To worry Xfactor is abusing the mentally ill

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

for their viewing figures.

celebrity.aol.co.uk/2011/09/20/x-factor-ceri-rees/?ncid=webmail2

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

I fancy I know no one is forced to take part but those who are evidently mentally ill are not making informed choices. What support if any does the show give them afterwards. What when they go to the shops if the local shits youths are taking the micky and upsetting them, who cares once the show is over.

[GodKeepsGiving]

I have never watched it for precisely this reason and furthermore I never would. Thoroughly reasonable in my opinion.

[wherearemysocka]

I do wonder where their friends and family are, though. Surely someone should have taken them aside and gently pointed out to them that singing really isn't their thing well before they audition for X Factor?

[RedBlanket]

Ifancyashandy - everyone auditions in front of the researchers before they get to the judges. That's why it's so nasty IMO. Fair enough if some deluded pub singer turns up, sings for the judges and gets sent away.
But not fair when some researcher knows they are crap and still puts them through because it will make good telly. And even worse when someone who has been told 4 times previously that she's no good bring allowed on, that's without starting on any MH issues she might have.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

I'm watching it from a slightly different perspective.
The lady that came on for the fourth time made the decision to appear. She obviously had learning difficulties, but it was something she wanted to do.
Susan Boyle is a case in point, she could sing and is now a very successful recording star, it was what she wanted.
So should she have been held back because of her learning difficulties?
Not allowed to take part at all because she was being taken advantage off?
X Factor is open to everyone, who are we to decide that anyone who is not 'normal' shouldn't appear

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

Wherearemysocka Because they are adults, their family and friends could not stop them, they have the same rights to make their own decisions in the world, unless they are a danger to themselves or other people to the degree they could be sectioned, which is not the case here.

Their friends and family can try to persuade them but they can't force them not to do it which is why I believe the show should have higher standards of protection not exploitation of the mentally ill.

[soupisgoodfood]

The Ben Elton book (Chart Throb) is a really good read.

Don't know how accurate it is but once you've read it you can see the 'formula' to all the reality/talent shows (Svengali-type, older has-been record industry geezer, mumsy older lady with a hint of glam, young talentless but attractive female etc, teams of researchers who do most of the work off-camera then clever camera work to make it look real).

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

Lady Susan Boyle had talent, Ceri is only there for entertainment value so people can laugh at her.

No one sane was laughing, most were dismayed at the exploitation of the mentally ill whose only purpose was to amuse not be entertained. Massive difference.

[carlywurly]

But the difference is Susan Boyle very clearly had talent, whereas many of the cases we're talking about hadn't. It's not even as though they're borderline cases, they're often tone deaf and the decision to appear should have been taken from them as much as it would have been from anyone else who couldn't sing at the first audition stage.

I see no reason that they've been put through other than to make them a laughing stock. It's vile.

[sloggies]

A while ago, a journalist auditioned for one of these 'shows', might have been X factor, not sure. She said the people who get to the tv stage are either v. good or v. bad, to make better tv presumably. So someone who was 'reasonable' is too in-the-middle.
I am not sure that Ceri has MH problems, but she certainly appears vulnerable, and for that reason people should have the humanity to boycott this appalling programme.

[MissBetsyTrotwood]

Of course nobody forces anyone to go along (as far as we know!) but the way those who cannot sing and who clearly have learning difficulties are presented make it really uncomfortable watching.

DH reckons it's fixed anyway. The 'never auditioned for anything before in my life' contestants have suspiciously professional microphone technique.

[PuppyMonkey]

Don't you think some people just want to appear on telly and they know full well they are shit singers? Didn't see this lady so not saying it applies to her. But there have been people who are very obviously putting on a "tone deaf" " hilarious" act just to get on the telly.

[Ifancyashandy]

The researchers are not qualified to decide if someone has or has not got SN / MH isues etc. It's an open audition for a TV show that has been going for what, 6 or so years. So a) who are we / the researchers to decide if someone should or shouldn't take part and b) given the number of series, no-one could claim un-informed consent.

[Curiousmama]

LBE are you for real? Subo was for shock factor too, they already knew she could sing as there are loads of auditions to get to the final stage. To exploit this lady on Saturday the way they have done year after year is a disgrace. And I'm a disgrace for viewing but no more. Of course you shouldn't take advantage of the vulnerable but it's sadly becoming the norm nowadays.

[Ifancyashandy]

Ceri has chosen to go back 4 times. However, if she has been asked to go back by the Production Team, they would have psyc tested her by now - in order to avoid accusations of exploitation.

[tittybangbang]

A friend of mine auditioned for X factor. She's a jobbing singer with a fabulous voice who's sung with some well known musicians. Three Years ago she managed to pack out Ronnie Scotts for 3 nights singing with a well known jazz pianist. She didn't get past the first lit of auditions and didn't go in front of the judges. When the programme came out there were so many terrible singers on. My kids couldn't understand how my friend hadn't got through to sing on the programme.

[Curiousmama]

Oh come off it Ifancy even you know that's crap. But if that makes you feel better for watching then keep on looking through those rose tinted specs

[Ifancyashandy]

Sorry - you are wrong on that. I know it's not crap. Industry insider.

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

Ifancy she chose to go back ,you are right but she doesn't have the mental ability to understand that she can't sing and that people watching will only feel sorry for her. She believed, because she is mentally ill, that the only reason she couldn't get through was because Simon couldn't recognise her talent.

It's exploting the mentally ill.

[Ifancyashandy]

See my posts at 21:53 and 21:56.

[MarginallyNarkyPuffin]

It's a vile, cruel show full stop. As other posters have said they pre-audition - people don't get to go straight in fromt of the judges. They deliberately select people who can't sing and look odd then send them through to the judges specifically to be mocked and ridiculed. The fact that they do this to people with obvious mental health issues makes it worse.

[bigscarymum]

They all have 3 auditions before they go in front of the judges, no-one turns up on the day, it's just not possible. The crowds you see snaking around are the audience for the day, they just insert the "contestants" to interview them. The employees of x factor are walking around with clipboards with the contestants names on with a comment by each one, such as "deluded", "rubbish", "good". I know, I looked over their shoulders, and I was in the crowd. the judges also have these comments available before they see the contestants. So yes, they knew Susan Boyle could sing, whatever they pretended. It's all about what they think makes good TV.

[tittybangbang]

I think it's a bit like Jeremy Kyle. The shit people who'll make good telly are shmoozed by young and smart staff working on the programme, made to believe they're fab and they've got a good chance. It's hideous. And I bet they all have to sign binding agreements not to discuss the programme.

[HerdOfTinyElephants]

No, LadyBeagleEyes, she should have been allowed to participate, been seen by researchers, and been gently told that she wasn't good enough to move on to the "in front of the judges" stage. Rather than repeatedly being told she was good and had got through to the next stage while having the "can't sing but is mad as a box of frogs so will be v amusing" box ticked purely so that she could be mocked in front of the nation and then be thrown back on the street.

[PPPop]

People don't just stumble onto the stage, they go through a screening process and only the very good or very odd/awful go through. It's very exploitative, I feel quite uncomfortable watching the auditions bit.

That bloke who was the goth-ish Michael Jackson lookey likey who came back this year kept going on about being 'led on' by them. I knew exactly what he was talking about, the production staff saying 'yeah, yeah, you're wonderful' so we could all point and laugh when it went horribly wrong.