to think that the X factor is for the vacuous and banal?

[FunnysInTheGarden]

It manipulates and exploits both its audience and its contestants. So why on earth does anyone watch such tripe?

I rarely watch any kind of 'reality' programme or 'talent' show, all too banal for me - same for Facebook and Twitter - they're both so 'look at me > I'm over here saying something funny goddammit!'

All a bit sad really.

Not wanting to watch a person with a sob story, ( usually obligatory ) whose life ambition is to sing badly in front of Louis Walsh, does not make someone pompous.

Same for Twitter - 'I'm sitting on the tube drinking vodka and it's only 9.00am! I'm a riot me!'

Yawn yawn

I wouldn't watch karaoke in the pub. Why on earth would I want to watch it on tv?

I watched (5 minutes) for the first time ever last night, DD hosting a sleepover & her mates wanted to see it. And then I actually became interested in the follow up discussion of the programme on R5 Live this morning. .

(Whispers: which one (name, looks?) is the lady supposed to have mental health issues?)

I spent all 5 viewing minutes saying "She's got a really good voice, she could make a good career being a backing singer." because for the life of me I do not know why anybody wants to be the star, get your life picked over by the tabloids and all the pressure of live performance. There are so many ways to make a living out of the gifts those people have, why go for the most humiliating and high pressure route?

I quite enjoy vacuous and banal tv at times, but last night's x factor I thought reached the absolute depths and showed real cruelty to all those people it gathered together then sent home without even allowing them to perform again. What was the point?

Yanbu, it is tosh. As is Britain's got talent etc etc. Strictly is slightly better, but still not my cup of tea so we don't watch any of them. I hate the way they take over for months.

I agree with lockets. It's not the not watching / logging on that's pompous, but the smugness.

It's like the "my children only ever eat organic food and never watch adverts" thing, but for grown ups.

I've only ever caught a bit of it here and there but it looked like a lame, gratuitous cringe fest to me

I think I have just fallen in love with Nihilisticbunny a little bit. You miserable old git

I don't watch lots of things because they don't interest me. They don't interest me to the extent that I also don't waste time forming opinions about people who do watch them.

Except people who watch Eastenders. I spend at least 3hrs a day actively judging them.

Ooh get us we only watch documentaries and black and white movies with subtitles

Agree with lockets.

If you don't like it, ignore and get on with your (wonderful) life.

I actually don't watch television. I only sit in darkened rooms, self-flagellating with great works of literature.

Yesterday I beat dh for 7hrs with the OED.

Get me. I dont even have a televison

You lucky bastard ShowofHands.

I love a bit of vacuous b'anal on a saturday night.

Showofhands - excellent! Everything I would want to say and more..

I'm not smug, I'm just not really into reality TV/Twitter/Facebook. Not that I'm totally against Internet interaction per se,
I remember a time when MN was full of witty intelligent people, those were the days [nostalgic]

There's a certain irony about being against internet interaction while posting on Mumsnet.....I don't see it as much different from Facebook.

Of course it's tosh and a waste of time, but the hopeless and delusionals who make twats of themselves for your entertainment are not rounded up at gun-point. They make Round One bearable - after that it is unmitigated crap. There is a market for a DVD of This Year's Prime Unbelievables or has it been done?

YABU, or course it's vacuous and banal but not as much as starting a thread about it!

IMO X factor is a complete load of bollocks, exactly as the OP has described. I wouldn't criticise anyone else for watching it, though I choose not to watch it myself. I like certain other programmes that other people may not like.
Every TV comes equipped with an off button after all.