[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..it wasn't Jim's fault at all and I'm not even a fan of his...I think in general with housemates, they're quite extremes of personalities and with celebrities, there is often a lot of controversy and mixed public opinion attached to them, which is why BB chooses them and also for conflicting views with other celebrities in there etc...but to be fair to Jim, I think with him, he's probably had a much more controversial past than the 'average' and I think it's important to him to try to change some of the negative public opinion..also for his career as well...so it was always going to be no easy task, but he's also had to put up with the relentless hatred of Linda who will not rest until he's hated by the whole of humankind...and the sad thing is that I don't even think that's an exaggeration ..she totally detests him and I don't think would ever see any slight shred of good in him...

..in my opinion he hasn't always reacted to her hatred in the best of ways, the Frank Carson thing being the best example but on the whole, I think he has coped with it all very well because that environment at the best of times is very 'pressure cooker' but having to live with the strength of feeling that Linda has for him would kind of make the best of us, walk out that door...who needs that..?...

..anyway, as a person/human being, there is so much about him that I don't admire but as a housemate and how he has withstood Linda's venom, I have to have some respect for him...whether he's had to do that/hold himself in because he's afraid to show his anger etc, it doesn't matter because on the whole he's done it and very few people could...

..as awful as she is, it's hard to 'hate' someone like Linda because what she is, is a deeply unhappy lady who seems to totally hate herself and her life...I know she has had to face some very difficult things in her life and that's sad...those things aren't fair and we can't change them, all we can do is try to take something positive from them but I think that all she has taken is bitterness and self-pity and that bitterness during her time in BB has all been transferred to a person she dislikes...Jim has his wife and some good things in his life and those things probably help and will help to make him a better person...I hope Linda finds something good to believe in as well....

An exceptionally good post. A compelling read.