To think that Susan Boyle should be withdrawn from the BGT final?

[JasperParrot]

She has apparently been taken to a safe house because she cannot cope with the stress.

She has been seen by a psychiatrist.

Now while I admit that I hate all the publicity and the plugging of her to boost her popularity, I think that she is clearly not equipped to be able to deal with this, and it will only get worse.

It is IMO irresponsible to allow her to continue in this competition. Clearly she does not have the mental capasity to cope with all that has been thrown at her, and someone should be taking responsibility and pulling her out of there.

Oh yes, I love the dancing, brill, couldn't choose between the two

Don't know who I want to win. I like the Stavros father and son thing, just because it's funny and the father just looks like he is such a lovely dad

The woman with the flashing boobs was good too, shame she never got thru.

Sorry reaction? As I think that with all this hype she is expecting to win and I am worried about what will happen if she doesn't.

afternoon shineon

there is something of the arena in these programmes, I think - I feel like they bring out the worst in me. Mind you, if a few lions felt like munching on Piers and Simon I don't think I'd mind too much...

Not read the thread but think she should be in it if she wants. I don't think she is very good though and think the over-hyping from the media has been detrimental.

I would assume that's why she is seeing the pyschiatrist, so that he can make an informed professional decision as to her capabilities to continue in the competition.

It's easy to speculate on her so called "learning difficulties", but all this chit chat and speculation from ill informed members of the public is exactly what is contributing to this lady's stress.

in reference to the comment re the 10yr old girl crying. It is not the blame of the programme makers but that of the parents for allowing them to take part on such a public arena.

Shame on them

it's immensely patronising to say that because she has learning difficulties she should be ushered away

Daniel Radcliffe has dyspraxia but no-one is suggesting we shut him up in a box

Well, I'm not a diagnostic expert, but given I've been ASD all my life and work in that field of work for many hours a day for many years, I'm definitely not very ill informed . I'd say she's done a wise thing by retreating to somewhere quiet for a while.

amberlight... you've assessed her at length then???

It is extrememly ill informed to speculate on an individual based on media visuals such as the tv or the newspapers.

why are we speculating at all?

are we asking how many O levels all the other contestants have?

it's not a show about applying to join MENSA

why is it okay to speculate about her mental abilities just because we think we can put a label on them?

"Not a diagnostic expert". That means I'm not diagnosing her nor even trying. Only suggesting it as a reasoned possibility given all we know of her behaviour recently, and yes I've spent a fair old bit of time reading, watching, observing everything I could of this fine lady.

I'm remembering the many years when I didn't have a clue that I was ASD and would have given anything to have someone at least mention the possibility. It was literally a lifesaver to find out, not a way to cause me problems. If she's losing public support and getting mocked for aggressive or inappropriate behaviour because people are thinking it's unrelated to any difficulty she may (note the word may) have, then it just might be helpful for people to take a step back and think "OK, could it be this?". Being ASD isn't a crime, if she is, or something to be ashamed of. She's already admitted to a form of LD, so it's no big deal to wonder which form it might be or whether it's a related something, I'd say. If so, she would need different strategies to get her through the final and the publicity, so it'd be possibly useful information, not damaging gossip.

barnsleybelle - I think amberlight is more qualified to comment on Susan than you most of us.

I dont read the stuff abouy slebs and I hate reality shows etc but I wondered about Ms Boyle. I thought she may have a LD.

Her voice is very nice but I agree its not spectacular. It makes good telly to have a plain woman sing a nice song and suprise eveyone. I mean only pretty girls can sing cant they? .

But the press could be ramping the whole 'Boyling Over' thing because its a good story.

For all we know she is perfectly fine.

They are always trying to make out slebs are having meltdowns etc.

I hope she is ok though.

She does have health issues - those are confirmed and not speculation.

I'm sure reports of her threatening to quit are being hugely hyped up by the BGT PRs - was exactly the same last year - George Sampson supposedly had some injury and may have to pull out...but didn't.

What sort of things have made me wonder?

A couple of the many examples: From The Mirror report yesterday: ...."....Some of her answers to questions barely made sense. At one point she was shown a doll of herself that was for sale. When asked what she thought of it, she put the doll next to her nose instead of giving an answer"

From the Sun report, same day: "She got up, did one of those strange wiggling dances that she does, and then stuck two fingers up at the TV. Then she marched off. We didn't see her again."

Maybe under pressure anyone might get nervous and do things that some might say are strange or unexpected?

I like her for her voice and bravery (cos I couldn't stand up and sing in front of anyone never mind an audience ) and anything else doesn't really come into it for me. As long as she is being looked after and being allowed to make her own choices.

oh dear amber, it seems you believe the newspapers. Speaks volumes.

fabulous... read the thread, i have not "commented on susan". I have stated that i think it's wrong to make statements when these people have never met the lady.

I don't think you necessarily need to meet someone to be able to spot signs of concering and atypical behaviour in them. Amberlight's examples illustrate this well, whatever you feel about the source.

And given that this is a thread about Susan Boyle, I think it's perfectly reasonable to discuss them on here..

The op claims that:

"Clearly she does not have the mental capasity to cope with all that has been thrown at her"

I merely think that this is a speculative comment made by someone who has never met this person. It is that i object to.

Who exactly is the op to determine susan does not "have the mental capacity".

Starlight, no i don't think it's right for a group of people who are not health care professionals to speculate on the mental health of a person who is not able to contribute or is consenting to the speculation. That's just me.

By placing yourself in the public eye you unfortunately do open yourself up to speculation and scrutiny though. Whether it's by us on MN, or by the tabloids, it's inevitable. I wouldn't be famous for anything!

I do also agree that we can't and shouldn't judge anyone's "mental capacity" but it's fairly obvious that there are serious issues with Susan Boyle's emotional wellbeing.

In my experience many of the posters on MN do actually have greater knowledge of the conditions being discussed than the actual healthcare professionals I've encountered along the way.