the demise of WCW, ECW and the tepid state of the international scene, a lot of bitter smarks have been labeled "non-fans" when the truth is that it's not that they aren't WWF fans.

 

Like I said, it's all a matter of opinion - I am a fan of Hogan, Nash and I think the Big Show is entertaining but I understand that other people have different opinions - I just wish that other people would understand that their opinion isn't the only one *COUGH* bps *COUGH*.

 

Well i'm not a WWF fan.  Since Bash At The Beach 94 (When Hogan signed for WCW) i've supported WCW, I watched the WWF on and off during the "Invasion" (basically I watched Livewire/Jakked/Metal, sometimes Raw and the PPV's).  And I was bitter at first, but not to the extent that i'd lash out at any tiny thing that the WWF did wrong and "wish that Goldberg would end Hulk Hogan's career." like some "Wrestling fan" on this board said because he blamed Hogan for killing WCW.  I'm not a WWF fan, but I watch their show since there aren't many other options in the UK and also because the Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall are there.

 

I've seen very few Puro supporters that have taken such a stance. It's not a question of thinking all Puro is beautiful, it's just acknowledging the great moments in Japanese wrestling that they see as superior to the great moments in American wrestling. Once again, it's a matter of opinion.

 

I've seen a lot of Puro supporters who've thought that way, like I said - I understand that they enjoy that, but i've never seen any that understand that I like the US style, or that my favourite Wrestler is Hulk Hogan.  And I've heard a lot of them say "Your favourite Wrestler is Hulk Hogan?  He sucks, you don't know anything about Wrestling." or "Your favourite match is Hulk Hogan Vs Ultimate Warrior? Well your not a Wrestling fan, watch any Mitsuharu Misawa match.".

 

No, it doesn't. Agreed. But I will admit that because they have had exposure to two totally different styles of wrestling, sometimes their thoughts are more backed because of what they have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of seeing.

 

Granted, I haven't seen much Puro Wrestling, but from after buying a few videos off the internet to get an idea of why so many people are ranting about how good Japanese Wrestling is.  But to me it came acrross as much of a mixed bag as the WWF is.  On one of the videos I seen a very good Jushin Lyger match, but I also seen a terrible XPW-style deathmatch involving Athushi Ohnita (sp?).  I'm not going to go through what I thought of the videos, but to me they weren't much better than the WWF.  But like I said, and you said, it's a matter of opinion.

 

The term "sports entertainment" is just a way for Vince McMahon to revision history to think that before he came along, wrestling shows didn't feature angles or interviews. THAT'S what sports entertainment is. Once again, that's fine if they want to make that their calling card, but they need to make sure they excel at it. If you're going to pick a genre that excludes some people, you damn better make sure you're doing the best possible job in that genre that you are capable of doing.

 

Very true.

 

I am negative due to the fact that WWF has basically run everybody out of business and the WWF product is more entertainment than sport.  If you can call direct-to-video writing entertaining.

 

I understand that - I even thought that for a while after the WWF bought WCW.  But, really we're just fans and and their isn't anything we can do about it.  

 

But hey, if you have a couple a hundred million dollers spare and you want to try and run Vince McMahon out of business with a more Wrestling orientated company then i'll be behind you 100%.

 

We aren't negative all the time.  Most of us like this weeks RAW.  It was the best in weeks.  We loved 2000 and early 2001.  We just have been grumpy lately because we have been fed nothing but crap.

 

The Raw after NWO was one of the best shows for a long time yet a lot of people said it sucked.

 

Yes.

 

Crap in a giant sized HHH and Hulk Hogan size.

 

Tell me what Hogan's done wrong so far that wasn't the fault of the writers?

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

It's nothing to do with trying to be more smarkish, its a desire for an entertaining programme. Lately its not been entertaining wrestling or sports entertainment.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

Basically, my opinion on this is as follows. I enjoy any wrestling which I find entertaining. I enjoy watching a reletively slow match with an involving and logical build. I enjoy watching two men beat each other stiffly around the ring, with or without weapondary. I enjoyed the spectacle of Rock vs. Austin for example. I enjoy things like HHH being dropped '20 feet' in a car.

 

In short, I like anythign which I find entertaining. And, since I find both great psychology and simple spot fests entertaining, I like everything wrestling has to offer.

 

The only thing that bugs me about 'smarks' and this board in general is that some members do go out of their way to agree with whatever Keith, or other big names in the wrestling community, say. In particular, I said in my Super J 94 review that I didn't enjoy watching Benoit during that time period because I didn't find his character at all interesting. I wasn't saying he was a rubbish wrestler, I was just stating my opinion, and yet I received several replies calling me basically stupid because I had a different opinion to Scott Keith.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

"The only thing that bugs me about 'smarks' and this board in general is that some members do go out of their way to agree with whatever Keith, or other big names in the wrestling community, say. In particular, I said in my Super J 94 review that I didn't enjoy watching Benoit during that time period because I didn't find his character at all interesting. I wasn't saying he was a rubbish wrestler, I was just stating my opinion, and yet I received several replies calling me basically stupid because I had a different opinion to Scott Keith. "

 

Anyone who told you that you were stupid for being different than Scott Keith is just wrong.  Keith is just a reviewer.  I usually agree with him, but that doesn't mean all the time.

[Guest razazteca]

I don't wish WWF to go out of business but having some competition on tv would be good for wrestling!!!!!!  Bring back the Monday Night Wars.  I don't care who it is or what the product will be whether it be WWA, XPW, NWA, UFC or Pride anything that would cause WWF writers to make solid storylines or solid wrestling would be a godsend.

 

Please excuss me while enjoy my spotfest Lucha Libre on Galavision.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Without competition it is the fans (customers) that get screwed over.  It is the same in any business.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

The way I look at it is..

 

We pay high costs for PPV.

We pay higher costs for seats at shows.

We give two hours of our time each monday and thursday.

We buy their crappy 54 minute specialty videos.

 

We quite frankly deserve the best product possible and they don't do it.

 

They are a multi-million dollar corporation that has been around for over 20 years.  They have the best roster in their history, if not the history of NA wrestling.  They have experience, they have the ability, yet the constantly and consistantly put out a sub par product.

 

Here are my expectations for a 'good show'.  2 10 minute good matches, or 1 great match and 1 great promo.  I don't even get that.  I get 3 minute suckfests and 20 minute promos.  And I get that EVERY FUCKING MONDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT!

 

I would go as far as saying that a good 20% of the Wwfs audience would like a more wrestling based program, and what does the Wwf do?  They give us excess which is a 2 hour recap show that shows 30 minutes of a promo and 5 minutes of a 'classic match'.  All they have to do is give us ONE FEUD, a funaki vs saturn, a rvd vs storm, SOMETHING that is wrestling based, but we never get that.  WCW at least gave us an opening cruiser match, the Wwf gives us an opening promo by steph.

 

Plot holes after plot holes are insults to fans' intelligence, Mcmahon revishionist history is a 'fuck you' to all those who have stayed with him over the years, and we constantly get untalented hacks promoted on television while much more better talent are jobbing away on jakked.  The commentators are either wasting away slowly or never were good enough to be there in the first place.

 

The fact that I KNOW that the Wwf could put on a much better product pisses me off to no end.  

 

I can easily turn off my brain into 'entertainment mode', its just there are somethings that pass through that mindless trance and penetrate my brain which causes a knee jerk reaction to automatically go online and bitch and bitch and bitch about it.  This is not a chicken and the egg thing, the Wwf sucks then we bitch about it.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

"The only thing that bugs me about 'smarks' and this board in general is that some members do go out of their way to agree with whatever Keith, or other big names in the wrestling community, say. In particular, I said in my Super J 94 review that I didn't enjoy watching Benoit during that time period because I didn't find his character at all interesting. I wasn't saying he was a rubbish wrestler, I was just stating my opinion, and yet I received several replies calling me basically stupid because I had a different opinion to Scott Keith. "

 

Anyone who told you that you were stupid for being different than Scott Keith is just wrong.  Keith is just a reviewer.  I usually agree with him, but that doesn't mean all the time.

Kahran said it all right there. I get tired of everybody labelling people here as "SK's sheep". There have been plenty of times where I've agreed and disagreed with what he's had to say and it assupmtions like, "u all should go back to licking the almighty SK's anus", which are seemingly made every other day around here that get so fucking annoying.

 

Whenever someone says something even remotely sounds like they are agreeing with Scott, he jumped on by some of anti-smark cheerleaders(I'm not saying everyone that does that is, but there are a lot.) and it just degenerates into the same hacked up garbage that's been going on ever since the board started growing at an amazing rate after WM 17.

 

Can't we all just get along?

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Hey Platypus you SOB! I've had this avatar since the old board! Pick a new one!

*clenches fist in rage and pounds down on desk*

[Guest imajackoff?]

My bitchiness coincides with the quality of the product.  I was rarely complaining from 97-'00.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

I complain because it's my right. I like to think that someday someone employed by the wwf will stumble upon this site while trying to acsess some porn (most likely pat patterson)

[Guest The Vanilla Midget]

awesome post L4W!! that pretty much said everything i could hope to say, but to the guy who started the post, we are negative because we *care.*  we dont want to see the wwf suck, and in our eyes it will never be truly perfect, as everybody's opinion is subtly different.  you can tell the real smarks though, because they give credit and stick up for the wwf a lot when the pretend smarks (read SK sheep) come here with this attitude that everything sucks and the wwf is ruined, benoit needs a year long reign etc crap.  real smarks care, and sometimes i hate what i see, but thats because i care, i want to see quality viewing, and posting here in a smarkish fashion is the way i vent my frustration with many of the things the wwf does.  if you sort through the negative, you will find that many of the opinions here are balanced, and i often remember the puro-dudes labelling us marks, and if im a mark because i care, then BY GAWD i guess im a mark.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"if you sort through the negative, you will find that many of the opinions here are balanced, and i often remember the puro-dudes labelling us marks, and if im a mark because i care, then BY GAWD i guess im a mark"

 

You wouldn't be considered a mark for caring about the WWF. You would be a mark if you accepted everything the WWF preached as gospel when they put out a mediocre product. You recognize the ungodly amount of talent the WWF has but fails to utilize. You are not ignorant to the fact that alot of the WWF product is weak but has the potential to be so much better.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

RANDOM MUSING ALERT~!!!~

 

 

none of us are really smart marks because we all depend on information from melltzer, or whomever else dishes out the stuff. But where Do they get their information? from the wrestlers themselves, and are they really stupid enough to divulge all the information they supposedly do? maybe or maybe they're allowed to divulge storylines so that it will get attention and get people to tune in? The only way any of us will know is if we get a job with the wwf.

 

RAMDOM MUSING OVER~!!!~

[Guest EUX4life]

this is one of those arguments where there are two strong sides, and is destined to be a constant in the wrestling world forever.

 

i can totally see the view of people around here being too smarkish, and almost holier than thou in their opinions.  to the person that said that there isn't that much of a "my opinion is right and yours is wrong" attitude on the boards, then i guess you haven't read the current thread about shawn michaels as greatest wrestler ever.  it's not named that, it's in the one that's titled something about puro fans being wrong.  and that is just a random thread and this is just a random time for this thread to have started.  it's not like they were timed together so one can prove the point of another.  and that does happen an awful lot.  there are a lot of those arguments.  overall, there isn't a lot of the whole "you have a right to form your own opinion and i respect that right, just as i have the same right to form my own opinion and you respect that i have the right also"  it's not everyone, but it's prevalent.

 

it also seems that a lot of people here not only bitch, but are way too quick to do it, and seem to want to do it a little too much.  kind of like the comic book guy in simpsons.  he said a line a few times about running right to the internet to write bad reviews or complain or something.  he thinks his opinions are above everyone else and has that whole attitude.  and i do see that a lot on these boards.  i'm not saying anyone is wrong for it, or that anyone does it on purpose, but it comes off that way.  and comic book guy is only a satire of a personality on a cartoon, it shouldn't be a real life personality.  people are complaining about shows not just two seconds after a show is over, but WHILE IT"S STILL ON.

 

and also people complaining about storylines being stupid or inane.  like the booker t/edge shampoo storyline.  all they talk about is that it's a stupid storyline with a stupid build up.  bottom line isn't that it's a stupid storyline, bottom line is that edge and booker t are going to have a ppv match.  two solid and talented competitors in a match on ppv that'll have at least ten minutes, if not more.  what's to complain about that.  also about steph being written into the ME of wrestlemania.  i'll be the first to say that i'm sick of her on tv all the time, but that takes a backseat to me being excited about seeing HHH and Jericho on a wrestlemania ME.  those matches get at least 20 minutes, garunteed.  it's almost certain to be a great match, if not a near classic.  sure steph may get involved in the last minute or so at the end, but we still get 19 minutes of the wrestling between the two wrestlers.  again, what's to complain about that.  there are always things about the product that sucks, but it doesn't have to overshadow the good stuff.

 

 

I can also totally agree with the people who say that they have a right to complain.  i do spend a lot of time in my weeks dedicated to wrestling.  i watch at least 5 hours a week of it on television, i spend countless hours on the internet reading about it, and i spend lots of money on tickets and ppvs.  if that doesn't give me a right, then what does?  also, it seems like people enjoy complaining and arguing about it.  that's not wrong.  who am i to say that's wrong.  i wouldn't like it if you said that one of my hobbies was wrong.  and i don't mean to complain and argue like being a dick or whining, more like debate club in high school.

 

also, for this particular post, did you expect something different than smarks posting at this board, IT'S THE SMARKBOARD.  it's started by a website called THE SMARKS.  i may not agree with a lot of them, but i know to expect them.  you don't go to a board with THESMARKS in the title if you don't wanna read stuff from smarks.  

 

as far as the whole smarks vs marks debate, i find myself falling comfortable in the middle as of right now.  one thing is for sure though, i'm getting a little tired of hearing it.  this debate is like hearing the same song on the radio all the time.  eventually, the song gets played out and annoying, no matter how good and exciting it once was.

[Guest Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

The smarks complain a lot because when they were all dropped on our heads, at the exact moment of trauma they opened up certain neurological pathways that lead to the sending and processing of a rare enzyme known as "Smarkatine". This enzyme leads to an inherent nead to analyze the sport of Professional Wrestling much further than simply seeing the good guy vs. bad guy scenarios.

 

Smarkatine causes the newly re-born "Smark" to seek information regarding back stage events and news, talent signings and news, and a need to express their opinions in a very vocal manner.

 

When these Smarks are exposed to what they feel to be an "Inferior Product"(especially when they believe the product should far exceed the entertainment output it has), they feel overwhelmingly compelled to voice their opinions in a very strong and sometimes uncontrollably angry way.

 

 

It's all in the "Smarkland Mental And Physiologial Journal Of Medicine". For future reference, I recommend reading a copy before critisizing the smarks community.

[Guest The Hitman Returns]

I've been telling them that for the last 4 months.  All it did was get me banned from the old board.

[Guest The Vanilla Midget]

what, and you expected people to bow down to the oracle of knowledge that you are hitman returns? as a general rule, people arent too impressed when you go around and say shit like that because you are implying that you are somehow better than they are, when really i have seen *no* evidence that you are any better than the overwhelming majority of people on the board.  and i dunno why you got banned on the old board, certainly not for saying that, although if you were trolling...

[Guest The Hitman Returns]

I am not any better than anyone here.  It's just that they take everything so serious.  Lighten up people

[Guest The Wicker Man]

Definately an argument for the ages, and definately one that carries weight on both sides. As previously stated, people pay enough money and time to watch Wrestling and therefor are entitled to have an opinion on what they see on their TV. After all.. Wrestling is obviously providing entertainment for the fans, but that doesnt mean the fans have to be spoon-fed and told what they should like or enjoy. If you watch a film, you are not obligated to like it... If you think it sucks then you voice your opinion about it because you paid good money to see it.

 

Where opinions go too far is when it comes to backstage stuff. No one knows for sure what goes on behind the camera, but alot of people think they know it all and brand people with undeserving names based on some report they read on a truth-unfounded article. People like to talk like they are 'insiders' but end up sounding ridiculous because all they are doing is re-stating fourth-hand information that isnt proven true. And, unfortunately, these 'reports' can jade the opinion of a certain wrestler because they heard that he had stroke or whatever.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

I agree with the "Smarks care about the WWF" argument.  I know I have watched wrestling for awhile now, and I have watched the WWF through the best of the times and the worst of times.  It just kind of pains me to see the WWF like they are.  I see a total monopoly and the greatest wrestlers in the US, yet I see a product that is absolutely terrible.  

 

It really sucks because the WWF seems to realize there is a problem.  They would not have hired the NWO if they did not think there was a problem with the product.  They would not be advertising "The greatest Raw ever!" if there was not a problem.  Of course, sometimes I wonder if the WWF thinks that the problem is not with their product, but rather the problem is that they just need something to pull it all together.  This is what hurt Russo in WCW.  He felt that if he had one BIG angle to get the fans to tune in that they will watch, enjoy, and watch next week.  Problem is that the rest of the product and the fans failed to tune in afterwards.  The WWF is doing something similar.  Like, with the Invasion angle, it was like "Hey! WCW vs. WWF, the thing fans always wanted to see.  We have it!  Come watch!"  Some people did, it sucked, and life went on.  Next, it was "Next week: the greatest Raw Ever! Come watch!"  It started off with a six-man match better off suited as a middle of the card match, and went downhill from there.  It was an above average Raw with a swerve that was negated shortly afterwards.  Again, people tuned in, the WWF did not deliver, back to the drawing board.  Triple H return...same thing.  NWO return...same thing.  It gets frustrating.

 

I guess I just kind of complain because I care about the WWF, and love the WWF.  It pains me to see them shoot themselves in the foot so much.  Unfortunately the WWF seems to think that if they keep crying wolf that people will keep paying attention and rush to their TV's to watch Raw because the WWF says it is going to be good.  I want the WWF to be good, even if that means going through a "rebuilding" period where they test the water on what angles and wrestlers work and which do not.  Unfortunately, the WWF is sending mixed signals lately.  Part of them seems to be saying, "Watch us because the NWO is here and a bunch of dream matches are happening at Wrestlemania!" Another part of them seems to be saying, "A split is happening after Wrestlemania anyway, so why care about building up anything massively important anyway because the roster will be split soon?"

 

So, frankly, I feel the smarks should complain.  If it helps the WWF realize they have a serious problem, and the WWF rights the ship, then the smarks are doing their jobs as fans.  The WWF knows the ratings are down, they know the smarks are complaining up a storm, and, maybe, just maybe, they will do something about it someday.

[Guest Black Tiger]

First off, whoever was flamed for not liking Benoit, that had nothing to do with SK. It has to do with the fact that Benoit is almost universally loved online.

 

I think that the WWF is pretty much in the shitter now. Monday nights first hour was great. 3 matches, 1 interview and 1 skit in the first 30 minutes!

since the usual guys like Dudleyz, Hardyz, Fagz, Edge, Jericho. Weren't there the undercard guys like Spike, Scotty, etc got to try to get back on RAW and it showed in their ring work.

 

I'm a fan of Edge, call me a mark or whatever but I hope that Regal gets kocked off by Edge before WM so RVD VS Edge can got to WM.