We are about to witness,, the global "mean girl" attack on that middle aged Scottish singer

[Peacetrain]

:rant:

Just witnessed the beginnings on MSNBC.. the station tracks the woman down in Scotland, wants an interview, give us a song dearie..

Apparently at one point this woman has stated she has never been kissed... they read a letter to her from one of the male judges, saying something nice, which embarrassed her a little bit.

Then three air headed commentators commence to just be absolute a**hats. One of the commentators Carlos, and I do not remember the women, but off they go, here Carlos someone for you, "I have the chapstick" "She is looking for a man"... howls of laughter..

Oh boy, can't wait for all the u-tubes satires, and the late night comediennes to finish it up.
You know that is what is going to happen, and we are going to watch it on a global scale.

The final point of this rant is that we have this obsession with finding the ordinary, and then sucking the very life out of it.

Heroes, such as our brave captain who faced down the pirates,are everywhere in the real ordinary world we occupy, they are all around us. We all know them. They have all touched our lives at one point in time.

God save them from fame and notoriety. Because they cannot just enjoy something, they and I guess we get so tired of it quickly and must bring it into the mud so then we can show disdain and laugh.

Not a pretty picture of a 24/7 media monster.

[mainegreen]

1. Some already saying she should be ignored because her singing isn't as good as the best in the world

I mean good grief. Ok, so she's not freaking Pavarotti. So what? This isn't highlander: "there can be only one". She's very, very good, and no doubt can be trained to be better.

She's nice, sings well, and frankly people like her. I also suspect she's a real tough nut. She'll most likely have the last laugh. That, and a cup of tea with pebbles.

[Peacetrain]

2. I hope she is a tough nut...

[Cetacea]

55. She is certainly better than some celebrity singers.

Spears, for one.

[indigo32]

3. I saw a u-tube

of Diane Sawyer interviewing her. I believe the 'kiss' question was probably the second one she asked :(. She politely told her she didn't want to talk about it and they moved on. I don't see it's relevence at all, but we are obsessed I think.

[ailsagirl]

5. There is no relevance whatsoever... I guess "people need to know"

:eyes:

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. What a crappy thing to ask her.

I thought Diane Sawyer had more class than that.

That's just horrible. And who the fuck cares, anyway. What the hell does that have to do with anything.

[Common Sense Party]

47. Well, in fairness, Boyle was the one to bring it up on the talent show.

She didn't have to admit it publicly. Now it's out there and, unfortunately, fair game.

[madaboutharry]

4. I saw that.

It was so "school bus". Some people never grow up.

I think she can take care of herself. She has heard this kind of shit her entire life and frankly, I think it only serves to motivate her.

She said this morning that she is very focused on preparing herself for the next show.

[Peacetrain]

7. I was just so surprised by it.. it was a rea "open" window moment for me..

[femrap]

34. I think our entire culture

is adolescent. Maybe our entire nation is one big stupid teenager...especially when compared to age of Europe and what it has been thru. China, India, etc.

We're like bullying, bratty teenagers. And are we ever going to get one hell of a major f*cking comeuppance soon.

This example of this lovely songstress just exemplifies The Decline of the American Empire.

I can't wait until she has the last laugh.

[Cass]

8. Looks, shallowness and superficiality reign supreme in society today.

Susan Boyle may well have to face cruel comments from idiots who prize looks over all else but it will say a lot more about them than it does about her.

It was sad to see the reaction to her before she even sang on that show. She was laughed at and people made faces at her. Why do people think its acceptable to act like that?

[Uncle Joe]

23. The circus mirror; that is most of the corporate media is afraid of reflecting anything else,

lest they crack.

Modern corporate media television news in particular rely on all three as tools for manipulation of the American People. Image over substance, sound bite over in-depth analysis, and desire or lust over discipline and restraint, it's all part of television's hypnotic one-way programming. Those tools are the base of their marketing power and just as Al Gore could be derided as being "stiff and boring" because he was serious and committed, this lady can be derided for her looks and relative innocence.


"Looks, shallowness and superficiality reign supreme in society today."

[alcibiades_mystery]

25. "in society today..."

Read Plato. Always have.

[truedelphi]

39. Age-ism too, when she was asked her age - it was clear from the looks on the

Judges faces how very WRONG it is to be forty-seven!!

The judges should watch out. They'll be 47 too someday, and they'll be shit-canned. The TV studios don't care a twit for older people.

[Cass]

59. Good point, I caught that, too. nt

[crim son]

9. I think you're right. I watched a clip of Diane Sawyer interviewing her

and, needless to say, Diane's questions were all about the poor woman's looks, her singlehood, etc. On the bright side, Ms. Boyle handled the questions with such polite condescension that Diane was left stuttering.

Even here, somebody was making a remark about how Boyle must have been trained, etc. etc. and wasn't really that good. Are we not missing the whole point of this wonderful story when we start nitpicking?

[NorthernSpy]

12. Diane Sawyer is a tw...

Diane Sawyer is a twit.

[crim son]

13. I agree! but many seem to think she's "genuine."

Whatever.

[Shell Beau]

36. I am a Diane fan I must say.

[crim son]

52. Then we must never speak again!

:P

[hisownpetard]

63. She worked for Nixon and thought he was a great guy.

[StrongBad]

17. Typo. Wrong vowel.

:)

[NashVegas]

20. Saw Something Similar On the Early Show

I try to have some sympathy for them; they know they'd never have been put in front of a camera, let alone allowed to stay there, if they weren't groomed in accordance. To them the idea she might be able to have a career in the entertainment business, looking the way she does, is something from an alternate universe.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NashVegas]

38. And You Are Someone Who

Is looking to be offended and will find a way to be, every time.

I was stating a fact about television media in the USA, and the grooming requirements that are put on women if they want a gig on a major network or its affiliates for anything that doesn't include Wife Swap or similar "reality" shows.

And because you seem to need a value statement:

Gee, golly, gosh, that's just terrible!

[truedelphi]

40. Really, the poster was not at all making fun of the woman. he/she was explaining

how the dominant paradigm of "Looks Looks and Looks" shape the thinking of people.
And since there is no group of people that are as scrutinized for their appearance as much as the Talking Heads on TV, their brains have this warp to them. And then that warp shapes their thinking on things, and then the rest of us are shaped as well.

[Common Sense Party]

50. This is definitely a "Lighten up, Francis" moment.

[NashVegas]

58. You Guys Rock

I've been having a terrible day. Nice to see there's at least a few people around I don't have to esplain myself to :)

[Toucano]

10. I don't want my 15 minutes, thank you very much. n-t

[Peacetrain]

11. Me either... I barely survive my 1 second on a

political chat board incognitio

[Toucano]

15. LOL! n-t

[comrade snarky]

14. Some will attack her

But I expect there will be a change in her "look" very soon.
She may not be pretty right now but that has a lot to do with the hairstyle, clothes and makeup. A stylist, confidence and some coaching could do a lot to improve her looks.

She is in the hands of the Dark One. Simon Cowell. Sure, he's evil but one thing he knows how to do is make money off of other peoples talent. I'm sure he and his horned minions are in conference right now deciding how far to sweeten her image yet still hold that "one of the masses, isn't she sweet?" persona. And all it will cost is exclusive rights, in perpetuity, throughout the universe.

Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing her performance and it's wonderful she's going to find success. I just hope she has a center to hold in the coming whirlwind.

[Mari333]

16. I think shes quite beautiful right now

no need to change her physical appearance at all.

[OneBlueSky]

57. glad I'm not the only one who sees a beautiful woman . . .

with sparkling eyes and a gorgeous voice . . . guess it's all in the eye of the beholder . . .

[ima_sinnic]

18. I hope she does not change her appearance.

People need to see someone who is completely natural and loved just for who she is, with physical appearance being irrelevant.

[dustbunnie]

26. You mean like Judi Dench, Nancy Marchand, and a host of others?

There are lots of entertainers who are completely natural and loved for their talent and spunk.

Not aimed at you at all but since I replied to you might as well add it here...

I hope this woman is enveloped by good handlers who keep her from blurting things out like that she's never been kissed, and that her dream of becoming another Elaine Paige is realized even in some small way. Elaine Paige is about as far from the plain, country bumpkin image as you can get. I think a lot of people want her to fit into this mold of the little ugly duckling who beat the mean ogres because it fits into some kind of fairytale narrative people love to entertain.

She went on Britain's Got Talent of her own volition, so she obviously knows what she's doing and is probably a lot more shrewd and intelligent than people give her credit for.

[lilyreally]

48. I think she was brilliant to make the 'never been kissed' remark.

You could hear a collective AWW at my house. And then she chopped and diced us with the song. She knows how to set up her audience, IMO, and good for her!! I strongly doubt that she will need any handlers!

[dustbunnie]

54. Of course she'll have handlers. She's a ratings superstar for the show at this point.

They'll try to keep comments like that to a minimum as those are the kinds of intimate details that talk/radio show hosts jump on to catch a laugh. But that's for later, as the real countdown begins.

[grace0418]

32. Well, at least she's not also obese. That's always the worst crime against humanity

according to the media. :mad:

I wish her every success, and the ability to bear all the scrutiny.

[Orsino]

19. We attack nearly all of our celebrities.

Being pretty just buys them a longer grace period. I'm afraid that the Idol generation is going to devour Ms. Boyle for aspiring to success beyond her station.

[NashVegas]

21. Yeah. And When They Bite Back, a la Billy Bob

We need to take them down before things get out of hand.

[Gin]

22. I think she is very strong.....she may get overwhelmed at first...but

that will settle down...I hope she has a career...who cares if she isn't gorgeous...when she sings...my heart sings...I thank the universe for Susan Boyle!

[NashVegas]

28. I'm Sure

She'll do fine.

[truedelphi]

41. As she comes from a family of nine kids, I imagine she has endured quite a bit of

Teasing. And I also imagine that she has been well nurtured and cared for. Hopefully her inner strength will fight off the piranhas.

[conscious evolution]

24. My first impression

when I saw her performance was that there was one hell of a train wreck in the works.

[Lisa0825]

61. optimist, eh?

:eyes:

[conscious evolution]

62. No

Train wrecks tend to be messy and ugly.

Frankly,I would love to see her be succesful in her music career.

[TheBigotBasher]

27. I can see the UK phone vote being fiddled.

Although ITV and the BBC had their paws spanked for fiddling votes, the BBC still did it recently - whislt having the gall to attack ITV for it. On a show, strictly come dancing, Ex Political Editor John Sergeant was getting high levels of public support but the judges kept undermining him. Ok he was no football star and he originally danced like a muppet, but in terms of most improved he was there. The Judges ruled the public votes did not count and he was forced to resign.

With BGT - I think all that they did was open up the show to a "wider range" than Pop Idol so that they could make more off the start of the series, which in the UK, as in the US, is always a bit of a freak show. It is sad to watch people have their careers and dreams destroyed on tv for a cheap laugh, but that is all this show is as it starts its new season. An on screen car crash. The judges were simply not expecting Susan to be anything else than a freak.

I never watch it - I was however amazed to see see her on Huffington Post and DU.

[hfojvt]

29. More like "Heathers" than "Mean Girls"

I am rooting for her. Might even buy a CD. That song was pretty cool

"I dreamed that love would never die ..."

[Spike89]

30. Wow, just wow

The woman volunteered to be on a show, expressed her dream of becoming a celebrity (incidently, choosing a glamorous singer as her "aspiration"), then willingly goes on a number of talk shows. I don't have a problem with any of that. But geez, everyone being concerned that she might be packaged, that she might be asked about her own, unsolicited statement about never being kissed, that success might spoil her? Give me a break! That is exactly what the woman has demonstrated and said she wants, she wants to be a star. If she wanted to stay as she was, she could have continued singing in her village.

The woman is not an unintentional celebrity.

[Common Sense Party]

51. Exactly. n/t

[hisownpetard]

64. She wants to use her gift, wants to be a "professional singer" and has never said

she wants to be a "star." She now has been heard by millions.
Nowhere did she say she wants to be glamorous or re-made in the image
of what the mass media considers to be acceptable standards of physical
beauty.

And you would have her continue to sing in her little village, instead of
bringing pleasure to millions of listeners?

Give *me* a break!

[snappyturtle]

66. I will agree to a point. SB was trying to keep a promise she had

made to her mother (intentional). I don't doubt she considered that singing before a large audience could go either way but at least she tried....and fulfilled her promise.

[omega minimo]

New obsession: finding the extraordinary, and then breathing it into our very lives.

[Zodiak]

31. The "beautiful people" are anything but

They have to have beauty on the outside because there is nothing but maggots and pustules on the inside.

I hope that the beautiful people do not corrupt Ms. Boyle too much because they have an uncanny ability to suck the life out of anything they get ahold of. American Idol and the like are excellent examples of how one can take passion and talent and destroy it by trying to squeeze it through proscribed pigeon-holes.

[hamsterjill]

33. She seems to handle the questions pretty well

In the few pieces that I've seen on Susan Boyle, she seems to handle the questions competently and gracefully.

I believe she has genuine talent and she is definitely going to have a singing career after all of this exposure. I wish great things for her.

But I'm beginning to wonder if the rest of the competition is going to be fair for the other, remaining contestants now that Boyle has received so much media attention.

[KamaAina]

35. Maybe Pebbles (her cat) will scratch their eyes out

:evilgrin:

[JuniperLea]

42. Jealousy is a heinous beast...

The "Mean Girls" always want all of the attention and cannot tolerate someone else getting a little.

What a bunch of monsters! I hope Ms. Boyle is strong enough to take it, or at the very least has someone close to beat the village idiots off the doorstep!

[Blue_Roses]

43. It doesn't matter what they say...she's already had the approval of those that "matter"...

Simon Cowell and Pierce Morgan--two of the most pompous windbags ever to walk the earth and she PASSED with flying colors.

Fuck the rest. The woman has a gift and a large fan base.

[omega minimo]

44. LOL

:applause:

[DemocracyInaction]

45. I'd rather see her buck naked

and listen to her sing than listen to most of the goddamn screeching "beautiful" people who ARE half naked and need every kind of "voice" enhancement, back-up singers, etc. and are considered "talented". Simon and that group wouldn't know "talent" if they fell over it---they just know "what can we sell to the over entertained and under educated" Amurekan peeeple.

[winyanstaz]

46. She is far lovelier than those mean girls..in every way.

She shines

[EFerrari]

49. I can't watch those people. They're embarrassing.

That lady has a hauntingly lovely voice. I hope good things happen for her!

[watercolors]

53. I feel the whole thing a set up!

Ratings are down, we need some media attention. Sorry I don;t buy any of it. I feel it is a complete set up!! Sorry, I don't understand all the interest in her!

[Cetacea]

56. The camera person just happened to catch a "sarcastic face" in crowd...

I am almost sure they heard her sing before the actual show. These people have to warm up before they sing or face near certain vocal chord damage. Still, I am happy to see someone who is not a model type getting some recognition.

[bridgit]

60. "mean girls" are processed mean at the factory, stamped and dated: Mean Girl Fresh

Then wheeled into the market place just like any other impulse driven product...and then there's humanity

[Blecht]

65. I have no idea what this thread is about

And I am very happy about it.