Showing the footage really was a no-brainer. The houseguests knew what they were letting themselves in for going onto the show, but still choose to reveal such huge character flaws and prejudices to the world. I think the shows audience deserved to see the houseguests say these things before making their mind up on them, because beyond the game, isn't that really what the show is about? You put sixteen totally different men and women into a house and then see how they interact and respond to each other and their environment, all the while knowing that the world is watching your every move and word. If your reaction to the house is to verbally attack the others based on their race, sexuality or whatever else, then shouldn't the audience be allowed to see that and judge you in return?
Beyond that, I'm not sure the show is doing a particularly great job in dealing with the situation. Whilst the houseguests are ultimately free to say what they want, some line does need to be drawn, especially now when the attacks are no longer just snide behind the back remarks when the target is in the other room. The show and CBS have a responsibility to the houseguests they select, and to not interfere at all within the house seems irresponsible to me. Seeing Candice breaking down to Howard after the fight in the latest episode really hit home hard for me. The girl is being judged and mocked for the colour of her skin, and nobody really seems to be doing anything about it. Sure, those saying the things to her are being vilified outside of the house, but she (and the others who have been abused) still have to live through that horror for the next few weeks at least, and I just don't think that's acceptable.
I also believe that in an entirely different way, the show is also letting down the perpetrators too. I struggle to find any sympathy for them because they are all adults who need to be more aware of the consequences their actions should have, but I do struggle to find pleasure in watching them making their situation worse and worse by the day, completely oblivious to how people already think of them. First and foremost, better care needs to be given to anyone who has been victimised by these people, but I also think the show should have called in Aaryn and GinaMarie and the others and made it crystal clear that that type of behaviour will be tolerated under no circumstances, and that they are taking a huge risk every time they make a bigoted remark. They deserve what they get for the way they have treated people who have done nothing to them, but at the same time, I'd hate to read about one of them being attacked in the street once they get out of the house. I'm sure a lot of people won't agree with me and I totally get that, but I do think it's irresponsible of the show to let its participants continue to make things worse for themselves when they are unaware of the damage that they have already done to their lives. The show was correct to show what they had initially said, but I also think they had a responsibility to inform the houseguests that they had done so, to stop them from making things even worse.
Looking forward, I think the show definitely needs to toughen the rules on this type of thing for the benefit of all houseguests. In an older thread, I proposed a system of increasingly tough punishments for houseguests who repeatedly use slurs or act with prejudice to others in the house. Obviously the level of punishment should depend on the severity of what is said/done, but I think ultimately it should be something like: * Formal Warning * Solitary confinement * Instantly put on slop for the week * Penalty nomination * and then finally in the most severe of cases, I do think eviction has to come.
I can't help but feel that with a more visible and strict rule structure this whole ugly affair could have been avoided. Hopefully if this show comes out of this the other side it can learn from mistakes this season and clamp down on this type of thing, because nobody comes out of this mess a winner.
