I could not agree more.
The post-rejection, on-camera crying, cursing and pouting by many of the worst audition rejects demonstrates their inability to deal with reality. Just because you may like pop music doesn't mean you can actually sing pop music. That your family and friends may praise your 'singing' means absolutely nothing.
In the real world of show biz, even mega-talented folks like the Beatles had to work in small clubs for years to qualify for a relatively limited recording contract....and they had been rejected by other record companies before that, despite their local popularity. On the stage, you often get about 30 seconds to audition and either hear: Next!, meaning you have been summarily rejected, or you are asked to step to the side and/or come back for a second - and often a third - audition. No one cares much about your self-esteem.
Big-bucks show business is just that - a business. No one of any consequence in that business - from club owners to big-time record producers are going to waste their time humoring a no-talent 'performer'. They don't have to. New York, Nashville and especially Hollywood are figuratively chock-full of multi-talented singers who write their own songs, can play an instrument and are very ambitious. Not much room left for wannabe, no-talent folks, no matter how much 'sincerity' they have.
Simon Cowell is a successful (and very wealthy) record company principle and producer. He is very savvy about pop music; about what sells - and what doesn't. In the early rounds of AI, where the 'judges' (Randy, Paula, Simon) accept or reject contestants (later, as I understand it, the 'home audience' selects that week's winners - via telephone 'voting') he is not only sarcastically rejecting wanna-be 'performers' that would, normally, never get past a security guard or receptionist at his record company but also doing them a bit of a favor by telling the really hopeless people how bad they truly are: "singing is not going to be your future" and advising the 'almost-made-it' contestants on what they need to do; "be more animated", "tone it down", "work on your delivery", etc. This is generally honest criticism, albeit delivered in a cynical manner. After all, it's entertainment, not a documentary.
I suspect, despite all the posturing by so many about how Cowell was not PC enough with a few painfully untalented contestants that were rejected, a lot of folks thought it was about time someone told these delusional self-esteem surfeited people that they had no singing talent. We can quibble over whether Cowell was too 'mean' and mocked a few of the more pathetic folks a bit too much, especially behind their back, after they had left the 'stage'. However, on balance, he was simply doing his 'job' (being the acerbic Brit) and doing a few misguided folks a favor by giving them a dose of reality and saying what many people were likely yelling at their TV set as they were (voluntarily) listening to these untalented people 'singing' off-key and/or screeching in some weird imitation of their favorite pop star: You Stink!".
This is the show's sixth year.
For long time viewers, I find the 'outrage' overdone. Simon hasn't changed that greatly since the beginning. Paula perhaps, but not him.
For new viewers, hey, if it's not their thing tune out.
Speaking for only myself I prefer from hell Week forward better then the initial audition process, but under no circumstances do I want this show P/C'd to death by people that don't seem to care at all about all the garbage leveled at Simon. When they start defending Simon, maybe I'll listen. Until then I'm content to think many people hypocrites. Willing to laugh at a beautiful blond being target of verbal attack or Simon be lambasted unfairly (it does happen) but when someone that isn't "perfect" is treated NORMALLY suddenly grow a damn conscience. In either case it isn't right, but funny how only in one instance anyone defends what is right.
Bottom line people use this show, and this show uses people. They get their fifteen minutes, and if any are good a chance at something better. The people behind the show get money. Heck, even Hung got money for marketing his bad singing into profit. And if along the way some folks that acually believe they can sing, yet can't, finally have someone tell the truth that's a GOOD thing. It would be better if the people that cared about them told them the truth, but if they won't, at least someone does.
Rather then P/C'ing the show into cancellation, the lesson that should be taken is to tell the people you care about the truth so they don't have to have a stranger lay it on the line. Especially these strangers. Because after listening to thousands of Bad singers they are NOT going to be in a particular mood to cushion the fall. And neither would I or just about anyone else. We'd be popping Ibuprofen by the bottle if subjected to the attitudes and delusion of so many of these people our after hour, day after day.