To think that x factor encourages bullying?

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I probably abu, I haven't watched it in ages but caught some of it last night and felt quite uncomfortable at the way a few of the contestants were mocked. The truly awful ones had obviously just been put forward for comedy value and then had the judges laughing at them and taking the piss while their families watched and however many millions of viewers laughed along at home. I can't help thinking that if that happened in any other context there would be complaints. I know that they choose to do it but they must have people telling them they are wonderful singers just so that we can all have a good laugh at their expense!

Of course there is no reason why being told that you are wonderful should make you behave rudely and unpleasantly (at least not beyond the age of 6). A person with good manners and common sense could simply never be brought to say some of the things some of these candidates say pre-audition.

And that bit is not really about learning difficulties: indeed, often the candidates with learning difficulties are the most corteous.

The truth is that every x-factor audition brings up people who for some bizarre reason think that talented (which they may well have been told they are) is some kind of excuse for being arrogant and rude (and I'm not just talking about Simon Cowell here).

But even so, it's not good is it: given that there are people out there with awful attitudes and ghastly manners- bringing them on national televisions for us to laugh us and feel superior to is still not a good thing.

I've stopped watching it, too. It's a show where some of the contestants are included purely to be publicly ridiculed and that, to me, is encouraging bullying.

Yes, people choose to apply but that includes people who are deluded and some are very vulnerable for a whole host of reasons.

Ben Elton's Chart Throb rang so true to me I wasn't able to enjoy this kind of show after reading it. YANBU.

It isn't just about the bullying though.

It's a massive set up, designed in the most emotionally manipulative way they can, to get viewers.

I dislike manipulation and more than that I dislike obvious, transparent manipulation that is targeted at stupid people. It's an insult to anyone with a brain.

It's banned in our house and I think less of anyone I know who watches it. I really do.

Yes, it's a massive set-up - and they don't seem to care that the set-up stuff is so transparent. As long as it rakes in their revenue, I guess...

YANBU!!!!!.....and the ludicrous and apparent 'boasting' is clearly in answer to V.V.leading questions ( by tv folk )which are then edited out

It's a dire programme, and I've only watched bits when on at people's houses but tbh the negative comments are no worse than the sort of stuff you get on a regular basis for 7 years training as an architect, and those are directed at something you've poured your time and intellectual ability into. I think anyone who goes on a show involving a judging panel knows what they're exposing themselves to.

Nobody forces them to go on and at this stage you ought to know its heavily edited.

I agree with Cory I am astounded some of the terrible singers even go up infront of the pre judges selection and believing your amazing because the pre selection judges tell you you is just as disillusioned. Any good singers knows if they can sing or not.
Ans yes, many good singers with amazing voices don't get through the first bit because the X factor is not just about having a good voice.

NO-ONE is forced onto X factor. And where are the carers of the contestants with LD? Surely they are just as responsible as X factor for allowing exploitation?

PS I LOVED Sam the prison officer last night.

I agree with OP and Mrs Devere It does encourage bullying. Its awful I got roasted on another thread for reiterating what Amanda Holden did She told Cowell that this overweight contestant was pregnant so he would congratulate her.
Piers Morgan told this group of women that came on BGT that they would never get anywhere despite having good voices because they were overweight and over 35 (thats when i stopped watching these shows)
Heres why we should be more concerned In an age where teenagers are commiting suicide because of being bullied both face to face and online do we really want them watching this thinking "Wow it really doesnt get any better when you get older does it?

I remember thinking exactly that when i was watching someone get bullied in an episode of Minder by some older guys I was being bullied at school at the time. Now if i thought that back then while watching a FICTIONAL comedy drama what on earth kind of hope does watching these "talent shows" give to teens and youngsters who are already being bullied. Because these talent shows are real not fictional.

I really don't think it encourages it, for sure it documents it, but as for encouraging bullying, I don't think so.

It also bores the living crap out of people.

I hate every part of the damn show.

There are at least 3 auditions to go through before the televised judges round.

So these bad singers, some of which are clearly quite vunerable, have been told "Your through to the next round" and how brilliant they are and have had stories manipulated out of them at least 3 times before they get to the judges and are ripped to shreds. That ripping to shreds is then out there for public viewing and they will never be able to hide that.

Yes, they have chosen to audition for the show, but they have no idea of the manipulation they are going to experience. I know many many intelligent adults who don't even realise how many audition rounds there are before the televised judge round.

And regardless of all that, the entire show makes a complete mockery of the performing arts industry IMO.

I didn't think the judges were actually all that nasty last night: it's certainly no worse than you would expect if you go in for e.g. an acting course or end up presenting parts of your thesis at a university seminar. I am sure dd gets shouted at more on her youth theatre programme and have no doubt criticism will get even more outspoken if she goes to "big" stage school. When I was a student our vivas took place in public and examiners had no compunction in tearing you to little bits in front of your adoring family and the whole department + anyone who cared to drop in from the street for a few hours of free entertainment: vivas were open to the public. The rationale, as explained by our tutor, is that if your work does not stand up to public scrutiny it should not be inflicted on the public. Ballet schools can also be notoriously harsh in dismissing anything that falls short of perfection.

The difference is not in the harshness but in the clientele.

At dd's youth theatre, the children with ambitions in performance seemed to have two kinds of families: the ones who talked of x-factor and immense talent and sudden discoveries v. the ones who talked of years of hard slog and study.

The kind of people who end up at stage school or in a postgraduate viva will come from the second mindset and will have lived with it for years. They will be used to criticism and have developed a strategy for taking it. And there are candidates like that on x-factor. But they are not the only ones selected, and there is a definite suggestion that some will be selected because they are, in fact, easier targets.

People who are that vulnerable/delusional/lacking in stamina would not end up in ballet school or on a postgraduate course because the people responsible would see it as their responsibility to dissuade them, regardless of talent.

Absolutely agree about the manipulation.

I haven't watched any of this series, I do try my best to avoid it. Nice to hear that they haven't been too bad though!

Absolutely agree with you Cory, that's what I meant about making a mockery of the performing arts industry.

In general, to make it within the industry it takes alot of hard work, determination, backbone, strength (physically and mentally) and of course talent.

Whereas there are so many people out there now who watch programmes like the X factor and think its all so easy to "be a star" now.

I think its gone rather vile. I do not want my 6 year old exposed to it, it happened to come on, on Sunday and she was watching, I was cringing, then subtly turned it off. I have asked my husband if we can NOT watch it while she is around rather HIM not watch it at all

Whats happened to all the past winners?

I didn't watch it last night, as I said I haven't watched it in ages but just happened to catch some of it on Saturday night. My point is not about bullying towards the contestants as such although MrsDeVere and a few others make some very good points about vulnerable people being put forward who really don't know what they are letting themselves in for. Its more the fact that people are purely on there for us all to point and laugh at and this behaviour is being shown to be acceptable. In a way the viewers are complicit in the exploitation and mocking of these people by laughing along at home and not challenging some really cruel nasty behaviour imo.

I am managing not to be subjected to any of it this year so far, and long may that last (my two youngest daughters and my husband seem to think it is great, and a genuine talent show for some reason).

Me, I think it should be renamed "Crap Factor". I can't believe it is still going for another year. Tired old formula.

It is a form of bullying - taking the micky out of contestants for entertainment. Real auditions are not like that, if they don't like you, they stop you and say 'Thank you'. That's it. No comments, no public ridicule.

I used to enjoy it but to be honest I'm quite cynical about the whole thing now. It feels fake and set up to me.

The argument about 'they put themselves out there' is quite interesting.

How would you describe it if a school held auditions for something, some of the kids were rubbish, and the teachers made a massive thing of rolling their eyes at one another for the amusement of the rest of the school?

Isn't that exactly what is happening here?