# If you start an AI thread and nobody posts, does it make a sound? American Idol 4/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246 "2006-04-11T17:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/101 "2006-04-12T00:50:21Z")
Taylor did good. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/102 "2006-04-12T00:50:58Z")
Good solid, but not great, performance from Taylor. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/103 "2006-04-12T00:53:47Z")
[QUOTE=JeffB] Good solid, but not great, performance from Taylor. [/QUOTE] If he had hit the stand, would it have been great? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/104 "2006-04-12T00:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] If he had hit the stand, would it have been great? [/QUOTE] It may have been ;). ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/105 "2006-04-12T00:54:42Z")
That just might have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/106 "2006-04-12T00:55:00Z")
Taylor just killed. The best so far by a long mile. He could have smiled more - he always looks a bit angry. And the mike-kick was dorky, but he knew exactly what he was doing. The worst might be that it seemed calculated, not spontaneous, but he’s clearly the most professional and controlled of the bunch. I could totally tell Elliott had never heard the song before. I was afraid for him, but he hit everything well. I think he’s great, but I don’t think this was the song to catapult him to the top. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/107 "2006-04-12T00:55:39Z")
I kept hoping for when Mandisa’s turn would come… then I remembered… ☹ I like Paris, even though they dressed her up all dangerous… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/108 "2006-04-12T00:56:13Z")
Paris looks a lot like Gladys Knight tonight. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/109 "2006-04-12T00:56:37Z")
_Holy crap_ … if you don’t look at the outfit she’s wearing and just listen, Paris is doing awesome. But that outfit is _tragic_. She’s a cute girl, and this costume of hers is terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/110 "2006-04-12T00:57:35Z")
I wish they would quit trying to make her look 20 years older. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/111 "2006-04-12T00:57:37Z")
Yeah, Paris really did rock tonight… but the costume… UGH! ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/112 "2006-04-12T00:58:31Z")
The problem with Paris is that her signing voice doesn’t match her speaking voice or age. She totally nailed the song, but it was weird to watch her. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/113 "2006-04-12T00:59:17Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGrenze] I kept hoping for when Mandisa’s turn would come… then I remembered… ☹ [/QUOTE] Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/114 "2006-04-12T01:02:55Z")
I thought Paris was pretty cool. Best of the night, even. My top three: Paris Taylor Kat (Bucky was pretty good too). Ace sucked the most ass. I’ve given up trying to predict anything on this show but Ace is really the one whose journey needs to end tomorrow night. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/115 "2006-04-12T01:04:21Z")
Paris seemed to have a better handle on the actual meaning of the lyrics than anyone else, maybe Elliot a distant second. Points for that, although she lost a few for head-banging the weave, very good job overall. I’m so going to dust off my Queen CDs now, ahh. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/116 "2006-04-12T01:05:26Z")
I think this is the first week where I knew all the songs. Only one outstanding: Paris Did okay: Chris Taylor Bucky Katharine Kellie Bad: Ace Elliott ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/117 "2006-04-12T01:06:36Z")
Oustanding show. The best all around in a long time. Because Queen kicks ass. My rankings: Great. Taylor Bucky Very good Chris Elliot Paris Good Katherine Could die in a tragic car accident tomorrow and I would laugh an evil, maniacal laugh The Pickler Ace ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/118 "2006-04-12T01:08:19Z")
Oh, and anyone notice the Fantasia-wannabe sitting directly behind Paula? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/119 "2006-04-12T01:10:35Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Could die in a tragic car accident tomorrow and I would laugh an evil, maniacal laugh The Pickler Ace [/QUOTE] I am only a little embarrassed to admit that I would join you, and send yellow roses to the “American Idol” studios, and prance around my living room wearing my slinkiest red dress, and sing “I Want to Break Free” at the top of my lungs, or perhaps “Killer Queen.” ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246/120 "2006-04-12T01:10:54Z")
Let me be the first to predict that Katharine is going home this week. Not that I want her to, but I think she failed to make a strong enough impression. But I’m usually wrong about these things… I found the whole night baffling. Everybody was at least passably good, nobody was really bad, yet most of them were somehow disappointing? 😕 I feel my rankings are falling more in the order of who I like more than how they did tonight. They are something like: Taylor Elliott Paris Chris Katharine Bucky Kellie Ace [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-start-an-ai-thread-and-nobody-posts-does-it-make-a-sound-american-idol-4-11/352246.md?page=7)