Let's play a fun game: Let's make fun of fat people and dorks!

[matcom]

in fact, why don't we ('we' being the good looking DUers) put this game on TV! we can have cameras rolling while we mock and make fun of fat people and dorks! oh and we can make it a CONTEST! see the fat people and dorks want to be LIKED BY US! HA HA! we'll let them apply to be in our club and then we'll make fun of them on TV!

wooohoooo

now THIS is gonna be TONS of FUN (pun intended)

in case you are confused, I watched my very first episode of American Idol last night. Now, while I caught a couple of performances last season in passing (actual singing) I hadn't really watched this train wreck. Not sure what is more pathetic. Seeing the 'elite' mock and make fun of the scmucks who stand in line all day to try and get on this tripe or the scmucks who live and die over this high-school clique on TV

I STILL feel I need an intellectual shower after watching that shit last night. no wonder 'Murica is screwn.

[zanne]

1. What I noticed about reality shows...

I haven't watched a reality show since Donald Trump pointed his finger at someone on national television and said "You're fired". Fortunately, I missed all the bug-eating episodes of the "survivor" shows. I wouldn't watch these things, because, dammit, they're CRUEL! Are people becoming desensitized to the feelings of others? I know that these people volunteer to appear on these shows, but the public just laps it up and seems to revel in all the public humiliation. What century is this? What country is this; for that matter, what planet is this?

[LaurenG]

2. I can't watch those shows.

I sit around waiting for Keith (just to see what stories you've found for him that he repeats):7

[matcom]

3. LOL!

yeah, sometimes I wonder..... :D

[LaurenG]

21. Well, he's going to discuss this topic tonight

This is just too much coincidence for me. You should ask him to credit you for all the stories!:rofl:

[Midlodemocrat]

4. BabyMidlo begged me to watch it with her and I have to say

I was appalled at the treatment of some of the contestants. I never liked it, never watched it before last night and Tuesday night.

It was as though they purposely went after the oddest characters in order to make fun of them.

I would have loved it if the guy Simon referred to as a 'bush baby' had had a voice like Enrico Caruso.

One of TeenMidlo's friends auditioned in NYC and he is extremely talented, didn't even get to see Paula, et al before being disqualified, so I wonder if there is some inherent 'shock' value being built in to make the watercooler discussions today even more exciting.

I won't watch it again. It was horrifying.

[matcom]

5. wasn't it great when he asked the heavy woman to sing....

"Baby Got Back"??

fucking.hysterical.

:eyes:

[Midlodemocrat]

7. And when that chick in the pink fish net was asked to

sing "Big Butts?"

Even my 10yo was shocked. She kept saying "mom, that is so mean of them, why are they doing that?"

[Tyrone Slothrop]

20. I worked on Idol (briefly) during auditions in Season 2

And there is most certainly "shock value" built into the program.

The opening cattle call can have more than 10K singers show up (depending on the city, etc.). They narrow those down and tell about 200-400 to come back and sing in front of the judges. The producers intentionally pick about 50% A-list singers and about 50% Z-list singers because it makes for "good TV". (Mocking the Z-listers, that is.)

The sad part is that those Z-listers are generally young and insecure to begin with. So, they get plucked up out of a mass of 10,000 or so and, in my experience, a lot of these 16 and 17 year olds actually believe that they were selected because they have a great voice, presence, etc. Over the course of that weekend, I watched a LOT of teens leave the audition room in tears, sobbing after having been raked over the coals by Simon et al. It was incredibly sad and exploitative.

[Gormy Cuss]

22. The saddest part is that people watch this show

and enjoy the mocking of "Z-listers." I guess some people have the need to watch others get humiliated in order to feel better about themselves.

[sniffa]

6. if we're Lucky, they're both fat and dorky

kiLL 2 birds with one stone.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Did you watch last night?

I haven't before Tuesday, and I have to say, it was a true lesson in Americana.

[sniffa]

10. i did watch it

i actuaLLy wonder aLoud what some of the contestants are thinking about. how did their famiLy/friends not say to them, "dude, you suck. i mean, suck bad. don't do this."

[Midlodemocrat]

13. That's the part I was wondering about, too.

My 10yo and all her friends and their moms watch it, so when she asked me to watch it with her on Tuesday, I was kinda, well, okay. Tuesday wasn't that bad, it just seemed there were a lot of folks with no talent

But last night, it seemed as though they purposely went out of their way to find the oddest 'looking' contestants with the weirdest outfits to make fun of.

It really made my skin crawl. I guess I just didn't realize that this early into the contest it was so mean.

[matcom]

9. no, no no

he is POPULAR! (and rich)

we all wanna be like HIM!

[sniffa]

14. i want the hair

and the threads

[Midlodemocrat]

15. *sob* and as a white female, I have no hope of ever getting there.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

27. I'm both. If I agree to go on a show, please shoot me ...

... unless talk of shooting involves a flame-war about guns, in which case, aah just fergitit.

[madinmaryland]

11. I can't watch any of the reality crap.

I can't believe the sheeple of this country can actually be interested in the americal idol. :wtf: Even the local news (an ABC affiliate) had a "segment" on it. What's hard to beleive is the show is not even on abc, and they still give it a promo. :wtf:

I found my self watching a really interesting bio on RFK last night on PBS.

[matcom]

12. i've seen my first episode AND my last

it's an hour i'll never get back.

[madinmaryland]

16. BTW, your sig line is great.

I assume it refers to Iraq.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Actually, I believe it refers to the voices in his head.

But, I could be wrong.




:hide:

[Midlodemocrat]

17. I was actually switching between AI and

Deal or No Deal when BabyMidlo wasn't looking.

How the mighty have fallen. I had intended to finish the book I'm reading.

[dropkickpa]

19. I watched a really cool thing

on PBS on the state of the environment in China.

But I did tune into part of AI, but was disgusted. I can never watch the audition episodes because they just too damn exploitative.

I enjoy watching the process of people learning to use their voices, but I think the show would be much more enjoyable if the judges were gone.

[Deja Q]

23. It makes me long for the day when In Living Color did a parody of Paula Abdul...

Maybe American Idol is her revenge?


(The ILC parody of Paula Abdul is a music video parody entitled "Promise of a Thin Me"... she probably ensured the parody didn't make it onto the DVD set...)

[Mojambo]

24. I haven't the faintest desire to ever see this show. n/t

[Missy Vixen]

25. My husband watches the show

We weren't watching last night. We saw the night before, and I'm thinking it's cured him. My husband is one of those rough-and-tuff former football player guys. He's not exactly Mr. Sensitive New Age Guy. At the same time, he told me how uncomfortable he was with the judge's comments towards the contestants that didn't make the cut.

>I STILL feel I need an intellectual shower after watching that shit last night. no wonder 'Murica is screwn.<

I was just sad that any human being would allow themselves to be debased on national television. Was it worth it? I also have to wonder about the humanity of someone like Simon Cowell. There's a difference between constructive criticism and deliberately setting out to damage another person's soul. He passed "constructive" a long time ago. I'm wondering how he'll top himself. I imagine someone will try to hurt themselves, then he will get on national TV again and proclaim that he's not responsible for what the person did to themselves.

Of course, it's a TV show, IMHO, YMMV, but it shows a sickness in our society. There was a physical assault last night on "Top Chef" as well. I don't care for Marcel, either, but trying to choke him?

Julie

[Evoman]

26. "HEY RANDY......SHOW US YOUR TITS!"

This is the line I swore to my girlfriend I would say, out loud, if I was ever at the show. Yes, I would be kicked out. But it would be worth it.

[KamaAina]

28. Uh, does Rush count as a fat person or a dork?

Or is he "wild"?

[NNadir]

29. I am a fat dork, and I can tell you for certain that you over estimate how much I want you,

"the good looking DUers" to like me.

I think I can make a good case that I am not seeking too much "liking."

[Midlodemocrat]

30. I think you might have misunderstood.

We are dissing American Idol and the way some people who didn't make the 'Hollywood' cut were treated last night.

As if mistreating someone who isn't perfect physically is funny.

No one here is poking fun of people's physicality, just the show and its lame attempt at humor.

[NNadir]

33. It's OK. I make fun of myself for being a fat dork.

I am also extremely ugly, meaning that, even were I cool and thin, I would still be unattractive.

Then there's the matter of my personality...

;-)

I wouldn't get the matter with "American Idol," since I don't really watch TV.

[Midlodemocrat]

36. You couldn't possibly be unattractive.

You're a DUer!

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

31. I like the show. I really prefer it once it gets down to the

actual talent. But I do think that making fun of people's physical appearance is awful. MAking fun of the singing is fair game, seeing how it is a singing contest. But the rest is sad.

[mentalsolstice]

32. Every now & then I watch Extreme Makeover

Where they makeover somebody's house because they need it. It's the only reality show I can watch without immediately feeling the need for a shower afterwards.

[lildreamer316]

40. See; now I love that show.

LOTS of people here diss the hell out of it. I get so irritated. Sure; it's a running commercial for Sears. So what? People who are in need get wonderful help. No matter what comes afterwards; it has to have somewhat of a postitive effect on most of their lives. It's so heartwarming to see the real joy on their faces; and to see how those who help really feel the spirit of giving. Even if they recieve some promotion for it; they are still physically building something that will contribute to someone else's happiness...and that's always rewarding.
The most rewarding thing I ever did was Habitat for Humanity. Some of the best times of my life.

[mentalsolstice]

41. Tools are just that! eom

[SOteric]

34. Okay, but just so you know...

I'm not sure where some of those people came up with the idea they could sing. Sure, sure, sometimes they're just downright mean for the sake of being mean. But honestly, have you ~heard~ some of those people who think they're Ghod's Gift to the Music World? ***


***It should be noted that I don't actually watch the show either. But yes, I've seen a few segments of episodes, mostly while fast forwarding to get to the show I actually intended to record.

P.S. - check out the sigline upgrade. Heeee!

[Midlodemocrat]

38. LOL. I *love* that guy.

Your sig is a hoot.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Let's make fun of people who watch American Idol.

God, those dorks are dumb.

[mockmonkey]

37. You

haven't heard me sing yet! Then you can make fun of me. Someone told me to watch Idol last night and so I did. What has happened to the embarrassment level of the American people.

Part of me says, if you don't want to look like an idiot don't do idiotic things, the other part says how can I get that kind of confidence in myself?

I can't see myself watching that again.

[Nevernose]

39. As a fat dork, I'd like to say I PREFER the bad contestants

I haven't watched yet, but they're the only ones worth watching. Those other contestants? They suck. Singing pop shit and turning real music into Muzak just isn't my scene.

But laughing at stupid people? My laughter is due to neither dorkiness nor weight. It's stupidity. It's because these people actually thought they had talent enough to compete with America's "best." And more than that, it's because these people have a support structure in place that has encouraged them to expose their complete lack of talent to the entire world (as opposed to the people with the real talent who are encouraged by the public to pervert it for the benefit of the lowest common denominator).

The Germans have a word for it. Leibenstraum? Leibenfreud? Something like that. Something that means "laughing at other's misery?" It's the same reason I get a kick out of "Jackass." Anyone who willingly disgraces, debases, and degrades themselves in that way deserves what they get. It's not like this was a secret camera show filming people who were fat dorks who thought they were alone, is it?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

42. Schadenfreude.

Taking pleasure in another person's misery. Homer Simpson used it once.

Our whole society has turned into a nation of domineering bullies and public humiliators, who get their jollies from doing so. No civility, no humanity, just cruelty.

Bullies at school, bullies at work, bullies at the store, bullies on TV. That's our society. People with power crushing the powerless.

I have a beautiful voice, lots of musical talent and training, play a couple of instruments well, and have had too many doors slammed in my face to ever want to go thru that crap on AI, even if I was young enough. Showtime at the Apollo is bad enough, but at least they don't have Simon picking on people.