x-factor: is it a plague on our society?

[Atmos Duality]

I might be the only person alive who doesn't completely understand what X-Factor is.

No, I don't get Cable TV. I don't put stock in celebrity shows, and "Reality TV" is the worst thing to happen to media production since the Exploitation Film era in the 70s-90s (well, mid-90s).

So, well. I don't watch TV like ever now. It's too aggravating.

EDIT: Oh. It's one of those "Pretend Talent Shows"

 

[shootthebandit]

This is why the only thing I watch on terrestrial tv is the news and documentaries.

to be honest i dont even watch the news anymore i think the news is going the same way, my family rarely watch TV anymore. we just game now whenever we have free-time, i usually play my PS3 and my parents play on the wii.

the only time i really watch TV is twice a year when topgear is on. I used to watch inbetweeners but now thats finished

 

[Thespian]

Well, since comic books, rap music, video games, gay marriage, atheism, hippies, emos, pop culture references, mild violence in popular culture and the Harry Potter books have all been classed as plagues on society now, why don't we just throw X Factor in the bucket of "totally thus-far harmless threats to society that will one day be the undoing of us young whippersnappers".


And yes, that was a rather high brow and crude satire.

 

[shootthebandit]

i too didnt know what a 'wagner' was, your not the only one

Wait... Wagner was a classical composer, wasn't he? Does the word hold some other meaning in this context? Because I can't seem to make sense of that sentence.

one of my freinds done a quick google search, apparantly hes an x-factor contestant. i used the smiley face as an aknowledgement that i wasnt the only one who didnt know who this 'wagner' was.

 

[Jim Grim]

Personally I see eltism in all its ugly forms as the greater threat to modern society.
Whether its claiming moral superiority due to religion, social/intellectual superiority due to race or gender... Hell did you know some people even get elitest over preferences in music, games and other art forms.
For some reason, there are people out there who feel the need to assert their belief that they are better than others. If you ask me, this is the greatest plaue mankind has ever had to deal with.

Honestly what is with you people? I don't know what your preference is in music/entertainment but are you seriously so arrogant as to think that anything else is crap?
I know the answer is yes but I wanted to ask anyway to see if you picked up on how stupid such a belief sounds.

Taste in music is not indicative of someone's intelligence. Their personality maybe, but not their intelligence. Different things appeal to different people. Smart business people create products for these people.

Obviously it would be arrogant of me to suggest that the music that comes from X factor is BAD, but I can assert that it's bland. It's very dull unimaginative stuff that is guaranteed to succeed, and I think that's a real shame. Also alot of news media gets caught up in talking endlessly about the private lives of the contestants.

 

[Jonluw]

i too didnt know what a 'wagner' was, your not the only one

Wait... Wagner was a classical composer, wasn't he? Does the word hold some other meaning in this context? Because I can't seem to make sense of that sentence.

one of my freinds done a quick google search, apparantly hes an x-factor contestant. i used the smiley face as an aknowledgement that i wasnt the only one who didnt know who this 'wagner' was.

Yeah, ok, so he's a contestant. It would seem that people not knowing who Wagner is would be something you could blame on x-factor, not something caused by not watching x-factor.

 

[gallaetha_matt]

You make a good point. There's probably as many pop/rap/bieber elitists as there are metal/classical/ANYTHING BUT BIEBER! elitists.
I think I just spend too much time on this site where its easy to get a very one sided view of which side of any particular argument the elitists lie on.

I know what you mean. My first contact with Bieber was through this site. At first I thought it was kind've cruel for everybody to be ganging up on a thirteen year old kid. But then I heard his music and heard about his legions of fans. I think us rock elitists still make up a minority, but there's still elitism there and we need to stamp that out.

You know what else needs stamping out, Justin Beiber's face!

I'm not helping...

i agree with this statement, you need experience to make good music not just a pretty face and some clever software. look at the rolling stones those are 4 of the ugliest guys youll ever see yet they produced some of the best songs of all time.

i too didnt know what a 'wagner' was, your not the only one

Produced some of the best songs ever and they're still playing. That's a hallmark of a classic band - they make awesome music that can withstand the ravages of time (unlike the Stones themselves, except for Keith Richard's - he can't be killed, nuclear blasts only make him stronger).

You have to wonder if they'll still be listening to pop music from 2010 in thirty years time. The only way I can see that happening with some kind of hipster new wave that starts listening to X-Factor music ironically, kind've like what happened with the 80's a few years ago.

Instead of being Rick Rolled people will get Gaga'd or something.

 

[Gigano]

More of a symptom than a cause, I'd wager, though it isn't pretty. Sure, in the early rounds it can be a guilty pleasure to see people choose to humiliate themselves, but when somewhat talented amateurs are idolized and hailed as musical geniuses, while the pros are left in the cold, and the whole thing blurts out unto society taking away focus from things vastly more important than this extended karaoke night, then it's just too much.

 

[tehroc]

You think this is new?

 

[Woodsey]

Right, because X-Factor is the first show of it's kind.

 

[Thedutchjelle]

ew strange double post.

 

[El Poncho]

I used to watch it when I wasn't going out buy i've decided to ignore it completely this year and I'm glad I did

 

[Thedutchjelle]

We here in the Netherlands have 80 of those kind of programs, each channel copying the other. I hate it when I have to see it (it being on when we eat near the TV) - it's the same music that's popular on the radio currently - All English to, despite the contestants usually being Dutch - and it's usually terrible. It's so obvious that it's just to milk cash from the viewer votes.

It doesn't affect me that much however as I barely watch TV anymore.

 

[Geekosaurus]

I don't particularly enjoy all of the music they play but I like some of it. And it's entertaining to watch. I have no quarrel with it.

 

[_Cake_]

Huh... never heard of this show actually.

 

[Buizel91]

I cant stand it, It screws people up so bad.
And the people on it, THEY THINK THEY CAN SING!

You are telling me this girl cannot sing?


It may not be your type of music, but this girl can sing beautifully.

OT: Personally i don't mind it, hell i watch it, but i can see why many other people hate it.

 

[Buizel91]

I don't particularly enjoy all of the music they play but I like some of it. And it's entertaining to watch. I have no quarrel with it.

Basically my view on the show right here.

Although i like the music they play *hides head in shame*

 

[TheLiham]

fuck yeah it is!

I dare anyone to audition and try to sing anything classed as hard rock and see how long it takes Cowell to write it off as shit and random noise

 

[silver wolf009]

I think of it as less of a plauge and more of an infection.

Seriously though it is a bad thing and should be stopped somehow.