To think the X factor degrades people who are not the same as the rest of society?

[leisurely]

Didn't know how to sensitively phrase that, but I was watching the Xtra factor last night and there was a parade of people, who to put it kindly, were slightly different to me and my family. For example the two till workers from Asda, the man with the enormous knob (or hernia) and the pork pie factory worker. That awful woman whose name I don't remember stood ripping the piss out of them.
I understand wang/hernia man but the rest of it seemed cruel and cheap. Should we go back to the days of looking at the simpleton in a freak show or AIBU?

yeah, freaky asda till workers, least we got a laugh out of it

The deluded people with attitudes- I really do laugh at them.
I do not watch the 'Xtra' shows etc where they clearly rip the piss out of people with learning difficulties etc. Not sure if that's the right term? Plz don't shoot me down - I know what I mean.

With the Xtra shows - it seems that is the only aim?!
Can't believe they are allowed to do it tbh -DH and I both think it's disgusting.

Good, I thought I was being a delicate flower (although nothing could be further from the truth). I don't know what the name of the woman is who presents it, but she's a nasty bint who plays up people's quirks. OTOH, people who call themselves 'Stunnas' who are pretty unattractive just set themselves up for ridicule.
I wouldn't have watched it, but there was chuff all else on the telly.
Another AIBU? is it just me, or should people not involve their dead brother's children for the sympathy vote. Although the singer had a good voice, he, IMVHO, didn't need to bring the child on to add to Cheryls waterworks.

I totally agree, the one that upset me was the guy who was trying to time himself in, and of course failed miserably, but raising a laugh from the audience and smirks from the'judges'. It's carcrash tv.

I must admit I look forward to watching the X factor, but I get up and do something when it gets embaressing. I feel sorry for them, but why do they put themselves in that deluded position! Obviously their families and friends have cheered them on to that level, so they have support from somewhere. Most are not lonely creatures who have crawled out from somewhere, they have been encouraged...

In this bit, I take my hat off to Cowell as he stops it quick and says the truth. Perhaps, some, will get their bubble burst but take it into serious consideration.

But I agree, it is a bit like a freak show and I don't like the Xtrafactor and I hate seeing it when they bring back the real gumbo's who never got thru. Awww I didn't mean to clal them Gumbo's {sad]...

ooops I meant.

They've been encouraged by the X Factor staff to think they were good - that's the point. Remember only a tiny tiny number of people who apply end up on telly. The production assistants will have told the ones that get through that they are brilliant, just to make sure that they look as deluded as possible by the time they actually get on tv. The bigger the bubble, the better television it makes to burst it, so they will have carefully made sure the contestants' self-image is as inflated as possible.
There's a v funny Ben Elton book about how it really works.

It's like a big set-up... oh, someone should do something about it. I think it's humiliating. I didn't realise that was the process, that is awful.

It is very sad isn't it. I have a friend who really is a brilliant singer. She got through to boot camp last year but was not a 'featured' person on the TV. This year she got through to the second auditions before getting the elbow.

I used to love the X Factor but I admit it is starting to grate, it is soooo staged.

I don't know anything about someone in a wedding dress because I only saw the last four weeks of it last year. I agree with whoever said Simon Cowell is kind, he does try to stop most people making too much of a fool/specacle of themselves.

it's completely set up - you think singers like Danyl from last week and that girl from Trinidad just happen to turn up with all their family snap shots with them?

they'll have sat down with a researcher who will have gone through their photos, home movies etc - they'll be told to bring along six friends or family members to 'support' them, the bloke last night with the dead brother would have been told to bring along his nephew, the kid would have been coached to run on stage.

The microphone also contains an 'auto tune' facility - which means they can make the ones they want to get through sound better than they actually are.

I didn't see last week's programme and missed the woman from Trinidad. I did find it curious that dead brother man just happened to have his brother's photo and child on him though. I can't bear people who play on the emotions of others, last year it was the man whose wife had died, this year it's the brother who's dead. What next, singing from beyond the grave. I am pleased IANBU (I used to be leisurely until the most recent encounter with nutjob upstairs)

I don't watch. I just pretend none of it exists.

This is why I haven't watched these types of programmes for years.

Yes, agree with you reality.

I could not live with myself if I watched any of these kinds of shows. They are only one step away from the Romans enjoying gladiators fighting unto the death. It really shows us for the cruel animals we are.

If Cowell is coming across as kind, I am sure that's been very carefully planned too....

My 6 year old noticed the first guy who counted himself in and said 'he looks like he needs a bit more help' which is her phrase for learning difficuties. It was awful to watch and added nothing to the programme.

yes the producers see them first and they have an audition before to even get onto the x factor auditions that we see

but

if any of them had friends or familys, surely they would say that they cant sing

i CANT sing, im tone deaf and i pity my dc when i sing nursery rymnes to them tbh

i would NEVER go on a tv show and sing, i will just about do kararokee after lots wine

When you have a thin, pretty, millionairess WAG laughing behind her hands at chubby check out girls - what does that amount to but school type bullying?