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Updated 15 October 2002, 10.11 
There are so many reality TV talent shows on the box it's hard to keep up!
- Fame Academy
- Popstars: The Rivals
- Model Behaviour
- Pop Idol
- Big Brother
And we are getting very used to seeing young stars' dreams shattered when they are rejected, evicted, expelled, or voted off these shows.
But are they too cruel?
Is it time to stop reality TV talent shows? Do you think they will damage how people feel about themselves to much?
Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.
 We hate these reality shows. They bore us sooooo much. We want proper bands, not manufactured rubbish like this Hear'Say. It's silly. Yvette & Laika, 13, Honolulu
People who go onto reality TV shows know what they are in for, so they can't complain. If it wasn't cruel or embarrassing think happening to them it wouldn't be entertaining. That's just how it is. Iain, 13, Hamilton
I do not think that TV reality talent shows are cruel because the people that choose to go on them know what they're letting themselves in for. Chris, 16, Chichester
I think reality shows are really boring and out of order to the people. They make the people feel bad about who they are but anyway it was the people's choice in the first place! Amber, 13, London
I think shows like Popstars are good. If it wasn't for Hear'Say, we wouldn't have Liberty X, the rejects. Hear'Say did rubbish harmonies, but Liberty X beat them to it, and wrote their own songs, no rubbish cover versions and are still going strong! Charlie, 13, Liverpool
I think it's mean because they're shattering people's dreams! Fifi, 10, Lancaster
I'm not too fond of reality shows because they only give people fame who don't earn it. Katrina-Louise, 11, Devon
I luv reality shows! They're really fun to watch. The contestants know wot they're letting themselves in for! People complain about them, but who hasn't been addicted to Big Brother, or laughed their head of at Darius singing "Baby one more time" on popstars?!? Lucy, 14, Sheffield
I think its up to people if they want to do these things or not, I mean its just a laugh. Ceri, 14, Monmouth
I think on Popstars the rivals, it's a stupid idea of seeing which band makes Christmas number one first. What if they don't make number one, and their music is rubbish? Most manufactured bands split up anyway, Hear¿Say¿s an example! Charlotte, 12, Cheshire
I think people who go into these programmes are a bit naive cos it does break you down into nothing! But that's the business and it's fun to watch!!! Cruel I know!!! Kacey, 15, Nottingham
The judges are cruel to bring in ratings. I hate it. If someone is crying because they lost out, the cameras always zoom in on them rather than focusing on the people that actually got through to the next level. Kimberley, 16, Gloucester
I don't really know, seeing as I never watch reality TV talent shows seeing as they're so BORING. I suppose they probably are a bit mean but if people are going to get upset when they get turned down, they shouldn't have entered! Freya, 11, Bristol
The people who wanna go on these shows ARE aware of the consequences, so it's up to them if they know they can't sing or whatever, and wanna make a fool of themselves. Rachel, 13, Lincoln
The crueller the better I say! muhahahaha! Sarah, 15, Grimsby
It's really unfair, cos they're treated like animals for us to gawp at. Ros, 12, Leckhampton
I think that reality TV talent shows are meant to be entertaining and we see people being voted off as entertaining as it leads to the winner, so no they are not to harsh, they do not have to submit themselves to the shows! Oliver, 14, Bristol
I think they are too cruel, but they do it on purpose. It's the fashion on reality TV shows right now. Simon Cowell started the trend, and now every other judge is determined to be mean to any talented hopefuls that cross their paths. People like Pete Waterman are just pale imitations of Simon Cowell! Emma, 12, Aberdeen
The contestants should realise that the judges are hard. It's got to be something big if it's televised!
Laura, 13, Southampton
Fame Academy is out of order, making each of the students vote between two of their friends, and then tell the loser why they didn't vote for them while next to them!!
William, 12, Kent
It's vile when the contestants have to vote their friends off.
Hannah, 12, Milton Keynes
To be truthful some of the reality shows are good! Like BIG BROTHER for instance that is always funny and they are never to nasty!! But ones like Pop Idol and stuff is just stupid because people know they will get voted off (just like big brother).
Gemma, 14, East Kilbride
Talent shows give us the viewers a inside into what the person is really like, this sometimes gives the pubic a negative opinion about the person and this does have a bad effect as it can go all in the daily newspapers. Luke, 14, Birmingham
They're crueller to the audience than to the evictees. Some people who are watching are getting their hopes up about a singing career realise that they can't sing by comparing themselves with the evictees. Sophie, 10, France
They know what they're letting themselves in for! Beth, 12, Leicester
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