For those who don't understand BB Fans...
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Observerx

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 04:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Do you have someone (or someones) in your life that does not get Big Brother? My partner not
hates Big Brother. He does not understand my fascination with it. We've actually had arguments over it (the time I've spent with it). I haven't seen any kind of thread about this so I thought I would post my thoughts and feelings about it, because I'm sure that I'm the only one who has this experience.

OK, I love Big Brother. I thoroughly enjoy watching these people go through this experience. I really wouldn't call myself a fanatic (though my partner would). I can walk away from it (Ok, albeit with a little anxiety!). But I do enjoy watching it... allot. This year I'm getting to watch the live feeds with a DSL connection and it has been a whole new experience!!

IN MY OPINION, the whole point of Big Brother is to see how a diverse group of people will behave in an extremely closed and controlled environment with very little to distract them from themselves and each other, playing a psychological game with the motivation of a large cash prize. It's a wonderful study in human nature to me. (Of course, there is also the commercial value and all that entails.)

We (those watching and posting, etc.) are as much a part of a "game" as those on the show. If we are paying attention, we see how we react to, not only those on the show, but each other on these boards (Our Cyber-Housemates, so to speak). I see it as a great opportunity to learn something about myself as well as other people in general. We see how easily we form judgements and opinions of other people with so little information. We see how quickly we form and reform attachments for different people. We see how several people can see the same thing and each have a totally different perception of it. We are not just watching the game we are playing it!

We can use these people as mirrors to take a look at ourselves. We are not actually living in the house, but the show is about all of us. There is one thing we ALL have in common with every houseguest... We are ALL human. There IS a Unity in all the Diversity.

We get to escape, somewhat, from our daily routine lives to experience something new and different. But we can also learn from it and bring something back into our "real" lives that may make it better. Some of us will only play on the surface and respond with knee-jerk reactions, while some of us will go deeper and evaluate our thoughts and feelings and make profound discoveries about ourselves. Some - Both.

Sometimes the people we least want to deal with and understand are ourselves! It may mean changing our minds about things we thought were written in stone. It may mean learning that we have more control over things and life than we really want to take responsiblity for or accepting that there are things that we must accept that we simply cannot change.

Those who only watch the televised show are being way more controlled than we who are watching on the Internet, because they only get to see the more edited slant that "Big Brother" wants them to see. We internet fans, in a way, get to be houseguests as well as be Big Brother. We put ourseleves on the inside the house as if we were there, to the extent that we can, while at the same time get the advantage of watching it all from the outside, like Big Brother (unfortunately without the control we would like to have). Yet we are also being controlled by Big Brother by which feeds they show or don't show us and that damn FOTH! We also don't get to decide what curve balls we'd like to throw in the game. But, we get to play a little part in both sides.

Those on the show cannot possibly be their "natural" selves in such an "unnatural" situation.
I don't believe any of us posting on these boards could actually have any idea how or what we would actually do in their situation unless we were going through it ourselves, but we get to speculate. We get to imagine. We get to deal with emotions in ourselves that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to examine, because we don't get this kind of in-depth stimulation in our daily social situations.

I think most humans are naturally voyeuristic and curious. It's why people slow down at the scene of an accident just to get a look. We seek stimulation.. intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually... We want to feel alive.

There are probably as many reasons for watching Big Brother as their are viewers. But something can be learned from it. It's a living novel without any predetermined outcome. It's a microcosm of how we choose to behave in our lives and with the other people in our lives. In real life there are alliances, greed, lying, loving, sharing, opinions, beliefs, arguments, agreements ... it's all concentrated in this Big Brother game.

Anyway, I know this is a long post, but I had to get this out.

Just my viewpoints, In my humble opinion, as I see it...

ObserverX

Flyonthwall

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 04:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
*clapping frantically* Excellent post ObserverX!!!

I think you summed it up very nicely!
Poor thing I do feel your pain! My hubby says "Oh gezzz another BB...I won't see you all summer!"
LOL
He does "get it" but he's not as into it as I am, and knows I won't be in bed until the wee hours of the morn!

Thanks for shareing and glad you got that out of your system...trust me, we do understand.

Take a donut and some coffee and join the group.

"Everyone, this is ObserverX and he's a BB ADDICT!
BB ANON GANG: "WELCOME OBSERVERX!!!"
*frantic clapping*

FLY

Realtvfan

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 04:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Observerx,

Just to show you that you have company on the other side of the gender line. I'm a guy and my female significant other of over 19 of the last 20 years considers BB the second biggest waste of time going.

I'm in the same situation you are in. I very much enjoy learning about myself based on the actions and inactions of HGs in various circumstances.

I started watching 2 weeks into BB1 for a completely different reason and ended up staying so I could:
a) see the many many unscripted circumstances the HGs were in,
b) think about how I would of handled each one,
c) learn from others on Internet.

I do respectfully completely disagree with you because I do think that those on the show are being their natural selves. I believe the "excuse" that the HGs use to say they would "never do this in real life" is too lame for words. I can fairly project what I would do in the house because I have character and principals. I also very much enjoy the situation that we can completely and respectfully disagree with each other on the Internet.

Djgirl5235

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 04:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Observerx... You are amazing!!!

I have a boyfriend who cannot understand my fascination with Big Brother and all that it entails. I cannot subscribe to the live feeds as we don't have a computer at home, however, he will bring his laptop home from work for me to be able to go online and check on the houseguests. I have been a devout fan since the very beginning and met one of my closest, dearest friends on a board much like this one just following Brittany's eviction the first year. Unfortunately, she's the only person I know who watches the show, aside from you fine folks here at BBFC that I can share my thoughts with about the houseguests. My boyfriend doesn't have a clue when it comes to the house, and although he watches the show with me, he still can't remember who each person is, and what they're roll is at the moment.

I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate your hard work at posting the live feeds, as I wouldn't have a clue what was really going on in the house without you!!! I feel so much more in tune with everything because of your hard work... however... it makes for some strange dinner conversations as something will come into my head about the occurrences in the house, and he will look at me with this blank look on his face and then retort Who????

I agree that the whole concept of the game is intriguing in itself, as a psychological experiment and is phenominal in the way that it can turn into a sort of "Lord of the Flies" sort of thing... the strong turning on the weak as the weeks progress. Although, as you say, they are able to leave when they wish, the "carrot" that is dangled in front of them each day ($500K) keeps them locked up at their own desire to be the top dog.

Thank you for a wonderful, expressive post!!!!

Wcv63

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 04:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My husband not only can't stand BB but can't wait until the reality tv "fad" fades away completely. Not only doesn't he "get it" he is even actively pressing me to give up watching these programs.

I'll give up watching my reality tv when he gives up watching sports. Now that's something *I* don't get.

My children on the other hand are just as fascinated with reality tv as I am. They love to watch American Idol and Big Brother with me.

Observerx

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Flyonthewall: Thank you for your support.. together we can get through this... :)

Realtvfan: I have to agree with you after thinking about it. Maybe they're even being more of their natural selves by being placed in this situation because it would be difficult to wear a "mask" around people 24/7... The longer they are there the more truly we see who they are because they don't have the usual distractions of "real" life. We have certainly see how they bring the roles they have in the "outside world" and adapt (or try to adapt) them to their situation in the house.

I also think that the thought of gaining $500,000 could really distort some peoples ways have behaving.. money can make people crazy and do things they normally wouldn't do, especially if they don't have strongly defined character and principals. The money is not mentioned a whole lot in the game but it has to have a very powerful (though maybe subconscious) psychological effect not matter how much one might say they are in it for "the experience".

Again, I'm not sure because I've never actually been in the situation. I can only speculate.

Anyway, I really meant this as a forum for those who have to deal with loved ones or friends who don't understand our fascination...

By the way realtvfan, I am also a guy... (as an example of how quickly we make assumptions based on our personal model of reality).

Mindspin

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I agree. We all probably enjoy science or sociology in some manner. Although some, like me didn't want to show it when in school. :)

Realtvfan

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Observerx
My apologies about the assumption. I still live and learn all the time. That is why I watch.

Earthmother

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My husband doesn't understand it but he really doesn't care as long as we have two tvs and his is on ESPN. Great post ObserverX

Braveheart61901

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I watch BB because I love it but it has also taught me to deal with the back-stabbers and evil-doers where I work!!!!!

I don't get too much flack for watching it....my family understands that it's MY program and not to bother me when it's on. My close friends are into it as much as I and we really don't discuss it with what we call "outsiders", lol!

Twiggyish

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I enjoy it for the reasons you stated, too.

Point taken on this one, too:
"...in-depth stimulation in our daily social situations"

Absolutely! I don't know any Chiara's, although, I do know plenty of Gerry's. (Must be my age)

I also liked the deeper evaluation part, too.

Excellent post!

Willsfan

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
It's cheap entertainment for me so my family doesn't mind. In fact, my husband watches it just to see what I'm talking about when I mention the HGs and which ones I want to see leave first.

There are many things worse than watching BB or posting/reading on this message board. This is harmless fun and sometimes educational.

Needmylifeback

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My husband doesn't get it...I just tell him it's "My Pro-wrestling" ...and then he skulks away! - I don't bother him when he's got the T.V. tuned to the WWF or whatever they call it this week!

I will be off-line for two weeks tho' and I'll be sure to hit Bunnie's Live Feed Summaries when I get back!

Observerx

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I already feel differently (better) by posting my thoughts and seeing the feedback. Everyone wants to feel they are accepted and acknowledged if not totally agreed with. I have no one I can really discuss this with and now I feel like even more a part of the phenomenom. I'm glad I decided to post. Thanx for sharing everyone!

Realtvfan- no apologies needed here :) Thanks for making me re-evaluate what I wrote... My mind is wide open! It's all about having fun and learning. (Let's remember the FUN!)

Whit4you

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well thank GAWD I don't have a significant other lol - last year it woulda been horrible - cause I was spending oh...18ish hours a day on this board lol.. this year oh only 10ish hours a day here...:)

I do have a roommate however and I got smart rather then listening to him whine and cry and ••••• about how much time I spend here (most my free time) I hooked him up with The Sims and 1000's of items for his houses and stuff just before BB started soooo he's uh... somewhere in this house playing The Sims as much as I read this board so he can't very well get on MY case now can he LOL. As far as anyone else - it's none of their business so they don't know :)

It's a bummer though that I have nobody LOCAL to chat with about this game...lol - :)

Anyhow my suggestion is try and get them hooked on or busy with something for the rest the summer.... woodworking? or pottery or who knows something that'll keep them busy! :) If there isn't anything like that well - bottom line is you guys have the rest your lives together what's a few hundred hours...ya know? :)

Oh and there are tricks to use too to make it not seem AS bad uh...what's funny about this - on the show "You've got mail" they showed that Meg doing exactly what *I* used to do - watch for my roommate to drive off to get online..and listen for him to get home then go in and lay on couch and pretend I'd been watching soaps or something.. when the person in your life is obbessed with how much your online it's like they don't care if you are watching soaps or not - it's that "amount of time online" type of deal. LOL

And if you truely ARE hooked - save those tasks that can't be done while your reading here or watching the BBers - for when HE/SHE is home...ya know? Hear them driving up - turn off the monitor (and speakers hehehe) and run into the other room and start doing those dishes that are soaking in the sink..and so on... I'm serious I know this all sounds strange but um... it's so silly to me that they don't CARE if we waste 10 hours a day watching soaps for part of it say and then say chatting on the fone with a friend for a few and so on but if your "online" too much they get on your case so there are ways to make it look less bad LOL. Also there are alot of tasks you can do WHILE listening to BB (writing out bills - reading mail ...sorting cloths..folding cloths - this one you can do while reading here hehe) Anyhow good luck all....try and keep THEM busy that's the best answer :)

Whit4you

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
edit double post

Twiggyish

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 05:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit, off topic..go to your members folder.

Squaredsc

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 06:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
great posts observex and whit. my husband "hates" all of the reality shows, except sports. he doesn't understand them, he doesn't understand why they are growing in popularity. he also doesn't understand my obsession with this board. but i must say that for someone who doesn't like the shows, he ends up watching some of them with me, like survivor and a little bit of bb2 and bb3 and tar. but he draws the line at real world and road rules.

i am fortunate that i have a good number of coworkers who also enjoy survivor, bb, tar. we talk about it the mornings after a show and the day before a show, and of course i provide the updates from this site.

i also love coming to this board and hearing others opinions, especially when those opinions differ from mine.

Observerx

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 06:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
edit: My first paragraph should have read like this--

Do you have someone (or someones) in your life that does not get Big Brother? My partner hates Big Brother. He does not understand my fascination with it. We've actually had arguments over it (the time I've spent with it). I haven't seen any kind of thread about this so I thought I would post my thoughts and feelings about it, because I'm sure that I'm NOT the only one who has this experience.

I somehow moved the word NOT to the wrong place.

Wouldn't it be awfully boring if we all agreed on everything! There'd be no discussion.

Admin

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 11:16 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Is this the coming out thread?

Okay...I like it too! I love sitting on the couch, watching and criticizing. Even though I sometimes ignore the TV, I find myself asking Lisa "What did I miss?? What just happened?"

I'm vacating the other thread areas and coming in here....despite all my efforts to just be admin and not get involved! Help!

Reader234

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 11:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL, ok if this is the "coming out thread" I guess I'd better confess!!

I dont like the HG, I dont even like the way Arnie s is using the BB3 this year!! I really think this BB has had better suggestions for sure!!

BUT I LOVE the way this bb moves!! This is a creative bunch, I LOL so much, in another thread I cant remember, but I swear I'll be saying their line... "pot kettle black" ROFLOL!! too much!!

I dont even try to explain to anyone!! My cousin was gracious enough over vacation to give me power of the remote, but since I hadnt been on the bb for a week (vacation, must be done at begin of BB, not the end!! *eg) it just meant NOTHING, and it was hopeless to explain an addiction, maybe... nah dont think so!!

I do miss the microphone lady, and those that tried to throw TP over, too bad Arnie doesnt have a since of humor similiar to ours!!

Sandy

Ladytex

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 12:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. My husband does watch it for me and even tapes it for me if I'm not home. He's not "into it" though and that's okay too. The time I spend on the boards is the time he spends watching ESPN. I don't have anyone locally that I can really talk to about it, so it's either come here or call my sister long distance ... guess what he prefers, lol.

I, too, have learned things about myself. I never considered myself a prude, but now I guess I am, cuz all the smut talk makes me tune out, change feeds, change threads. I've learned that I sometimes tend to prejudge people. I work with a couple of those "helpless southern belle" types and I really cannot stand them. I pidgeon-holed Amy into that group from the beginning. Sometimes her act still works my nerves, but I like her alot more than I thought I would.

Anyways, I'm really enjoying my bb season, and am glad to have others to chat with about my "addiction".

Reader234

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 01:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
May I just add...

I think it may help to print Bunnies summaries!! I'm roflol, tears are streaming!! She totally gets the humor I might just miss!!

Thank you!!

Gentoo

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 02:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I myself do not understand the draw to big brother. I watch it because I see a lot potential in it, but knowing full well that I'll never see that potential realized. I watch it in the faint hope that I'll get to see "Big Brother" (Orwell) rather than "Days of our Lives".

I've never been a soap opera fanatic, and basically Big Brother is a soap opera. But I come back time after time hoping to see the hamsters poked and prodded some more. Tortured and put into social and psychological situations, and see how they handle them.

If I just wanted to see people live their lives, I can watch my own. There is limitless potential with what can be done with this show. Have penalty rather than reward channels now and then for example (The last person to finish this tast, spends two days in solitary confinement, ect) or group penalties for individual transgressions against Big Brother.

The divided house (with the bars) was cool on UK big brother. Lets have more of that.

Delilah

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 02:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This is a remarkable thread with excellent posts, a very enjoyable read! Thank you all

My spouse is very annoyed that I spend so much time with BB. Last year, it caused a huge ruckus between us but this year he seems to understand that is wasn't just a phase of mine. He has no problem with the show, he watches it with me now but he gets very annoyed at the amount of time I spend watching the feeds and reading/posting here at the BBFC. He is especially annoyed that I stay up until at least 3am every night. I explain that is when all the fun happens in the house and I am an East Coaster living on BB time! I spend less and less time cleaning etc... so that bugs him too. I tell him it is only three months of the year and he has to deal with it ha ha. I sometimes am quite annoyed with myself (a little guilt trip) and switch the feeds off for a day or so, clean my entire house, cook for a week and then when I go back to my 18 hour BB day, I don't feel too bad!

Bogey

Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 03:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't think I watch BB (and other reality shows)for any deep social reason, I think I just like to judge people. In the normal context of my life I don't, but I feel these people go on these shows to put themselves in front of everyone, and they know what reality tv is about (with the possible exception of the Survivor 1 cast, who I doubt had any idea), so its like they've signed a disclaimer that allows me to judge them on biased, edited tv clips and shallow observations. And to be honest, I enjoy that ;)

Donut

Friday, August 02, 2002 - 10:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Observerx, i am glad that you came out so you could realize that pretty much EVERYBODY's partner or spouse will not watch with them...
I think i may be the only lucky one whose spouse watches the show and live feeds too! altho this year he is very disappointed and doesnt like it and is mad at himself for watching anyway....

Observerx

Friday, August 02, 2002 - 11:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey Everybody! I'm glad that I started this thread too... I don't feel so alone in my situation here. I was actually with someone different during BB1 and BB2 and he was really into it (I've been sneaking emails to him about it), so this year was a little dissapointing not to have my partner "get into it" like I do.

I really enjoy reading all the different posts and threads and getting peoples different reactions to the show and other posts people have. The show does stir up a lot of stuff.

By the way... though my hubby did not watch last nights show with me, he came in during the end and starting asking questions about what was going on and then walked out muttering "not that I'm getting into it... I'm just curious" hehehe...

My partner and I are celebrating our one year anniversary this month... maybe he'll be worth keeping :)

As an Amy fan, and even knowing that she was going, I couldn't help but shed a tear for her when she was evicted last night. As a Southern boy (belle?) myself, I really related to her...

I can't wait for next weeks twist!! May the games continue...