[Mullens123]

Originally Posted by Robodog

Well you can either focus on the ever-increasing positives (of which there is PLENTY of solid evidence for in the BB world) take heart, and build upon that.

Or you can focus on the negatives (for which there is no solid evidence, just questions and implications in the minds of the accusers), feel downhearted about those questions and keep going round in circles, ignoring all that positive progress that IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

I'm sure there are individuals making stupid remarks on social media. I'm sure they always will be. I don't think it's realistic to expect to be able to silence every voice that you don't agree with. Attempting to do that runs the risk of becoming fascist yourself.

As Salman Rushdie said:

"One of the problems with defending free speech is you often have to defend people that you find to be outrageous and unpleasant and disgusting."

That's what a free, healthy society looks like. Fortunately most people are pretty awake on such issues and see the person, not the pigeon-hole. It's happening more and more. Especially on Big Brother.

But seriously, take heart, look at the overwhelming evidence to the positive regarding BB the good it does for society, embracing all manner of individuals from all backgrounds. This show celebrates it like no other. It leads the way for public awareness and acceptance for say, trans-individuals: Luke A, Lauren Harries, Kellie Malonie etc.

As for whether or why not a black female will ever win. Well it's up to those individuals isn't it? Pauline had every chance of winning but she blew it by being spiteful.

Deborah got very close to winning yesterday. She was lovely. But people also liked Raph and Isabelle. They were lovely too. Anyone who suggests the Raph/Isabelle voters were voting them out of some kind of 'unspoken racism' towards Deborah are seriously deluding themselves. Where does that get you?

The progress for anti-racism requires two things:

1. That people stop being racist
2. That people acknowledge when this is happening.

It cuts both ways.

Or we get nowhere.

But what ARE the ever increasing positives? If anything minorities are performing worse in Big Brother now than they ever have before, and Deborah coming third/Pauline getting cheers on launch isn't going to be enough proof to convince a lot of people otherwise. Especially when Isabelle won in a landslide vote last night, so Deborah wasn't close beyond her top 3 placement. As for there being no solid evidence... its on our screens... you can have Kieran mention he's slept with 350 women and get cheers from an audience, but a girl talking about sex and steering away from conflict can evoke some of the harshest responses from the viewing audience.

Nowhere did I say I want to silence the bigoted comments online. I'm using them as an example to show that these views are still very much alive among people, and that will play a part in the results of the show being watched.

It just feels almost like a political party telling people how they should and shouldn't feel about a situation, and that 'evidence' shows how things are so much better when many aren't finding things so merry. As much as I'd like to say one day these issues won't be around (especially in something as trivial as a reality tv show), I don't think we are near a point of removing prejudice views that have been ingrained into society for years.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

if it was BB Nigeria or anywhere there was say a 8% white population it would be the same thread but about a white winner

lets face facts

And that would be a form of prejudice... not exactly difficult to say.