[Redway]

Originally Posted by kizzy

I have let my daughter watch since BB7 she is now 18, she loves BB as much as me it is repeated pre watershed so younger viewers can watch too.
All this cocooning of people has to stop, BB style groups and bullying begins at school, I actually see it as a positive that there is a way to see this behaviour in its purest form.

BB highlights not only overt bullying but manipulation and coersion, the latter is usually less obvious but in most cases does the most damage.
In most cases BB shows a lot of conflict resoloution, if there are rows in the house it will show how the issue was resolved, either by talking to BB or a friend in the house much the same as it would in life by discussing with a teacher /parent/partner/friend.
And those who break the rules are given a warning for specific rule breaking, as in life.

Those who take part all do so of their free will, and have been deemed competant enough to survive in such an intense environment.
I would go so far as to say BB could be used as a tool for those who are being bullied, to recognise it as it happens and the ways in which it can be dealt with.

Insightful post but I still wouldn't let my children watch Big Brother. It's all right it not tolerating any form of bullying - and rightly so - but the little ones don't need to see people going in for a snog with someone else, smoking cigarettes or boozing until they drop. Bullying is only one aspect of the show in general and its suitability for children.