[StewartF]

Just reading another thread and something that SWW said got me thinking. The original quote:

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

I don't see how anybody can apply to go on BB, and then come out surprised how it all pans out for them, if it goes awry... the huge risks involved are quiet evident... it is a big gamble, and people shouldn't see it as anything else?

Plenty of housemates have, over the years, entered the Big Brother house and left to torrents of abuse. Several weeks later an article will appear claiming that Big Brother has ruined their lives.

Housemates such as Lesley and Sam come to mind. I don't take particular interest in housemates post-BB so don't know the exact details but the headline 'BB ruined me' has appeared often enough so that I do know there's plenty of ex-housemates out there who claim it.

One thing I do believe Endemol do is warn the housemates of the dangers of BB before hand. Even if you aren't a housemate it's quite obvious that you could be torn apart by the press/media and public during the show and after. But certain housemates still expect a life post-BB where they remain in the public eye for longer than 15 minutes. And when they don't or they get slaughtered by the media they quickly turn around and slam the show.

It's an easy excuse to make but is it really true? Housemates such as Grace have been hated by the public and press but have continued on with their lives and haven't used any such excuse.

Is 'Big Brother ruined my life' really an appropriate thing to say when a housemate hits rockbottom?

[Rat Scabies]

No. Ex housemates only have themselves to blame.

[LENCHSAL]

Michelle once said she has no regrets over her time in BB and she knew what she was letting herself in for with edits and stuff so she had no right to complain. She had watched previously, knew what was what and wouldnt change a thing.

[SWW (SWW)]

Nice quote

Even though I accept that BB shows little duty of care for the Housemates, I feel that this has been evident, even from BB1 with Nick's post-show breakdown...

I feel it is quite evident that in reality, you are on your own and BB is just using you to make money and raise brand awareness...

...lastly, no dis-respect to the ex-HMs intended... but if they really had a traumatic time because of the exposure, what would possess them to then tell the story in the public arena, yet again... not publicity by any chance... hee hee

Regards

[beee]

Housemates in the earlier series might have had a point when they said the series had ruined their lives - BB was new back then, and the reception that people would get from the newspapers was difficult to predict. But after two or three series it was clear that ex-HMs could fall foul of the press, so I think the excuse began to wear more and more thin as time went on...

By the time people like Sam and Lesley got into the house it was pretty clear that almost all HMs get a bad reception when they leave the house. For this reason, I have very little sympathy for ex-HMs when the papers print stories about how awful they are. Admittedly, the tabloids go a little too far sometimes, but if you're going to behave like a complete b*stard on live telly then you have to expect some kind of comeback.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by StewartF

...
Plenty of housemates have, over the years, entered the Big Brother house and left to torrents of abuse. Several weeks later an article will appear claiming that Big Brother has ruined their lives.

Housemates such as Lesley and Sam come to mind. I don't take particular interest in housemates post-BB so don't know the exact details but the headline 'BB ruined me' has appeared often enough so that I do know there's plenty of ex-housemates out there who claim it.

I don't think we really do know that. "Ruined my life" is a tabloid cliché. That it appears in an article doesn't mean it accurately expresses how the HM actually feels.

One thing I do believe Endemol do is warn the housemates of the dangers of BB before hand. Even if you aren't a housemate it's quite obvious that you could be torn apart by the press/media and public during the show and after. But certain housemates still expect a life post-BB where they remain in the public eye for longer than 15 minutes. And when they don't or they get slaughtered by the media they quickly turn around and slam the show.

How do you know they expect to remain in the public eye?

The significance of the "talk of doom" is questionable as well. Most HMs don't have all that hard a time after BB, so why should an prospective HM think they'll be one of the ones that does have a lot go wrong?

Besides, what they expect shouldn't matter anyway. It has no significant bearing on whether it's true of false that the show damaged their life.

It's an easy excuse to make but is it really true? Housemates such as Grace have been hated by the public and press but have continued on with their lives and haven't used any such excuse.

Is 'Big Brother ruined my life' really an appropriate thing to say when a housemate hits rockbottom?

Grace's life isn't in ruins, so naturally she has no reason to think anything ruined it.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by Rat Scabies

No. Ex housemates only have themselves to blame.

How can they when some of what happens to them is done by other people and, as has often been pointed out in this forum recently, everyone is responsible for their own actions. It therefore follows that if a HM has abuse shouted at them in the streat, it's shouter's who are to blame.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

...lastly, no dis-respect to the ex-HMs intended... but if they really had a traumatic time because of the exposure, what would possess them to then tell the story in the public arena, yet again... not publicity by any chance... hee hee

Oh come on! It's not that hard to think of other possible reaons! Such as wanting some money, wanting to tell their side of the story, tabloid threatening to print an article anyway that will be hostile if they don't cooperate, anger at the show or at other people, not thinking clearly and following someone else's advice.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by beee

Housemates in the earlier series might have had a point when they said the series had ruined their lives - BB was new back then, and the reception that people would get from the newspapers was difficult to predict. But after two or three series it was clear that ex-HMs could fall foul of the press, so I think the excuse began to wear more and more thin as time went on...

Many of them don't fall afoul of the press, though.

By the time people like Sam and Lesley got into the house it was pretty clear that almost all HMs get a bad reception when they leave the house.

Really? Did almost everyone from BB5 get a bad reception? I didn't think so, and I could hardly blame Sam or Lesley for not thinking so either.

And how was Sam supposed to expect that something would be thrown on her? That definietly didn't happen to almost everyone from BB5.

I don't think Sam or Lesley have complained about the reception they had when they left the house in any case!

For this reason, I have very little sympathy for ex-HMs when the papers print stories about how awful they are. Admittedly, the tabloids go a little too far sometimes, but if you're going to behave like a complete b*stard on live telly then you have to expect some kind of comeback.

Sam didn't behave like a complete b*stard.

[Rat Scabies]

Originally Posted by Veri

How can they when some of what happens to them is done by other people and, as has often been pointed out in this forum recently, everyone is responsible for their own actions. It therefore follows that if a HM has abuse shouted at them in the streat, it's shouter's who are to blame.

To claim 'BB ruined my life is wrong' (Lesley as an example)

She has only herself to blame for putting herself in that position, and for acting in a certain way.

As have any of the others, or future housemates that may claim the same thing.


So the awnser to the OP's question is no. Big Brother is not to blame.

[SWW (SWW)]

Originally Posted by Veri

Oh come on! It's not that hard to think of other possible reaons! Such as wanting some money, wanting to tell their side of the story, tabloid threatening to print an article anyway that will be hostile if they don't cooperate, anger at the show or at other people, not thinking clearly and following someone else's advice.

I am not so sure Veri, although I concede that I have my cynical hat on, in prepartion for BB8, where at present I refuse to believe that any of the HMs can be naive about the downside of BB after BB7 and CBB5's much publicised outcomes. and reviews.

The finer details of Narindar's book may be enlightening on this issue?

My point is solely, that whether they like it or not, ultimately it would be the public exposure that 'ruined there life' as one HM once said "they can't show something that you haven't actually done and to out themselves in the public arena again seems to be a continual trait that made them go on BB in the first place?

It's all well people saying (or in believing?) that they want to go on BB for the experience, but is clearly evident that BB is a huge summer media event that means huge exposure... which is why some wannabees are sensible enough to avoid it as it is excessive on BB.

I actually work with a former contestant of Uk Fear Factor ...and she still auditions for Shows, but considers BB far too excessive and risky. Funnily enough she said she only auditioned for Fear Factor because she wanted to travel.

Regards

[Electra]

Originally Posted by StewartF

Just reading another thread and something that SWW said got me thinking. The original quote:



Plenty of housemates have, over the years, entered the Big Brother house and left to torrents of abuse. Several weeks later an article will appear claiming that Big Brother has ruined their lives.

Housemates such as Lesley and Sam come to mind. I don't take particular interest in housemates post-BB so don't know the exact details but the headline 'BB ruined me' has appeared often enough so that I do know there's plenty of ex-housemates out there who claim it.

One thing I do believe Endemol do is warn the housemates of the dangers of BB before hand. Even if you aren't a housemate it's quite obvious that you could be torn apart by the press/media and public during the show and after. But certain housemates still expect a life post-BB where they remain in the public eye for longer than 15 minutes. And when they don't or they get slaughtered by the media they quickly turn around and slam the show.

It's an easy excuse to make but is it really true? Housemates such as Grace have been hated by the public and press but have continued on with their lives and haven't used any such excuse.

Is 'Big Brother ruined my life' really an appropriate thing to say when a housemate hits rockbottom?

There was a long-running thread on a similar theme last year, with interesting contributions from Cameron & Marco

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...ther+be+blamed

[Veri]

Originally Posted by Rat Scabies

To claim 'BB ruined my life is wrong' (Lesley as an example)

She has only herself to blame for putting herself in that position, and for acting in a certain way....

Is that what supposedly ruined her life? I didn't think so. And some of it was definitely the actions of other people, who were presumably repsonsible for their actions.

[micjay]

I'd love to know how some of the ex housemates have enough money to live on. People like Sam and Michelle appear in the odd mag now and again but surely, after all this time, that can't pay enough for them to survive on.

The ones who pop up occasionally on the odd TV programme, or are photographed still turning up at showbiz events etc don't seem to have a 9-5 job and yet can still afford to do the night clubs and be 'out and about'.

Must admit, I don't read any mags so maybe they are in them regularly but just can't imagine any interest in a BB contestant from years ago.

[Rat Scabies]

Originally Posted by Veri

Sam didn't behave like a complete b*stard.

Sam. She's in a bit of a state these days.

http://celebs.me.uk/viewtopic.php?t=...hlight=heuston

Warning, no nudity but NSFW.

Theres more explicit ones around but i think you get the idea just from these.

Is this big brothers doing?

[Rat Scabies]

Originally Posted by Veri

Is that what supposedly ruined her life? I didn't think so. And some of it was definitely the actions of other people, who were presumably repsonsible for their actions.

Lesley claimed that bg brother ruined her life.

That is wrong

Big Brother was not to blame.

[oulandy]

I agree with Veri on all points on this one. Also, contestants don't know what it will be like until they have been on the show. They think they know beforehand, how it will be for them, but they can't and don't imagine it right.
They have an image of it in their head, but it turns out in reality to be rather different from that.

[SWW (SWW)]

Originally Posted by Rat Scabies

Sam. She's in a bit of a state these days.

http://celebs.me.uk/viewtopic.php?t=...hlight=heuston

Warning, no nudity but NSFW.

Theres more explicit ones around but i think you get the idea just from these.

Is this big brothers doing?

...to think I used to get roasted at the begining of BB6 when I used to say that she was an extreme attention seeking exhibitionist... before I started defending her against the horrid time she had in the House.

...I have always thought that 'there is something quite not right about' Sam... the bodies willing, but the mind doesn't seem to be... it always looks/sound like she is trying too hard to be some sex-queen... but it always comes across as wooden, hammy and as a result really sordid and not in the least sexy... imo

... oh, and in regards to the topic... if Sam does end up in porn (not that she has ever claimed she would) and gets mis-treated as many young women in porn do... it will be her fault and not BBs... imo

Regards

[Electra]

Originally Posted by oulandy

I agree with Veri on all points on this one. Also, contestants don't know what it will be like until they have been on the show. They think they know beforehand, how it will be for them, but they can't and don't imagine it right.
They have an image of it in their head, but it turns out in reality to be rather different from that.

I agree too. I've been told by one housemate ( & I'm sure others have said similar), that nothing prepares you for the reality of the aftermath of being on BB & that he was a bit like a rabbit caught in headlights. The producers do try to prepare them for it but you have to go through it to understand fully.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

I am not so sure Veri, although I concede that I have my cynical hat on, in prepartion for BB8, where at present I refuse to believe that any of the HMs can be naive about the downside of BB after BB7 and CBB5's much publicised outcomes. and reviews.

Why does it matter if they aren't naive? It wouldn't mean that being in BB couldn't damage them or that it would somehow be their fault if it did. If athletes are injured in an accident, for example, we don't automatically think that any such things follow from their prior knowledge that it could happen. (The key difference, imo, that that people respect and admire athletes, but not housemates -- not any actual difference involving fault or deserved blame.)

I continue to find it surprising, and rather dismaying, really, that so many fans of BB are so anti-housemate, so willing to believe the worst of them and unwilling to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Indeed, I'd have thought that with the increasing distrust and dislike of Endemol people would become more likely to take the housemates' side; but, if anything, the opposite seems to have happened.

There are exceptions, of course. If BB lets housemates hear boos, for example, and it upsets them for a substantial period, as seemed to happen with Ash, then BB might be blamed. But it doesn't get generalised to other cases.

People keep saying things such as "they can't show something that you haven't actually done" and that the HMs must know by now what can happen, "talk of doom", etc, as if that somehow shows that (being in) BB couldn't have any significant causal role in what happened, or couldn't have any blameworthy role. But those things don't show anything of the sort! I don't think I've ever seen a logical case for it. People just say those things then leap to the conclusion.

[Veri]

Originally Posted by Rat Scabies

Sam. She's in a bit of a state these days.

http://celebs.me.uk/viewtopic.php?t=...hlight=heuston

That's not these days, and it wouldn't show Sam had behaved like a complete b*stard even if it were.

Is this big brothers doing?

No one's said it was.

[Rat Scabies]

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

...to think I used to get roasted at the begining of BB6

I think thats what Sam was hoping for from Maxwell and Antony.

Fnarr Fnarr

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

when I used to say that she was an extreme attention seeking exhibitionist... before I started defending her against the horrid time she had in the House.

...I have always thought that 'there is something quite not right about' Sam... the bodies willing, but the mind doesn't seem to be... it always looks/sound like she is trying too hard to be some sex-queen... but it always comes across as wooden, hammy and as a result really sordid and not in the least sexy... imo

... oh, and in regards to the topic... if Sam does end up in porn (not that she has ever claimed she would) and gets mis-treated as many young women in porn do... it will be her fault and not BBs... imo

Regards

I also supported her from her treatment in the house.

She's a trainwreck and socially odd. But that doesnt excuse what she had to put up with.

The other pictures of her are much worse, she has dispensed with the underwear altogether.

I'm sure she thinks shes having a great time, but pictures of her legs akimbo outside nightclubs for the paps are just depressing IMO.

[DomesticGoddess]

Everyone housemate deserves to complain. Look at us! We are why BB is so rubbish, because we speak our mind too much.

[Rat Scabies]

Originally Posted by Veri

That's not these days, and it wouldn't show Sam had behaved like a complete b*stard even if it were.

No one's said it was.

Who is trying to show Sam behaved like a bastard?
I'm not even sure she has complained that big brother ruined her life.

You seem to have a chip on your shoulder.

Does ANYONE think that big brother is to blame for Ex housemates troubles? Or subsequent disfunctional behavior (a la Sam) ?

Or are we ALL in agreement here that it is not Big Brothers responsibility?

[Veri]

Originally Posted by SWW (SWW)

...I have always thought that 'there is something quite not right about' Sam... the bodies willing, but the mind doesn't seem to be... it always looks/sound like she is trying too hard to be some sex-queen... but it always comes across as wooden, hammy and as a result really sordid and not in the least sexy... imo

An understandable nervousness somehow turns into trying too hard and something not quite right.

... oh, and in regards to the topic... if Sam does end up in porn (not that she has ever claimed she would) and gets mis-treated as many young women in porn do... it will be her fault and not BBs... imo

Oh? How can it be her fault of others mistreat her? Have they somehow been magically deprived of free will and lost responsibility for their own actions?

You're coming awfully close to saying that once someone's in porn mistreating them no longer counts as wrong -- because they'd get none of the blame.