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rytaylor
A little about me... 37 years old, married, and have a beautiful one-year old daughter. Have called a lot of places home. Spent a lot of my life studying philosophy, literature, and history; a serious student. Not all things in life should be serious so my brain candy is reality TV, especially Survivor and Big Brother. I've been a Big Brother fan from the start, even watching the shows from other countries to include the German and Swedish versions. All very interesting. This is still a great social experiment and I always enjoy watching the difference between strong personalities and those who think they have strong personalities. This season with BB8 is no exception. What you see is not always what you get, and first impressions are not made to last. As soon as little things blow up into big things, you get the fire Big Brother intended. Now for the game... When I started watching this season, I really liked Dick and wanted to see his very selfish daughter lighten up on him; and I loathed Jen. As things progressed and Jen survived one nomination and another and another throughout Dick's ever-increasing rage, I saw something about the issues of control and selfishness. Jen wanted to control how she appeared in her picture (which was one of the most memorable outbursts I've ever seen) and on the show. Dick didn't care how he looked or sounded as long as he got what he wanted. Both of them are selfish and it's arguable who is more so. I see people on this wiki who just love that about him - that he doesn't care what other people think or really even how he might effect them. I realized that I reject those who so thoughtlessly support such abusive and sociopathic behavior. He was not being honest, he was being cruel. He is physically aggressive in his posture while screaming, using the rules to their limit, and this makes him an abuser. He attacks people for how they look. He attacks people for what they've had to do to make a living. He attacks people for their past (when, according to his public record, he has absolutely NO ground upon which to stand). Plus, a bar manager making fun of a cocktail waitress? Are you kidding? That means his actions have no reason or purpose. He is irrational and, while entertaining (schadenfreude, anyone?), a disgusting example of a person. Jen, while self-absorbed as a model, had more self-control and only snapped at a point beyond which I think many of us would. She showed some grace under pressure, but she did lie about Nick being very forward with her and she lied about other things. Everyone in the house has to lie, at some point, at some level. Jen was smarter than I originally thought, but doesn't do well at relating with people because she is so concerned with her own image. However, if the rumors are true that she is nanny for Vanna White's children, I am offended she was allowed on the show because there was probably a more deserving candidate for the show. Being driven to fight for the prize is what makes reality TV work. It's also what reveals character. Niether Dick nor Jen would be better people with an extra $500,000 in their pockets. At least, for me, Jen was eye candy, and that to me is far more redeeming than being a foul, offensive jerk who abuses other people. As I noted at the beginning, first impressions do not last in this game. The facade breaks down and we get to see within, to something deeper about them - their obsessions, compulsions, desires, fears, and more. They volunteered for it to pursue money so all is fair in making any analysis of them as people. That is what makes Big Brother work. A person usually cannot fake it all the way through. Their true character is being revealed. My favorite player of all time was Will, but why when he was manipulative and a liar? I guess you can just tell when a person is acting in the spirit of the game and when somoene is really just being the jackass he or she has been for a lifetime. As for Daniele, she is her father's daughter, and it shows. She's probably the only player in the game that I did not change opinion on from the beginning to the end game. Good player, but thoughtless and way too young to play BB and too immature to make an exception for her just for the sake of one of this year's hooks. She wouldn't be a better person for winning and I can only hope that everyone will forget about her as soon as the show ends. In ways, I can't blame her for rejecting her father. I would, and would expect my daughter to if I behaved as he does. She is harsh, but Dick has earned it over the years. Her immaturity really showed in how she handled Nick by going so quick from denial ("muscles don't do it for me" she said, I think) to playing with Nick. Really, just like a little girl and puppy love. Yea, that'll last. Now for Amber...or Wahmber as I've seen appropriately called on the boards. I didn't like how she tried to use her single mom status to assume she was more deserving at the beginning of the game (thinking she would bond with Kail on that alone). Didn't really think she could slip even further in my opinion until she started using God as the motivation and inspiration of her want of money. She does it incessantly. Many of us turn to God in times of need, but it is selfish to continually call upon God for times of want. God doesn't play Big Brother and I have been consistently offended by Jameka and Amber using God and playing to "visions" while in the house. In one of her crazed prayers, she actually said "God bless you" to God. This is desperation and I'm trying to reserve too harsh a judgment, but it goes against my sense of reverence. Certainly, I am not alone in that opinion. Jessica is my favorite player in the game. She is as much a model as Jen, but never used it as fodder against her whining. She knows how to hold her cards close and knows that Eric is taking flak for her that will probably take to the end and see her as the winner. It will be a critical decision of when to get rid of Daniele and/or Dick. In many ways, though, she has won regardless of whether she gets the $500k. Her modeling career will blossom, though she has already been in Maxim magazine, and that should be enough. Perhaps she was recruited in some ways like Jen to show the other side of being a model - that there are 2 types, those who are professional and those who think everyone should simply kowtow to beauty. Eric as America's Player has been an interesting twist. I enjoy watching his quirky ways, that he's a guy who likes to have fun, but does't pretend that he's a lady's man. I think Eric knows his limitations and is just floored that someone like Jessica would have an interest in him. I don't think they are using each other, but I also don't think that they will have a relationship outside the house (at least, for very long). This is in stark contrast to Nick, who is just so proud of his looks and showed more vanity than anyone other than Jen. Humility is an important trait to have in life and Eric carries his well. Besides, self-deprecation can be disarming to potential opponents. If you can laugh at yourself and allow others to laugh at you, you're a better person than most. Zach - just a floater who plays to power. Interesting approach if you can get all power players to annihilate each other. Don't know that he's that clever, but I can appreciate the game he has played. Some find him awkward, but I don't think so. I think he, above almost anyone else, has been playing the game from the beginning. This is why he has survived this long. Who knows? He could be a finalist. I'd take him to the final 2 because the perception is that he hasn't been playing the game. In the end, when players choose the player to win, they choose the person who actually played them and didn't just play along. Dustin and Joe - well, they couldn't get off the show fast enough for me. Both are exaggerating about their side and aren't interested in the truth and will not learn anything from their past relationship until they can face that. I'm not talking about simple truth like seeing how someone lied to you, but the complex truth of how one lies to oneself. No vision for these two. What did Joe say, "Everything you've done in life was either for me or because of me." Wow! At least we could all see who the bitch was...lol Enough on the players. If I haven't mentioned someone, I guess it's because I don't think they deserve mentioning. Now to the end game, starting with the final 6...
Latest page update: Aug 28 2007, 4:17 PM EDT
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