Rejection

American Idol. I’m really not sure how to react to such a program. The rejected candidates shown on the program are typically awful. Not marginally bad, but truly awful. Absolutely no talent. And yet, they seem blind to the reaction to their audition. They deny that their talent is substandard.

The judges are certainly far more severe this season than I recall from previous years. And it was upsetting to see several of the candidates walk away in tears.

Perhaps they need the so-called Chinese Rejection. This rejection is an urban myth used to console authors with rejected manuscripts. I think it could be tailored easily enough for the judges of American Idol. And it would allow the very worst of the candidates to hold on to their bizarre view of their talent.

Here is the text of the Chinese Rejection:

“We have read your manuscript with boundless delight. If we were to publish your paper, it would be impossible for us to publish any work of lower standard. And as it is unthinkable that in the next thousand years we shall see its equal, we are, to our regret, compelled to return your divine composition, and to beg you a thousand times to overlook our short sight and timidity.”?