Big Brother Shenanigans: Strategy or Insanity?

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Strategy or Insanity?

Many have come forward to justify Amanda's behaviour as a legitimate strategy that's been used by others like Evel Dick, Russel Kairouz and others to unnerve their opponents. This is what's called logical fallacy of negative premise. In other words, trying to prove something is good based on negative anecdotal proof. Or the effed up premise. Amanda has also been compared to Dan in her manipulations but their game and situation is as vastly different as comparing a duck to an airplane. This logical fallacy is called jumping to conclusions when the connections are threadbare and superficial. Or the WTF premise.

First of all, Evel Dick's persona is not to be used as a litmus test for appropriate behaviour. His behaviour is and has always been obnoxious and aggressive. Banging on pots and pans as a way of falling on his sword to be evicted over his daughter can be considered a strategy. Tossing ice tea and burning Jenn with his cigarette is plain aggression and violence, as was Jenn's destruction of his cigarettes. Neither of those actions were beneficial to either of them in the game. Even he, did not bring anyone's family or loved ones into it. He also didn't threaten to punch someone with brass knuckles. He won the game because he also accompanied this ugliness with his and his daughter's comp wins. It also helps that CBS edited him in a semi-heroic way while showing Jenn Johnson in the worst light possible. He won his season. Great. A lot of good it's done him on a personal level.

Russel Kairouz taunted Ronnie Talbot when the latter was HoH and was discovered to be a "rat". This served the purpose of unseating Ronnie from his power position in the house which resulted in him getting evicted. Russell did not attack Ronnie's family. Russell had a short fuse but when he went toe to toe, literally, with Jordan Llyod who chest bumped him, he backed off. Interesting to note that Jordan was not given any penalty for it while Willie was expelled for doing a similar thing. Russel did not win the season but Jordan did. It helped that she was perceived as the underdog and charmed the fans with her sweetheart Jeff Schroeder. She did her fair share of bashing people like Michele Noonan and backstabbing her as a result of Natalie Majeran's manipulations but she didn't threaten abhorrent violence against anyone.

Tensions run high in the BB house and it can bring out the worst in people. But there is worst and horrific. Threatening to harpoon a kid in his face, slitting someone's throat and raping her with her own blood, as well as smashing someone in the face with brass knuckles is not a game strategy. It is sign of a deeply disturbed individual who desperately needs therapy. To even think those things, let alone utter them in a forum where thousands and millions are watching is mind-boggling.That's what Amanda has done.

Now on to the most laughable comparison of Amanda with the likes of Dr. Will and Dan. Both these winners had one thing in common, ruthless and smart game play. They lied, backstabbed and did everything they could to win and they did. What they did not do is bring other cast member's families into it, threaten violence on other cast members or utter horrific bigotry.

Yes, Amanda has successfully manipulated this house of fools but she had no resistance from someone in power. She's never been the underdog. She's never had to fight for her life in the game until this week. Dan was in jeopardy from day 1 during BB10. He managed to extricate himself from being the chief target to winning the season by sheer strategy and resilience. Dr. Will was able to manipulate his way to a win without having won any competitions. Why because not only was he brilliant at using others, he was able to charm everybody with his wit and humor.

Some have tried to defend her by saying that looking past this behaviour (looking past this behaviour?!?!?!) she is playing a great game. These are the same people who cannot stand Evel Dick for his behaviour. Others are claiming that we're harder on Amanda because she's a woman. Really? No. It's because she has taken the crown of the worse person to ever be cast on Big Brother. Is she great for ratings? Probably. People are fascinated with the grotesque. Does that mean she should be celebrated and lauded for her words? I certainly hope not.

At best, Amanda is a pale and disgusting imitation of many past BB winners but should she win this game the only winner she can most logically be compared to is Adam Jasinski. They both played in season with people who were either taken out because they were threats or were too clueless to play the game properly. On a personal level, these two exemplify the absolute worst in humanity. We know what happened to Adam. Let's hope Amanda gets the help she needs so she can reclaim some semblance of a life after Big Brother.

Stay tuned.

Big Brother Lexicon

There are certain terms that have been used in the course of this show that should be clarified. Here is a list:

Team America: Yet Another tool for production to manipulate the game. Three players will be placed in alliance by "America" and will be given tasks that apparently will change the game. So far, it didn't change Joey's game, first member of Team America slated to be evicted first.

Battle of the Block: The 2 nominees of each of the 2 HoHs will battle each other. The winner duo save themselves and dethrone the HoH who nominated them, throwing them back out of power at risk of being a renom.

AGP: Allison Grodner of Fly on the Wall Productions which is the company that has been hired by CBS to produce the show.

PoV: Power of Veto. This allows the holder to save one of the nominations for eviction. The last PoV of the game is the most powerful, as it determines who will be evicted.

HoH: Head of Household. Along with getting a primo suite, a letter from home, pictures and treats, this person decides who will be nominated and renominated should the veto be used.

Floater: This term is often misused. A "floaters" strategy is legitimate way to get through and win the game. A prime example of this is Jun Song (BB4). This strategy allows the player to switch alliances when necessary, win when necessary, but always work under the wire. It doesn't mean just going with the power in the house (let's call those floppers). It means manipulating the house, ergo having the power. In later years, the term has been misused for players who do not make any moves in the game but work for whoever has the power.

Backdoor: This strategy is used when the true target for eviction is not initially nominated, does not get a chance to play PoV, is subsequently nominated and evicted.

Blindside: When a player is evicted without even suspecting that he/she is the target.

Pawn: This is a person who is nominated but is part of the HoH's alliance and is used as a decoy, to ensure that the other person nominated gets evicted. It has often happened that the pawn has been blindsided.

America's Player: This is a player in the game, chosen by the viewing public, who is told how to act and vote in the house. They do this for a separate monetary reward.

Fast Forward: When there are two evictions in one week. Typically they tape an eviction on Tuesday followed by a quickie HoH. They have nominations later that night, followed by a PoV competition and PoV ceremony the next day. The second eviction and HoH comp for that week happens live on Thursday.

Double Eviction: On the live show on Thursday, there is an eviction (sometimes pre-taped), followed by a quick HoH comp, immediate nominations, a PoV competition, PoV Ceremony, followed by another Eviction, culminating in the second HoH comp which is usually a physical skill or Endurance.