Author |
Message |
Anneph
Member
06-15-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 3:09 am
As far as the laugh track - I don't think it was BB intentionally laughing at her. She asked numerous times what a "peanut gallery" was and no one gave her the right answer. According to Wikipedia: "A peanut gallery is an audience which heckles the performer. The term originated in the days of vaudeville as a nickname for the cheapest (and therefore rowdiest) seats in the theater; the cheapest snack served at the theater would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to signify their disapproval." That sound track we heard was common to old TV shows depicting a "peanut gallery".
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Poppy
Member
07-21-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 3:14 am
Debbieeeee -- definitely a good point. I have to add, though, just from personal experience. I have had three head injuries from car accidents, many years of past drug use (including marijuana, which does make you lose memory over time), migraines from the time I was very small that continue to this day, and a cerebral aneurysm which ruptured three years ago. After the aneurysm, when I would speak there were many times when I couldn't come up with the words I was looking for mid-sentence. However, I never forgot the meanings of words I already knew. But, as Moonlight points out, we really don't know the severity of all of her issues combined. My personal opinion, FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, is that she never was taught these words. I do think it is nice she wants to know the meaning before she hauls off and uses them herself (with the exception of backdooring). I also have to agree that with all of the interviews, testing, etc., these people go through before they are picked, that it would have been put to each of them that they may be cast in a very negative light. So bottom line, I didn't find it mean. Amusing, but not in the sense of being judgmental, just amusing, because she is so naive and childlike in many ways. I would definitely have to agree, having a 25-year old daughter, that my daughter would have laughed to see me in the light in which they portraited Amber. But, on the other hand, I don't know that I would have told whoever was keeping her that it was okay for her to watch the show. Too much too early in life, especially for a primetime show. I thought the clips of Jameka were very telling - she was made to seem very intelligent, and I think she probably is. She knows something is wrong but not exactly what it is. Very intuitive.
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 3:16 am
what I find amazing is that Amber never had the opportunity to ask about these words before. Just were does Amber live? A small rural town with no school or library? She never had the need to know what people were talking about until she came into the BB House?? I mean most of those words are used in everyday speech. Are we saying that Amber lives in a microcosm with no 'big words' and therefore should not be expected to speak like an adult??? I thought she lived in Las Vegas...are we saying she would have never heard those words in Vegas??? I personally don't see the protrayal as mean. I remember something similar done about other HG's, including Howie, Cowboy and Holly...and I think Ivette. And I think Amber has been way more "mean" to the producers then they were to her...considering what they could have done. Nope...no sympathy here for Miss "cry me a river".
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Sincebb1
Member
08-22-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 3:37 am
Anyone remember date night with Amber and Mike in the back yard? She asked him what outskirts meant plus some other words too...the one that especially floored me is that she said she thought Chicago was a STATE!
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Debbieeeee
Member
09-16-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 3:55 am
Don't get me wrong, I don't think that BB was mean - I just wonder that this lack of knowledge did not come out in the testing phase - If she is not playing dumb then I feel sorry for her because she is definitely making a fool of herself - It doesn't make me like her any better but I do feel sorry for anyone that is that ignorant unless it was caused by a combo of drugs and her auto accident - Poppy, God bless you for having overcome so many obstacles
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Cinder
Member
09-01-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 4:53 am
Anneph- thanks for the detailed explanation about the "peanut gallery" because I thought it was strange there was a laugh track. Remember- they have nothing to do, but talk to each other. I bet in Amber's everyday life- she does not have such "intense" conversations. Maybe in everyday life she just figures out the context- but thought she needed to ask questions. BTW- Ignorance means lack of knowledge. So- yes- her prejudice does likely come from the same place.
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Darclyte
Member
07-11-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 5:03 am
I completely agree that it was TPTB attempt to show that Amber isn't very knowledgeable which could explain her anti-Semitism and thus divorce themselves from her anti-Semitic comments. The laugh track was cruel and unnecessary.
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Madison6666
Member
09-06-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 5:07 am
The BB editing always seems to paint Amber in a less than flattering light. I just realize that each show isn't complete unless they show Amber having some meltdown in a) the diary room and b) somewhere else in the house or backyard confines. Much in the same way that they have continuity on her actions...the past episode it was her vocabulary skill or lack thereof. On a side note, if it weren't for the competitions, I wouldn't even know that Zack was still in the house...they seem to have so much space to edit for Amber that the others don't warrant the screen time.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 5:13 am
I was uncomfortable. Matter of fact Amber has been making me more and more uncomfortable for a couple of weeks now. I hope this was the end of Amber the humor on the shows. Enough of it will still be on the feeds. I am just happy they left of the America's Top Model stuff out, because she has a really, really pretty face. Not to mention the inspirational speaker, since she is very good with words. I am afraid Amber is going to be facing a very hard time when she leaves the house. I hope there is some kind of major support for her, along with some intense therapy. I don't think she has the tools to deal with what is awaiting her. Just from the things she has said and the fact they didn't stop her from appearing on the show in the first place, I don't have a lot faith in family being much help. It is really ashame she wasn't out that first week. Staying in this long has not done her any favors IMO. I do get the feeling from watching her that BB is keeping her more medicated as of late. But, that is not a long term answer.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 5:27 am
opps got up on my soapbox and forgot what I really wanted to say. I guess we all have our weaknesses. 25 years ago I was thrown into many medical issues with my daughter. I can't tell you the times I have stopped a doctor or nurse from talking and asked them explain something to me. To the point if I was still foggy after the explanation I made them go over it again until I understood 100%. I have no doubt I have irritated and annoyed some doctors along the way. Probably had a few think I was quite daft in the earlier years. But, I didn't care. I wanted to know and the only to do that was ask, sometimes more then once. Still today I will make them do it if something new comes up. The end result is I do have quite an extensive understanding of medical knowledge, procedures and treatments. So IMO there is nothing wrong with asking.
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Piper45840
Member
03-02-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 5:28 am
I think Amber 'thinks' she is being cute. It seems she's attempting to come across as the ditsy blonde. I don't know how Jameka can keep a straight face with some of the stuff that comes out of Amber's mouth during their conversations. It's obvious she is looking for acceptance and something/someone to become. I'm sorry to say I don't think she will find what she's looking for on America's Next Top Model and I honestly don't believe she would ever complete nursing school, whether it's free or not. What bothers me the most is I find myself hoping that all of this is part of her gameplay and a total act...unfortunately I doubt that it is.
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Sharinia
Member
09-07-2002
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 6:00 am
I didn't find it mean. To me Amber seemed 'in on it' as she was telling the DR that she didn't know what so many words meant. I don't see how she could be offended by the segment. Besides, having a weak vocab doesn't necessarily mean that someone is unintelligent. I thought that Amber demonstrated intelligence or good intuition at least when she deduced that Eric and Jess probably had an alliance with the Donatos. What bothers me is that she obviously is mentally unwell to be crying over absolutely everything. I don't think BB should permit someone like this to play the game, much less make it part of the amusement of the show - she needs professional help.
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Poppy
Member
07-21-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 6:59 am
Thanks Debbieeeee - I have been blessed beyond all measure by God and really feel that I still have a purpose here on earth, otherwise I don't know that I would still be here. My memory has gotten better. I will say it was pretty funny at first because where my aneurysm was located is where impulse control is regulated -- it was one of those situations where, when we all think things but don't say them outloud, I would just blurt them out and people would look at me and say "I can't believe you just said that!" It really stumped me because I just didn't get it. It has subsided greatly, but I still have to work at it...LOL I do have to wonder at Amber's mental stability. I have to take antidepressants and an anti-psychotic drug to control BP that was caused by my various injuries ... I used to cry when the little Snuggle bear would float down the TV screen. I hope when she gets out of the house she gets help. I know people who cry alot but I have never know anyone who cries so much, so hard over just about anything.
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Kiari43
Member
08-25-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 7:19 am
I thought it was funny, I know I have watched several conversations that Amber has had with people and almost every time she asks what a certain word means. I found myself saying "good god" about her lack of vocabulary weeks ago. I'm not surprised it was highlighted on the show. 2 things I wonder though, did her former drug abuse affect her memory or brain function. And also, the laugh track was totally stupid. They never use laugh tracks. It would have been better without it.

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Delilah
Member
07-08-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 7:27 am
The "laugh track" was to show what a peanut gallery is. Neither Amber nor Jameka knew what that expression meant, so BB played the laughter to show ... that's the peanut gallery. Anneph has an excellent post at 3:09 am Monday that has the Wikipedia definition of "peanut gallery." Personally, I thought the whole segement was hilarious.
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Bombaycat
Member
07-21-2007
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:08 am
I too was not surprised it was highlighted on the show. I can't believe she has such a limited vocabulary and is considering nursing as a career. I would think she would have a rough time getting thru nursing school. Has anyone else wondered how was she able to read and comprehend the contract she had to sign with BB. Legal terminology is confusing for most of us. Can't imagine Amber understanding it.
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Bonbonlover
Member
07-13-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:08 am
Well Amber is Amber. Everyone who watches the feeds sees Ambers ignorance. So what is BB to do? If they depict her how she is, some feel that is mean. If they gloss over it, some say the edit doesn't give the TV viewers an accurate depiction of the houseguests...
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Beruthiel
Member
08-07-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:09 am
What was more interesting, and which no one has yet mentioned, is that after showing Amber's ignorance of word definitions, they later showed her immediately getting to the truth of the matter after Dick 'explained' what had happened re Dustin's eviction. In other words, BB showed that she might not have a great vocabulary, but she's not as vacant as one might think. Funny, I just read a quote by someone who was annoyed at being thought unintelligent: "I'm not naive, I'm superficial," which made me think of Amber. And, on another note, I also just read that the marijuana of today is about FORTY times stronger than that used in the Swinging Sixties, when it made one mellow but didn't fry one's brains. Apparently modern marijuana is brain rotting. Just something to think about! 
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:16 am
not mean though i didn't understand the laugh track addition. it was out of place.
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Bonbonlover
Member
07-13-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:17 am
Beruthiel...I think that is because when watching the live feeds of the Dick conversation with Amber and Jameka it was very obvious that there was a deal struck. It really didn't take much for Amber to "figure it out". As Dick got up and was leaving the room, he essentially said that things were worked out so that he could stay and that others could meke it farther in the game.
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Beruthiel
Member
08-07-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:21 am
Oh, I know Bonbon, but it was interesting that BB, after making her look so bad, gave her an 'out' with their editing! Maybe the editors had twinge of conscience. ;-)
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Bonbonlover
Member
07-13-2000
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:23 am
yes...maybe they aren't all circuitry and wires...
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Fieryfurnace
Member
07-05-2006
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:27 am
Different drugs cause different damage. The most damaging to brain cells are alcohol, pot and meth. The other thing that should be noted about drug addicts is they usually start using around age 12-14, which affects many part of their life (and their life was ususally not peaches and cream to begin with). I'm not talking about every-day drug users, but addicts usually start very young. There is something in their make-up that has the seek out an alternate reality. I'm one of them and have studied it a lot (and go to NA twice and week and all my friends are recovering addicts). My addiction was not one that caused any brain damage (pain killers) and I'm currenlty in law school. Most people in NA are very bright, upstanding citizens when not on drugs. When the drug use starts so young it's hard to call it a choice they made. My drug problem didn't start until I had surgery in my 30's and it lasted about a year. Very different from the stories I hear in NA, but I'm an addict none the less and I listen to the people who have recovered.
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Webchiq
Member
07-11-2005
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:35 am
Above someone said that they find that BB is intentionally showing Amber crying in every show. I think it's hard to find footage where Amber is not crying.
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Bigd
Member
09-13-2001
| Monday, August 20, 2007 - 8:43 am
I wish I had not already erased the show. I thought the "laugh track" was only in part of the montage of clips they showed and I thought it was what was going on in the background with the other houseguests at that particular moment in time. How could I have missed this? I have always been amused at the amount of posters on this board that misuse a simple 4-letter word. Has anyone else noticed what word I mean?
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