[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Hayden

If you enjoy BBUK - watch BBUK!

If you enjoy BBUS - watch BBUS!

Here's an idea - if you enjoy both, watch both! And if you only enjoy one, only watch one!

Here's an idea - if you enjoy Big Brother, watch Big Brother! And if you prefer one of the formats that an incarnation of Big Brother uses, feel free to say that you think it would be good if another one you watch adopted it!

Originally Posted by armand.kay

If you're likeable you can make it very far no matter how controversial you look at Gina for example. And in BBUS sex, looks and how much you speak up also play a part. BB6 had Ashley evicted first because she was good looking and the girls didn't like the attention she gave to the guys, BB16 had someone like Victoria make it really far despite doing nothing all series and the last few seasons of BBUS have showen that merit doesn't get you far at all, no matter how good you play the game if you're not in with the "it" crew you're not staying for long.

Gina and indeed Dexter were complete anomalies and we got extremely lucky, that kind of thing doesn't happen every series - especially under vote to evict. The prerequisites for succeeding on BBUK are basically: have a penis, be attractive, befriend all of your housemates and be the 'nice guy' so you're never nominated, never utter a word all series and you're destined to make the final or win. It's counterproductive nonsense and requires no skill or merit whatsoever.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule on BBUS as you've outlined but for the most part if you are evicted it's through your own doing. You could using your examples say that Ashley's early eviction could be attributed to a poor social game with the women and that Victoria played on her 'goat' status (unlikely but there's still something to be said for making it that far regardless).

As for your last sentence, that is exactly what merit is. If you're not part of the 'in' crew that is your problem for not having a strong enough social game. If you make yourself a target, that's your fault. It's absolutely based on merit.