The world is full of unattractive people, so the only surprising thing about Ms. Boyle is the fact that the world was so surprised about her talent.
Just think about the entire history of pop and rock music with its overwhelming population of butt-ugly male musicians. Probably only a handful of them have even mediocre talent, yet they become sex symbols. And somehow, out of the blue, we are supposed to be so impressed with Ms. Boyle. Why? Because she is unattractive? Is her voice even that impressive? It’s good, but come one. The world is full of unattractive talented people, but for some reason the untalented beautiful women and the mediocre and ugly men are given the contracts.
What should truly surprise us is just how susceptible we are to television marketing campaigns and how little we value women or real talent for that matter.
Grave Error 
What should truly surprise us is just how susceptible we are to television marketing campaigns and how little we value women or real talent for that matter.
Agreed, but the brain is built for gullibility and/or group think.
Moo. Do try to keep your nose in the arse of the herdee/herdette in front of you, can’t have anyone stepping out of line, you know.
I’m becoming a broken record.
I’m glad you wrote “we” in this post. If feel like people all too often label the general public as stupid or inferior, etc… I find those arguments to be weaker than the alleged inferior general public.
I do think that one of the negative features of Western culture is an obsession w/ material happiness (Affluenza)… this isn’t a revelation (I know), but these reality TV Shows and such are manifestations/symptoms of Western Post-Modernity… which is like being afflicted by Afflueza and being hooked on Crack at the same time. No bueno.
And yet Rewrite, the one most corrupted institution, most responsible for this error, an error that has spread like an uncontrolled viral infection …
is the very one you quote so often.
Perception is “reality” … and who owns perception for the masses?