It's not that these people should know what they're getting into. If you had an audition where someone not chosen has to hack off one of his own fingers with a dull-edged axe and present it to the judges along with an apology, they'd still be lined up down the block waiting for their big chance. That's not the issue.

The issue is, is this what you want your kids growing up watching? Do you want your kid to idolize Simon Cowell and decide to acquire the acid tongue to cut down anybody he doesn't like? Do you want him mouthing off to your friends and neighbors because Simon says stuff like that he's cool. He's on TV. No? Then you shouldn't let your kids watch this show. But then they'll just watch it at a friend's house right? So maybe people who don't want this crass garbage on the air have a point.