[Maru]

I'm wondering if this may have been just been a crappy edit on BB's part. Jason does seem like he is poor at explaining himself though and takes things way too seriously sometimes.

Being an only child could mean he had to be more independent and had to handle conflict and obstacles privately since he didn't have a sibling to confide in which would also make him more self-reliant. It could give him a sense of false infallibility around others since I notice people with siblings tend to vent their grievances more freely in groups. Only children don't usually tend to work that way because that exposes them to situations that they are not experienced in dealing with. At the same time that also means being able to deal with being alone much more often, etc... he may be used to going into situations at full capacity (from periods of loneliness), but has never been in a situation where it builds up like it does in the house and he may not immediately recognize the root of his anxiety until several weeks in the house (with "tasks" and other melodrama like Charlie...)

If it wasn't bullocks and he had issues with shyness like he said he had, then he probably didn't have the greatest framework with managing confrontations. He may have had a harder time understanding how some people come to their conclusions because he's never had to explain himself nor be accountable for his behavior the way that most people would have to had to deal with conflict with a sibling.

He may also be finding it hard to cope in an environment where he can't build the intensity of his connections with people gradually and more methodically and instead he is forced to develop many relationships at the same time with no ability to leave or have full understanding of where people are because of the constant paranoia of "Are they game playing?"

I think he would've liked to had better control of managing his relationships with people in there but this environment is completely the opposite of the framework he's been working with (especially not living with anyone else), so he has a big disadvantage there.

I'm an only child but my circumstances were a little different. The needs of those around me came above my own most of the time. My mother was sick and so were two others in the house who had neurological disabilities and two had mental disorders.

I totally understand having to cope with the loneliness and not being able to manage multiple relationships as well as others, though I'm helped a little bit by being more of an extrovert... everything we've seen on the show tells me he is an introvert.

I know another introvert that reminds me of Jason. He gets upset at things that don't make sense because of his adult thinking. He was home schooled with another sibling, but they were both adult child (both expected to be an adult at an early age) because the father was a science teacher and had above average expectations for his kids. He still has problems coping and sees a therapist regularly. He is older than myself. It is very hard to replace experience you've missed out on at that young of an age...

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Maru

I'm wondering if this may have been just been a crappy edit on BB's part. Jason does seem like he is poor at explaining himself though and takes things way too seriously sometimes.

Being an only child could mean he had to be more independent and had to handle conflict and obstacles privately since he didn't have a sibling to confide in which would also make him more self-reliant. It could give him a sense of false infallibility around others since I notice people with siblings tend to vent their grievances more freely in groups. Only children don't usually tend to work that way because that exposes them to situations that they are not experienced in dealing with. At the same time that also means being able to deal with being alone much more often, etc... he may be used to going into situations at full capacity (from periods of loneliness), but has never been in a situation where it builds up like it does in the house and he may not immediately recognize the root of his anxiety until several weeks in the house (with "tasks" and other melodrama like Charlie...)

If it wasn't bullocks and he had issues with shyness like he said he had, then he probably didn't have the greatest framework with managing confrontations. He may have had a harder time understanding how some people come to their conclusions because he's never had to explain himself nor be accountable for his behavior the way that most people would have to had to deal with conflict with a sibling.

He may also be finding it hard to cope in an environment where he can't build the intensity of his connections with people gradually and more methodically and instead he is forced to develop many relationships at the same time with no ability to leave or have full understanding of where people are because of the constant paranoia of "Are they game playing?"

I think he would've liked to had better control of managing his relationships with people in there but this environment is completely the opposite of the framework he's been working with (especially not living with anyone else), so he has a big disadvantage there.

I'm an only child but my circumstances were a little different. The needs of those around me came above my own most of the time. My mother was sick and so were two others in the house who had neurological disabilities and two had mental disorders.

I totally understand having to cope with the loneliness and not being able to manage multiple relationships as well as others, though I'm helped a little bit by being more of an extrovert... everything we've seen on the show tells me he is an introvert.

I know another introvert that reminds me of Jason. He gets upset at things that don't make sense because of his adult thinking. He was home schooled with another sibling, but they were both adult child (both expected to be an adult at an early age) because the father was a science teacher and had above average expectations for his kids. He still has problems coping and sees a therapist regularly. He is older than myself. It is very hard to replace experience you've missed out on at that young of an age...

....hmmm, the apparent 'root of his anxieties' though, Maru...the connecting of them for him etc..?...do seem a little coincidental and convenient with him feeling a sense of losing control and how he's reacting to that...cue nomination time, cue huge hugs for Sam and I love you man...and then Sam and Jackson nominate him...so then it's, does he feel a sense of hurt about that or a sense of losing control over nominations that he felt that he had assured wouldn't go to him..?...hmmmm, he does seem to react very badly to not having control and it's the only time, I've really seen noticeable reactions/ negative behaviour from him...like Charlie discussing him with others..?..(I also do keep thinking about Charlie and her low self esteem and how a 'controlling' person may be drawn to her because of what it gives them over her emotions and hence her confusions maybe..)...anyways, I think he's very much played a game in a tactical way/methodical and non-emotional type way... but hasn't really taken into considerations the personalities and emotions of others because I do think that it's a huge weakness for him, which is why also he was so dumb-founded that many were hurt so much in him evicting Lateysha...anyways, maybe I'm being a bit harsh and cynical with thinking about the timing of his 'revelation' but I do hope that he's grown from this experience in that realising 'teamwork' and 'group' dynamics etc is very much about people and personalities/emotions as well and considering those as well as tactics....

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

....hmmm, the apparent 'root of his anxieties' though, Maru...the connecting of them for him etc..?...do seem a little coincidental and convenient with him feeling a sense of losing control and how he's reacting to that...cue nomination time, cue huge hugs for Sam and I love you man...and then Sam and Jackson nominate him...so then it's, does he feel a sense of hurt about that or a sense of losing control over nominations that he felt that he had assured wouldn't go to him..?...hmmmm, he does seem to react very badly to not having control and it's the only time, I've really seen noticeable reactions/ negative behaviour from him...like Charlie discussing him with others..?..(I also do keep thinking about Charlie and her low self esteem and how a 'controlling' person may be drawn to her because of what it gives them over her emotions and hence her confusions maybe..)...anyways, I think he's very much played a game in a tactical way/methodical and non-emotional type way... but hasn't really taken into considerations the personalities and emotions of others because I do think that it's a huge weakness for him, which is why also he was so dumb-founded that many were hurt so much in him evicting Lateysha...anyways, maybe I'm being a bit harsh and cynical with thinking about the timing of his 'revelation' but I do hope that he's grown from this experience in that realising 'teamwork' and 'group' dynamics etc is very much about people and personalities/emotions as well and considering those as well as tactics....

Great posts Ami and Maru, very interesting and reflective.

[jet]

Originally Posted by Ammi

....hmmm, the apparent 'root of his anxieties' though, Maru...the connecting of them for him etc..?...do seem a little coincidental and convenient with him feeling a sense of losing control and how he's reacting to that...cue nomination time, cue huge hugs for Sam and I love you man...and then Sam and Jackson nominate him...so then it's, does he feel a sense of hurt about that or a sense of losing control over nominations that he felt that he had assured wouldn't go to him..?...hmmmm, he does seem to react very badly to not having control and it's the only time, I've really seen noticeable reactions/ negative behaviour from him...like Charlie discussing him with others..?..(I also do keep thinking about Charlie and her low self esteem and how a 'controlling' person may be drawn to her because of what it gives them over her emotions and hence her confusions maybe..)...anyways, I think he's very much played a game in a tactical way/methodical and non-emotional type way... but hasn't really taken into considerations the personalities and emotions of others because I do think that it's a huge weakness for him, which is why also he was so dumb-founded that many were hurt so much in him evicting Lateysha...anyways, maybe I'm being a bit harsh and cynical with thinking about the timing of his 'revelation' but I do hope that he's grown from this experience in that realising 'teamwork' and 'group' dynamics etc is very much about people and personalities/emotions as well and considering those as well as tactics....

Yes Ammi, I share a lot of your thoughts here. I think Jason's need to be in control at all times is the most noticeable facet of his personality. His iron control with Charlie; the way he measures every word and takes his time when speaking (and not speaking that much.) He's very tactical and lives inside his own head. The thing that stood out for me at the time was the absolute shock on his face at the HM's reaction just after had named Laytesha to be evicted. He knew she was popular, he knew she was his greatest competition, but it seemed he hadn't taken into consideration how the others would feel. He's playing the game unemotionally, and he's not good at reading the feelings/motives/personalities of others.
When it all goes wrong, he tends to withdraw even further into himself for self protection and becomes a impenetrable block of stone. He would have been justified imo in showing his hurt and anger (that he's HUMAN) but as he doesn't come across very often as a warm person but more as a calculating one (whether he is or not) he doesn't get much warmth in return. A nice man, yes, but one who isn't easy to get to know/relate to because he's too self controlled and sullen when things get tricky.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Ammi

....hmmm, the apparent 'root of his anxieties' though, Maru...the connecting of them for him etc..?...do seem a little coincidental and convenient with him feeling a sense of losing control and how he's reacting to that...cue nomination time, cue huge hugs for Sam and I love you man...and then Sam and Jackson nominate him...so then it's, does he feel a sense of hurt about that or a sense of losing control over nominations that he felt that he had assured wouldn't go to him..?...hmmmm, he does seem to react very badly to not having control and it's the only time, I've really seen noticeable reactions/ negative behaviour from him...like Charlie discussing him with others..?..(I also do keep thinking about Charlie and her low self esteem and how a 'controlling' person may be drawn to her because of what it gives them over her emotions and hence her confusions maybe..)...anyways, I think he's very much played a game in a tactical way/methodical and non-emotional type way... but hasn't really taken into considerations the personalities and emotions of others because I do think that it's a huge weakness for him, which is why also he was so dumb-founded that many were hurt so much in him evicting Lateysha...anyways, maybe I'm being a bit harsh and cynical with thinking about the timing of his 'revelation' but I do hope that he's grown from this experience in that realising 'teamwork' and 'group' dynamics etc is very much about people and personalities/emotions as well and considering those as well as tactics....

Yeah that's where I think he's a failed and very flawed HM for me. I can understand why some people find him a favorite for his tactical-ness and severity, but for me it's a major sign of character weakness.

Aside from his very apparently selfish motivators in the house, half of which we probably don't even know because he is so secretive, I think his single child revelation does add a layer of interest to how he works and thinks as a person. In the very least, it can explain how he can appear so selfish and remain that way despite credible points made by other HM. Though I personally feel his independence streak is at play here. Even for a tactical player, he would've needed to have relied more on others and networked better with other HM's despite Charlie's opposing influence in the house, and in failing to do that he failed to play the game properly and the way it was meant to be played (imo)... if it was tactical, then he made the wrong decision. However, if he is dealing with a disadvantage personally, then maybe being a single child would explain part of his motivators/logic. I really don't think it explains everything aside from his overall demeanor.

Nobody can control everything that happens inside the house (unless given a ****ty advantage by BB) which is what makes it such an interesting game.