Susan Boyle: Proof that mankind has yet to evolve
It is incredibly sad to me that Susan Boyle has captured the imagination of the entire world.
Of course, Boyle is the homely looking 47-year-old unemployed charity worker who lives with her cat in a small village in Scotland that appeared on the UK’s Britain’s Got Talent and surprised everyone with her beautiful singing voice. The media is lauding this as inspirational and heartwarming, fans are forwarding the YouTube clip to their friends and millions have shed a tear at how uplifting this story is.
I think that this whole thing is awful!
The fact that the entire world is clinging to the overwhelming joy that was brought on by the shocking twist that a frumpy and impossibly heinous looking woman actually had a unique talent is downright depressing. The idea that the same people who felt it was okay to laugh, point at and roll their eyes at her before she sang were the ones applauding and kissing her ass after her performance.
What the lesson to be learned? Ugly, awkward people are subhuman until they prove that they have some redeeming value or worth?
Great.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is such an old cliché and lesson that it probably has a gray beard and needs Cialis, but still, nobody seems to get it! What kind of message does this whole Susan Boyle hoopla give to all the butt ugly kids in this world who can’t sing? Should they be resigned to getting bullied and picked on for their entire life because not only were they hit with the ugly stick but were also born without an exceptional talent?
You can all continue to coo over Susan Boyle, but not me. This is just further proof that mankind has yet to evolve.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 am
LOVE. THIS. POST!!!!
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Unless you believe everyone has a talent? Shouldn’t we use stories like this to teach children that everyone has something to offer?
You have a lot of interesting thoughts on this but I don’t agree with your conclusion.
I think it is the contrast, that is the sensation. If someone who looked like Claudia Schiffer turned out to be a disaster in the audition for ones of these talent shows, I am sure it would have the same effect – it would just be a story of failure instead of success.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 am
That’s the point, Pernj, not everyone does have something to offer and if they do, its probably not an exceptional talent. This whole episode shows that it takes an exceptional talent to overcome physical shortcomings.
Can you imagine the crowd and judge reaction if Susan Boyle had fallen flat on her face? It would have been brutal.
Oh, and, Claudia Schiffer should be thanking you for finally providing her with a hit in her Google Alerts!
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
I don’t fully agree with you. Yes it’s true that people judge people and jump to conclusions based only on their appearance. But most people beleive that everone has a natural talent for something. Wether it’s a marketable talent or not. And the sad fact is that everybody is guilty of judging people and jumping to conclusions. It’s the Susan Boyles of this world that wake us up and give us a reality check. Most people were proably ashamed by their behavior and will think twice about doing it again. I’m sure two of the judges on that show felt the same way for their faces told the whole truth. I try to go by the old saying {Judge not least you be judged.}
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I know plenty of people with no natural talent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgEWPGqSTM
Great post Dr. B.
We wonder how we can end up torturing people? The idea that basic dignity and respect is optional sickens me. The panel looked like assholes for one reason and one reason only: THEY ARE assholes.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
No, Maryanne, sadly not everyone has a natural talent for something, marketable or otherwise and perhaps no one else in the world has the exceptional talent necessary to make up for the deficit she has in society due to her extreme ugliness and awkwardness.
Regardless, whether you’re attractive and talented, ugly and ordinary or any combination there of, nobody should point and laugh at the very site of you (unless you’re Carrot Top or David Spade)
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I think you need a hug. It’s all gonna be alright.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I could not agree more. In fact, I agreed with you just a few days ago at
http://www.elisapeimer.com.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
GG: I’ll take that hug
Elisa: Its nice to know there are others out there fighting for the ugly, awkward and old! Thanks for your link.