Archive through August 14, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: Is BB3 RACIST?: Archive through August 14, 2002

Bbrules4ever

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
i love bigbrother...it is an interseting psychological/sociological experiment....

i always thought bigbrother is supposed to be an example of a microcosm of American Society....but there is no ASIAN,Hispanic,or American Indian Houseguests and I find that terrible. There are 10 White people and 2 "token" blacks. This is not America.....studies show that these other racial populations are exploding across the USA. Dont you think BB should be more diverse racially/ethnically? I thinks its more interesting with different cultural backgrounds too!!!

Seanflynn

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I said earlier, they missed a great chance to put a Moslem on the show (there are 5-6 million Moslem US citizens, about the same as the Jewish population)

Mystari

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I seem to recall this conversation before in a Survivor...

and will not post my entire argument again as it tends to get a little bashy.

So let me just tone it WAY down and say - what kind of grouping of society can they get with only 12 people that are also picked to be asthetically pleasing to the target audience?

Shadowkat

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bbrules...if BB3 was suppose to be a microcosm of American society, we're in a lot of trouble!!

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I agree, I was talking about the lack of representation of other groups as well. I think they should do it one year with Native American, Asian, Hispanic and White because the token black thing is overdone. Notice too, the black person is usually one of the 1st 3-4 they try to get out of the house (Marcellas this year and Mega and Cassandra(nominated every week by at least 2 hg's) from the 1st season. I've wondered why blacks even go in with the odds so obviously stacked against them. This year Marc and Dani were left out of ALL alliances. I'd say it's racist in more ways than one. Sad but in this way, it is a microcosm of America. Tribalism abounds in that house, just as in the outside world and what do you know? For once, it wasn't the blacks segregating themselves.

Curlyq

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Do you just mean this season? Curtis was Asian American. Also, I keep thinking that even though Lisa's last name is Donahue she really looks Hispanic to me. Even though most of my ancestors were of Spanish descent, since my great-grandfather was from England I don't have a Spanish last name, so I know that names aren't always an indicator. Lisa looks (and even speaks) like she could easily pass for one of my many cousins.

They also have one Jewish man, and one Italian woman. I guess it all depends on how you define "white".

P.S. Some Hispanics (I personally don't care) take offense at being told they are a different race or that they're not white but Italians are. Not a complaint, just a heads-up.

Cameltoes

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They can never get an accurate demographic representation of the country without it looking like obvious tokenism. They just need to choose the 12 most compelling "applicants". If they are all one race then so be it.

Ryn

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Danielle chose to leave herself out of any alliance, except the ONE she and Jason formed.

Marcel ostracized himself the 1st week, he is an admitted "drama queen" - he has since been in an alliance.

I hate these arguments, because just by disagreeing with you I might come off as "racist" since i am a white 'american'

Babyruth

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't think the BB producers ever claimed to accurately represent the percentages of America's racial, ethnic, socioeconomic or religious groups. What would they use to go by, anyway, the US census? With only 12 HG's, they'd have fractions to represent...maybe they would have to find a young hispanic lesbian jew, an older Republican black Buddist, a Muslim transgendered male, a redneck Asian, etc etc, to cover all the classifications.

Gritss

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Where did you hear that BB is supposed to be a microcosm of America? How many 12 person groups (of almost any sort) in America are you aware of that fit your quota ideas? Truth is, the vast majority of people in America voluntarily choose their associates.

BTW, you left out the "token" homosexual in the mix of what TV producers are being forced to include.

I don't disagree with you on what makes for interesting TV. When I invest a few million of my dollars on a reality show, you might like my casting. Or you might not.

Cameltoes

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah.. they could have sought out Aneesa from the Real World. Black, Lesbian and Jewish all rolled into one.

Amac

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I doubt Shapiro ever intended Big Brother to be a microcosm of society.

Sherwood Schwartz, on the other hand, did intend the castaways of "Gilligan's Island" to be a microcosm of society.

Annavenis

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah.. ditto to what Cameltoes said. Besides, I wouldn't want to be chosen just because I'm Native American, or Asian or whatever. They seem to have chosen the right mix of people to make this the best BB yet. Race or nationality is and should be irrelevant. Claiming that it's not is a form of racism itself....

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ryn,
Why would you come off as racist? Defensive? Yes. Racist? No. I've never seen anything remotely racist from your posts. (Some others on this board are questionable, tho) Are you keeping a secret?

The point is, Marcellas changed and became a part of the house. They STILL wanted him gone.
Josh should have been ostracized but WASN'T until his behavior got totally out of hand. Danielle TOLD Jason she was the only one not approached about an alliance. If you think back to her in the DR the first week, she said she was worried because no one had approached her.

Crazydog

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
While I think the casting could be improved, I don't think the houseguests themselves are racist. There have been conversations this year about how race is not an issue. Last year, the final three of Will, Nicole and Monica consisted of a Jew, half-Asian, and black. So I don't think it's fair to say that minorities can't do well.... Danielle certainly has the makings to go far.

Casting, however, is a different issue. The houseguests themselves thought there would be somebody Chinese or Latino. I think Curtis to this day remains the only Asian male to ever appear on a reality show. It's disappointing to me that there wasn't better representation. And why is it there always on every reality show have to be two token blacks, and why is it that there is always one male and one female? Let's see with Survivor... Ramona/Gervase, Alicia/Nick, Linda/Clarence, Vecepia/Sean. Just for once I'd like to see a reality show break the minority "formula". Maybe for BB4.

Gritss

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jas1st, I respect your opinion, but I think you are clueless as to the motivations of the HGs. Think "it's a game" and reconsider.

Ryn

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jason : They wanted Marcel gone because they had all agreed to it - they were trying to establish trust among thier group. There was nothing "racist" about that.

Josh was a part of the 'alliance' - he was looked at as easy to get rid of, marcel was seen as a better player and thus more of a threat. It was a complimet to marcel that they all felt he was more of a risk to win than Lori.

The dynamics of this game are completly bonkers, you cannot simplify why someone is/isn't nominated to racial motivations, its about compatibility, alliances, hygene habits, they are all over the map on why they like/dislike each other.

Crazy,

An Asian won The MOLE last week - or am I completely mistaken calling that a reality show???

Auntkk

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jason's_First, just have to mention in response to your question as to why blacks apply when the odds are stacked against them in Reality TV, that Vecepia won Survivor.

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gritss,
All I said was tribalism. I don't know what else to call it. I never said they were racist, just tribal. Thanks for respecting my opinion, anyway

Crazydog

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ryn, of course The Mole counts as a reality show, and yes Dorothy did win. But I said it's strange to me that there are no Asian males on ANY reality shows - Curtis was the only one and he was a stereotypical geek. There have been numerous Asian females, especially if you count the MTV shows.

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Auntkk,
I was talking about big brother. I don't watch any other reality show except "Amazing Race". It happens in Big Brother all the time. You're putting words in my mouth because I never mentioned all reality tv.


Ryn,
Sorry, I don't watch "The Mole". I wasn't talking about all reality shows. Sorry, I thought this was obvious. About them wanting Marcellas gone, couldn't they have changed their agreement? alliances do it all the time.I really didn't see it as a compliment to Dani or Marc when they were obviously left out of the big alliances. I saw it as the other hg's trying to make them the dispensiible ones, cloaking their probable early exits in the fact they had no alliances.

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Racism and tribalism are VERY different. I DO NOT THINK THE HG'S ARE BIGOTS. THEY ARE NOT RACISTS. THEY ARE TRIBAL. BIG DIFFERENCE.

Costacat

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Didya think that maybe people from another sector just may not WANT to be on BB? Maybe the percentage of people submitting tapes -- assuming, of course, that the majority of HGs are chosen that way -- are white. This show is obviously not an equal opportunity show, but I also don't think the producers sit down to say "OK, let's have two African-Americans, one Hispanic, one Asian, and eight whites." It's entirely possible that the mix they have on the show is representative of those who applied.

Just a thought...

1kid4us

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Costacat: You and I think very much alike! Amen to everything you said.

Jasons_First

Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 02:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ocean_Islands,
I think the arab/jew angle would've been interesting. They wouldn't necessarily be at each others throats. You also said:

"Anybody with half a brain would not even want to be on this show at all".

What about those of us who watch it and are addicted? What does that say about us? :)