Polling the Crowd: Part 1

One thing that I mentioned a few days ago is trying to maintain over the years is consistency with the yearly posts that I do. Normally I have done this post series over the summer but unforeseen circumstances have put the series off until now. As always I want to thank those who took part in the series this time around. 

​Question: Do you think social media has caused people to forget how to be fans or just become more vocal?

​KMPodcast: I'd say it's given us a much louder voice nowadays in comparison to when we didn't have social media.

​Bryan: I feel as though with the expansion of social media into Pro Wrestling it has led fans to become much more vocal about decisions and things going on backstage. This makes fans more prone to boo wrestlers if they're being bad behind the scenes or bring up real-life situations at events to try a break the fourth wall in some cases. Social Media has caused people to get quicker knowledge of backstage happenings and be able to react instantly and aim it towards the wrestlers themselves instead of having to wait till your at the arena to express your opinion to the wrestler in question.

​Gabrielle: I don’t think social media has caused people to forget how to be fans and be more vocal. I think people use these platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc.) because it's an easy access tool to express opinions, it's instantaneous. And yes, some people use them to be vocal just for the sake of being vocal. But I don’t think social media is a direct cause of that.

​Tom: I think social media has caused fans to evolve. It used to be where programs would be aired and if you had an opinion on the matter, you would have to take effort and time in order to voice that opinion to their league or channel.  Whether it be writing a letter or calling the Network airing the program. Nowadays with social media, everyone has a voice and it is easy to put your voice out there. If enough people are voicing a similar opinion, then the leagues or networks can listen to their viewers for instant feedback.

​Through the Ropes PW: ​"Yes....One hundred percent. Social media is a platform for any type of fan to comment his or her opinions whether they are just thanking a wrestler for a great match, or going above their station and giving out advice to the wrestlers and promoters/bookers, on how to do their jobs! If you look back at when wrestling actually thrived on a constant and consistent level, their weren't fleets of rebellious fans who fought against every decision a booker made, They may have shown displeasure, like a wrestling show should bring out in people, but not to where they would write in and order for a change, That's because fans knew their place, whether it was as a viewer or as a member of the audience at the events, the fans never would have dreamed of going to the promoters or phoning them up at home and complaining that they're favourite didn't win. It was how it was and now that it has become easier to voice opinions, people take the liberty of abusing that closer connection to the wrestlers and force what they want....Yes it may be down to the knowledge that wrestling is predetermined, which gives the fans the idea that they can control the outcomes, but at the end of the day, when you watch TV soap operas, the viewers just watch the product, and either like it or don't, that's it. You have every right to your opinion, to post what you would have liked to have happened, like a lot of people do, but people think that because of it being a written show, they can write it better, so their attentions are not on being a viewer or a fan, but as a writer."