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Post by Jackie on Jun 2, 2009 8:03:14 GMT -5
Ok...confessing here...I am somewhat obsessed with Susan Boyle ;D First of all I do love her voice and to me Cinderella stories are always heartwarming. However, I am so afraid for this woman. I am also curious (all you UK guys) if they really mean learning disabilities in the sense the UK uses the term...which is the same as our word Mental Retardation. If so its obvious she is a very functional individual but seriously lacking in some social skills and judgement. This also makes me curious how she got on the show in the first place and am wondering if we know the whole story.
I fear for her as a person. I think while now the press is patting her on the back it is still poised to rip her to shreds if and when she does do a US tour. I hope that with all this medical attention that they are able to asses her and her find a mentor she likes who can accompany her and help her through the rocky parts.
I think of our own Chris Burke who is always flanked by his two good friends John and Joe when he tours and performs. I guess its the protective mom in me that goes to bed worrying about someone I have never met and probably never will ...LOL but nonetheless she is often in my thoughts.
I also have mixed feelings as to how the press will handle all this...it could be really good for people with disabilities living out their dreams or they could exploit this woman big time.
Does this worry anyone else?....
Jackie
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Post by logansmom on Jun 2, 2009 20:37:34 GMT -5
I've actually been worried about it, too . . . and that was before I learned (from you) that "learning disabilities" might mean mental retardation in the UK. She definitely needs some good friends to surround her and protect her through this journey.
Kim, Logan (Ds, 6) and Carson (3)
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Post by CC on Jun 2, 2009 22:04:29 GMT -5
WOW she has a learning disability? Is that for real or just more media stuff? "makes me curious how she got on the show in the first place" Her amazing singing voice is what got her on there would be my guess. "I am also curious (all you UK guys) if they really mean learning disabilities in the sense the UK uses the term...which is the same as our word Mental Retardation." I am, as you know, not from the UK BUT NO way does Susan Boyle seem to be affected by Mental Retardation... To me and I could be so off, but she seems like a woman that has lived a very simple life and the media as they are great on doing is destroying her I wish her well and hope she keeps singing, just a beautiful voice CC ~
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Post by lorraine on Jun 3, 2009 5:51:05 GMT -5
Learning disability is the term used to cover any thing which affects the way a person learns, so that could include something very mild like dyslexia to other very severe problems, I'm not sure how that compares to mental retardation.
I have read that she was short of oxygen when she was born which caused her to have very mild problems when she was a child, I think this has caused to struggle a bit socially now, and why she is finding all the attention hard to deal with.
I hope she is getting all the help she needs in the Priory at the moment and that she has some good friends to support her.
I have a feeling she may get some ' hangers on' who want to share a bit of the fame and money that is going to come her way.
I also think it's probably good that she came second as she will still have opportunities without so much pressure.
Lorraine
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Post by Jackie on Jun 3, 2009 8:19:28 GMT -5
I think reality shows are getting out of hand and it bothers me that so often now we get our jollies from someone elses misfortune...that we seem to love to see those who seek glory, fame, and money sink lower and lower in the process. I must confess that I have enjoyed America's Got Talent in the early phases just to laugh at the absurdity of some of those acts and people. Some I do believe are intentional to get our attention...but others I am sure are naive sincere people who really do believe they have what it takes...but sadly really don't.
I think seeing Susan Boyle and the judges reactions initially and all the hype that has gone with her performance has made me relook at myself and hopefully cull out some of my inner nastiness in regards to people and situations that differ from me and my view of things. I hope now to become a kinder person and I still do worry about this woman because I want so much for her to succeed and realize her dreams.
Jackie
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Post by wrblack on Jun 3, 2009 10:20:34 GMT -5
OK, first, couple of snips from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Boyle<<Boyle attended Edinburgh Acting School and also took part in the Edinburgh Fringe. Prior to her appearance on Britain's Got Talent, her main experience had come from singing in church and karaoke in the local pubs in her village. She had also tried out several times for My Kind of People.[6] ... Susan Boyle was born 1 April 1961 in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland,[11] to Patrick Boyle, a miner, World War II veteran and singer at the Bishop's Blaize, and Bridget, a shorthand typist,[12] who were both immigrants from County Donegal, Ireland.[13] She was the youngest of four brothers and six sisters.[11] Born when her mother was 47,[11][14][15] Boyle was briefly deprived of oxygen during the difficult birth; she was diagnosed as having learning difficulties.[2] She says she was bullied as a child,[11][16] and was nicknamed "Susie Simple" at school.[17] >> And from www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/5434811/Susan-Boyle-could-be-in-Priory-clinic-for-weeks-says-doctor.html<< The singer, who has suffered mild learning difficulties as a result of being deprived of oxygen at birth, has been the subject of concern that she has been exploited by the Britain’s Got Talent series. Early ratings results suggest the final episode on Saturday May 30 was the biggest-rating television programme on any channel since England played in the euro 2004 football tournament, attracting 17.3 million viewers. >> And, finally I hope, from www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/5429341/Susan-Boyle-should-not-have-performed-on-Britains-Got-Talent-says-public.html<< A survey of 3,000 adults found 72 per cent think Boyle, who has learning difficulties, should not have been exposed to the nation on the ITV talent show. Six out of ten said they felt ITV exploited her in a bid to win viewers. A quarter of adults think contestants on the show should be psychologically tested before competing in a similar way to the housemates on the programme Big Brother. Three out of ten said heads should roll over the situation after Boyle was admitted to the Priory with exhaustion. >> I suspect it was reports like that last one that got Jackie's attention and concern. But it raises some interesting and difficult questions. Is the public concerned about handicapped people being exploited or is this just another guise of exclusion and discrimination? I think there was a young man with Down syndrome who competed on a TV dance contest show, www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/05/29/utah-man-represents-for-people-with-disabilities-in-dance-contest/So, does the British general public disagree with Mr. Banford? Would they prevent him from competing to protect him from exploitation and possibly from himself? Might be a difficult balancing act, protect people from exploitation but still give everyone a chance to develop and use their talents to the best of their ability. Give people with differences a fair chance while ensuring they're not taken advantage of nor patronized. -- Bob
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Post by Jackie on Jun 3, 2009 16:11:06 GMT -5
I have read about every thing ever published about this woman and her life because the story fascinates me.
However it is statements like this from a Larry King interview on the subject that really concern me .
Holden: I wasn't involved in any discussions like that. And I think Piers has a slightly closer relationship with her. ... The only thing I'm worried about with Susan Boyle is that she seems to have a crush on Piers Morgan. ...
I think that Piers kind of reassured her during the final that she was doing well and that she mustn't pay any kind of attention to the press and all the other stuff that was going
I was really impressed with the seemingly sincere interest that Piers Morgan seemed to take in her...but statements like the one above make me wonder about her ability to separate the fantasy from the reality of this experience.
I guess I worry too that while this could be a wonderful dream come true story with happy endings...it could also be a path to public ridicule in the long run and thats where all of us come in...or at least I feel I do. I know Emily can mistake goading and teasing for acceptance. I have never seen it actually happen to her in person but I know in the past it has. It is widely acknowledged that Susan has some sort of difficulty in learning and probably before this is all over we will all know (even though we shouldn't) exactly how severe it is. I guess I worry it could turn into a TROPIC THUNDER type situation and maybe not a Chris Burke ...Life Goes on story.
Any way it turns out...you can be sure I will buy a CD.
Jackie
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Post by Jackie on Jun 10, 2009 8:43:45 GMT -5
I don't know if you all read this or not but its a good piece in general about learning difficulties.
[i]Mencap spokesperson says singer with a learning disability could be an international superstar with the right support [/i]
Singer Susan Boyle, who has a learning disability, has rarely been out of the media since her first appearance on TV show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. After coming second in the final on Saturday, she has been taken to The Priory Clinic in London to be treated for exhaustion.
Here, Ciara Evans, a Mencap spokesperson, gives her views on Susan’s treatment by the media and the show:
“As someone with a learning disability myself, it's been great to see Susan Boyle getting so far on a talent show. You rarely see people with a learning disability in the media, and in the last few weeks Susan Boyle has rarely been out of it.
“But, like anyone who is put in the media spotlight, she has found it hard to deal with her new fame and growing media attention.
“The main problem is that the general public don't understand what a learning disability is and how it affects a person's life. And that includes the producers of ‘Britain's Got Talent’.”
Invisible disability
“Learning disability is an 'invisible' disability. It's something that people don't understand because they can't see it. A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops. In Susan Boyle's case she was starved of oxygen at birth resulting in her learning disability. Having a learning disability doesn't mean you have mental health problems or dyslexia.
“As someone with a learning disability I find it harder to communicate and learn new things. I might need support making sure I've understood something right and help when I'm in new situations. This support has enabled me to get a job at Mencap and have a successful career – an opportunity that so few people with a learning disability are given.
“Susan has found it difficult dealing with criticism from the judges and the media. But having been bullied when she was younger, it must be difficult to hear again the playground taunts of 'simple susan' and 'hairy angel'. Support with coping with these emotions might have helped her with her 'erratic' behaviour on and off-stage.
“Some people have suggested that people like Susan Boyle who have a learning disability should be stopped from going on ‘Britain's Got Talent’. This would mean denying 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK the chance to take part and have the same opportunities as everyone else. This makes no sense and is discriminatory. Shows like ‘Britain's Got Talent’ are great because they are accessible for everyone”
The right support
“What is clear is that the ‘Britain's Got Talent’ team at ITV need to provide support for all their contestants based on their individual needs. You only have to compare 10-year-old Hollie's inability to cope on stage with Shazeem's confident performances, to see that the needs and abilities of each individual are different – irrespective of age and talent.
“Clearly the fact that Susan Boyle has a learning disability means that she needs more support. And she is obviously in need of a break before she takes her career forward.
“But we must not forget why we all fell in love with Susan Boyle in the first place. She is a very talented singer. And when compared to some of our other superstars – who throw a wobbly because their changing room flowers are the wrong colour or who trash their hotel rooms – Susan's behaviour has been far from 'eccentric'.
“Susan Boyle has the potential to be an international superstar. She just needs the right support to get there.”[/color]
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Post by lorraine on Jun 10, 2009 12:10:21 GMT -5
oops I was wrong to mention dyslexia then Lorraine
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Post by wrblack on Jul 20, 2009 16:22:05 GMT -5
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Post by Jackie on Jul 20, 2009 18:25:23 GMT -5
Great!!! I will tune in to it...I have not been keeping up with her like I did when she was new on the scene...so it will be fun to watch. I would like to hear her sing again and hope they are cutting an album.
Jackie
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