Author |
Message |
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 12:53 pm
No matter what he did, short of bullying others, does not justify how the others treated him. Yes, he is responsible for his own behavior (which HURTS no one but himself), but they are even more responsible for their own, which hurts OTHERS. To me, that's the issue that's more repulsive.
|
Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 1:04 pm
Oh, I beg to differ. I think his betrayal HURT everyone on his tribe who felt back-stabbed. So his behavior is far from stellar.
|
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 1:22 pm
Okay, so he was whiny and that justifies how poorly they treated him and how they bullied him. But their bullying doesn't justify his turning on them? I don't get that logic. What I get is that they treated him very poorly and then magically expected him to treat them well. That's insanity. 
|
Lorie
Member
08-29-2003
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 2:03 pm
I'm sorry if others have said this. I haven't taken the time to read each post. But Cochran flipping sides was what seemed best for HIS game at the time. Not for anyone else's. He didn't go out there to help anyone else win a million. So for the jury to say that he lost them their chance to win, that makes no sense to me. Where does it say that anyone needs to help anyone else win a million?
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 2:26 pm
On the same note as Holly indicated earlier, the other tribe members of Cochran's also chose to go on Survivor, with every expectation that someone or something down the line could hinder their chance at a million dollars. They ALL chose to go on this show so they should quit bellyaching when things don't go their "entitled" way!!! My Mom always taught me that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. If they wanted something from Cochran they should have treated him differently.
|
Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 4:58 pm
I went back and re-red my post to see what might lead anyone to think that I felt the others were justified in mistreeating Cochran. Sure enough I didn't indicate that in any way. What I did say - and believe - is that he very much needs to learn better ways of interacting with others. It would appear that his life thus far has not offered him sufficient training in this area, so it might be wise for him to seek professional help. Hopefully I have made my point and hope that he will learn to do better more evident. Maybe I should state clearly that, even though he lacks basic social skills, bullying him because he doesn't have them is not okay.
|
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 6:00 pm
I apologize if I misread your intent, Tntitanfan. I just don't see him as "self-destructive as a person can be." FWIW, I've seen people far more self destructive. And as I noted, I just don't know if we can extrapolate his discomfort with being on Survivor to his entire life, as he himself says he is not generally like that. Without observing him in real life, it's very hard *for me* to be so critical of him. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't see him as so very terribly dysfunctional, maybe mildly so. He was just way out of his element. His choice of course. I do agree that it appears his social skills could use some work, however, how valid that is really depends on how functional he is in real life, which none of us know. He does seem to lack certain sensitivities, for sure. But as you said, that was no reason for them to treat him so poorly and then expect so much of him. Perhaps treating people very badly because you are in the majority, and then expecting them to serve you is a more self-destructive trait than being admittedly out of your element.
|
Mamabatsy
Member
08-05-2005
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 7:06 pm
If Cochran is a law student at Harvard, he has spent a huge part of his life on a college campus hanging around with the top students. He might just be the most social of them. He might be the life of the party in his group. His lack of physical skills and not having the type of social skills the "pretty people" admire are normal in his universe. If Ozzie, Keith and Jim tried to hang out with Cochran and his friends, they might be the ones made fun of. They certainly wouldn't be admired.
|
Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 8:21 pm
I've been in grad school for more years than I care to think about, surrounded by a bunch of like-minded nerds--and at one of the top programs in the nation. Never have I ever come across someone as socially inept or passive aggressive as Cochran. Dawn also has a PhD and didn't have the same kinds of problems Cochran had. In fact, her fellow competitors went out of their way to be kind to her. I don't particularly have a problem, when it comes down to it, with people who are socially inept; I've been there myself more times than I care to remember. I do, however, think there's a problem when one doesn't adapt and/or when one advertises one's social ineptitude and, instead, calls those around oneself "a bunch of...jerks."
|
Mamabatsy
Member
08-05-2005
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 8:47 pm
To him, and to me, they behaved like "a bunch of... jerks." I have an advanced degree and then worked on a college campus for many years before I retired. I saw and knew many more people like Cochran than like the others. I don't think I ever met anyone as arrogant for no reason as Ozzie. There were plenty of delusional Coaches though. Even the grinds who were socially comfortable, were accepting of those who are not. It might depend on the type of school and the degree program.
|
Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 9:15 pm
At some point, students are going to have to leave the sheltered and exalted halls of academia and come fce to face with the real world which is inhabited by people who have not had their advantages, people who resent their years of study, and people who don't see any value in what they have to offer to society. And it is there - where the rubber hits the road - that "academics" need to prove their connnection and value to the rest of society.
|
Kappy
Member
06-28-2002
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 1:27 am
I just watched the clips from Ponderosa and I don't think they treated him that badly. They just weren't jumping up and down to greet him. The problem I see with Cochran is that he is so thrilled with himself that he continuously talks about himself and analyzes every movement he makes to anyone who is in hearing range. That would get old really quick.
|
Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 6:37 am
They wouldn't come to greet him. They wouldn't even sit down at a table and eat with him at first. I wouldn't like to be treated like that.
|
Sportsfan
Member
09-03-2007
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 9:08 am
Kappy, that is exactly what turned me off him. His constant running dialogue about himself. I would run from a person like that in real life. It has nothing to do with his looks-its his personality that turns me off. Also, he betrayed his whole team..why should they talk to him. He brought absolutely nothing to the game, No skills whatsoever.
|
Mamabatsy
Member
08-05-2005
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 9:54 am
To-may-tow/to-mah-tow Cochran is the only thing that made the show interesting to me this time around. I'm tired of watching replays and everyone else was either boring or insane. Without him, the emphasis would have been even more on Coach, Ozzie or Brandon. As it was we saw way too much of all three.
|
Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 10:11 am
<He brought absolutely nothing to the game, No skills whatsoever.> And there it is! And I would add, no entertainment value to many of us who don't care for 'hapless victim' types.
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 10:23 am
Aaahhhh, but look at what he brought to the game! Discussions on these boards have kept us occupied for many a day! Entertaining, yes? We need someone of controversy on these reality shows to talk about; otherwise, they would be very boring, as Mamabatsy said. It's all in our perspective, isn't it? 
|
Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 10:51 am
One could argue that this season is boring *because* of Cochrane. Pagonging does not for exciting TV make. Had he stayed with his tribe, I don't think it would have been the same pagong style elimination because I could see Sophie and Albert breaking away from Coach and Brandon to go with Ozzie and shaking things up. And personally I'd much rather have an exciting season of Survivor than weeks of arguing on a message board over a creepy contestant just because there's nothing more interesting to talk about.
|
Konamouse
Member
07-15-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 1:23 pm
Holly - I disagree. Whether Cochran had switched or stayed. There would have been a rock pulled and one side would still have the advantage = Pagonging one way or the other. Each tribe would have stayed loyal and we'd have a very similar outcome (just perhaps a different order).

|
Holly
Member
07-21-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 2:00 pm
Kona, as I said above, I seriously doubt that Sophie, Dawn and Albert would have stayed loyal to Coach. I think the praying thing and the general cult like dynamic would have had them shifting gears away from Svengali-Coach, bat-shit crazy Brandon, and "are-you-there" Rick after the merge took place. Also, the other tribe had more interesting characters, imo, despite their warts and all--they just seemed to have more individuality than these sheep following Coach right now; actually, watching Ponderosa is more interesting to me than the tediously obvious pagonging going on at camp right now. Yawn. JMO-YMOV
|
Jewels
Member
09-22-2000
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 3:47 pm
<<Also, he betrayed his whole team..why should they talk to him.>> Interesting statement, since it was THEIR behavior that made him switch in the first place, that seems to be forgotten quite often.
|
Jewels
Member
09-22-2000
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 3:55 pm
Rarely do peole ever switch sides. We always want it to happen, but it never does. From our vantage point we think they our crazy, but they are thinking end game and loyalty. I doubt anybody would have switched. Cocharan at least tried to change it up a bit. Nobobdy else has done squat.
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 4:00 pm
<<Also, he betrayed his whole team..why should they talk to him.>> Because they are mature adults? Because they can rise above the pettiness of this game? Because they have a heart? Because........?????? I am always surprised at the "hate" towards another person, which leaves no room for tolerance nor their redemption. I always want to think the best of people and have a hard time doing so when they are mean spirited and feel entitled. I don't really care for Cochran either but, gosh, he is a human being and must have some feelings worthy of consideration. I just like seeing people rise above their differences and be more tolerant of those who are different (and annoying). And speaking of victims.....I kind of get the feeling that his old tribe they are victims of his actions. Golly. Weren't they strong enough to withstand victimization by him????
|
Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 4:44 pm
I agree Auntimike, if they were all in grade school their actions would be understandable. These people are supposed to be adults.
|
Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, December 11, 2011 - 4:52 pm
The fact is that if Cochran's former tribe was made up of better players, they would still be in contention to win. There is a reason that they are sitting on the bench and it is their poor game play. It's their fault for letting Cochran or anyone put them there.
|