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What Causes Delusion?

by thunderbird
10 replies
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What causes obviously musically untalented people, like some who audition for American Idol, to really believe they can be professional singers? I'm talking about otherwise intelligent people, not the intellectually challenged individuals taken on a field trip to audition for American Idol (which once apparently happened in Seattle). My theory is that the American ideal of "you can do anything if you try" is so ingrained that no one had the heart to tell these people that they can't sing, so they had to learn the hard way and make a public fool of themselves to learn the truth.
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Assuming that they ARE intelligent, have never heard the contrary, etc... I would have to assume they are tonedeaf and SERIOUSLY think they sound OK. That is a STRETCH though. SOME have the worst cacophonies I have EVER heard and STILL make money. I have NO idea why. Maybe that makes people believe ANYONE can succeed.

    Americans DON'T feel ANYONE can do ANYTHING if they try hard enough to THAT degree. HECK, I would NEVER try to be a surgeon. I would have trouble seeing some things, my dexterity may never be to the level I would want and **I** couldn't take the stress. I wouldn't try to play pro sports even if I LOVED sports. Now something like acting, etc... I COULD do. heck, I took an acting class, and the teacher was surprised how I handled some things. And he did have several actors and actresses in his class. He only ASKED for a $20 donation. It was at a church of all places. For some things I have surprised myself. The thing is that everyone is different, and some people just shouldn't bother persuing some things.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      <snip>SOME have the worst cacophonies I have EVER heard and STILL make money. <snip>
      Steve
      You mean some people who get paid to sing? In the summer, I went to a public concert in a nearby park. I was surprised by how bad some of the groups were, with singing that sounded flat, and instruments not quite in tune. They got paid. My wife, who used to be a professional singer, suffered from listening to it more than I did. My musical ear is quite bad (but, mysteriously, "way better than average" according to a test I took to ascertain exactly how untalented I was. That was a shocker, because I am BAD at music. Suck bad. Not good bad).
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Watch America's got talent tonight - you'll see a couple of real singers.

        Idol has narrowed itself to a ten year age group and aimed for judge personalities and cutesy acts - as a result it took a big dive in ratings last year. No talent there at all beyond what you find in local bars around the country. Idol is purely a singing contest - and young amazing singers are below the age range while those with experience are over the age (16-26 I think is the range for idol). Resulot is mediocre talent.

        Many of the people trying out for idol are doing it only for attention and know they have no talent. I repeatedly tuned away from it last year in boredom.

        Others have been told by their mother for years how great they are - and clearly mom is tone deaf. Some are simply delusional:p

        kay
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          No talent there at all beyond what you find in local bars around the country.
          HEY, I went out to a karaoke with some friends a few times. I didn't sing, but some of them did. I was SHOCKED, they did pretty well!

          Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Well, actually, there seems to be a singing gene in our family, and
    believe it or not, but I inherited it. My sister told me her daughter
    can sing very well, too.

    I started taking classical voice training lessons with a professional
    voice coach here in Wilmington in the early 90s. I had to audition
    in order to be taken on as a student. The training was for opera.
    My voice range, back then, was half a note shy of a two octave
    range. I was a tenor voice.

    I won't tell you what she said about my voice because I'm a bit too
    modest about it, and you may think it to be unbelievable. Her comments
    were positive.

    I took lessons for a while, but I stopped because I was terrified at the
    thought of being on stage and singing.

    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Mcrofts
    I Hate It When People Keeping Telling someone YOu SOund Goog/Great, When there off key out of tune.
    And.. Then the Delusion Continues... Untill They Make it on Tv.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Speaking of which, did you hear about the judge that said "pants on the ground, pants on the ground"? Supposedly it happened VERY recently! A person was arrested on something, and had on BAGGY pants! They fell to the ground. A ballif went over to raise his pants, and a gun fell out. TECHNICALLY, that COULD be considered an illegal search. HE said the same. The judge said NO WAY, but it won't be long until someone says...

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Speaking of which, did you hear about the judge that said "pants on the ground, pants on the ground"? Supposedly it happened VERY recently! A person was arrested on something, and had on BAGGY pants! They fell to the ground. A ballif went over to raise his pants, and a gun fell out. TECHNICALLY, that COULD be considered an illegal search. HE said the same. The judge said NO WAY, but it won't be long until someone says...

      Steve
      I found an article on about that incident, lol:
      Baggy jeans criminal tries to get off gun charge by using 'cops pulled my pants up' defense | Mail Online

      That fashion of pants hanging half-way down the underwear has lasted a surprisingly long time. I'm not sure what effect it is supposed to have, but it sure looks stupid. I think there will be generations of folks embarrassed by their childhood photos,
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Pettit
    M. Scott Peck cites, as one of the Necessary Requisites for true happiness, "Unswerving Commitment to Reality."
    It takes a very humble person to recognize Reality at all times. None of us is perfect.
    But the truly happy, successful person always strives.
    Dive into your own humility head-first. And do not cringe from it.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

    What causes obviously musically untalented people, like some who audition for American Idol, to really believe they can be professional singers?
    Karaoke.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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