I'd imagine that the contestants - even if they don't know - will have spent a significant period of time searching for themselves on the internet and reading every comment. So with that in mind, it stands to reason that at least some of them have at some point or continue to view this forum.

Personally, it's the reason I always try to not be overly critical because I'd never be that rude to their faces (and also, they all have some talent and for my lifestyle I have to try and be balanced).

How about you girls and guys, how does that make you feel about making comments about the acts?

Kitty Brucknell did when she on the show.

Louis Walsh has also said he reads the board in an interview with DS.

Not if they have any sense they wont, but they probably get told about some of the feedback.

I always try and stick to what I think of how good someone/a group performed I wouldn't say anything about a contestant/act on here that I wouldn't say to their face. Well, I try not to anyway.

Would they be that stupid to look at internet forums? Not as if they have a reputation for honesty and fairness. If I was them this is the last place I would be. Take Matt as an example - how would he feel reading the Rat Boy comments, the speculation on his sexuality and people delighting at the thought of him failing?

This is true. For their sake and in the absence of any grace from most commenters in forums, I would advise them strongly against it. People don't offer balanced critiques on here.

Rat Boy??? Lol wow that is rude. I seem to look at this forum at the right time. Never seen anything that malicious before though I have read complaints about other forum members being mallicious. If Matt has my luck, then the times he's looked at this forum, hopefully he's never seen anything that malicious before

I would hope for their sake they don't, this place could destroy the confidence of a saint at times

The best advice to them is to not take it personally what gets said on here or on Social Media, people get carried away sometimes (including myself) and speaking for myself it's nothing personal against any of these acts as people, it's just I always root for certain styles more than others, and in the case of 5AM I just don't rate their singing much so far, but they've still got the final to prove me wrong on that and I wish them the best on trying.

I'd imagine it'd be like the Soaps, they'd get strongly advised to stay away from here. I think the DS forums is often looked at like a snake pit for outsiders, some posts can be quite unforgiving.

Back in the day, but not anymore. We are living in the Twitter generation where people struggle to get past a sentence.

somehow I don't think they come here to look for themselves and read what the public say about them