What I've found interesting is that both Alex and Sophie have been bullied/taunted in the house but it has not brought them together, which is a true reflection of what I have seen in the outside world from school to (supposed) adults at work.

For that reason I can understand why Alex as a fellow 'victim' has not leaped to Sophie's defence, as some would expect, as no doubt he is in defensive mode for himself and there is probably a degree of 'if you can't beat them join them'.

so never mind the BB house maybe in all life we need to encourage the victims to band, strength in numbers and all that, and confront. I take it this is probably the basis of some of the student anti-bullying coucils that have been set up - wish they'd had them in my day!

I agree with you Rennie

Alex is probably thanking his lucky stars that he won the tasks and thus had the power in his hands to make sure that he would no longer be targetted.

Alex needs to show his principles and confront them. He is definitely uneasy about the bullying, and should stand up to them.

I hope that Sophie takes a pop at Jade, because that's all the stimulus he'll need. I think.

I was bullied as a youngster (though I think age has sod all to do with it) and must admit if someone else was on the end of it, I was relieved of the break.

As i got older and turned into a gobshite, lol, I could cope with it and because it didn't get to me it stopped; if it started again it didn't bother me after this piece of advice from a wise old Aunt

"well lass, if they're talking 'bout you, least they're leaving some other poor bugger alone"!

I am glad that people have realised what is happening, the bullying of Jade and Adele is something that Big Brother shouldn't tolerate. Jade seems to be able to get away with murder, six warnings before she got a strike...
This has also shown what a gutless little P**** Tim is. The way Adele and Jade have turned him is typical of the school bully "Don't talk to her we don't like her"..
The only people to come out of this with any credit are Sophie, Jonny and Kate.. I am sure Sophie is having a better week even though she is on the poor side, because at least she is away from those 2 haridans..
People have said that Alex was bullied, I disagree, there is a difference between taking the P*** of someone or playing a trick on the them and systematic abuse designed to wear down a persons self esteem and turn others against them.
What I do know is that this isn't what Big Brother is or should be about and I the producers tolerate this behavour they are damaging the show..

On the contrary it is those 'little tricks' and p*ss taking that wears a person down and makes them feel isolated as Alex did in the beginning.

One of the bullies favourite lines is 'we were just having a laugh'.

Agree there. Although Alex was bullied at school, he now bands together with the bullies in the house to avoid becoming a target. It works from a tactical point of view inside the house, because the bullies are the majority. However, he doesn't seem to have considered the reaction of the general public, as by not doing anything about it, his popularity has taken a nosedive.
Someone once told me that by doing nothing to stop bullying when you know it's happening is just as bad as joining in yourself. Nobody stuck up for me when I was being bullied. They got away with it, and became so bad that I left school, after being told (on my 14th birthday) that they were carrying knives, and were going to "mess up my face forever" after school.
I'm not sure I blame the people who never said anything to stop it - after all, they might be on the receiving end next.

Any behaviour, verbal, physical, overt or covert, which is designed to make someone feel powerless and belittled is bullying.

Trouble is, haven't quite a few been guilty of it at some time in our lives. I remember giggling about someone else with my cronies at school, egging each other on, until it almost becomes a habit. I am not proud of it. I have also been on the receiving end, didn't like it, but it didn't stop me.
I can't believe no-one else on this forum never bullied anyone. (in fact there is quite a bit of it going on on the forums, if one can be arsed to read through it)

Fortunately, once we get out of school into the harsh realities of life, this sort of thing should disappear. You realise the world does not revolve around you and your opinions.
So it is rather uncomfortable to see two supposedly grown women acting like this. I can understand why people are very upset as it brings back childhood memories.

At this point I think Sophie deserves everything she gets. Jade and Adele have been making a fool of her for days and then she gets nominated. So what does she do…she is sitting there chatting with them like the best of friends, I have zero respect for people who LET THEMSELVES be bullied. Her, Kate, and Jonny are all getting pushed around by Jade and they just let it happen. Why should BB step in if they won’t even stick up for themselves?

Alex picked Warthog for an easy life this week methinks, BJ for the same reason. He didn't pick soppy Kate so being scrupulously fair can't have been a prime concern. He probably thinks much more conflict will damage his chances of winning, which is why he doesn't make more than the feeblest attempts to curb the worst excesses of the evil axis. I think he feels pretty uncomfortable amongst the bitchiness though.

maybe he just didnt want conflict because he doesnt like it? and with sophie on the poor side he thought it would stop.

if i were alex, and were bullied in the past, i would rather keep quiet than risk them turning onto me. when he was in the diary room he showed how much adeles friendship means to him, so he doesnt want to lose that, or worse, make what good times they have had worthless by her slagging him off. he must think he has a good chance of getting through to the end, and without adele he would be alone, so he puuting up with the bad aspects of her nature.

As you've mentioned, he's made feeblish attempts to put a stop to the nastiness, and I also think he feels ill at ease around the bitching. I think if I was him, I'd be scared of saying too much, just in case the bullies turned on me. Jade's never been that keen on Alex, even from week 1, and I don't think that him keeping her on the rich side has softened her up about him either. Don't forget, she had the row with him on Friday afternoon, before Spenny was evicted that night. I saw that as a last ditch effort by her to try and get Alex evicted. Then she had another dig at him directly after nominations on Monday.

I think Jade is feeling quite confident that Sophie will be out this week. Once she's gone (assuming she goes) Jade won't take long to begin her bullying of Alex again, when the divide comes down. I'll guarantee that, plus she'll have a few others to help her out as well.

I said before somewhere else in here. I am totally amazed at the number of people who have been bullied or have been in an abusive relationship as adults.

I am beginning to think I really am truly blessed (I was half joking before when I said it) or else a lot of people want to see themselves as victims. Which is one way to absolve yourself of blame for any problems which have occured in your lives.

Forgive me if I sound harsh .. I have never been a 'victim'

You do sound a bit harsh. You are lucky to never have been bullied. You can't have any idea how it can, and does influence people's lives, but be thankful you can't understand - it's not a bad thing. After being bullied, many people become bullies themselves (Jade), ignore it if they see it in case it becomes them next (Alex), or become very outspoken on the subject.

I don't see myself as a victim anymore. I certainly don't use it as an excuse for anything. I'm not looking for sympathy by posting my experiences on here, I'm trying to make the point that people shouldn't just ignore it, because by doing that, you're simply egging them on to the point where they think they're invincible.

Someone ONCE tried to bully me: I just beat them up and that seemed to solve the problem (or at least move it away from me)

jack
never was bullied, and never did bully.

Sometimes a good right hook works in a way a thousand words would fail

I was bullied til I learned to stand up for myself. I did once say something really bad to a girl at school and have regretted it ever since. Therefore I now try to always stand up for other people. (Except Warthog, obviously)
Hugs
Mavis
Oh dear I do sound pious

Oh Ali ... i never thought you were looking for sympathy, and I am sorry if I sound harsh. I just find it hard to imagine. I think I may have grown up in one of those plastic bubble things or else I have just good friends. I hope its the latter.

We can obviously see the situation in the house plainly, most people I suspect would take a while to come round to the understanding that they were detested for no real reason. (Like Cal's Sophie).

I suspect bullying is caused by the I want to be one of the herd instinct. I have no idea why men or women stay in abusive relationships.

Going off the topic as usual ....
My builders have a lot to answer for