So for the record, he apparently attended a performing arts high school, but "could not continue with any professional training because of his financial situation" (according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choi_Sung-Bong). So he is by no means a street urchin who had never sung before.

There was also a bit of a controversy because he apparently stated that he had been trained to sing in high school but it was edited out for television audiences. This would not be the first such occurrence, as recently on So You Think You Can Dance the choreography performed by two of the performers was directly lifted from another group (called Les Twins), and nonetheless praised for its originality - apparently the duo did credit their source, but it was edited out to make them appear more impressive.

I also learned from this research that apparently Susan Boyle had recorded a CD for charity before her appearance, and Paul Potts had been an amateur operatic singer who had taken a masterclass with Pavarotti.

For the inevitable cries of "hater" out there - I do not think that this diminishes their talent or achievement, or how tough this kid's life has clearly been. But people do not just turn into semi-professional opera singers by practicing in their rooms...

Oh God...I'm going to go commit ritual seppuku now... *hangs head in shame*

>> ^dannym3141:

than i should be

@dag...dude, Oscar Wilde was totally being sarcastic when he said that.

>> ^dag:

I think I would have the same reaction of some dude being punched in the nuts. Oscar Wilde said that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit - genital punches would have to be a few levels below that. >> ^eric3579:
What is the reason many of you have a problem with this video? Is it because a guy is hitting a girl? Would you feel the same if it were a girl hitting a girl or a girl hitting a guy? It can't be just because they are doing something which seems crazy stupid. There's lots of that on the sift. It's also somewhat violent, but I've seen way worst unwanted and wanted horrific violence on the sift(fighting or someone getting KOed as an example), which I find way more offensive. I'm just not sure what people find so horrible. Is it an assumption being made by us about who these people are, and what they think? Someone throw me a bone.

I should note that I do agree that this video is awful - did you hear the language he was using?!?!?! Completely inappropriate. #sarcasm

I had a giant rant typed out, but then I deleted it because, you know what, it wouldn't change anything. Instead, let's lawyer this shizzle with another giant rant:

We have no idea what is going on here. You can object on the grounds that you find the humor crass, or the fact that there is a video about it crass, or just because you did not find it funny. That I have no issue with.

But to have an extensive argument based on zero knowledge about the actual situation, especially because you are assigning horrible (or wonderful, I suppose) personality types to people you don't and will never know, makes no sense. If I came on here, read these comments, and started saying that person X was a shut-in who had never touched a woman, lived in his mom's basement and had no idea about how the world really worked, person Y was a sexist twat who didn't respect women and thought hitting them was okay, and person Z was a sexist twat who thought women were made of china and couldn't take rough-housing with a man because they are weaker and feebler, the only thing I would prove is that I was an opinionated moron. And all of you would hopefully (and rightfully) ignore me because you'd realize I actually know nothing about you.

Some girls like it rough. Some guys are macho idiots who disrespect women. These things are true. What's going on here, however, is UNCLEAR.

Upvote for uncanny valley. Lolzorz.

5 for 5 on votes? Guess I have to *beg

Aw man...this should not be pqueued...

Kitty: gawdammit giant tuna...can't...lift...with...claws...but...looks...so...delicious...

Also, personally, I prefer Dvorak. Especially the Symphony from the New World.

>> ^Psychologic:

Pi vs Tau reminds me of Qwerty vs Dvorak... the small gain in simplicity (or typing speed) is more than offset by the burden of the change, and learning to use both would be more confusing than using the current standard.
I'd be fine with the change, but I think π is cuter. =)

All I have to observe is this - people who spend their time thinking about changing 2π to tau are not spending it doing, you know, ACTUAL mathematics.

This comment is useless and not funny for which I apologize, but it has to be said...that is perhaps the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life.

Wtf just doesn't even cut it here...

The guy is the control...obviously!

Funny...but I kind of feel he's acting like this guy: http://videosift.com/video/Extras-Ian-McKellen-acting-lessons