Smark Kids

horrorfan_1986 · 08-02-2008, 06:40 AM

I was on youtube recently watching a 13 year old's "Shoot". This kid was using all of these insider/smark terms that I never even heard of when I was his age. He's already talking about how he doesn't like the WWE recently (You're 13...everything about your life is recent history
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). Even though wrestling was far from perfect in 1999/2000 (When I was 13), I didn't really know any better. Even though the product was terrible, I still loved to watch it. Learning all of the smark terms and being very critical makes it hard to just enjoy what you're watching. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid that he's in some ways ruining his watching experience.

Even though the internet was around in 1999, not everyone went online for news. My friends and I even *Gasp* didn't know every secret of how things were done. Sure we had an idea it was all staged (Especially after the Screwjob), but that was still a time that you could be sucked into the drama of the show and somewhat believe it. Becoming a smark then would of really hurt the experience of becoming involved in all of it.

Are kids becoming smarks earlier in age a bad thing for them?

Tommy Platinum · 08-02-2008, 08:34 AM

It is definitely bad for them.

I wasn't even that young back in 2000-2001 when I first started watching. I would have been around 14 I guess. However, while if someone had asked whether wrestling was fake, I would have replied 'of course', I just didn't think about that while watching. I didn't know of wrestling forums and news sites, I didn't think about booking and other things, I just watched and enjoyed what I saw, and marked the fuck out when things happened. Things which, today, I would perhaps criticise.

I don't think any wrestling fan should miss that experience. I wish I could go back to it now. Better than analysing and complaining about every tiny detail of the product. Some people on the internet take it a lot more seriously than me too, talking about shit like 'backstage politics' which not only doesn't concern them, but they know fuck all about despite thinking they know everything just because they can sit behind a computer and read 'reports'.

It would be better for all of our enjoyment of the product if we tried to stop overanalysing things and just focus on what is there and enjoy it. It is entertainment after all.

I am sure glad I didn't talk about that stuff when I was his age. Wrestling is still enjoyable now in different ways, but it will never be as enjoyable as it was before I discovered the IWC.

Kizza · 08-02-2008, 08:54 AM

I think this applies to me, because I started using forums at 13/14.

It didn't make me feel like I knew everything. Sure, I knew what was going to happen on Smackdown. Sure, I knew if this guy was in the shit or this guy was gonna get a push, but it didn't make me feel like I knew everything.

Since the whole time I've watched wrestling, i've been involved in the IWC. It doesn't ruin my experience at all. I'm still 15, and even if I know this or that is going to happen, I can still "mark out" for it.

Tommy Platinum · 08-02-2008, 08:57 AM

But how do you know your experience wouldn't have been a hell of a lot better had you not discovered the internet so early?

Tooey · 08-02-2008, 09:48 AM

I remember I got into Wrestling around late 1999-Early 2000's, as I was 12/13 at the time and the Internet I had, I just never really used it for forum purposes. The only forum I was on at that time was the IGN Smackdown board, and that was all. Than, I slowly began making my way onto forums much like this, with news, gossips, and all that hibby jibby.

I know I don't know everything, being apart of the IWC now doesn't mean I know everything. Though, there are those who think only because they're getting news off the Internet and the latest gossip means they do, which is complete bullshit.

I think being a smark at a young age, will totally take away from the experience you receive.

Tommy Platinum · 08-02-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sXe Tooeh
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I remember I got into Wrestling around late 1999-Early 2000's, as I was 12/13 at the time and the Internet I had, I just never really used it for forum purposes. The only forum I was on at that time was the IGN Smackdown board, and that was all. Than, I slowly began making my way onto forums much like this, with news, gossips, and all that hibby jibby.

I know I don't know everything, being apart of the IWC now doesn't mean I know everything. Though, there are those who think only because they're getting news off the Internet and the latest gossip means they do, which is complete bullshit.

I think being a smark at a young age, will totally take away from the experience you receive.

Yeah I didn't mean everyone, just certain people who think they know the business and like to talk about all this backstage stuff and take it really seriously. Its fucking entertainment, enjoy it.

There are definitely advantages of being on forums etc. Without the internet I would have never discovered stuff like ROH. So there are pros as well as cons of being a part of the IWC. It broadens your horizons, and knowing more about wrestling can be a good thing and bring enjoyable aspects in itself.

I would still prefer to be a complete mark though lol.

Tooey · 08-02-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blooddrunk
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Yeah I didn't mean everyone, just certain people who think they know the business and like to talk about all this backstage stuff and take it really seriously. Its fucking entertainment, enjoy it.

There are definitely advantages of being on forums etc. Without the internet I would have never discovered stuff like ROH. So there are pros as well as cons of being a part of the IWC. It broadens your horizons, and knowing more about wrestling can be a good thing and bring enjoyable aspects in itself.

I would still prefer to be a complete mark though lol.

That's what I meant, not all but few.

That is true, I actually think I almost bought tickets for Ring of Honor's - Destiny show in CT, like 3 years ago but...I didn't know what the hell it was and me and my dad totally forgot about ordering tickets. Now, I consider that dumb on my part as I love the company.

There are still times I mark. When D-LO returned, it brought me back to the Attitude Era. Hell, every time Austin makes an apperance I love it...despite the fact it's basically the same shtick as his last apperance.

Savage_Animal · 08-02-2008, 03:41 PM

pretty interesting seeing as i just saw a shoot from jerry lynn just on that. he talked on how they think they know how to do a good match. lynn said at his 1st roh event the crowd was silent until it became spotty to which the crowd gave a golf clap. those smarks aren't really have any fun at those shows because already know whats going to happen. jerry mentioned when he was a tna road agent told to x div guys to do 3.5 minute match. they end doing too much for a 20 min match
plus those smarks acorrding to jerry think a good 4 star match is spots and death dfying moves which it isn't. there is no physcology behind it. the real said thing about this is wrestlers are looking at these smarks on how to they should be booked.

Tebow · 08-02-2008, 03:51 PM

I think it is bad for them.

I think some of this happened to me actually. One time I actually thought about quitting all forums because I always knew what was going to happen next and I was starting not to enjoy wrestling that much as I used to. I like not knowing will happen next and I liked to be surprised. But, now I still enjoy wrestling, I've matured in a sence and now can enjoy wrestling even though I know some of the times what will happen next and who will win a match.

KenTheKiller · 08-02-2008, 03:57 PM

It depends. If your goal is to be just a fan, then yes. The longer you can be a mark the better. That's why when I watch with marks, I bullshit and try to keep as much kayfabe as possible. But if you're big on the business, want to be apart of it, etc. then the earlier you know the business the better. I mean it's better than being Chris Jericho who a year before he goes pro he learns the main events aren't real
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WHILE HE WAS HELPING A SMALL WRESTLING COMPANY!
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For me personally, it wasn't the internet that "smartened" me. It was wrestler's books. When I was like 11 or 12. Then I went on the CPU a little while later to learn more.

Wow I'm going way away from the point. Anyway as I said, I think that if you want to be a fan alone, then being a mark as long as possible is perfect. The more mystique the better. I mean sure, you may know it's not real, but there is always a glimmer of doubt and belief which makes it the magical experience it is. But if you want to be in the sport, you should try to learn as much as possible.

Smark Kids

This is a discussion on Smark Kids within the General Pro Wrestling : Classic & General forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; I was on youtube recently watching a 13 year old's "Shoot". This kid was using all of these insider/smark terms ...