Sob Stories: Unfair Advantage?
 

In EVERY single audition episode, and i'm sure most of you will agree when I say EVERY single audition episode, there is a sob story.

It might be losing a family member, being disabled, or being lucky to be alive.

Do you think it's un fair to show these stories? I often ask myself why do they need to tell them? I think it's a way of helping someone get through the audition stages as well.
The judges love a sob story and I think its unfair because some contestants without sob stories of the same level don't even get put through.

True, but there may well be contestants who have sob stories, and who don't get through. we don't see every single person who auditions. I thought the girl whose father had died had a terrific voice, and deserved to go through with or without the sob story.

I agree Ruth.

At the end of the day, the judges aren't there to pass you through because you have a "sob story" - they're there to pass you through if you are talented.

That 14-year-old girl had an incredible voice, that's why she was put through.

I think that the sob stories shouldnt matter

If people want to do them, fair play. But the judges, Simon especially, wont take no crap.
Most of the people with sob stories are good, sometimes amazing, and therefore deserve to get through because of their voice.

It's not an unfair advantage, because apparently EVERYONE has one, which means they're on a level playing field.

I'ts annoying when they come up with sob-stories. I sympathies with Nikitta from last season. But she went a bit over the top and milked it.

I think Kate was bad for that last year with Nikitta and Kerry. WHenever the walked out the audition/bootcamp room Kate would say "im sure your mums watching"

I wouldn't say Nikitta milked it at all.

Everyone has problems in life, you can't really dismiss someone because of that. Most of them do it because they think 'they've been give a second chance at this'. I think they should just be judged on the voice and not their life, or background.

I have watched all the X-Factor shows, being a fan'n'all, and a sob story will nearly always bring a tear to our eye and when it is someone with a great voice and obvious talent, it is a lot better and makes great viewing. I loved the last auditionee who said that her father had the application form for the show and he had sadly died and his daughter managed to go on the show and sing that Whitney song soooooo beautifully, it really got to us

So did i.Then i found out Pete Waterman has already released a record by her many moons ago,plus she has sang on Coke adverts which kind of took the gloss off it for me.
I also call myself a fan but i only watch the audition shows.:hello:

I remeber last year that man with the long chin and big mouth he kept going on about his mum about how ill she is and that it means so much to her if he made it but he dident thank god as i hate people how go on about a sob story nakitta had a sob story but she dident keep going on about it i do think oits a unfair advantage as people think awwwww <3

But what i'm trying to say is , is it really neccesary for them to be told? surely some people would like to keep things like that private, but it does provoke empathy and people will sympathise.

Yeah they should keep them private if its such a sad thing but people know that a sob story helps <3

the woman who had the great voice and who's dad died last year really got to me, as i lost my dad around the same time. so when i heard her story i got more emotional than usual.:bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling :

It is a talent show though, so their audition should purely be based on how well they sing.
It does make good TV when people do tell their stories, because people can relate and that's nice.
But the judges do ask questions like "How come you auditioned for X-Factor" - the lady who's late father filled out the application form just told them the truth!