I don't believe I was showing any hostility towards anybody when I stated that if you are offended by something in a program to simply change the channel.
The hostility of which I speak is one where those who write "change the channel" are simply being narrow minded, and unwilling to engage in an actual debate regarding the subject. I was in no way singling you out here, it happens all the time. I think I know JGlass well(although Id never speak for him) enough that he's not bitching about the topic, he's generating discussion and creating a place for people to debate over the topic.
I completely understand that everyone is entitled to their own opionions and beliefs. I can understand someone being offended while watching wrestling by something that goes against their personal or religious beliefs.
The problem is, he said from his opening post that he's NOT religious. J noted from the beginning that it was the comparison between Jesus and Punk that is infuriating, not insulting or offensive. There's a large difference between the former and the latter two.
I would be personally offended if they all of a sudden started using the race issue negatively in WWE. And since I would be offended...I would SIMPLY change the channel.
And that's your right to do so. I find myself in the lonely position of neutral in that i don't take anything I see in a wrestling ring seriously. I see it for what it is, sports entertainment. All the shenanigans, cheap humor, and jokes at other's expense don't bother me the way they do some because I realize that wrestling isn't trying to teach me anything about morality or doing the right thing. It's about entertainment, and that's why I watch. If I no longer am entertained, Ill stop watching. It's as simple as that, honestly.
I believe that is why there are so many different channels on the television nowadays for that exact reason. WWE simply cannot cater to everyones personal or religious choices in entertainment all of the time. They try to find a balance.
Nor should they have to. Its no different then watching your favorite TV show. Quite simply, it's scripted to be suited towards appealing to a certain demographic. That demographic has nothing to do with race, religion, or sexual orientation, to give examples. In the case of the CM Punk angle, they're appealing to an edgier demographic, or at least attempting to. Religious or not, it may not be someone's cup of tea for their own personal reasons, and that's perfectly fine. Just because you and I don't have a problem with it doesn't mean that others just like us won't. It doesn't mean they should change the channel either.
I do have to admit...I'm not religious...well, not Christian..so I do have to concede that all the things involving CM Punk might be easier for me to watch than someone that is a devout Christian. I think that also might be why it's easy for me to say that if you are offended by it...to change the channel.
But that's a false concession to make, honestly. If you decide to stick around the forums long enough, you'll likely get to know like many others have that Im a devout Christian. Yet I found nothing offensive or cringe-worthy about Punk's actions. If anything, I find that WWE is portraying Punk in a manner that speaks to his hypocrisy when comparing himself to Christ through his various actions, specifically the ones that involve religious symbolism. I see them portraying Punk as the opposite of Jesus through his actions, and he's drawing a tremendous amount of heat for it. I don't think the fact that they started this angle in the south is a coincidence either, as people in the south on the whole tend to be more touchy and rigid when it comes to their faith. So they've done a great job of drawing heat for him right out of the gate. And I certainly don't mean to be offensive when I say that it's my belief that it's a narrow way of thinking to simply say "change the channel" if someone is offended by one angle. It's entertainment, and all of us somewhere are going to find something, sometime, that rubs us the wrong way. JGlass just found a touchy subject, religion, which is why it's generated such heated debate. He's backed it up in an excellent way as well, making valid, thought provoking points. I simply think that's the end-all of the matter, not whether one should turn the TV if they find a few segments offensive.
