Don't try at home

[Kanda]

We often see the warnings in a reality tv show like Fear Factor or WWE, they always say not to attempt any of the stunts anytime, anywho, anywhere. Lately, WWE Smackdown has become a popular show again after it was "lost" for a while back then, now it's back and some kids out there are actually watching it even though it's on a late night and attempted to do it. This is one of the article in the local newspaper.Btw, the original was in Indonesian and I tried to translate it, I'm sorry for the wrong grammar etc ^_^;

Taken from Jawa Pos, Wednesday, 29 November 2006

Bandung – Another victim has fallen caused by the smack down show. Two students in SDN Babakan has injured their leg, arm, neck and between their legs after being smacked down by their 3 other friends.
The victims were Ahmad Firdaus, 9, and Angga Rakasiwi, 10, citizen of Gang Desa, Kiaracondong road, Bandung. The school authorities brought Angga Rakasiwi to the hospital. The 5th grade student had to be given 5 sewings.
“I already said that I don’t want to play smack down. But my friend kept forcing me and when I resisted, they kicked my belly and between my legs” said Firdaus while clutching his belly.
SDN Babakan principal, Soemadinata explained that he had already given warnings and rules to the students not to attempt the moves they saw in smack down. The rule was, if a student attempted a move they saw in smack down for the first time in school, the school will call their parents. Second time, the student will be suspended for a period of time. Third time, the student will be expelled from the school……
…. Lativi, the television station that has been broadcasting the program for a while, refused the threat given by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission to take the show off the air which has taken the lives of 3 elementary students in Bandung. However, Lativi public relation manajer, Ral Didoy explained that they will keep the show on the air because their contract with smack down isn’t over yet. Because of that, Lativi will only change the show time into a later time at 10 PM.
He also explained that Lativi has done everything they can to prevent children to watch the show. “At the top left of the monitor, we already put the rating for adults and in every show, Lativi censored words and running text that is not appropriate. Nowaday, the management has added commercials which has suggested that the program is not suitable for children and not to try the moves shown during the show.

There are other victims around Indonesia and in my hometown as well. The worst case was around a month ago. 2 students Reza Fadilah, 9, died and Maryuani, 9, had brain damage.

I am not flaming about WWE Smackdown, I really like that show and this case may cancel the show I'm taking this case because this is an example of what may happen if you attempt those stuff on TV.

[Ken'ichi]

Another example why parents should monitor what their childrens watch and do, it's not the show's fault. They warn not to try it at home and give it its proper rating, it's up to the parents to use parental control and monitor what their children watch.

The show being aired later at night is a good step, 10PM sounds reasonable, but whatever happens next is the childrens' and parents' responsibility. Blaming the show and cancelling it won't solve the problem, what about other shows and movies they will try to imitate? Will they cancel them too? Geez...

[Truttle]

Yeah. It's bad when the parents don't monitor their children well enough. They gotta make clear about what kinds of things are dangerous so the kids don't try it.

[Midnight]

I was once a victim of smackdown stunts when I was this big *puts hand to waist*.
My cousin was a wresting fanatic and constantly wrestled me against my will. I hated it. Then there was when he did it on a diving board and the pool ended up red...¬.¬... I ended up with a scrape all the way down my leg and he ended up feeling terrible. It was only then that he stopped for even a week.

And his mom never did a thing!!
Parents really do need to keep an eye on their kids. No matter how sweet or harmless they think their child is.

And how kids can even stay up late enough to watch these things is beyond me...