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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be amazed that something as psychologically manipulative as X Factor is allowed on air?

298 replies

moondog · 09/10/2011 20:59

I've been watcihng it for the 1st time.
I can't beleive they are allowed to toy with people's lives like this, building them up, playing with them and then casting them aside.

What an unbelievably unpleasant concept.
I feel tainted for having watched it.

OP posts:
Peachy · 10/10/2011 00:06

YANBU

It's just bloody horrible. 'What people want is to be entertained and if that means laughing at someone who is a "freak" for want of a better word, then that is what will be shown. Unfair as it may be.
' Every level of yuck, that freak might be my beloved child you are talking about, grow some humanity will you!

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 10/10/2011 00:07

Tulisa seems like a very nice girl.

Saw a documentary she was on and she has come a long way, worked hard and overcome a lot to get where she is.

Not so bad a role model IMO

Peachy · 10/10/2011 00:08

'If adults with SN want to audition why shouldnt they? Its not up to the NT population to tell them they cant'

It's up to use though whether we show it in a way that makes a laughing stock of them; the auditions do.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 10/10/2011 00:08

I dont watch the early auditons. Has it got that bad?

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 10/10/2011 00:11

Because I was thinking of someone like Susan Boyle. There was a lot of talk that she shouldnt have been allowed on because of having AS.

That stuck me as pretty off tbh.

lurkinginthebackground · 10/10/2011 00:16

My advice to you is to stop watching then. As by watching you are indeed the viewing public and so add to the throngs of millions which in turn guarentees advertising revenue etc etc etc. If nobody watched it the format would be deemed useless as advertising revenue would fall. That is the point of the show, not to find a star. Nobody cares about that. They are all far too bland to be comercially viable anyway. The last winner Matt whatshisface, boring, bland, wet, will fade away very soon. What the show needs are the Jedwards, laughable figures there purely for comedy entertainment. They seem to be everywhere on tv now.

melancholista · 10/10/2011 00:21

Yes, but we are (by and large on MN) citizens of this country, and it would be reasonable to expect citizens to have a view on whether popular TV programmes shown in this country are acceptable, or not.

melancholista · 10/10/2011 00:23

And those of us on MN who are parents really should be concerned about what TV programmes are watched by children. IMVHO.

WilsonFrickett · 10/10/2011 00:32

mrsDeVere actually I thought the auditions were less extreme than in previous years actually. I'm not really recognising this 'freak show' that some posters are talking about. But I will say if people with SN can sing, then why the Frick shouldnt they go on Xfactor? And I say that as the mother of an SN child.

WilsonFrickett · 10/10/2011 00:34

Oh and 'delusioned about The level of talent you posess' doesnt actually equal 'has SN or MH issues' btw.

melancholista · 10/10/2011 00:36

Because I think what's missing is dignity, WF. They are not helped to perform with dignity; many of the other contestants aren't, either. And if they do show some self-respect, by defending themselves against ridicule, the judges go for them even harder.

spiderpig8 · 10/10/2011 00:43

How do you know they have MH/SN issues?
The majority of whackos and crap singers are just in it for their 5 mins of fame and will do anything to get on TV.Out of the tens of thousands who audition only a very small %age get shown so they try to make themselves as 'odd' as possible to get noticed.
They know what it is before they audition.Stop being so nannyish and patronising!

WilsonFrickett · 10/10/2011 00:43

meloncholista there is nothing dignified about any audition process. Nothing at all. The difference with Xfactor is that it's televised and the risk/reward ratio is accordingly heightened. I would actually be happier with my son auditioning for something like Xfactor than I would with him heading off to London to do the rounds, for example.

spiderpig8 · 10/10/2011 00:43

If you want to talk about TV exploitation, lets start with Educating Essex.

BoscoIsMyLover · 10/10/2011 00:49

But who are you to say which ones have sn? Just because they are deluded? A little 'off'?

Btw I can't stand the n_dubz crap either, but I did see an excellent doc on tulisa and her mum who has severe mh issues. I say good on the girl, her whole life could have gone in a different direction, I think she is a role model

CreakyFun · 10/10/2011 00:57

Is it me or is Last of The Summer Wine dull?

toptramp · 10/10/2011 07:03

I like X factor but it can be manipulative. Foe example making the judges vote of one act each and telling the contestants who made it through before revealing the looser rather than just being straight up was really crap.

toptramp · 10/10/2011 07:12

In the "good old days" humans used to watch beheadings and gladiator matches for fun. Lets see the X factor as entertainment lite shall we. I.e; not to be taken seriously. These contestants WANT to enter and I enjoy the singing. It's good for music ime.

toptramp · 10/10/2011 07:17

I like Tulisa. She has been in the biz since 11. Her mum is mentally ill and she was a amin carer and she still made it with N DUBZ. Good on her I say.

toptramp · 10/10/2011 07:18

main carer

Animation · 10/10/2011 07:53

I was uncomfortable watching this new format where 4 stand in a line as their mentor picks 3!

Probably stressful for the mentors as well.

They're all being exploited emotionally.

It's not right. Confused

Animation · 10/10/2011 07:59

They were all sobbing their hearts out - that's bad - real trauma. It's just not fun anymore.

Seriously going down the pan!!

Peachy · 10/10/2011 08:12

Bosco probbaly better than ost seeing sa I almost ahve an MA in the field!

But they have psychs employed, they know, the choose to make a show of people who have limited self awareness and a a result I choose not to watch their appalling drivel.

Do I have a problem with people with no Sn / MH issues being on? probably not. but people appear who do ahve obvious issues and as such I deplore it. Laughing at people with MH issues is not entertainemnt lite it is sick twattery of the highest.

Plus X factor is shit. Predictable low brow shit. Made for 13 year olds with mobile phone budgets and no mates to call. We are not those.

RalphGhoul · 10/10/2011 08:28

Who in God's name is Tulisa anyway?
I know who Kelly Rowlands is and Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh but Tulisa?
She is about 19 in any case.
What does she know?

Judgey much?

OP, I find it odd that you feel you can make judgments on the show, judges, contestants etc. I mean, you obviously found it so distasteful that you turned the channel over or left the room after a few minutes, right?

Hmm
Original poster
moondog · 10/10/2011 08:31

I'll make as many judgements as I like thanks. Smile
That is the entire premise of a conversation. Perhaps you would like me to lead you through a basic conversational analysis.

I ask because I am interested in the responses I get (bar yours obviously). That's a novel thought eh?

OP posts:
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