What better way to introduce my ramblings page than with the Parents Television Council (PTC). This is a organization that for some odd reason has absolutely nothing better to do then cause trouble. If you don't know what I'm talking about then let me give you some background.
For at least a year know the PTC has been claiming that WWF programming is the most "offensive and violent" show on TV. They have constantly pressured sponsers to withdraw the commercials from the WWF show Smackdown!. Now they have a new mouthpiece for their group who goes by the name Steve Allen. For long time wrestling fans, you may remember Steve Allen, he was a guest at Wrestlemania 6 as well as a long time announcer for various wrestling programs. The man can now list sellout to his credits.
Within the last few weeks Steve Allen has sent letters to various WWF sponsers. The most known of being MCI WorldCom. MCI, being the spineless company that they are gave in to the pressure and made a press release about their decision to pull all ads from Smackdown!. Followed is an excerpt from that release.
Mr. Allen, pointing to the impact WWF Smackdown! is having on our nation's children, noted, "wrestling shows are having a deadly impact on our children. Four children have been killed by peers who were emulating wrestling moves they learned by the watching programs such as WWF Smackdown! Four children, aged 14 months to six years old, had their lives cut tragically short because of the effect wrestling had on their peers. Police reports, attorneys for the defendants, autopsy reports, and victims' families point the finger of blame at the wrestling industry that purposely targets children as an audience."
It seems strange that with all the facts present, the courts' decisions were not alluded to. That's right, I forgot, the judges did not agree with the defense, claiming the parents are responsible for what their childern watch.
(And now for my tirade)
It's sad that these days no one can take the blame for what they do. If someone kills someone else its because they have a disorder, or they were treated badly when they were young. If a child injures another child with a wrestling move its because the TV made them do it. I been watching wrestling for 12 years now not once has it told me to go jump off the roof, or piledriver the neighbor through a table. It's a little thing called self-control. It can be learned, but the parents have to teach it to their children. You can't learn it from Barney or anything else on TV. It's high time somebody took a stand for something and for God's Sake how about taking the blame yourself.
I urge you write the PTC and MCI. Let them know your views on this situation. As soon as I find the email addresses will be available here.
