Survivor: Fans vs Favorites

[Guri]

playing 'against' each other? No way. Family members will more likely unite and form alliances. And I hope so, because if they don't - I mean... can you imagine blind siding your dad or your sister?

As intriguing as they probably think this idea is, I personally think it's just a bad idea... Families have enough issues in real life trying to keep ties and get along, to pit them against each other for a million dollars? I mean, doesn't anyone watch Judge Judy?? Or maybe that is what they are going for; petty bickering with past baggage and dirty laundry to come out?

Biggest problem is that if you grow to hate or be annoyed with some stranger on the island, after Survivor you can get away from them, but if it's a family member?

I just have a sinking feeling about this one.

I'm also surprised Art and Wook haven't been back to comment on the Russel tweets!

 

[SSgt Burton]

Families have enough issues in real life trying to keep ties and get along, to pit them against each other for a million dollars? I mean, doesn't anyone watch Judge Judy?? Or maybe that is what they are going for; petty bickering with past baggage and dirty laundry to come out?

I imagine that yes, that is exactly what they are hoping for: an on screen meltdown. Or perhaps also a reverse- two bitter family members reconciling their differences as tribe allies?

Biggest problem is that if you grow to hate or be annoyed with some stranger on the island, after Survivor you can get away from them, but if it's a family member?

They may not necessarily live with one another but I do see your point. You still have to see them sometime or another.


This could be a season with heart-filled, touching moments or a disaster of nuclear proportions. :wacko


Kevin

 

[knightdriver2001]

I'd love to see them do a Celebrity Survivor myself. That would be interesting to watch!

 

[The Wook]

I'm also surprised Art and Wook haven't been back to comment on the Russel tweets!

I've not been on the site for about a month, Julie, I've been blow drying my hair. Otherwise I would've chimed in thusly...

As I was reading Russell's tweets in your post, I knew you'd gleefully found further validation in your already-cemented opinion that Russell Hantz is a ruffian. A ruffian with a modus operandi based exclusively on boorish intimidation. I'll agree with you to this extent: he's a master manipulator, and won't win any awards for Mr. Congeniality. In the game, or in real life.

And yet I maintain, that Russell is the greatest Survivor of all time. You recall him saying mean things to his fellow castaways during his seasons. I do not. I recall him saying mean things *about* some of his fellow castaways, during his confessionals. That's a big difference. With all due respect, I think your intense dislike of him has obfuscated your memory, with respect to this distinction. In fact, I believe in a previous post you acknowledged that you couldn't recall a specific incident in which he'd been mean to someone's face in any of his seasons. I can recall two times, but in each case he was provoked by someone else saying mean things to him first, and in each case he showed remarkable restraint in saying mean things back. Russell was not a blowhard in front of his castaways, nor does he like to tip his hand as to his strategy. I know you hate the way he spoke about his fellow castaways with such disdain in his confessionals, but while interacting with them on the island, Russell's strong preference was to keep a low profile, and surgically remove each threat as they got in his path. True, he didn't always succeed in keeping a low profile, but he did try. Problem was, he devastated so many people's plans, it was very difficult for him to keep a low profile.

As for the tweets, it's all talk, IMO. I don't think Russell would really physically attack Fillup if he ran into him on the street. And Russell's right, that the emotions he's feeling, about sticking up for family (Brandon), is all perfectly normal. Furthermore, if CBS really did have a couple shrinks call Russell, that's totally ridiculous on their part. lol

Julie, you and I can agree, though, that Blood and Water could be a disaster. My biggest concern is family members striking deals amongst themselves to work together and split the million. To my knowledge, castaways in the past, all of whom were unrelated by blood, never struck such a deal. But the temptation among family members to do so, will be too high, IMO.

Nevertheless, I will eagerly tune in this fall. So will you.

The Wook

 

[SSgt Burton]

My biggest concern is family members striking deals amongst themselves to work together and split the million. To my knowledge, castaways in the past, all of whom were unrelated by blood, never struck such a deal. But the temptation among family members to do so, will be too high, IMO.

Isn't there a rule that the players can't split the prize money?


Kevin

 

[Guri]

As I was reading Russell's tweets in your post, I knew you'd gleefully found further validation in your already-cemented opinion that Russell Hantz is a ruffian. A ruffian with a modus operandi based exclusively on boorish intimidation. ...

....With all due respect, I think your intense dislike of him has obfuscated your memory, with respect to this distinction.

Just so you know I'm not gleeful for validation, I didn't really need it, I was more interested to see if it would affect the opinions of those who thought his behavior was just in the game. I see it has not...

And I' don't have an intense dislike, either, just an opinion on his character.

When I watched him act as he did, I admit, it made me feel icky and when I read all of his tweets I felt sad for him taking things so personal, but I don't dwell on and belly ache with negative feelings about people, even people who have personally gone out of their way to hurt me, or politicians I think are doing truly evil deeds. As far as I can do it, I let it go. (It gets easier the more I do)

As for the tweets, it's all talk, IMO. I don't think Russell would really physically attack Fillup if he ran into him on the street. And Russell's right, that the emotions he's feeling, about sticking up for family (Brandon), is all perfectly normal. Furthermore, if CBS really did have a couple shrinks call Russell, that's totally ridiculous on their part. lol

They may just be covering themselves to make sure he was 'just talk' for a public persona. But my point is, he's not playing the game anymore and he's clearly trying to intimidate Fillup, even if he wouldn't really do anything. And it worked - his behavior, and Brandon's, scared him so much that they changed the reunion show.

I see it as him finding it fun or some compulsive need to bring it to twitter instead of leaving it in the game.

But we can disagree on that.

Julie, you and I can agree, though, that Blood and Water could be a disaster. My biggest concern is family members striking deals amongst themselves to work together and split the million. To my knowledge, castaways in the past, all of whom were unrelated by blood, never struck such a deal. But the temptation among family members to do so, will be too high, IMO.

Nevertheless, I will eagerly tune in this fall. So will you.

The Wook

Of course I will! Can't wait.

And it's JULIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[The Wook]

I don't have an intense dislike [of Russell], either, just an opinion on his character. When I watched him act as he did [during his seasons], I admit, it made me feel icky and when I read all of his tweets I felt sad for him taking things so personal, but I don't dwell on and belly ache with negative feelings about people, even people who have personally gone out of their way to hurt me, or politicians I think are doing truly evil deeds. As far as I can do it, I let it go. (It gets easier the more I do.)

I think that's a healthy attitude. So let me ask you something. Let's say you and your husband are at the King of Prussia mall, and you come upon a kiosk selling raffle tickets. You're in a hurry because Bloomies is having a sale, so you just glance at the prize list, but you see a few cool items, and buy a couple tickets, $1 each. Three hours later you're walking past the kiosk again, and hear your number called...you've won a prize! The prize is a dinner for you and your husband with Survivor All Star Russell Hantz (and his wife) at the restaurant of your choice, who will be in Philly for a couple weeks next month on business. Would you go?

And it's JULIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Oh SNAP! I did it again! I'm so sorry, I've been gone awhile and got it mixed up. Please forgive, me, Julia.

The Wook

 

[Laspector]

Unless the dinner included a complimentary "punch Russel in the face" I would not go...But I do not have a husband, so I guess I would be disqualified.

 

[Guri]

I think that's a healthy attitude. So let me ask you something. Let's say you and your husband are at the King of Prussia mall, and you come upon a kiosk selling raffle tickets. You're in a hurry because Bloomies is having a sale, so you just glance at the prize list, but you see a few cool items, and buy a couple tickets, $1 each. Three hours later you're walking past the kiosk again, and hear your number called...you've won a prize! The prize is a dinner for you and your husband with Survivor All Star Russell Hantz (and his wife) at the restaurant of your choice, who will be in Philly for a couple weeks next month on business. Would you go?

Probably. If he was cool with eating dinner with some fans then I'm sure he'd be on good behavior during the meal. If he for some reason showed contempt for having to be there or started trash talking people on the show to me I'm pretty good putting up with people for one meal, but you can be sure you'd get a PM "I told you so". hehe



Of course I forgive the Julie slip - I'll just keep reminding.

 

[The Wook]

Probably. If he was cool with eating dinner with some fans then I'm sure he'd be on good behavior during the meal. If he for some reason showed contempt for having to be there or started trash talking people on the show to me I'm pretty good putting up with people for one meal, but you can be sure you'd get a PM "I told you so". hehe

I respect that. So if he was on good behavior, and half-way through the meal he asked you the following, what would you say?

"Julia, you seem like a really big fan of Survivor, so let me ask you--do you think I should've won either, or both, of my first two seasons on the show? Were you rooting for me?"

The Wook

 

[Guri]

What is the point of this quiz? I'll play along, but I'd like to know where you're going with it and why.

Given that it might be a surprise question and I am not good when put on the spot in social situations, I would let my husband answer the question. haha! He's much better at reading people and much more diplomatic than I am.

But to play along in this hypothetical - I would have to see how the rest of the conversation has gone this far into the night to be able to tell why he's asking me. Is he really interested in my personal opinion, or is he asking for his own benefit.

My guess, not having sat through that dinner and based on what I know of him from watching the show and reading his tweets, is that he probably doesn't want my honest opinion. His emotional maturity level indicates he would just be looking for validation and to feel like I am his personal fan and not just of the show. You might think that's unfair, but that's how I see him and if during the dinner he had not shown me anything else to indicate otherwise, that's what I would go with.

So, I can pretty much guess that if I am honest about my dislike for the way he was demeaning to people behind their backs and how I hated watching that side of him, and don't blame the jury for not wanting him to win the million, he won't get that validation and will likely become defensive.

The best case scenario will be him smiling and trying to argue with me his reasons for what he did and aggressively talking over me and not take in anything I have to say. Which I would just suck it up, if I went the way of honestly.

Worst case scenario is he becomes angry and causes an embarrassing scene. If I was sitting across from him at dinner I might be able to tell what mood he's in, but he's unpredictable, so I might not be sure.

Either way, being honest would not be worth having to endure his offense taken, therefore, in this hypothetical, I would choose to do as I imagine my husband would actually be able to do and answer the question without really answering it... flattering him enough that maybe he wouldn't notice.

"You were the master at out-maneuvering everyone to the end, and it was awe-inspiring to watch how many people fell for your tricks and didn't see it coming. As for if you should have won - there was such a debate on how the show is played and the rules at the end and how the players vote and why. I think that absolutely, if there had been other players sitting on the jury basing their votes on different criteria that you could have easily swept it, both times."

I have no idea how he would respond to that - he might dog me for a straight answer, in which case I would have to decide if I wanted to risk enduring either of the above two scenarios, or to excuse myself to the bathroom and crawl out the window.

And can I say I feel a bit like Vizzini from Princess Bride trying to figure all of this out? haha!


Now, why do you ask me these questions?

 

[The Wook]

What is the point of this quiz? I'll play along, but I'd like to know where you're going with it and why.

Given that it might be a surprise question and I am not good when put on the spot in social situations, I would let my husband answer the question. haha! He's much better at reading people and much more diplomatic than I am.

But to play along in this hypothetical - I would have to see how the rest of the conversation has gone this far into the night to be able to tell why he's asking me. Is he really interested in my personal opinion, or is he asking for his own benefit.

My guess, not having sat through that dinner and based on what I know of him from watching the show and reading his tweets, is that he probably doesn't want my honest opinion. His emotional maturity level indicates he would just be looking for validation and to feel like I am his personal fan and not just of the show. You might think that's unfair, but that's how I see him and if during the dinner he had not shown me anything else to indicate otherwise, that's what I would go with.

So, I can pretty much guess that if I am honest about my dislike for the way he was demeaning to people behind their backs and how I hated watching that side of him, and don't blame the jury for not wanting him to win the million, he won't get that validation and will likely become defensive.

The best case scenario will be him smiling and trying to argue with me his reasons for what he did and aggressively talking over me and not take in anything I have to say. Which I would just suck it up, if I went the way of honestly.

Worst case scenario is he becomes angry and causes an embarrassing scene. If I was sitting across from him at dinner I might be able to tell what mood he's in, but he's unpredictable, so I might not be sure.

Either way, being honest would not be worth having to endure his offense taken, therefore, in this hypothetical, I would choose to do as I imagine my husband would actually be able to do and answer the question without really answering it... flattering him enough that maybe he wouldn't notice.

"You were the master at out-maneuvering everyone to the end, and it was awe-inspiring to watch how many people fell for your tricks and didn't see it coming. As for if you should have won - there was such a debate on how the show is played and the rules at the end and how the players vote and why. I think that absolutely, if there had been other players sitting on the jury basing their votes on different criteria that you could have easily swept it, both times."

I have no idea how he would respond to that - he might dog me for a straight answer, in which case I would have to decide if I wanted to risk enduring either of the above two scenarios, or to excuse myself to the bathroom and crawl out the window.

And can I say I feel a bit like Vizzini from Princess Bride trying to figure all of this out? haha!


Now, why do you ask me these questions?

Excellent answer, Julia. I bet it would please him.

Why do I ask you? I dunno. I'm just curious, like a cat. I like the way your mind works, even if I disagree with you at times. I was just wondering how you'd handle such a situation.

Me? Which Survivor do I dislike the most? Sandra Diaz-Twine. I'd go to dinner with her, but mostly to learn some inside baseball about the game. I have no respect for her as a player or person. I'm a gentleman, and I'd be polite, as well as open-minded that she might be more appealing and impressive in person. If she asked me if I was pulling for her during her seasons, I'd smile and say, "No. I tend to favor players who employ a more active strategy in the game. But, you won, twice, and for that, I tip my hat to you.".

Now I'd be lying about tipping my hat to her, but I'd say it to be polite and soften my answer.

The Wook