I watch The X Factor but I'm passive about it really. I've watched since I was a kid but don't feel invested in it. Don't watch it live normally with it being a Saturday. But so many people on here say "it's fixed", "it's so manipulated", "they're all talentless", "this show is a joke"...

My question is, if you hate the show that much and take its contents so seriously as to get genuinely upset about it, what makes you come back and watch it?

I'm not judging, I'm just really curious because it seems like people are really hurt by the show, believe there are all sorts of conspiracies to 'pull the wool over their eyes' but continue to tune in every week. I'd just like to understand what motivates people.

Because we all have an opinion on everything whether it's X Factor, a storyline in Eastenders or something in the news like Donald Trump becoming the next president of the USA.

Simple as that tbh.

The X Factor isn't the most offensive thing in the world, hell I don't know if it's even morally the most offensive thing on TV.

However if it just stuck to being a Music competition rather than who's good looking, who's got a great personality, who can dance, and who abuses gimmicky noises like the falsetto and the Diva elements then this show would be alot better imo.

Just look at this current series of The Voice USA, talented acts, most of them can perform, and unusual song choices can get selected, especially by someone named Aaron Gibson.

The American TV audience is the polar opposite of the British TV audience.

Acts like Honey G and Brattavia (sp?) would be heavily slated in America and there would be uproar if an act like them got put through the live shows. Even Fox Network would get involved and probably remove the acts themselves and insist that Simon Cowell puts someone who can sing in place of them.

In the UK, we like an underdog. But we also like to be dumbed down to bird brain status. So that's why people vote for Honey G. They think she's funny and will vote for her to mock the show.

The Americans just wouldn't even consider voting for the worst act. They tend to be more proud of winners because the Americans want to showcase their great talent.

That's why America gave us Kelly Clarkson, whilst we gave the world Michelle McManus.

I dunno, American TV is often much more dumbed down and an awful lot less high brow than British TV. I for one am proud of a country that isn't so painfully earnest that it can vote for someone like Honey G and see the humour in it. I hope she wins.

I'm quite indifferent towards it, really. I watch it because I'm curious to see how far Saara gets, and I haven't ever watched it before and probably won't again.

However, and probably because I'm not invested, I can still be realistic and accept that there is no such thing as true reality in TV, it's always directed by production and they are trying to make good TV - they are less concerned about making a documentary about a singing competition than creating entertainment by showing the events in a certain light.

I don't think all the acts are talentless, I don't think the show is a joke, but I do definitely believe that it's manipulated like every reality TV show is. And I don't really care, it is what it is. That's just part of the package.

What would people do if they didn't hate X Factor but watch X Factor yet post on these forums about how much they do so?

LOL

It would be like reading these forums through rose tinted glasses with the overwhelming amount of positive comments from everyone on DS forums.

Can you imagine if DS Forums had an official Positive Post Day and you weren't allowed to post anything negative? The forums would sure be quiet.

I've stopped watching it, well I have it on, on sunday while i'm doing something on my computer and coming on here to get a giggle out of the posts.

To answer your question OP. I'm a cynic. I'm cynical about a lot of things in "showbiz" land and TV. I watch lots of shows that I find stupid. Partly because some of them are redeemable even though aspects are ridiculous such as some of the US sci-fi shows I would watch. Others I continue to watch because the entertainment of dissecting how ridiculous it is, outmatches the "hatred" of the show.

I have to admit the XF is the second category. I think as well with this particular show frankly because it used to be such a habit to watch it when I was like 12-16 before I started going out on a saturday night, it probably still holds a chink of pulling power even though I find the whole thing cheesy, ridiculous, scripted, rigged reality tv nonsense.

Or again maybe I just love coming on this forum to have a debate. I'm on one side of the argument "this whole thing is rigged" and I get to debate with people who think the millionaire judges on the show actually care about their "acts" or that the show is anything other than a ratings and newspaper money factory.

I just find it so sad that people take time out of their days to watch a show they dislike and then get upset online with people they don't know. I feel sorry for them more than anything. I hope when they're calling people 'talentless' etc that they're pursuing their careers and making a meaningful creative contribution to society.


I think, the problem I have is that you can say "it's rigged", people say it's "mimed and vocals are processed" and as soon as you challenge that on the grounds of specificity, they are unable. Negativity is never useful, especially when it's about entertainment shows and amateur singers who aren't doing anyone harm. It's also dishonest to objectively claim things like rigging, foul play etc when there's no evidence for it. It's the dishonesty and going out of one's way to bring other people down that I feel sad.

I guess it makes people feel better about themselves. I'd rather just say what I like, what I maybe don't like out of preference but the hatred is on here is very very creepy.

I think a lot of it is frustration because the show could easily be so much better than it actually is. Like the format, don't like the way it is being executed.

I took it relatively seriously up to Little Mix winning but not really since.

I loved Rowetta on the first series and she is a serious artist working with The Happy Mondays! I also thought Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS even Matt Cardle were actually half decent performers and artists. One Direction also produced two great pop songs.

Yet Little Mix have been the biggest revelation as they have gone from four girls on their way out the door to become one of the best pop acts around. I love the idea of second acts in life. I just think the programme is well past it's sell by date and we need something other than endless talent shows.

To be honest OP....I ask myself every year why do I still watch this programme. ...for me, the concept of finding the ' next big thing' in the music industry, went out of the windows weeks ago! !!! Gone are the days when acts like Andrea, Misha B and G4 (my top 3 faves ever) who made Saturday night TV worth viewing, are long gone...these were classed as ' singers' all 3 showcasing different genres of music, which was new for this type of show....but oh, so appealing (despite certain judges blatant prejudices towards them ...knowing that they were perceived as a big threat to their own acts they were mentoring). The 3 mentioned above. ..as well as many others. ....had to endure many verbal abuses from these so called judges, in order that the GBP would (and did) turn against them as the weeks went by.

More recently, as the lack of artists willing to 'bring something different' has been evident more recently, the idea of bringing in joke acts to the show, has been the concept going forward. ..and the voting public are suppose to be appreciative of this....only 2 that has been of some impact to the live shows. ..and stands out in many folks minds are Jedward...and Honey G(for now)! !! The main thing that they bring to the fore, is the entertainment value, despite them now been great singers/rappers, it is something different, unique...and dare I say it, more appealing than the falsetto, shouting, screeching, droning, boring slow songs, ballads, we have been getting these days...imo. Never would champion a joke act in my wildest dreams.....but if they are impacting on a section of the GBP....in a positive way. ..bring it on!! Hate is a strong word tbh....for me it's lost all credibility of being a singing competition a longgg time ago!!!!

I have a big interest in music and singing, which is why I started watching the show in the first place and have watched many of the X factor series although not all. It started out as me watching it seriously and thinking it was a genuine "talent show" but it has changed a lot over the years and now I only watch it because I am curious to see where the show is going and also for the undoubted comedy factor.

I agree with you for the most part, but again, you guys in the UK vote for Honey G, and others here in the US vote for Donald Trump. Crazy can be found on both sides of the Atlantic...

I think you don't realise how patronising this post comes across. I doubt people who are critical of the show either want or need you to feel sorry for them. Somebody already pointed this out to you in another thread, but you seem to be making out that people who are critical or negative about the show have psychological issues. Definitely not nice or good at contributing to discussion.

A lot of people on here are so angry. I'd rather not be one of those people. If people are very angry and negative, I don't want to get pulled into that. I just feel sad for them that they are watching a show which makes them feel so angry that they have to vent. I watch the show because sometimes there's talent (Leona, Little Mix, 5AM). Sometimes it makes me laugh (Honey G, Wagner) and it's utter trash all the time but sometimes you need some trash. It's my weekly cheat meal.


Yeah, I appreciate it if people don't take it seriously and enjoy the comedy of the show. It's an entertainment show after all. It's not something actually important like Parliament. I watch Question Time more obsessively but even though what they say matters, I don't let myself get upset with it.


Yeah, the inventiveness of TV (outside of streaming services e.g. Amazon, Netflix) has really taken a nosedive. They don't take risks anymore. I think why The X Factor still does well is because networks are so scared of taking risks. Even they hear a great idea, they'd rather know they're pulling in 8 or so million viewers (taking catch up, online viewing etc) than take a risk in a new show that might not pull in anyone.

Acts like Little Mix are an example of The X Factor doing what it does well.

I think a relatively small percentage of current X-Factor viewers believe this is a singing contest rather than an entertainment show.
That same small percentage are probably the ones that are more vocal on social media about what they don't like about X-Factor.
Internet forums are usually full of people that moan a lot, where happy people don't feel the need to write about anything and so you mostly read about the bad stuff.

Your post should be a sticky just at the top. Very reasoned and fair response. I wish happy people were more vocal, though .

I think a lot of the people who are critical of the X-Factor appreciate that it is meant to be a fun entertainment show and nothing serious. I also think the contestants who take part in it should go in with their eyes wide open. What I don’t like is the nastiness that became endemic of the show, probably since Alexandra Burke’s year. I don’t consider it to be entertainment to ridicule certain contestants and for the producers to have VTs which deliberately portray someone in a negative light. As I said, the contestants should be aware this may happen, but it goes against the idea that the X-Factor is a fun entertainment show. I think this unpleasant undertone is one of the main reasons the ratings have dropped, besides the perception (real or imagined) of heavy-handed manipulation.

I think it's hard because on some level the VTs are funny at the audition stage, but on an ethical level sure there are circumstances where it's pretty wrong. Like you say there is some responsibility on the auditionees to understand the nature of the show. I think there are times where some of the contestants do seem mentally vulnerable where I can't fully agree with it. On the other hand, some of them are horrible and brilliant at the same time, like Rachel form the fourth series. It's good that you think of it in those terms. We can all have a good laugh at silly people but it's important to remember that they're people.

I probably feel close to this, and tbh it's kind of a tradition for me to watch it and then come and read the DS forums. I gave in and joined up and started posting in 2012 and I am not completely sure if I would bother watching it if I didn't pop in here to complain or argue about it afterwards.

The other component to it is that I like it when one of the acts particularly appeals to me and I enjoy seeing them journey through the competition, but there hasn't been one of those since James Arthur (or at least not one that got as far as lives).

I think it would be naive to think there is no manipulation of the acts and the voting public, it's about making money at the end of the day, and I don't see any harm in calling it out and discussing it.

I used to watch it because I thought it was about singers, I now watch because its on Saturday night and we watch Strictly and then X Factor.

For me it's about nostalgia. I have been watching for 12 years now (I was 11 when it started)and enjoyed the show early on and keep watching hoping it will return to form. Up until judges houses aired I thought this series would be a classic series (in spite of them keeping the awful 6 chair challenge). I also watch in the hope I will find an act to follow, which I haven't since little mix.

Edit: it's also something to do on a Saturday as I don't go out clubbing.

BIB, Why can't the singing contest be the reason why it is an entertainment show?