Makes sense. And with a social group inevitably comes a social order.

And me. I think if most people are honest, there's some kind of identification going on with most of the HMs we like, even if it's just a couple of traits, or they remind us of someone else we love/d, or they're being treated in a way that reminds us of a situation we've been in.

Baggage, in other words.

Nadia has many redeeming qualities and many here could see that. Check out her popularity on the Nadia appreciation thread (top of main page).

However, she was somewhat preoccupied in trying to dispel arguments for which she earned a reputation as being someone who interferes. Unfortunate. I wish she had a chance to shine (she did for a day or so when Perez was away and the HMs warmed to her). Anyway she said she wasn't there for PR...she is secure in who she is and how popular she is. (She's been famous for a long time and has been an actress, e.g. in Eastenders, a presenter and even won Masterchef). I feel she is a wonderful, genuine woman.

Oh yes she is such a lovely, popular person - in her own mind. Carry on Nadia, you're as deluded as Denise Welch and those other harpies.

Who is Denise Welch? Ha...not on the same level, methinks.
Nice try but no dice.

You're brave to bring those sentiments into this thoughtful and intelligent thread.

And not relevant to the thread topic either. Nevertheless instructive I think.

I wonder if it isn't so much a case of whether or not we enjoy sadism as such as how much time we are prepared to invest in thinking about what we are watching.

We seem to be in a 'like' button culture where the tendency is to skim over the surfuce passing our judgements on things; like this, hate that, lurve him, hate her etc. An opinion is pronounced without any real attempt to back it up or even explain the reasons behind that opinion. My gut feel is such opinions are formulated in the same knee jerk manner in which they are expressed. Hit the like button (or not) and the job is done.

Enjoying the sadism in this context may be more of a rather knee jerk and ill thought through way of simply hitting the dislike button.

Irrespective of booze, the main basis of the show is about 'rejection' as a result of the process of nomination and eviction. The eviction days being eagerly anticipated, as a highlight.

With the presenter then probing the evictee (ultimately rejected person) as to how much pain and what type they are feeling for our entertainment.

Bib 1) No, please see my earlier response above. Furthermore, wrt metaphoric lab coat observer. I've realised a while ago that that isn't credible because:

- I usually start siding with one or more HMs, so am therefore no longer an independent/neutral observer. As I've become emotionally entwined with what I was observing, the stance of independent observer is no longer credible.

- There is no 'control' group to make an observation mode conclude any facts which are reliable or have validity.

Bib 2) So the same question arises, was watching the inmates satisfying our an innate sadistic need to see others in a distressful situation displaying pain?

Therefore, if C/BB viweing is it's modern day equivalent, was Perez right?

Putting the specifics of the current housemates aside - as very crudely speaking, previous series' show bullying in all its full spectrum, rejection (formal and informal) and the resultant inevitable pain as a result.

When we know that that is basically always going to be the plot to varying degrees with different 'players' why do we continue to watch the toxic combination?

I think it has to be deep seated, as I know that consciously in my daily life, I do not enjoy seeing people engaging in or displaying your second BiBs.

Whilst I agree with your point that your second BiBs is not the order of the average day, it is however the bulk of the highlights show that we watch. Not to mention the raison d'être of the show being about norms and eviction, hence rejection and pain.

Perez was right!

However we (humans) can also be masochistic (I was going to say "altruistic", which we can be, but masochistic fits better).

Work is serious and I must avoid mistakes. To me CBB is a release from that, like adult panto crossed with American Wrestling, where we can boo, laugh etc and there are no important consequences because most of what we see is not real. It has a run like a panto and then it's gone.
I don't watch the soaps any more because they are depressing and need year round commitment. Films - well we know it's 100% drama (the actors simply reflect the required lines and emotion), I like action ones, but CBB has that lurid advantage of seeing people we might have watched / read about in the past but now in an alien setting and making arses of themselves, with some grudges or relationships forming, even though I think some of it partially scripted and definitely engineered.
The football - yes the tribal thing is there - I've been supporting the same team since I climbed out the pushchair.

ETA: In CBB I tend to "support" Marmite characters.

So they are feeding our sadistic need.

Does our sadistic appetite keep increasing because the producers keep ramping up the sadistic output, or are they meeting an ever increasing demand from us?

No - my OP is actually not specific to this series or any HMs, but just a geneic bit of self analysis triggered by Perez' comment.

It's television, it's not reality.

Bib 1) Would it be interesting if HMs just did regular things like us. Would we tune in and be bothered to post on a chat forum then? I'm personally inclined to say that such a show wouldn't attract my attention.

Bib 2) SNAP !

I find the forum easier to manage (psychologically), as I am in control as to which threads I open, whom I choose to interact with etc.

I think Im gonna have to award you 'sweetest post' on this thread for that Dave_62.

Too right.


We knew you were coming - see JJ's post above.


You can now rest your (Samsonite) case.

That would seem to fall into the catharsis bucket. Its a bit like High Court Judges visiting dominatrices who put them in chains or nappies etc; only cheaper and less icky.

Seriously though more like Tom and Jerry which was extraordinarily violent. Yet one could escape into a world that was safe because nobody including the characters themselves ever got hurt, or if they did they popped back into shape again.

Now I come to think of it I suppose the same can be said off BB survivors. I am sure some do go through real pain during the time in the house but they all seem to come out unscathed in the end. I am trying to think of anyone whose character or well being has been irrevocably damaged by BB.

I think 'maximum controversy' is merely a means to an end. The end obviously being 'maximum income'. I don't think they care about pissing us off per se. As they are basically just thinking of ways to increase votes hence profits.

Agree about their over-management of race incidents. This is what actually gives the Equality Movement the 'looney leftie' tag. It actually damages the cause. I think I'm channelling my inner Michelle now!

I think the law of diminishing returns is a factor here. They have to keep upping the ante and over sensationalise the sadistic output in order to achieve the same level of shock value.

The editorial direction is not the same as it was, they are targetting a different demographic and those of us who enjoyed the old style are surplus to requirements. The new demographic may well prefer the sadism and certainly seem to enjoy elevating the crass boorish housemates to winners.

There were many times in the past that i didnt much like the winner, but you could usually count on the really nasty characters being shown the door before they got anywhere near the final. That at least brought a sense of satisfaction to the proceedings. You could put up with your favourite not winning as long as the truly objectionable one went home early, but theres no guarantee of that now.

What do we get out of it now? I dont know. I have simply grown tired of some of the previous shows. Didnt watch the one with Jim Davidson, didnt watch the one with Gina Rio. I often cant find a single HM to like any more.

It may be time for me to finally close the door on BB. Watching people suffer for no good reason isnt my idea of entertainment.

*passes t-shirt and a mirror so you can put your make up on*

*completes image with a haughty sneer*

Your Community awaits....*curtsies*