Yes, supporting some-one in a positive fashion and being able to forgive and forget is a bad thing.

Rachel has been called "scum", been compared to vile jellus bullehs like Alex BB9 and has been slated like nothing else. It's disgusting.

Some awful hypocrites on here who slag Rachel's voice yet can't sing a note to same themselves.

ST have you met Rachel? did you audition for the xf this year? your posts come across quite bitter if u ask me.

are you by any chance ariel burdett? hi by the way loved your singing quite outrageous but wow!

It's being thrown in our faces.

I agree, some have been very harsh about things that we dont know.
. I have not. And for the record, lets just say I could have done the American equivalent of xfactor and chose not to . Not slating it, but it wouldnt have been the right thing for me.I do not need or want something like that to achieve my goals, and know too much about how it works to ever even recomend it to anyone who isnt already on that sort of path as far as goals.
Not bitter,in fact, I am happy with my life/career/voice/path/choices.
As for 'jellus',lets just say if I could trade voices with Rachel, I'd happily keep mine. I gave my opinion, I never said she cant sing or threw insults.
And to be fair, yes, some points were argued, but not all. But that is fine, no one owes me that...just an ovservation.

OK before I post my message I'd like to say that I like Rachel, shes a good singer and good on her if she does well out of this. I don't care about her past; shes turning it around.

My girlfriend on the otherhand doesn't like her; not because of her past or "attitude" but she doesn't like her voice and finds her grating when shes talking.


Now my comments on a bit of this thread... whats posted by Singy Thingy...


This bit isn't about Rachel but people on benefits

I pay thousands of pounds in tax every year... as do many of us... in fact anyone who works pays a lot in taxes. A lot goes on the benefits system. It annoys me too when people who are capable of doing a job are on benefits. But NOT because its my hard earn't cash; I'll tell you why at the end of the message.


Why should I and everyone else pay someone else every month because they messed up and can't get a decent job? Note the operative word there... DECENT job... not that they cannot get a job but because they cannot get a well enough paid job.

Being allowed to stay on benefits because its more profitable than working in McDonalds or Morrisons is a shit excuse for being on benefits and to me is not acceptable.

But the reason is annoys me isn't due to me putting out.

But if this comment was made in general discussion about people claiming benefits when they could easilly work... then most would agree with the sentiment.


Now my bit on Rachel
Why when someone uses that argument against rachel is she excempt from the general distain the working populous have against people who scrounge benefits because they feel better off there?



But she is currently unemployed... thats not the past. Nowhere did he mention her past... or are you referring to a post in a different thread, because I see no comments from Singy Thingy in this thread discussing her past.




Oh that changes everything that does!


Now before you say anything else, heres a fact for you.

My younger brother is mentally handicapped; he cannot walk, talk, read, write, eat (has to be fed mashed up food) and my folks have to justify every year why he should get benefits money and you know what my folks get to support him... a couple of hundered quid a month.

The costs of bringing up and caring for someone with conditions like that are through the roof; my dads pension goes on him, every penny even family members help them.

You know why this is?

It's because the system is so strained by people claiming who could potentially work that there isn't enough money to go around. I dread to think how it must be for less well off families with disabled kids.


So no, its not those with little education who are penalised... I think you should look into those who are disabled and totally unable to work and see who is penalised most... shockingly its those who truely need it most who are penalised the most.

BTW; I'm a Rachel fan so obviously this isn't a hate post... some of us simply aren't anal and can admit the flaws in who they are supporting.

Hmmmm....well. This is what I don't get. You say you are a 'singer' and how you 'could have' entered AI (or whatever it is) - so, why can't you have any empathy for Rachel?

And IMO, you have been very, very harsh in your judgements and the way that you think Rachel should be denied opportunities because you don't like the fact she's on benefits.

Many people are on benefits. Are they all to be denied opportunities related to a talent because they haven't yet slaved with a minimum wage?

Sheesh, I work hard, I earn a wage but I would never deny someone a chance like that....just because I can't have it.

Well you should know because you and several others who shall not be mentioned are also very 'intense' of their praise of Rachel which I find very odd As if she is faultless.

You can't be serious?

You'd rather keep your voice in place of Rachel's? No offence, Singy Thing but I would swap if I were you.

Thank you, Fizix.
Zip, I dont deny her the chance, I just think the way she is going about it sucks. I have a right to my opinion.
As far as me, I am not costing anyone anything, and Peeves, I am trained with a 4 octave range, so no, Id keep my voice/versatility, thanks,but hey, if ya listened, you are entitled to not like my voice, and thanks for listening anyway ...but this isnt about me, so...back to the topic.
I have less empathy for Rachel than the people struggling for the same dream and having to struggle harder for it becauise of the expenses caused by people like her, maybe partly because I was, and to some degree still am , one of them...but would feel this way if I were in another field as well. Plenty of us make good choices that dont burden others. We shouldnt have to pay for others not so good choices.

Anyway, I have to go, so happy posting, everyone.

wtf of course rachel isnt fautless she is a human being like the rest of us shes done bad things but shes done good things shes picked herself off the floor and shes doing something good, jeez!

That is nonsense. I have not posted, in any way, gigantic posts about the virtues of Rachel. I have defended Rachel far less that ST has criticised her.

I do understand people criticizing Rachel until the X factor, although I disagree, but she is going to be paid from now on, so during her time on the X factor, she won't be on benefits. Why should she be criticized for it? Is it because she won't suffer enough?

well why dont you apply for the XF next year then?

While I understand your sentiment the fact is the system is set up like this people in that position often have little choice as they are often in the position where they literally can not afford to work this perhaps is the issue - not everyone in that situation chooses to not work because they are lazy it is a matter of survival.

I don't condone it but I do understand that for some they cannot afford to work.
Also I may be mistaken but don't the contestants get paid whilst on the XF if this is the case then she would now be not receiving benefits.

Yeah...you have an opinion. It is, at times, very socially judgemental and harsh, IMO. In that sense, others have a right to challenge your opinion. I'm sure you'll agree.

Interesting question, Chi.

Good post.

I love Rachel. She's a breath of fresh air to the competition. She's in my top three for this year (along with Alexandra and Austin).

I applaud her for trying (and so far managing) to turn her life around. She deserves praise for that.

Good luck Rachel.

(((((((((KAREN, KAREN)))))))))

Yayyyyy, you like Rachel!!!

Great to see you!

To TigerPaws:

But it's not those who are less educated or have less opportunities who are most penalised; its those who the benefits system was set up to help that are most penalised. The most penalised people on the benefits system are those who have NO prospects at all, those who have few prospects due to self imposed mistakes are higher on the priorities list.

If you speak to families who have severely mentally or physically handicapped members echo the same stories. Needing hugely expensive things and having to fight to the ends of the earth for them.

We aren't just talking food and clothes here. My brother needs:

1. Specialised chair (which doubles as a wheelchair and sitting chair that is moulded to the curvature of this spine). Due to being immobile he has a severe curvature that changes often; this chair has to be changed regularly.

Coupled with the brittle bones due to being completely immobile its dangerous to move him manually.

These chairs cost thousands; but are paid for.


2. Hoist and other specialised equipment in relation to it, due to his back and the brittle bones its dangerous to move him manually; he has to have a special motorised hoist system to move him about. This costs a small fortune.

3. The bath, this is custom built

4. The house, you cannot move someone like this between living room, bedroom and bathroom. He has a special extension which cost over £30,000 to implement. This had to be 3/4 paid for by my folks.

5. The bed, well its not a bed, its a cot thats built for a 20 year old man; which also costs a lot of money as they are custom built.

6. The car, which is a people carrier which is specially converted which also cost a lot of money.


Then there is all the medication he needs, which my parents have to pay for as he is over 18 and other things.


People in my parent situation get significantly less than those who could work and have to pay out more than those who can work could ever imagine.


To Chi:

This is a fair point; I'm harping on about those currently doing it. BUT those who have done it annoy me too.


And I think I am justified in my annoyance at the system and those who exploit it; after all those who exploit probably don't even think how those who are less better off are surviving; probably don't even know they exist.


I brought this up once before in a discussion on benefits (not on DS mind you) and someone made a statement along the lines of why didn't my folks and others like them put the handicapped child in a home or in care to go to richer families; which is a sucky attitude to have... but just in case anyone points this possibility out.


Most kids with my bros condition live to about 8 in care or in homes due to the specialist help needed not being provided. Most foster families and adopters also won't take on these kids; so they end up in care homes where they are usually neglected and die very, very young. My brother is in his 20's as he has been very well looked after.


Many people who have kids with these disabilities have no choice but to settle for that grim option. Thats the sad state of affairs about our benefits system, sadly its better for the ones who really, really need it to struggle than it is for those who brought it upon themselves.


Sadly Rachel has been part of that system; so on that count I am disapointed with her. However I still like her voice and if she sings well I will support her.

aw i agree great post x

Great to see you too.

Another year, another battle.

I can't wait for the live shows to see who's going to cut it, and who's not. I have a 50% record of picking the winner (series' 1 and 4) so I'm looking to get above average this year. So far it's Alexandra, Rachel, then Austin for me, but I usually like to see how they do on the live shows before I pick my favourite.

Isn't it Rachel whose bringing her own past up?

Every interview is "I've been on drugs, but now I am better" "I've been to jail" etc etc etc. If she was truly over it, surely she wouldn't need to keep mentioning her past and should instead be looking to the future.

Thanks

Yeah.....that's right!! The live shows will be great. And Leon is on this week.



Well, most people report that the producers push for personal stories.

Fizix, I understand your point, I understand why people criticize Rachel's past, and I also understand why they don't like her because if it.
However, the point that Singy Thingy is making is that she shouldn't be on the X Factor, even if the X factor can get her out of benefits.
It seems that some people don't want anything good happening to her as a punishment for her past. We'll have to agree to disagree on that.