Could BB ever feature a HM with severe learning difficulties or autism?

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,003
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Although, I don't think this would ever happen. People with learning difficulties are protected by the discrimination laws just like everyone else so if producers didn't put them in based on their disability, they would be breaking the law.

I'm more interested in what people think would happen if they did. I think it would be interesting for a couple of reasons;

1/ People would gain an understanding of how difficult it is for people with special needs, and people who live with someone with special needs.

2/ it'd be interesting to see how the other HMs reacted to this HM. I think certainly initially, that he/she would not get many votes, and that most would pretend they were getting on really well with them.
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Comments

  • mrmattybeckmrmattybeck Posts: 1,697
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    Maybe if it was still on ch4 never will happen on ch5
  • BadmkBadmk Posts: 1,535
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    They would be posively discriminated against both by the housemates and the viewers. Like Pete and Mikey in BB7/BB9 to me it ruins the point of the show with everyone having an equal chance of winning.
  • JustinCredibleJustinCredible Posts: 19,647
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    Mikey didn't win.
  • SnowStorm86SnowStorm86 Posts: 17,273
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    Mikey didn't win.

    Considering how little he contributed to storylines I think even coming second was wrong.
  • CLL DodgeCLL Dodge Posts: 115,632
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    Housemates would have to both be able to take care of themselves and be able to interact socially with others.

    If someone's disability does not prevent them doing that then they can progress through the auditions.
  • mrblankmrblank Posts: 5,687
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    Considering how little he contributed to storylines I think even coming second was wrong.

    your right although the producers would have us belive his chille task was massive :D
  • k0213818k0213818 Posts: 5,916
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    I can certainly see somebody with Asperger's being a contestant at some point. I believe they had a contestant with Asperger's on a season of ANTM and she went on to be one of the most popular ever.
  • SnowStorm86SnowStorm86 Posts: 17,273
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    mrblank wrote: »
    your right although the producers would have us belive his chille task was massive :D

    The chilli thing was good and very funny but it was just one incident out of 12 weeks. Receiving a ball to the back of the head in the swimming pool was also unintentionally funny. I think the main factor for his high placement in the final was because his unrelenting hatred of Rex and his friendship with the people's favourite, Rachel, who by that time was hugely popular.
  • jonloch1jonloch1 Posts: 3,178
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    If a person has severe learning difficulties, they probably wouldn't understand the whole concept of BB and, in particular, the behaviours that are acceptable and unacceptable. They would also need to be cared for which is unfair to expect the other housemates to fill that role when they have only applied for a summer of fun.

    It would also be dangerous. A lot of people with severe learning difficulties lash out when they are angry/upset and BB wouldn't be able to discipline/kick them out because it would be unfair as they don't understand.

    There are lots of reasons why BB cant. Whilst i'm all for BB putting in people with physical difficulties, such as cerebral palsy [which I have], I think it would be too risky to put someone in with severe learning difficulties
  • RobRob Posts: 4,168
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    My friend has cerebral palsy - she's in a wheelchair and has to have a carer to take her to the loo, put her in bed etc - so would it be possible if a carer was on site at all times for someone like that to take part? Mentally she's fine, she's got a degree and everything.
  • jonloch1jonloch1 Posts: 3,178
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    RobInnes wrote: »
    My friend has cerebral palsy - she's in a wheelchair and has to have a carer to take her to the loo, put her in bed etc - so would it be possible if a carer was on site at all times for someone like that to take part? Mentally she's fine, she's got a degree and everything.

    im no sure she would have to ask the BB producers about that. There's two problems I could see there being with that:-
    1. The cost of hiring carers to be at the BB site 24/7 just waiting to be needed would be pretty expensive. I cant see BB/Ch5 paying for it so it would probably have to come out of the disabled person's pocket
    2. The whole idea of BB is no contact from the outside world. If BB constantly has carers coming in and out, that defeats the purpose of BB

    FYI Im not against people with CP going into BB, I've got CP myself. I just think it would be too much for the producers to provide care
  • big brother 9big brother 9 Posts: 18,152
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    it would be interesting to see how the other housemates took to them or babeyd them, they would probably get the sympathy vote like mikey
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,003
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    im no sure she would have to ask the BB producers about that. There's two problems I could see there being with that:-
    1. The cost of hiring carers to be at the BB site 24/7 just waiting to be needed would be pretty expensive. I cant see BB/Ch5 paying for it so it would probably have to come out of the disabled person's pocket
    2. The whole idea of BB is no contact from the outside world. If BB constantly has carers coming in and out, that defeats the purpose of BB

    FYI Im not against people with CP going into BB, I've got CP myself. I just think it would be too much for the producers to provide care

    No, BB would have to provide any additional care that the HM needed, otherwise it would be seen as discrimination.

    I think the best way to do this would be to add their parent/carer as an HM working together.
  • Sun Tzu.Sun Tzu. Posts: 19,064
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    The chilli thing was good and very funny but it was just one incident out of 12 weeks. Receiving a ball to the back of the head in the swimming pool was also unintentionally funny. I think the main factor for his high placement in the final was because his unrelenting hatred of Rex and his friendship with the people's favourite, Rachel, who by that time was hugely popular.
    His dislike of Rex and his comments on him is contributing to the series. It would have been much easier for him to say nothing.
  • jonloch1jonloch1 Posts: 3,178
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    Timalloy84 wrote: »
    No, BB would have to provide any additional care that the HM needed, otherwise it would be seen as discrimination.

    I think the best way to do this would be to add their parent/carer as an HM working together.

    whilst I do agree with what you said, I think BB could get away with it by saying that because its a 24/7 reality tv show, housemates must be able to look after themselves independently, having a carer and a disabled person as one housemate is a tricky one because what if the carer is a right cow to everyone [after all we are talking about two individuals] and bitches about people and all that, if the public vote him/her out, the disabled person would have to go too which is sort of unfair. and also, to be honest, the carer wouldn't really be seen as a housemate in their own right, they'd just be known as so-and-so's carer
  • big brother 9big brother 9 Posts: 18,152
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    They (bb) seem to want every other minority in the house. What othe minority is left to go in?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 351
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    whilst I do agree with what you said, I think BB could get away with it by saying that because its a 24/7 reality tv show, housemates must be able to look after themselves independently, having a carer and a disabled person as one housemate is a tricky one because what if the carer is a right cow to everyone [after all we are talking about two individuals] and bitches about people and all that, if the public vote him/her out, the disabled person would have to go too which is sort of unfair. and also, to be honest, the carer wouldn't really be seen as a housemate in their own right, they'd just be known as so-and-so's carer

    Perhaps they could be treated as a two-in-one housemate. If one of them is nominated for eviction, the other one also faces the public vote with them. If one is evicted, the other one goes as well.
  • onfencewithrachonfencewithrach Posts: 6,479
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    i can't imagine someone with autism/aspergers being able to go on the show unless they were very high functioning.
    it would be a nightmare to be trapped in there in a social environment such as big brother.

    there just seems like no reason for it, also those savages in the crowd would probably still boo and chant against the person.

    being mentally disabled or having a mental issue is alot different than a physical one.

    i'd prefer to keep serious issues such as this out of an entertainment show.
  • bluegroperbluegroper Posts: 11,252
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    k0213818 wrote: »
    I can certainly see somebody with Asperger's being a contestant at some point. I believe they had a contestant with Asperger's on a season of ANTM and she went on to be one of the most popular ever.

    People with Asperger's can go on to live perfectly normal lives and should be considered. Growing up may be extremely difficult, they put up with a lot of bullying, they need special attention during schooling and do not socialise well. But as adults there is no reason to be excluded from the BB audition process and the application should be judged on their merits. :)

    My own son suffered from Asperger's and required special schooling, he didn't mix socially so had no friends and he was terrified of loud noise and fireworks. He put up with a lot of crap during schooling and wasn't allowed to participate in sports. Now he is an adult he has a good job, loud noise no longer bothers him, he loves fireworks and goes to the speedway. He has also made friends and gets on well socially. There is no reason why a person with asperger's couldn't be considered for BB. :)
  • onfencewithrachonfencewithrach Posts: 6,479
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    bluegroper wrote: »
    People with Asperger's can go on to live perfectly normal lives and should be considered. Growing up may be extremely difficult, they put up with a lot of bullying, they need special attention during schooling and do not socialise well. But as adults there is no reason to be excluded from the BB audition process and the application should be judged on their merits. :)

    My own son suffered from Asperger's and required special schooling, he didn't mix socially so had no friends and he was terrified of loud noise and fireworks. He put up with a lot of crap during schooling and wasn't allowed to participate in sports. Now he is an adult he has a good job, loud noise no longer bothers him, he loves fireworks and goes to the speedway. He has also made friends and gets on well socially. There is no reason why a person with asperger's couldn't be considered for BB. :)

    but you realize that your son's example isn't the definitive example for all.

    mental disability is very different from person to person and is very complex.

    in my example, i would never be able to go on the show as it would be torture.
    i'm unable to make or have friends and can't get on socially as i can rarely leave my home as it might end up in interaction with others, and can't even have a phone from the social interaction with others.

    this means no girlfriend, no friends.. no going out, not really any social interaction of any kind.

    between myself and your son we would be on two opposite ends of things.

    from my viewpoint someone who is high functioning isn't a representative of myself who is at an extreme level, as when people come across and view someone who is high functioning that can socialize and stuff.. it diminishes my situation because they think i should be able to be like that person, as most people not familiar with mental health doesn't quite understand how different it is from person to person and how complex it is.

    so, when someone makes a statement that there's no reason for people with aspergers not to be on the show it's not a true representation for myself.
    that's why in my statement i included ("unless they're very high functioning" to include those who aren't in a similar position).

    (taking into account my situation isn't simply the one thing but a few things but that's where the complexity from person to person factors in).
  • jonloch1jonloch1 Posts: 3,178
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    josha19 wrote: »
    Perhaps they could be treated as a two-in-one housemate. If one of them is nominated for eviction, the other one also faces the public vote with them. If one is evicted, the other one goes as well.

    But that goes back to what I've just said in my previous post. if the carer gets evicted, it would be unfair on the disabled person for BB to turn around and go 'sorry mate but your carer's been evicted so you have to go'. Especially when, in effect, if the disabled person got evicted, the carer could stay if they really wanted to
  • bluegroperbluegroper Posts: 11,252
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    but you realize that your son's example isn't the definitive example for all.

    mental disability is very different from person to person and is very complex.

    in my example, i would never be able to go on the show as it would be torture.
    i'm unable to make or have friends and can't get on socially as i can rarely leave my home as it might end up in interaction with others, and can't even have a phone from the social interaction with others.

    this means no girlfriend, no friends.. no going out, not really any social interaction of any kind.

    between myself and your son we would be on two opposite ends of things.

    from my viewpoint someone who is high functioning isn't a representative of myself who is at an extreme level, as when people come across and view someone who is high functioning that can socialize and stuff.. it diminishes my situation because they think i should be able to be like that person, as most people not familiar with mental health doesn't quite understand how different it is from person to person and how complex it is.

    so, when someone makes a statement that there's no reason for people with aspergers not to be on the show it's not a true representation for myself.
    that's why in my statement i included ("unless they're very high functioning" to include those who aren't in a similar position).


    (taking into account my situation isn't simply the one thing but a few things but that's where the complexity from person to person factors in).

    I agree not all people suffering from aspergers would be right for BB. That's why I say their application should be judged on their merits and should not disqualify someone from auditioning.
  • farscapefarscape Posts: 2,902
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    A severe case? They could but sadly I don't think they really should. It may sound patronising but I don't think someone with a severe case would cope too well unless as suggested they had a carer with them and even then I still don't think I'd be comfortable with it.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,003
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    If a person has severe learning difficulties, they probably wouldn't understand the whole concept of BB and, in particular, the behaviours that are acceptable and unacceptable. They would also need to be cared for which is unfair to expect the other housemates to fill that role when they have only applied for a summer of fun.

    It would also be dangerous. A lot of people with severe learning difficulties lash out when they are angry/upset and BB wouldn't be able to discipline/kick them out because it would be unfair as they don't understand.

    There are lots of reasons why BB cant. Whilst i'm all for BB putting in people with physical difficulties, such as cerebral palsy [which I have], I think it would be too risky to put someone in with severe learning difficulties

    Most people with learning difficulties don't receive 24 hour care, they usually have 3-4 hours a day, and this is usually for support with shopping and transport. These would not be an issue in the BB house. The only responsibility the other HMs would have would be supporting him/her with cooking, housework etc.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,003
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    They (bb) seem to want every other minority in the house. What othe minority is left to go in?

    A racist, a homophobe, a centurion.
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