I just don't understand it at all...why all the love for Austin?

Emma saying he was one of her faves to win, Luisa the same, Sherrie, Rusty Lee...

Why the love for him? Are people seriously forgetting his disgusting rant at Janice, his vile and confrontational attitude to James and the other housemates? His nasty bitchiness and partnership with the equally as horrendous Jenna?

What because he has a sob story about his mum and brother all is forgiven?? I'm sure the other housemates have their own stories but they don't behave so arrogantly and awfully?

Am I seriously missing something here???

I wish I could. I do like him but In a really conflicted way. The day the video of his letting rip at Janice appeared, I went from absolute disgust to heart wrenching sympathy in the course of a few hours. It was quite weird.

I have rationalised it as a case of hating the behaviour but liking the individual.

I can't explain it, OP. It's baffling to me too.

He is flawed, what human isn't.
But he wasn't afraid to show us all sides. His vulnerability, his anger, his emotions. He gave us everything he had.
That makes him the perfect housemate.
Who wants a housemate who goes in there and doesn't feel anything, isn't affected in anyway...just coasts by?

He divided opinion but that's what made him brilliant!

I loved him, warts and all!

What I will say he was for me, way and above the most interesting housemate along with Jenna. Initially I thought Chloe and Stevie were interesting too but I got bored with them pretty quickly.

Yes I think there is a lot in this that explains his popularity. But even that is strange. Someone who externalises every emotion should surely be fairly repellent. That level of emotional incontinence is surely not something we would really want from friends and colleagues etc.

The thing with Austin is he did have the likability factor. He wasn't as one dimensional as Farrah & Jenna which did make him more interesting to watch, and appear more human.
I thought the way he treat Janice, and James in the latter stages was bloody awful and there are no excuses for that but for as nasty as he could be, he could also be incredibly sweet and charming. He also had the ability to show remorse for his actions, unlike some.

He's one of those where one minute - like I recall saying about Janice - one minute you want to smother him with a pillow, the next you're laughing like an idiot at him.

Yes I think you are There is no excusing Austins rant at Janice - he himself is disgusted. I was too and make no excuses for him, however Janice was as bad if not worse, she too used the C word which does seem to be more a commonly used word in the USA. He just seemed so genuine to me - he was Happy he ran around with James joking and playing - he was sad he cried - he was angry he shouted and said things he didn't totally mean and regretted it later. It just seemed normal behaviour from a normal human being - someone who is not perfect like the rest of us.

He had Warts!!!!

Some of us recognise that people aren't binary 'good' or 'bad' caricatures. Austin has some major flaws, as do most of us, but I admire how close to the surface his heart always was. It helps that many of the most entertaining moments in the series involved him, and though his mood could turn on a penny in an instant, when he was on form his enthusiasm, energy and spontaneity was infectious.

I think most of us recognise the relationship between Austin and James was central to this series. Yet, as time went on I liked James less and Austin more. The irony, if it's an irony, is that in personality type I'm probably much closer to James - slightly guarded, a little bit dry and possibly a bit calculating (though not as much as him and I would probably dress that up as being 'evaluative' because it sounds fluffier. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did the same). Perhaps there's something comparable there in how I am drawn towards Austin's personality in the same way as James was. As for going off James? He is just too slippery, just too sly.

Yes, he could be very combative but again, while the tirade towards Janice was not ok, neither do I think it was as outrageously bad as some on here like to claim. Janice herself has used the same language and said similarly disparaging remarks about others. I don't buy that she's 'allowed' to because she's female and older. She had equally obnoxious moments but, and this is a key difference, Austin's were driven by emotion, Janice's were driven by her constructed persona.

I have other thoughts on this, but tl;dr: He has his faults, but I admire his emotional honesty and unpretentious nature, coupled with the fact he could be very funny, and fun.

You know it really isn't or wasn't a few years ago. I lived in the States at one time, my brother lived there on and off for a decade and my cousins have settled there. So I have spent significant periods of time in several parts of the US. (NY, Georgia, Texas and New Jersey)

I have never encountered people there who swore or behaved like those we see in the BB house. If anything I would say they are rather more straight laced than we are. (I am sure certain FMS will be along to bollock me for that).

My experience was of lives that revolved around family and work (obviously) but also church and community in the form of a multiplicity of societies , lodges and sports activities. I was very struck by the level of involvement ordinary people have in things like DAR, Eastern Star, Round table or things like softball, bowling and other clubs particularly junior ones.

Edit - wholesome would have been a better word than straight laced.

See, I would much prefer that in a friend than James' levels of measure and filtration. There would be objectionable moments with Austin but you'd always know where you are with him because he's just so upfront. I admire that in a way because, I suppose, it's so unlike me. Moreover, I'd I'd trust him where I wouldn't trust James

I don't really see it as emotional incontinence btw, just a lack of emotional maturity, and that will change/develop over time.

Yes I agree with you. I think it was driven by current personal circumstances and as you say immaturity. Or at least that is how I have rationalised it.

As for the rest . Do you mean you are attracted to opposites? I think that is natural. I am quite cautious, planned, analytical and measured so I quite like being involved with someone who is spontaneous even a bit reckless.

I am going to accept your better knowledge on this subject Throp It was just my opinion from the few American friends I have, so very limited opinion. Its just one of those words isn't it that we really get annoyed with, strange really

Ah reference the specific word you may be right. I was referring to general sweariness. It maybe the C word doesn't carry as much taboo among those Americans who do swear compared to people here. All I meant was that in my experience Americans are less sweary in general than we are.

Yep, exactly that. I'm in my head *all* the time analysing, evaluating, critically thinking... Hence I find people so unfiltered and in the moment utterly, utterly compelling. I often wish I was a little more like them.

Great post. Absolutely this.

Excellent post.

I feel like Austin was the best housemate this series because we saw so many different sides of him. He should have won.

went from loving him to disliking not the man but his behaviour ..then back to loving him .anyone who thought those tears in the diary room were fake must have a swinging brick for a heart.i notice the word flawed used a lot in this thread and for me yes hes flawed aggressive vulnerable and human.fantastic housemate,he took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions with him.

He's perfected the art of making people handle him with kid gloves.

I liked his vulnerbility coupled with his sense of fun.

Janice is a WUM so can't complain when she suceeds in getting a reaction.

janice deserved everything she got