So I break vow number two for the week, not commenting on the goofy reality TV shows, oh well what's a vow or two broken among friends, right?
I watched American Idol last night, I generally enjoy the show, or at least like most people I like the cranky British guy Simon. The most interesting part of this show is the interaction between him and the contestants. I of course, being a big picture sort of guy, see these confrontations as symbolic of the country I live in.
Still with me? Good. Anyway this Simon is universally considered mean and horrible because he has the audacity apparently to tell people who can't sing that well they can't sing. He tells the 400lb pound girl that maybe she is too fat to have the right image to be a star. Again this is appalling to everyone. When did pointing out the obvious become a crime against humanity? I'll tell you when.
Once upon a time...when a five year old brings a picture home that looks like a bird crapped on the paper with the word "Mom" scrawled on the top you praise the child and hang it on the fridge. The same drawing though at 15 would get you an "F" in art class and a suggestion that maybe auto repair might be your thing. Oh but not now, since the "age of self-esteem boosting" that has overtaken the public schools and culture in general. Why you can't tell someone they "can't" be something! There are classes without grades. Competitions where EVERYONE gets a medal regardless of outcome. The end result? These young adults on American Idol. They can't fathom that their performance wasn't great. They don't even seem to hear criticism it's just tuned out, "I disagree I was great". He was trying to give constructive comments but these idiots are standing there head swaying and finger pointing in the air, "who are you to tell me that!". Okay these people are 20 or 21 now. Flash forward to age 26. Reality has set in. They are not mega-stars, they sit in a cube punching a keyboard all day. No one prepared them for this! So depression sets in, "I don't have a rich, gourgeous boyfriend, or a great car and career what the hell happened" and then you start the Prozac. When you don't know what losing is like you aren't prepared for the rest of your life. Somebody needs to tell you that you suck every once in a while I say.
So let me do a public service spot right now for the general population.
YOU ARE NOT AS GREAT AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU ARE LUCKY TO EVEN KEEP YOUR CRAPPY LOW PAYING JOB AND MR OR MRS RIGHT IS NOT LIKELY TO COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR AND YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ANYTHING YOU DON'T EARN IN THIS WORLD THROUGH HARD WORK.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD!