Good stuff here, Jonathan, as always. Gotta say, I've followed your writings for many years and this version of writing about whatever you want and at whatever frequency you want, is my favorite.
Also, my 8 and 10 year old boys are wildly into wrestling right now which gives me the perfect excuse to once again delve into that world which I hadn't followed much since I was their age. It's fantastic and also the perfect cover.
Any time I get the " you know wrestling is fake, right? I respond with "Yeah, and you know I used to watch movies until I found out it was scripted." That usually stops them in their tracks.
Oh yeah. I get what you are saying. I have been doing a pro wrestling podcast for 11 years and there are some old clips that I listen back to and wonder what the hell am I doing.
This is indeed what 90% of people who weigh in on this subject will say. It's interesting to think what this means for wrestling, often presented as a "major sport" / "billion-dollar business" / etc. by some of those who write about it. Some silent-generation men, friends of my late father in my case, had far less kind things to say about it (mostly regarding the predilections of the performers), but I haven't heard such comments in years. Maybe some on the very far Right are still saying them.
Given that I write about other stuff, I'm happy when this comes up at work ("isn't it all fake?" "is it still on?"), where I'm mainly writing about employee surveillance and listening (as "empowerment"), because it means they're not talking about/unaware of my weirder articles.
As someone who got into pro wrestling as an adult, the easiest way to avoid criticism for the hobby is to no sell the haters and just embrace the fandom 😎
I think I generally view media with a “let people enjoy things” lens, whether it’s pro wrestling, trashy novels, reality TV, video games, comic books, sports, or soap operas. There’s moral failing in all media as there is anywhere in life and it takes too much energy to avoid media because its creation is flawed.
I've never really understood the "let people enjoy things" idea. What's the point of creating something and putting it out into the world only to then try to claim no one should discuss or engage it?
I don’t mean that things shouldn’t be able to be criticized, but from a peer to peer perspective it’s fine to let your coworker enjoy something that you don’t enjoy without talking down on their hobby.
On one hand, it could be construed as hypocritical for me to tell people that something they're engaging in might be harmful or bad if I myself have done it. On the other hand, maybe I'm speaking with experience?
Everyone has limits on what "don't yuck my yum" can be even if they say that sort of thing online. If someone told you they were a big fan of The Turner Diaries or Birth of a Nation, would you really respectfully enter a open minded conversation with them about the contents of either? I know those are extreme examples, but even less extreme ones ("I'm really into reading about serial killers. Have you heard Charlie Manson's music? Really makes you think.") are pretty omnipresent. Hell, even some fairly sedate, "normal" hobbies are probably harmful overall with companies using all manner of methodologies to psychologically or physically hook people to their products and services.
Good stuff here, Jonathan, as always. Gotta say, I've followed your writings for many years and this version of writing about whatever you want and at whatever frequency you want, is my favorite.
Also, my 8 and 10 year old boys are wildly into wrestling right now which gives me the perfect excuse to once again delve into that world which I hadn't followed much since I was their age. It's fantastic and also the perfect cover.
That's nice of you to say.
It's true that one of the great things about having kids is the ability to shamelessly engage stuff meant for children again!
Any time I get the " you know wrestling is fake, right? I respond with "Yeah, and you know I used to watch movies until I found out it was scripted." That usually stops them in their tracks.
I like that reply!
I have no problem being a wrestling fan. The issue is the extent to which I am a wrestling fan. :)
Oh yeah. I get what you are saying. I have been doing a pro wrestling podcast for 11 years and there are some old clips that I listen back to and wonder what the hell am I doing.
This is indeed what 90% of people who weigh in on this subject will say. It's interesting to think what this means for wrestling, often presented as a "major sport" / "billion-dollar business" / etc. by some of those who write about it. Some silent-generation men, friends of my late father in my case, had far less kind things to say about it (mostly regarding the predilections of the performers), but I haven't heard such comments in years. Maybe some on the very far Right are still saying them.
Given that I write about other stuff, I'm happy when this comes up at work ("isn't it all fake?" "is it still on?"), where I'm mainly writing about employee surveillance and listening (as "empowerment"), because it means they're not talking about/unaware of my weirder articles.
Yeah, this is the weirdest thing I do.
You do the work in a lot of other areas....
As someone who got into pro wrestling as an adult, the easiest way to avoid criticism for the hobby is to no sell the haters and just embrace the fandom 😎
Aren't the haters kind of right though?
I think I generally view media with a “let people enjoy things” lens, whether it’s pro wrestling, trashy novels, reality TV, video games, comic books, sports, or soap operas. There’s moral failing in all media as there is anywhere in life and it takes too much energy to avoid media because its creation is flawed.
I've never really understood the "let people enjoy things" idea. What's the point of creating something and putting it out into the world only to then try to claim no one should discuss or engage it?
I don’t mean that things shouldn’t be able to be criticized, but from a peer to peer perspective it’s fine to let your coworker enjoy something that you don’t enjoy without talking down on their hobby.
On one hand, it could be construed as hypocritical for me to tell people that something they're engaging in might be harmful or bad if I myself have done it. On the other hand, maybe I'm speaking with experience?
Everyone has limits on what "don't yuck my yum" can be even if they say that sort of thing online. If someone told you they were a big fan of The Turner Diaries or Birth of a Nation, would you really respectfully enter a open minded conversation with them about the contents of either? I know those are extreme examples, but even less extreme ones ("I'm really into reading about serial killers. Have you heard Charlie Manson's music? Really makes you think.") are pretty omnipresent. Hell, even some fairly sedate, "normal" hobbies are probably harmful overall with companies using all manner of methodologies to psychologically or physically hook people to their products and services.
I am always nervous when I meet someone who is enthusiastic about reading...and then it turns out they read nothing but true crime.
Oh sure. I don't expect harassment or anything. But I will definitely be identified as an oddball.