How to understand Josh
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How to understand Josh
Ocean_Islands | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:05 pm  This is a question -- I still don't know what to make of him. He was valedictorian. He was captain of the football team. He was homecoming king. He is, I'm sorry to say, an orphan. Why don't I see ANY of these things in the person in that house? Is he molded by those surrounding him? Why is he so insistent that he is misunderstood? Is it because of the above? Does he not feel these fit in with how he sees himself? |
Hinten | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:26 pm  Let me take a whack at this one... He shows the exact behavior of somebody who is completely spineless and has no opinions or values. And no, this does not mean he is a wimp he just does not have the strength or the intelligence to build his own opinion on things. Some have suggested that the only reason why Curtis made it this far is because he was hiding underneath the radar. Well, he was doing it because he is intelligent, Josh being bland is his natural state of being. Some people like him not because of him but because they project certain characteristics on him that simply do not exist. All of this wouldn't bother me that much but his insistence on his superior intelligence is what pisses me off. Why, why has he gotten this far? |
Motoole | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:30 pm  Hinten, That's a very good question. How has he gotten this far? There are others that were banished WAY before their time. Cassandra. |
Vgk | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:44 pm  I don't know how he's gotten this far. But he's an interesting character study, isn't he? Maybe he's one of those people who had a lot of glory and titles (valdictorian, home coming king, etc.) but never felt like anyone really saw him for him. People around him probably thought he was doing just fine because he appears so innocuous but inside he's really longing to be challenged. But I don't think he's learned yet what being challenged in a healthy way really means. Maybe that's why he got all mixed up in the Jordan/Brit thing. He seems to be the kind of guy that you know has a lot to learn and really doesn't mean any harm and you just want to put your arms around him and tell him it's going to be ok. My roommate thinks that he is gay or bi and just hasn't fully come to terms with it yet. Whether of not this is true, he is certainly internally conflicted about a great many things. Maybe he would have been voted out before this if he had actually been up for banishment a few more times. I think he kind of made it this far by default. Anyway, I'm just rambling... |
Ocean_Islands | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:45 pm  I don't think he's spineless at all. If so, he never would have been able to attempt the saboteur challenge. He never would have had told Brittany that he was keeping the privileged information to himself or attempted to do it. He never would have done naked trampoline. I think he has gotten this far because he is a good person. |
Rmgreco | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:50 pm  I like Josh. I think he is lost but has a good heart. He will grow in time. He's so young. At least his heart is in the right place. He used to annoy me but after the last few days i really have enjoyed him. He was so happy and excited being the sabatuer and I thought it was very sweet of him to try and help the HG's by changing the clock in front of them. I just think he is very introspective and doesnt let alot of himself out. He seems like a sweet boy though. And remember he did save that d@mn pug!!!  |
Hinten | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 04:58 pm  I agree that he is not a bad person, he is also not stupid. That does turn him into a great person with high intelligence either. That said: he was ordered to be a 'sabatwa'. He held the 'privileged' info for a couple of days simply because he could not process the information and feared that it would upset others. He broke down after a couple of days and did share with the others and it really did not change anything in the house. Thirdly, jumping naked on the trampoline is hardly a sign of being a healthy developed, opinionated, intelligent human being. I think Vgk is on to something. Perhaps Josh is the typical American Beauty kind of a person who is hiding tons of emotional issues in the closet and doesn't even realize it. He got completely sidetracked with the Jordan/Britt 'challenge'. I think he does do good if you put a challenge in front of him. He is just not mature enough to figure out which fights are worth the fight and what is just 'college-kid' activity. |
Whatever | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 08:09 pm  Josh is extremely sensitive and aware of the feelings of other people around him, and will go to almost unimaginable lengths to protect others. He has not only stated his intention as such, he has demonstrated it time and time again. He has put the feelings of others above his own. * during all of his "triangle" interactions. Foregoing his attraction and interest in Jamie to remain loyal to Brittany, and so many other ways, large and small * in all of his nomination votes- with tremendous integrity, always choosing on the basis of which houseguests would be harmed least by banishment. * the way he handled the secret info from Brittany- both protecting other houseguests by maintaining secrecy, then by revealing it to protect George after negative banners. He kept no advantage and maintained even playing field, despite Brittany's attempted "assistance" to Josh- and yet Josh was insightful enough to realize that even if Brittany's intentions were favorable, her judgement was not necessarily trustworthy, either. * other examples from his recent discussions, posted on official BB website news articles. Aware of Curtis' role in improving the house early, clearly humble among other houseguests- and yet strong enough to admit his personal shortcomings, what he perceived as weakness, and being open, candid, forthright and trutfhul during RR challenge- when other houseguests had nothing to offer. Josh has not been hiding in the shadows, or flying below the radar. Unlike other houseguests, he has been involved in a very close, meaningful and intimately connected relationship with another houseguest (Brittany), while conducting himself admirably. Josh succeeded in achieving personal growth within the house, by learning from possible mistakes in his interactions with other houseguests, and yet rising above such troubles. Other houseguests chose not to take part in any significant interactions with other houseguests- Josh surpassed all others in this area. Regarding his past, Josh has overcome or at least learned to live with the grief and sadness from the loss of his mother, and the lack of a mother in his life. While another houseguest exhibits a visible physical challenge which must be overcome, Josh has accepted and confronted the obstacles in his own life- and yet does not constantly remind other's of his predicament. Josh not only has courage to act with determination in accordance with his beliefs, he has tremendous awareness and judgement to make very difficult decisions with skill, grace and humility. Josh truly deserves to be recognized as a winner. |
Webtvlurker | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 09:07 pm  Whatever, if its OK with you I would like to bump this up to the top because I thought your post was beautiful. I would also like to add that Josh DID save Pugita and she loved him the best. Animals and children can sense good in someone and I would never doubt their instincts. Peace WEB |
Jayavy | Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 09:45 pm  Words to describe Josh: idealistic, rigid, naive, innocent, immature, lonely, focused on being good, self-deprecating, intelligent, searching for direction, desires to belong, hard-working. |
Ricmunoz | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 03:46 am  Be sure to read the "Girl Who Broke Josh's Heart" thread. It provides a LOT of insight into what is likely fueling Josh's rollercoaster emotions. |
Djgrrl | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 04:18 am  Josh seems like a man trying to find his place in life. Especially with relationships with people. Hinten commented that he has no values. I have witnessed a man with a lot of values. Possibably not the same as yours and mine. My father was an orphan. Due to a insecure family life he tried to make up for it by being a successful businessman and popular. Trying to fill a void in his family life with intelligence, physical strength and beauty. |
Whatever | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 09:11 am  Webtvlurker "Whatever, if its OK with you I would like to bump this up to the top because I thought your post was beautiful." Yes, absolutely (you don't need my permission, you know!) Thank you very much for your comments. |
Lisat | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 09:27 am  Whatever - That was a GREAT post...I haven't voted yet...I believe Curtis, Eddie, and Josh are all deserving...but I think your comments just swayed me in the right direction. Thank you. |
Hinten | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 11:20 am  Whatever - whatever... I guess at this point it does not matter anymore but here is my interpretation of his actions. I am not even trying to sway anybody's opinion at this point. <Foregoing his attraction and interest in Jamie to remain loyal to Brittany, and so many other ways, large and small.> What really happened was that he wanted to get one of the girls in bad (not that there is anything wrong with that). He realized that it is not going to happen with Jamie so he went for Britt and Jordan. Realizing that Jordan was playing around with him but that she would supposedly 'put out' quicker and that Britt is really the 'better' person, he went for them both. That backfired and he really lost both of them (probably the one good thing that Jordan did relating to bb). <the way he handled the secret info from Brittany> Again, I think he did not know how to process this information. He was still swayed by George's big group hug and walk-out theory and felt uncomfortable having information that could upset the 'healthy' love-fest that was going on in the house at that time. Three whole days he kept the secret and then he blurted it all out. Knowing that that was not the honorable thing to do he went to George to beg for forgiveness and wanted to be told that the Chickanman wat fine wit id a'd no harm done did do. I do not think Josh is a bad person and I have nothing against Josh what surprises me is that so many people (both sexes) are swayed by his sexy body and completely overlook his 'tapioca'-like character (I stole that expression from somebody else). <yet does not constantly remind other's of his predicament> I am not quite sure what predicament you are referring to but it sure sounds great and melodramatic. All I saw was him saying that he is so super-intelligent (he only said this to the girls in the house so he can appear sensitive and vulnerable)and that is why nobody understands him. The only thing that I do not understand is what he is referring to. What is it that nobody understands about him? <Other houseguests chose not to take part in any significant interactions with other houseguests- Josh surpassed all others in this area.> Yup, jumping naked on the trampoline is the most significant contribution that josh has made. I agree. |
Renee | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 02:28 pm  >Regarding his past, Josh has overcome or at least learned to live with the grief and sadness from the loss of his mother, and the lack of a mother in his life.< I read on the live feed last night that his mom died and he didn't know what from. It was brief, with no further explanation, and it made no sense to me. How could his family not know the cause of death of such a relatively young woman? If she hadn't been ill, surely an autoposy would have been performed to determine the cause of death. Anyone know anything else about that? Perhaps it was discussed before and I missed it. |
Mystery | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 02:39 pm  An autopsy would have been required if she did not die while under a doctor's care. So maybe she was under a doctor's care or maybe the family didn't want to tell Josh for some reason. It is a little bit strange. I'd think that as he grew up he'd want to know some details, especially if he has mentioned it in conversations in the house. |
Voughtoff | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 04:23 pm  I dont think Josh has that much integrity or sentiivity. He just reacts automatically to situations. His constant reaction--> "Im sorry I dont want to rock the boat. another --> "You definitely desevere it more that I. another --> The group means everything, I will always do what is right for the group?. I believe integrity and sensitiviy are much more varied to the situation, I see it as doing what you really believe is right regardless of the circumstances and other influences -- At many times it would show integrity to say "I would like to win" or "Maybe I am right about something on my own without blindly following the group". Josh is a certainly a likeable guy, but he is not far removed from a well programmed robot. IMHO - I hope no one takes offense - After all I could easily be wrong, what a shock, right? |
Jonathan | Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 08:44 pm  I think he is masking a lot of pain and he has some interesting defense mechanisms. He doesn't appear to me to have a lot of drive or fighting spirit as say an Eddie does. Yet he was football captain, valedictorian and homecoming king, the ultimate high school popularity superstar. Could it be that his breakup with his girlfriend just before coming into the house really did a number on his self esteem? Particularly if she was cheating on him? And what of this whole "playboy" persona? Is that just another role he feels thrust into by the people around him? He did not appear to comfortable in it, or even any good at it to me. He appears to have built these great facades of popularity and likability (he's also a BB finalist now, so something's working), but he's unhappy. In many ways, if he stays on this road he will become a Karen, unhappy, untrue to himself and unfulfilled. During a few interactions, he claims to be misunderstood and also to be under the high expectations of all around him. He's not allowed to fail, and he's not allowing himself to fail. He deals with a lot of pain through denial. Witness the whole "in one ear and out the other" tact he took with Britt and then Cass. He just doesn't want to deal. He has a sort of emotional exhaustion going. There was a whole thread about whether he was clinically depressed or not, but it appears more of a weariness to me, a lack of emotional fulfillment. He is all these things, these characters that he plays, but he is ultimately unhappy. I think he was attracted to Britt because she had some qualities he doesn't, particularly the ability to express emotion and have a kind of emotional honesty about her, to live life as an emotional being even as confused as she may be. He feels like he has to be strong and is thus closed. It is an awful role he finds himself in. We see the symptoms of the fact that he doesn't like it. I actually find him the most compelling character of all the houseguests, and in many ways the saddest. I hope he figures it out. |
Whatever | Friday, September 29, 2000 - 09:48 am  Josh did not reveal all of himself within the house, so there are aspects of Josh which remain unknown. Nevertheless, I do believe he remained true to his character with great integrity the entire time. |
Sanfranjoshfan | Friday, September 29, 2000 - 10:08 am  I saw a conversation he recently had with Curtis (I think) in which he stated that after he got in the house he felt a bit "less than" compared to the rest of the HG. He talked about Cass and the UN and her adventures in Africa, Jamie becoming Miss Washington USA, Eddie in the Nat'l Wheelchair Basketball League, Curtis a lawyer who has sung opera at Carnegie Hall (that statement surprised me, btw....I'd never heard that before), etc.... He went on to say that everyone seemed so accomplished and well traveled and he was just a regular guy from a relatively small community. He even said something about never having been on a jet! To me, it just appeared that he felt he had little to offer a bunch of houseguests that were already so worldly, although in *my* estimation, his honesty and the way he tried to remain true to himself were PLENTY to offer. Seems kind of like he went from being a "regular fish in a regular sized pond" to (in *his* mind) the "insignificant minnow in a fishbowl full of show fish" and that seemed to humble him a bit more than it should have. He has plenty of time to grow and I hope that he gets a lot of offers from, and ultimately does well in, the entertainment industry...mainly because I'd like to see a lot more of him in the future! |
Ocean_Islands | Friday, September 29, 2000 - 09:31 pm  Seeing Josh greet his family and hold his niece while walking out of the house this evening, I realized that's all I need to know about him. I suspected as much before, but didn't want to drop it. I'm wishing Josh the best and hope he's not overwhelmed by all the attention! |
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