sounding off!

While I love the idea of 'sounding off' on new stories you read online, there's always something that ruins it. Sites like CNN and MSNBC feature message boards where you can comment on stories. Usually the top stories get over 100 comments, which take up several pages and are mostly a huge time waster. Even so, I can't help but get stuck scanning through them to see what other people think when I'm zombied out on the computer.

The problem with this is the general public's ignorance and tendency to start back and forth arguments all for the sake of....what? Boredom? I guess. Being online is kind of like being in a car. You are shielded by your car, so you think you can be rude and obnoxious (road rage anyone?) to everyone else on the road. You are shielded by your anonymity through the computer so you think you can be rude and obnoxious (cyber rage??) to others you find online. While the sites usually only allow 'registered users' to post comments, that doesn't really mean anything. Anyone can become a registered user within minutes.

What is it about message boards that makes us so angry? I once signed up for a message board and posted a question. I got over 50 responses in a matter of two days, which wouldn't be that big of a deal, except one of the people who responded to me SIGNED UP FOR THAT FORUM JUST BECAUSE HE WAS PISSED OFF AT MY POST. He actually received an email from a friend with the link to my post (this friend must have known he'd get angry about this subject). He obviously had strong feelings that the question I was asking was too 'amateurish.' But you know what? That's why I was asking in the first place!

I don't really understand why this person got so angry, or why he would go out of the way just to 'get back' at me. I mean think about it. If he didn't have the comforts of the internet between us, would he really have the guts to say that to my face? This of course is my main point. Without the protection of the internet or our cars, would we really say anything? Maybe some of us would, but the majority wouldn't. We are vulnerable on our own. We become powerful and less human toward others with technology.

Last week was the turning point on American Idol, when the season shifts from who sang the best that week to who has the biggest fan base. It happens at some point during every season. A good strategy those still standing have adhered to is to pick good songs in the early weeks and give spot on performances to elicit votes and build your fan base. At the point of the change, you then have your fans to carry you through, even if you have a bad week. This is where AI is heralded as a popularity contest instead of a singing competition. The thing is, it is a singing competition until this shift, so it's really both if you think about it.

Side note: I was reading a message from someone on the message boards about the mentors. The comments to AI stories are usually people complaining about how the contestants look - what they wear, their hair, etc. - instead of anything remotely interesting or informative. Who cares? They obviously like the way they look, so it works for them. Anyway, back to the mentors. Someone commented on how they pick "old guys" as mentors that have no connection to a younger crowd. First of all, these "old guys" are mentors, which I believe does mean they've been in the business for awhile, so they can offer advice to the young guns. Also, if you notice, all of them have albums that are coming out or have recently come out (Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey), so part of the picking of the mentors is a marketing strategy (a successful one I presume considering Mariah's recent chart topper). Very rarely is anything done by accident when it comes to television shows these days, so just remember that.

At this point in the season of American Idol, there is bound to be heartbreak. Last night's results show started with Ryan reminding us we've been watching for 3 months already (seriously?!) and ended with Brooke White taking the boot, bringing the last 5 down to the final 4 (Jason Castro, David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado). White couldn't hold back her tears at the end, which just reminded me the season will soon be over and won't return until January 2009. Whatever will I do with my Tuesday and Wednesday nights until then? ;o)

Yes, I admit it. I'm an American Idol junkie, which really just stems from my love of music, so really I'm a music junkie with an AI problem. However, due to its immense popularity, AI suffers from a constant barrage of criticism and scandal. Oh the joys of popularity. What did Abrahma Lincoln say? "Avoid popularity if you would have peace." AI is a perfect example of the insatiable desire Americans have to nit pick everything, uncover everything about other people, expose their "deepest darkest secrets" to everyone else. Just Google an AI contestant to see what I mean.

You may say "Well, they are the ones you put themselves out there." And yes, unfortunately I even want to pick up the dozens of celeb gossip magazines while standing in the line at the store, but becoming successful doesn't mean you should have to tell everyone about everything in your life. I think everyone deserves a little privacy, but more than that they deserve respect. Plus, any self respecting reporter knows "an inside source says" is not what they teach you to write in your stories in journalism school.

The music industry is full of criticizers of other people's music, looks, what they think that person thinks of himself, etc. I have a problem with it because all that has nothing to do with the music. There is no explaination why when you hear a song you either like it or you don't. You just do or you don't. Everyone is different, so of course there's going to be drastically different opinons on what good music is. And there's nothing wrong with a difference of opinion.