Hi Plato. I'm not angry.

My comments must be taken in context. This is a reality TV game show with some very special rewards for all those, that having been warned of all the dangers, decide they still wish to take part.

In my mind that makes them fair game for whatever is thrown at them. Of course, some people will go OTT and others will take it too seriously. But that realy is their problem, not mine. I'm just having fun.

I must say the housemates are just a mirror for the reaction of the public. As such, I agree with you that they don't deserve much pity themselves as they sign up for whatever society throws at them. But what is interesting is what we see in the mirror...an ugly baying self righteous judgemental mob... and their mums...who know best how we all should behave.

Surely the participants should be applauded for being brave enough to enter the house and show their true selves for our entertainment. I know that I wouldn't be able to do it. Without these people we wouldn't have a programme to watch at all. And I for one am grateful to them all for entering, whether I like their personalities or not. I think that the least the BB viewing public can do on their (stressful) return to the outside world is acknowledge that with a cheer or two.

I'm not saying that housemates shouldn't be responsible for their actions, and I'm all for them facing difficult questions after their eviction, but for a leaving housemate to be faced with a mob of boos just for being themselves (and not even knowing at that time what they've done to deserve that reaction) could be pretty hurtful. Like I said, I admire all of the housemates for having the guts to participate in the first place.

And as others have said already, the situation is a bit different to that of a pantomime. These are real people with real feelings that are being 'judged', not some caricature in a play. The situation couldn't really be more different.

I've enjoyed watching Big Brother for years now. The booing that now seems the norm is something that always sickens me, and I don't see that changing soon.

If these 'real' people cannot cope then they should not have applied to enter the BB House. They were warned, but decided to take the risk because it was in their own interests to do so.

In which case they will be tested and judged. Sometimes fairly, often unfairly. But that is in the very nature of the game.

Some of the booing is panto booing, yes; but not all of it.

How unfortunate that it comes to that. How unfortunate that the viewers will from now on never get a chance to see a more diverse selection of housemates in future series of BB (possibly including more timid characters -- which could certainly be interesting to see) because the ungratefulness of a lot of the viewers will mean that only the hard-skinned, tough-minded people will have the confidence to apply.

I actually disagree that the nature of the game is to see a bunch of people being torn apart by the public for wanting to undergo this pretty unique experience. For me, it's much more about seeing how relationships develop; about watching and learning about how people behave and interact with each other; about how different people react and relate to authority, etc., etc., etc. That's why I've been watching Big Brother from day 1 of BB1, and that's the reason why I'm sure I'll continue to watch Big Brother.

Mister Al I like your style.You talk,or should I say write, alot of sense.Moreover,it comes from the heart.

Seeing as this is a booing thread, I'd thought I'd chip it with my opinions.

Personally I don't mind the booing, I think it's funny that ppl would take this so seriously as to boo the people who have entertained them. Anyway, the way things appear to be going, the housemates that won't get booed this year appear to only be the members of the harem.

If he were to be evicted next week, and I seriously doubt that he will, Marco would get a hero's welcome, and personally if he can hang on longer than Victor, Jason and Dan, he's got this series in the bag, much as it pains me to admit it.

Just my two cents

Best post I've read on this forum, period. What was once fascinating has degenerated into an engineered freak show.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Great post.

Thanks for the suppot, people. I do think that Big Brother could never be as interesting now as it was in for those first two series, simply because the booing that has occurred now means a less diverse mix of characters are willing to go through with the experience. Which is a real shame.

I'm interested to see whether Eddy (or any other of the pro-booing set) would actually acknowledge the fact that these people have added interest to their TV-viewing lives by simply being in the house at all? If so, is booing them really the best way of showing their appreciation for that?

Again, spot on.

I think that booing is a reality which says more about the booers than the booed. Having a more thick-skinned set of HMs though I think is better because it brings out typical traits of human nature more clearly and with more frequency. It does increase the chance of the program being exploitative (ie with Emma).

I am both annoyed and intrigued by the booing and the great moralizers on this forum. We can all have a laugh, take the piss, or even have a heated argument. But when we just are motivated by relentless hate, the line is crossed. It is interesting to see the "why should they get away with it", "vile, "sickening","Crucify!" brigade, either at Elstree or on this forum. This says more about their own intolerance than anything to do with the HMs. The HMs are hopefully psychologically prepared and make some money out of it afterwards.

And then I think of Cameron and I realise I am wrong...so wrong!

Superb post. I completely agree with you. I started watching BB because I'm interested in the psych/sociological aspects of the series - the way in which people interact and the way in which those interactions form situations. It is the structure of the show - nominations, evictions - that forms the impetus for what is essentially an improvised drama series. Now it's the game (which doesn't interest me at all) and the quest for media exposure and cash that dictates everything.

To me, BB1 and 2 represent the best of the series when the original format was still adhered to. BB3 sadly saw BB degenerate into a cheap, mean-spirited gladiatorial contest. BB4, a noble (though seriously flawed) attempt to get back to the original premise of BB, suffered greatly from the excesses of 3, with participants unwilling to really open up for fear of being demonised.

Despite initially appearing to nothing more than a tiresome freak show, BB5 has actually, IMO, been pretty good. The contestants have mostly come out of their shells and emerged as very complete, rounded, interesting personalities. They may not be that likeable, but they are fascinating to watch and discuss.

Some people however merely perceive BB as a "light entertainment" popularity contest and feel that booing is justified in that context. I prefer to think of the contestants as real people in an unusual environment facing a test of character rather than as performing seals solely for our benefit. But sadly I feel that the booing, braying mob is here to stay.

With all due respect, I do hope you're wrong.

Once again, I totally agree. I wonder if there is a difference on how people view this show, between those who started watching BB from day one of the first series, and those who only started watching later?

Very probably. I know plenty of people who became disenchanted with BB by the time of BB3/4.

A further factor may be the HMs themselves. I feel that BB2 had the last great selection of HMs, comprising wannabes (Narinder), people in it for "the experience" (Dean, Elizabeth), people in it for a laugh (Helen, Paul, Brian), those in it for the cash (Bubble) and a couple of unpredictable wild card housemates (Penny, Stuart, Amma). A genuinely diverse bunch with a wealth of insights and perspectives to bring to the table. I honestly believe that none of the participants of BB3/4/5 (with the possible exception of Jon Tickle) have come close to having the charisma of the BB1 and 2 HMs.

Since then, it's largely been about non-entities wanting to become TV presenters. Brian was a very worthy winner, but his triumph and subsequent career in kids' TV triggered an unfortunate trend regarding future contestants. BB3 was full of drunken wannabes who treated the show like an audition, coming into the house with their "party pieces" at the ready.

We had Jonny, Kate and Alison (select two vacuous, irritating, court jester show-offs, get one free), Spencer (laconic maverick alpha male), Jade (stupid but funny) and Adele, seeking to impress us with her Nick-like cunning and tactical guile. BB3 had the look and feel of a hyped-up media "event".

The high octane alcohol-fuelled variety show antics and pyrotechnics may have been compelling for some, but for me, the series had moved away from its original premise, negating its previous integrity. Despite being authentically entertaining, the legacy that a winner like Brian left on the series overall was largely a negative one.

Excellent points and very true. They (alex, alison, kate, jonny, etc) all proudly proclaim "Big Brother contestant" on their media CVs. It's become essentially a plum TV job for aspiring or struggling actor-presenters.

I have already shown my appreciation to all the BB contestants by watching them and then visiting several boards to discuss their personalities and antics. (If Vanessa were to visit this board I would thank her for taking part in BB5 before expressing any criticisms.)

The boos, the cheers, the abuse, the applause etc are just inevitable. They are normal reactions to a show like this. It's just the way it is.

I respect the fact that you (and others) may not like the boos but I believe that saying that people should not boo is an unrealistic position to hold. Why not argue that people should not cheer their favourites on the grounds that it will make them big-headed, smug etc ?

In the case of Vanessa I believe that her conduct merited the reaction that she received. When Lisa was evicted I was furious at the boos she received as I believed that she did not deserve them. In both cases there is no point in arguing that booing is wrong or that it should somehow be stopped. Life is just not like that.
Last edited by EddyBee : 27-06-2004 at 07:51

But thats the best part

Well, I agree with what you say about 'this pretty unique experience' etc. No argument from me there.

However, this experience is, when all is said and done, a high profile telly show. That inevitably means public attention and reaction. And of course, the public have a right to react in all sorts of ways. Some housemates will be viewed as villains, others as losers, some as winners, some will be cherished and others laughed at etc. All this will be expressed in various ways ... booing being one of them.

How the public react will be greatly influenced by the decisions of the Endemol editors but that's another topic.

If you really want the public to react in a way that meets your approval, you should perhaps be arguing that the BB USA format be adopted by the UK. There you have no members of the public voting or attending eviction nights. So the housemates are spared any eviction night boos. But then, they still have to appear in public at some time, read the press coverage, be interviewed etc. So, its not a total solution for you, just half of one.

I'd rather leave things as they are. If it means that certain types of individuals are not likely to apply, so be it. But, with a tiny number of exceptions, I really do not believe this to be the case. As far as I can see we are getting all types in the House.

As for the few timid types that are genuinely put off, I imagine that they are put off by the audition process. That can be easily rectified .... that's if we really want them in there.
Last edited by EddyBee : 27-06-2004 at 08:34

I don't always agree with the booing, but I support it in this case.

Remember folks, Princess Vanessa had no qualms about saying she'd make Michelle the most hated woman in Britain.

Seeing as she wouldn't have lost any sleep over ruining Michelle's life, I'm certainly crying no tears because she got the reception she so thoroughly deserved.

I love me some pretty instant karma

The booing is great ... I love it ... it confirms for me just how ersatz & bogus is the world we inhabit ... idiot hominids getting their sentimental fixes through stage-managed Spectacle, because their everyday lives just don't measure up to the job ... its the same with the "Death of Diana"© or the trial of your average paedo ... great righteous gobs of trashy, comic-strip "emotion", without the bother of actually having to go through the messy business of intimate engagement with Reality™ ... anger! pain! fury! ... all available off the peg ... all bullsh*t ...

I also love the vituperative insights of the harpies gathered to bay at the tumbrel ... "she's a bitch!" ... "a prickteaser!" ... the shrivelled, lunatic faces of thwarted ambition ... the wattled chins, the dimpled arms, the sagging breasts ... aah, physician heal thyself ...

Well I guess somebody forgot to take his little ray of sunshine pills this morning

Not at all ... this is me in happy mode ... and to prove it I'll use a f*ckin' emoticon