First of all, I agree that some of the Bieber hate is getting out of hand. So is some of the Bieber fandom (Kim Kardashian getting threats because she flirted with him on Twitter - not even IRL - comes to mind). That's a separate issue from whether Bieber even deserves the attention that he's getting, which I do question.

What bugs me about a performer like Bieber is that many much more talented artists never get the breaks he's getting. Just listen to Radio 2 Morning or Radio 2 Drive on CBC 2 to hear scads of amazingly talented Canadian singers and singer-songwriters who rarely, if ever, get airplay on commercial radio and, in some cases, don't even get major label contracts. Even among the new crop of hot young Canadian artists with commercial support, I much prefer Serena Ryder or K'naan to Bieber and they had to do a lot more to get where they are (admittedly, K'naan got a lucky break with the deal to write Coke's World Cup anthem, but that only happened AFTER he put out his second album and got a hit with "Wavin' Flag")

That said, if the fans love him, then they are welcome to do so and he and his handlers are welcome to cash in on it. That's how the system works whether I like it that way or not. Don't expect me to fawn over him and lionize him, though, until he demonstrates the ability to do more than make teenage girls drool. Hell, until he manages to demonstrate that he can turn out more than one successful album.

Mendalla

Yeah, people are letting themselves go with this.  I mean, lots of disney stars started out doing bit roles but then went on to do good things, but when we get people like bieber and little miss cyrus who are just getting it all handed to them on a silver platter it's a little bit of a piss off.

 What does Beiber have to do with Disney?  I'm not too familiar with what he does, but I thought he was just a singer, does he have a show now too?

Nah, i just meant lots of people started in menial roles on kids shows, but you still had to respect them, whereas these two (disney or not) didn't really earn that respect.

No, he's not part of the Disney empire (yet) but he may be working with Miley Cyrus on a duet and she most certainly is. He certainly fits the Disney Channel mold: mid-late teens, clean as a whistle, and able to carry a tune.

Mendalla

What does Beiber do anyway? Sing? Dance?......I am old, I have no clue. I have seen him on TV and know that he gets a lot of attention and that people adore him.

I am not sure what there is to adore about him. But then maybe that is what my parents and their peers said about Donny Osmond and Michael Jackson when I and my peers adored them. There has always been the puppy love teen idol for each generation. Is Beiber the current model?

 Thanks for the clarification Mendalla, the reference to disney by 2 different posters confused me.

Nortnwind, Beiber is a singer who is promoted (or signed or whatever the proper term is) by Usher.  I wouldn't put him in the same category as Michael Jackson, but rather Aaron Carter (younger brother of a backstreet boy) just based on the limited age he appeals to.  I could be wrong, he might have longer staying power, but I had to look up one of his videos on youtube when I realized despite how much I've heard his name, I didn't think I had heard any of his music.  Maybe I'm just getting old 

While sometimes I find these younger stars annoying (such as Miley on a talk show) I'm sure I would find my younger self annoying too, given the chance to speak publicly so often.  I don't think these people have a particularly easy life.  I would have hated that much publicity in my teen years (and still wouldn't enjoy it).