Am I the only one who cringes when

[zalinda]

someone makes a fool of themselves? Yes, I watch those reality shows, well not all of them, but I am very uncomfortable when someone sings so badly on American Idol. I can't stand watching the worst of........anything. I don't delight in someone's bad luck or embarrassment. I want the best for everyone. I want those who have no talent, to realize they have no talent and find something that they are good at.

I don't even wish bad things onto bad people, I just want them to stop being bad people. I don't understand violence. I don't understand cruelty. I don't understand hurting anyone physically or emotionally.

Am I weird? Or is there a cabal of goodness that I'm not aware of?

zalinda

[ThomCat]

1. Same here.

I can't watch most comedys for exactly that reason. I cringe and can't find them funny.

T.

[Twillig]

16. I used to be like you.

Seriously. I felt shame for the Human Race during repeats of Gomer Pyle--or shows like that.

Now I feel like Hudson in Aliens. "We're on the express elevator to Hell. Goin' Down!!"






("Why don't you put her in charge?!")

[fishwax]

2. i agree with you

i can't get into the pleasure of ridiculing others, either. Even when someone is really bad at something, I don't really care ... if it makes them happy, then what do I care.

Props to you for your kindness :toast:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

6. Hey fish!

Happy Early Valentine's Day!

:hi:

[fishwax]

7. Thanks, WiMR

Back at ya :)

:hi:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

11. Woo!

:hug:

[skygazer]

3. I've never cared for malicious humor

My SO listens to some morning radio show in which the two hosts call people up and pull mean pranks on them - I find it all appalling and don't think it's funny at all. He thinks it's a riot. I don't know what in the world could be funny about humiliating and demeaning another person. Makes no sense to me and I don't watch much television for exactly that reason - so much of the humor seems to be malicious.

[Jamastiene]

4. You are not alone. I cringe too.

I also cringe when I hear about that Punk'd show too. And when they paid homeless people some pocket change to beat each other senseless. It's crude and disgusting. Those are two I won't watch. I do watch Big Brother, Amazing Race and Survivor. The others are just crude to me. There really are good and bad reality shows. I hate the whole thing with American Idol for the same reason you do and for the fact that there is talent that will never be noticed because that Simon whatever his name is guy doesn't like someone. Some borderline cases on that show may just be having a bad day. To get totally dissed like that is horrible.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

5. I ALWAYS cringe when another person says something stupid

or acts inappropriately. I feel embarrassed FOR him/her, even if the feeling isn't shared. :D

[begin_within]

8. I confess, I enjoy the bad entrants on American Idol. They knew what they

were getting into, they knew there were going to be cameras there, and by now everyone knows how vicious Simon can be, so they were fully aware of what they were stepping into. If they didn't listen to anyone tell them beforehand that they can't sing a note, well, that's their own ego in the way. I confess I enjoy the early episodes of "American Idol," it's great TV. Once they narrow it down to the people who really can sing, the show becomes just another "reality show" and it's not nearly as interesting. But the auditions, especially the weird/bad people who walk in, are classic TV. In my twisted opinion, anyway.

[Left Is Write]

9. Yes. I cringe, and I get embarrassed for people.

The ones I get the most embarrassed for are the people who don't seem to be embarrassed for themselves (talking about foolish and/or obnoxious behavior here, not talent-related).

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Consider me part of your cabal of goodness.

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

12. I'm the same way.

I can't watch the reality shows where it's easy for people to make fools of themselves. I especially can't stand American Idol, particularly in the early going when they show so many of the really bad singers. Absolutely makes me cringe, feel embarassed for them, AND makes my ears hurt!

[democracyindanger]

14. But I wonder

where the hell their friends and families are. I mean, if my brother or a friend who couldn't sing a lick announced he was going to try out for Idol, I'd do everything I could to get them to change their minds. I wouldn't let them walk outside with their flies open, and I certainly wouldn't let them run the risk of becoming a fool on national TV...

[SeattleGirl]

21. That;s what I wonder.

Unless their families don't like them (?). I know that if I ever thought of doing that (and I wouldn't), I would hope my family would drag me by the hair and lock me in a closet until the auditions were over! I can sing, but not at a professional level.

[mzteris]

13. you're not alone!

I've always been that way - and I see others in here are, too.

I think it's a good thing.

:hug:

[SiobhanClancy]

15. I cringe watching "Jeopardy"..

when someone is in the hole at the end of game and get to stand there and hear Alex announce,"Unfortunately,*****won't be back for Final Jeopardy". When it's during the kids tournament and there's a kid standing there trying not to cry on national television..I must confess to getting teary-eyed over that.

[av8rdave]

17. You're not alone...

I cringe whenever I see/hear * speak!

[deadparrot]

18. Nope. I can't even watch TV shows where imaginary characters

make fools of themselves. It's just painful.

:hi:

[ContraBass Black]

27. I can't either.

[applegrove]

19. Same. I used to cringe when I first watched the daily show - till

I realized the people they were interviewing were pretty much making their own trouble and seeking attention.

[Chovexani]

20. I do

Probably because I was the butt of so many cruel jokes growing up.

It's not weird, it's called empathy. :hug:

[Skittles]

22. I don't find people humiliating themselves entertaining, no

this is why I watch NONE of that so-called "reality" garbage

[clyrc]

23. I cringe, too

I get so embarrassed for other people it hurts sometimes. I can't claim to be in any cabal of goodness, I'm much too snarky in real life for that, but watching people make fools of themselves makes me feel awful.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. clyrc! Nice to see you!

:hi:

[Strong Atheist]

24. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4426333#4426364

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. I had a hard time watching "Wife Swap" last night. The one wife

was so damned cruel to the husband in dread locks when he brought her flowers...I wanted to smack her. She made him cry. I would call her a name here but I won't in the interest of being P.C. but she was horrid. I mean upset because the vase he put the flowers in was dirty?

[Montauk6]

28. You get a lotta that crap on awards shows (esp. Oscars)

It's a total Cringe-a-thon! Starting with the red carpet where the "beautiful people" have to awkwardly schmooze with the interventionable Joan Rivers. Then onto the ceremonies where the presenter is either drunk/stoned, missing their contacts/glasses, showing a surprising lack of improvisational skills. Don't get me started on those presentations that involve animated characters.

[Shine]

29. You are not alone, zalinda. I feel the same way.

I don't even wish bad things onto Bush, et. al.....which is probably a scandalous thing to say around here, but it's true. They are simply unconscious and unaware of how their actions impact others, which sadly, plays out in tragic terms.

I also am confused by the the violence, cruelty, pain that people inflict on each other. But, I think it comes down to levels of awareness.

People that are less aware of their essential connection to others can sometimes act in ways that perpetuate the illusion of separation.

I think it takes MORE of us who feel this way to turn the tide.... There's really only ONE of us here.

Peace and blessings to you,
Shine
:hug:

[TrogL]

30. Hey, at least they got up there

That, alone, takes guts.

[Lars39]

31. It's debasing oneself for monetary gain.

Not sure what it's called when an audience enjoys witnessing this, but I don't think it's a good thing overall.