That is, have forum arguments ever swayed you, even though you are already watching the show/ other bits and pieces?

I can certainly think of examples of when people have won me over. For example I used to think Michelle was awful, but a single fan argued so persuasively about her strength and entertainment value that I went back and watched her all over again, and saw what they meant.

Last year I was persuaded to see a more positive side of Sunshine because of good posts by fans. And I was genuinely impressed by the Ben's best quotes thread because although I was not a fan it showed that he really was bloody good at the one-liner.

This year I am being massively put off Aaron by the belligerent sense of entitlement shown by a lot of his fans. I am trying to be fair and see that it is not his fault, and he probably wouldn't like it at all, but it is SO irritating reading all the hysterical shrieks every time something that doesn't show him in a perfect light is shown.

But on a positive note, I had no thoughts at all about Tom really, until I picked up on the sweet, modest tone of his (few) fans. They just stick to their guns and don't slag other people off. Sometimes you think someone just does have nice fans; back during BB9 I was sure that the Mo to win thread was the nicest. It just WAS.

An interesting post. I certainly agree with the bit about Aaron.
I sometimes change my mind about people as the series progresses. Aaron being a case in point this year. At first I found him intelligent, witty and amusing. Now I am tired of his faux moral outrage, cowardice and his superiority complex.

I would say it does give you a different perspective and view on certain housemates.. I didn't mind Dave the monk from last year but everyone here hated him for the wheelchair stunt he pulled outside the house so never gave him a chance on anything he did in the house.. He was actually for most the devil incarnate.. But I judged him solely on what he did inside the house and found him to be an allright person .. He wasn't my fave but apart from Ben last year was pretty crap oh and sam pepper was ok.. But I couldn't understand the JJJ love that totally confudled me..

Nope...

I used to love Nikki Grahame & dislike Aishleyne but once I saw old clips of Nikki being a complete bitch then I changed sides lol

Nah, I'm much too proud and stubborn.
I do try though....

I often change my views are the series proceeds, by a combination of the HM themselves and what other people draw my attention to.

Yeah, I used to like Aaron but the constant whinging on here and fanbois put me right off the slimey bellend.

But actually Aaron is not bad; he is a bit moody and passive aggressive at times, but also a sweet, modest, funny person at others. But the tone of the threads about him makes me feel hostile, just as if someone is being subjected to a hateful lynch mob it makes me spring to their defence. I spent weeks on here fiercely defending Anton, whom I don't really like, because the way he was being discussed on here was so horrible and prejudiced. No housemate is so SPECIAL that they are beyond criticism. Aaron is more likeable than Anton imo; but I would almost rather Aaron was evicted just because his presence makes the forum so bloody irritating.

i used to dislike both of them but , and rather coincidently it was Wonkey and another FM from a different forum who caused me to think much more fondly of Ash and Barra (and nikki herself) who made me like Nikki

Not at all, I still dislike Jay & Anton, Not as much as you show your dislike of Aaron,

Gosh. But yes about Nikki. I have been touched by the constant, faithful, dogged loyalty of Nikki's fans. And I am sure she really has grown up a lot since BB.

I don't care for him, but he isn't as vile as Jay lousie and anton.
The constant harping about on him on here doesnt make me dislike him more because he is what he is.
BUT i am bored by some of the ridiculous claims that he is sooooooooooooo fabby or that he is being villified by Chan 5 producers, neither view can be supported by any actual evidence.

Same here. It does give me hope though when people start to see my point of view!

do you think the fans reflect the hm's personality?

i try and stay away from the really argumentative threads so it doesn't affect me very much. I have however, tried to see Anton as you have seen him as I respect your opinion. However, I just cant seem to warm to a man who has no facial expressions - i don't like cats because of their lack of facial expressions too. I need more back. I don't see him as deadpan, i see him as closer to emotionally dead.

i think my emotional reaction to someone is more evocative than my intellectual reaction, so if i have an extremely strong reaction, then its hard to come back from that. My emotions lead more than reason but my emotions often change - i have changed my mind about Tom and Harry a couple of times, but not sure how much of that is purely their own behaviour

usually if you have a strong reaction, then defending that stand point will isolate you further from the opposing view, to support your defense. Defenses are extremely important and the more you have to defend them, the deeper they can get embedded. i think the nature of the attack / discussion is key to whether it makes you defend the hm further, or allows you some space for insight

shout loudly and someone will stick their fingers further into their ears

No I never let any forum sway me.

I listen to points and then may feel I have been a little harsh in judgement but never will I change my mind and fall for all this victim and bully obsession the forum has.( although i can change my mind based on what i see on the show )
Its why I am always swimming against the tide in here.

The problems with supporters of Ben,Freddie,JJJ and now Aaron is that some of them throw around comments like you just dont get him,and then they use another hm and demonise that HM to make them sound evil...its as though they are trying to juxtapose by using ( As an example ) Aaron ( the hero/the victim ) with Jay ( the wicked evil bully ).

I can always rely on the forum favourite being the HM I am gunning for and usually the least favourites are the ones I like.
My reasons are not just to be contary but simply that I identify the HMs that are creating the parts of the show I like as my favourites.
I also end up sticking up for HMs that get torn to shreds in here for no reason other than they are on the team that the forum has deemed evil.

Not as vile? He's clever at mind games and extremely clever at pretending to care for Faye when he needs her. I'd say he could be utterly cut throat when he wanted to be, in a very subtle way.

My opinion is purely based on the behaviour and actions of a HM while they're in the house rather than the opinions of their fans posted on forums etc.

I do know what you mean about the Aaron fans and I think they've really dragged this year's BB down to that of a playground.

I find the attitude of a HM's fans can put me off rather than win me over. If I feel bludgeoned by overenthusiastic hype whilst they nit pick every little thing the others do I end up being put off altogether.

You could be right. The slavish adoring of Aaron on here has actually put me off him a bit. He's OK I guess. The problem is that viewers who want to champion a more intelligent housemate haven't got much to choose from this year.

I speak to his friend on twitter and he gave the point of view that the edit hasnt been that bad to him in his opinion, but that the negative Aaron we see in the show is not the Aaron outside and that the show has dragged him down; (hes had a few foul mouth rant about his sulking its quite amused me lol)

However, his and my sticking points are the side shows; OKTV (jenny frost more than jeff) and in recent weeks BBBOTS seem to make a point of either slating him, or taking the p*** out of him; To me they should debate the points of the day, but not throw out personal insults (jenny called him a weirdo and evil the other day thats unacceptable) to point score; none of us know him as a person, i judge his behaviour in the house and his good points outweigh his bad ones by far atm, im quite happy to change my mind if he did something i hated im not blinkered

And OP this year is my first year on these forums consistently and the only thing some FM have done is entrench my support more with Aaron, especially with some of the personal remarks about him and his family!

No the forum opinion has never influenced my opinion of a HM. However I do not pick a favourite at the start of BB and feel I have to remain loyal to that HM for the rest of the show. For all I know Aaron may do something that I really do object to and I will not support him but to date he is still one of my favourites. It really doesn't enter into my head as to whether my favourites fans are nice or not nice. I couldn't care less. The fans actually have no bearing on whether a HM is a good HM or not.

don't care enough about them to get so invested..
i have quite liked the progression of the aaron/faye thing from the first week onwards but that does get tedious at times aswell.

Louise is the only one in there that i haven't disliked at some point because i find her funny in an awkward way.. the rest i like Faye/Aaron/Jay/Harry are all just as annoying as they are likeable.

I agree, it is not the HL but the spin off shows that are completely biased.
I also have tended to get over jealous at times when those anti-Aaron have made personal remarks about his life outside the house and his family. And of course those that constantly called him a perv because of the age difference between him and Faye, as I see no problem with the difference in ages.
I am not blinkered either and feel no loyalty to any of the HMs. I simply prefer him and Harry to the rest of them at this point in time.

Im not sure, I really do dislike blind hero worship so I have probably had more discussions where housemates are idolised in order to give a little bit of fairness and balance, last year I was often told I hated Ben but I didn't he made me laugh a lot but I really hated how his fans used to put Mario down all the time because he was seen as the enemy and I was told all the time that I just didn't "get" Ben in a very patronising way which pissed me off, when in fact I could see both his good points and his bad. I find Aaron an entertaining house mate he plays to the cameras he has his odd little ways there are good points and bad, I dislike how anyone who is against Aaron on this forum is made out to be evil just because they don't kiss his arse, I felt sorry for Tom like I felt sorry for Mario last year because he has been made out to be a Villan for misreading some very confusing signals, I'm not that keen on Faye but feel sorry for her when the forum attacks her the times she isn't snogging Aaron
I don't think my opinion of the housemates change as I can still see what I like and do t like about each individual but I do become more defensive of those who are treated unfairly on here only because they go against the popular housemate