What has Big Brother taught us about human nature?
The last have entered the house as the show begins its final series in the UK. What has the show taught as about society?
The , which is popular around the world, has seen its fair share of arguments over the years. In one US series, broadcast in 2001, a housemate was expelled from the show after threatening another with a knife.
In 2004, UK viewers complained following a violent drunken fight between two housemates and in 2007, the Australian version of the show was criticised for deciding not to tell a contestant that her father had died.
The UK celebrity version of the series has also seen its share of controversy, with the a heated race row involving Jade Goody and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in 2007.
Are you a fan of Big Brother? Do you think the series is a true reflection of society? Has the programme taught you anything about human nature? What have you learnt from the show?
Big Brother began on Channel 4 on Wednesday at 2100 BST.
This debate has now been closed. Thank you for your comments.
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Comment number 1.
At 9th Jun 2010, David wrote:Big Brother has shown that there are a lot of ghastly people in the world. Unfortunately it does reflect society as a whole, although it does exaggerate the worse parts by choosing the strangest people it can find.
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Comment number 2.
At 9th Jun 2010, Delirium wrote:What has Big Brother taught us about human nature?
It was billed as a great social experiment which was a flat out lie.
If you seal a group of strangers in a house for weeks on end some wil fight, some will become friends some will become more than friends we didn't need a TV program to tell us that.
What I learnt from big brother is the same lesson I've taken from the X Factor et al - There is a section of the British public that simply cannot get enough of watching their fellow humans being humiliated, degraded and subject to borderline psychological torture.
Seriously if a channel was to show somebody being physically tortured and executed on British TV I honestly believe pretty much exactly the same audience would tune in.
Big Brother - a celebration of the nastiest, most shallow, cruelest part of British society.
May it never darken our screens again.
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Comment number 3.
At 9th Jun 2010, Dorsai wrote:that people will watch anything if it's hyped up enough.
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Comment number 4.
At 9th Jun 2010, parlovero wrote:Fortunately we do not have a television so I have been lucky enough not to have seen it. However from what I hear from others who have, it reflects nothing of society apart from the facts that wherever you go their are wierdos and freaks who live in their own sub culture of stupidity, violence and total disregard for others. The TV hunts these people down and puts them together for "Entertainment". If there is a comment on society it is that lives must be very boring to get pleasure from such absolute drivel.
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Comment number 5.
At 9th Jun 2010, frankiecrisp wrote:Its taught us that the are a lot of pathetic attention seeking people out there who will let themselves be humiliated just to be famous for 15 minutes. non of them have any real talent so once the media has had its use for them they are dumped but they deserve it.
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Comment number 6.
At 9th Jun 2010, teedoff wrote:I watched the first series only, and what it taught me was that a section of society are willing to "sell their soul" for a little bit of fame.
I know that this transpired later on as one of the contestants suddenly started appearing everywhere and had documentaries made about her life - and then, eventually, her death.
So I don't think it is representative of most of UK, or the other countries where it has been shown, but has uncovered a seedy underbelly of voyeurism in our society, of people who "like to watch" others display outrageous behaviour. And that saddens me.
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Comment number 7.
At 9th Jun 2010, imustbeoldiwearacap wrote:Why anyone would WANT to watch self-obsessed prima donnas living an entirely false existence beats me!
It has as much relevance to human society as a nest of vipers!
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Comment number 8.
At 9th Jun 2010, smilingparrotfan wrote:I rather think it has taught us just how mind-numbing some TV can be, how it is somewhat humiliating to know that this sort of rubbish is tolerated on our screens. I was going to say that we deserve better but I guess we get the programmes we deserve because so many find this sort of brain damaging nonsense acceptable.
On the other hand, I am just getting old and crabby and who am I to know if this sort of programme reflects society. I sincerely hope it doesn't !
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Comment number 9.
At 9th Jun 2010, Streaky P wrote:Big Brother has taught me that there are countless numbers of people who would do anything to be famous, and there are also countless numbers of people who are quite happy to sit around and watch people sitting around.
This doesn't surprise me as there is nothing to do, except go the pub.. but thats binge drinking, which is naughty apparently.
What I don't understand is why people vote, and not just for big brother, for any TV programme. Why pay money for someone else to sit in a house for an extra week? Or to vote for a country in Eurovision? I dont get it.
And so in conclusion Big Brother has taught me that TV execs don't mind endlessly regurgitating the same rubbish year after year, but it's the publics fault for watching and paying for this mindless and massively pointless freak show everytime it graces the television.
(N.B. Big Bro isn't a true reflection of society because if it was every year 70% of the house-mates would be chavs.)
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Comment number 10.
At 9th Jun 2010, siscofrancis wrote:yes, it is a human nature! but i think there is some exaggerations coz they are doing things knowing that people are watching so sometimes they may create things which are against nature!
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Comment number 11.
At 9th Jun 2010, JDavisabc wrote:It has taught us several things. We are a society obsessed with the ego and exhibitionism. To become 'stars' at all costs. We are a society of gawkers and scoffers who would rather look at other peoples faults than into ourselves to find and correct our own.
That the majority accept any old junk to fill their evenings and are so, dumbed down. And last but by no means least, the basic symbology used in the show is what attracts so many people to it, without them even being aware of the manipulation used.
Just brainwashed sheeple with nothing better to do. But thats just my view :D
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Comment number 12.
At 9th Jun 2010, MARTNAL2 wrote:It's convinced children that becoming a celebrity nonentity is a viable career choice.
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Comment number 13.
At 9th Jun 2010, MARTNAL2 wrote:I'd like to see a version of BB in my local pub. Every 15 minutes we could all vote someone out, so that by 9pm all the boring characters would have had to leave. Bliss.
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Comment number 14.
At 9th Jun 2010, Daisy Chained wrote:"Big Brother" has a purpose other than mindless voyeurism? You are kidding right?
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Comment number 15.
At 9th Jun 2010, Mike from Brum wrote:It has taught us that people with no prospects, qualifications, intelligence or talent are willing to humiliate themselves endlessly to try and lift themselves out of being nondescript nonentities.
The whole business is a disgrace because it exploits people who don't realise they are being exploited.
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Comment number 16.
At 9th Jun 2010, JohnH wrote:Never watched, never would, ever, I have a brain that stops me watching purile rubbish such as this and the soaps.
And before anyone says that I'm out of date, kill joy etc. I will ask this, as I do to everyone who goes on, and on, and on, about this drivel.
What did you do today?
Did you do what I did? That is, get up, get dressed, have something to eat, did something, talked to someone, did some more things, eat some more food, talked to more people. Then got undressed and went to bed.
It's what we all do, every day.
So why watch someone else doing the same as us, what is the point?
300 years ago people, for 'entertainment' would vist the Bethlahem lunatic asylam in London (where we get the word 'bedlam' from). They were sold sticks to poke at the inmates to get them agitated and 'perform'.
Plus ça change
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Comment number 17.
At 9th Jun 2010, Hastings wrote:Big Brother has taught us that television companies will quite happily do any nasty, debased and useless thing just to make millions out of viewers.
The psychologists involved with the shows should be ashamed of themselves for being involved in such unscientific trash.
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Comment number 18.
At 9th Jun 2010, grainsofsand wrote:Big Brother teaches us that watching TV is a complete waste of ones life.
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Comment number 19.
At 9th Jun 2010, deleted wrote:The first one was interesting.
Every series since has been a freak show, showing that some people will do anything to be 'famous' and you don't actually have to be good at anything to be 'famous'.
It showed the increasing culture of celebrity is one that fascinates parts of our society, whilst turning others off.
It is not a representation of our society at all, but shows certain extremes.
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Comment number 20.
At 9th Jun 2010, deleted wrote:And can I add that sitting in a town centre or a pub, a restaurant or anywhere there are people and watching what's going on there is far more interesting than Big Brother will ever be.
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Comment number 21.
At 9th Jun 2010, Peter_Sym wrote:That constant coverage of bargain price TV 'concepts' using unpaid celeb wannabe's is a damn site more profitable for the TV networks than quality dramas.
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Comment number 22.
At 9th Jun 2010, 3rensho wrote:Taught us? How our population is full of useless idiots. Both participants and viewers. I find it pretty scary that such a program even existed.
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Comment number 23.
At 9th Jun 2010, The_Prince_of_excess wrote:That reality TV is rubbish and the country is full of vapid, self-centred and egotistical show-offs.
Of course, we know that the country isn't full of those people but BB goes a long way to promoting that idea. The first series was great, after than the novelty factor wore off and it became a torturous yearly event.
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Comment number 24.
At 9th Jun 2010, DibbySpot wrote:It shows man as a voyeur - not always a good thing.
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Comment number 25.
At 9th Jun 2010, Lewis Fitzroy wrote:"Any one can be Famous? no matter who or what they are "
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Comment number 26.
At 9th Jun 2010, Andrew Lye wrote:The producers seem to think that by selecting misfits and putting them all together, the sparks will fly.... and they do.
Its a shame they don't have normal people that you see every day.
Big Brother may have survived had the presenters been changed on a regular basis as I get very bored by Davina McCall's "talent" and hysterical screaming.
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Comment number 27.
At 9th Jun 2010, ruffled_feathers wrote:Not sure who is worse, those who participate, those who watch it, or those who came up with the idea AND THEN RAN MORE SERIES.
Trouble is, youngsters watching probably think it's the way to behave.
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Comment number 28.
At 9th Jun 2010, barryp wrote:It will be interesting in 60+ years time when some 'Scientist' at some University watches the tapes of the show and discover that it demonstrates all of the worst parts of 2000's society, and shows the reason for the Depression of the 2010's.
There are many of us who don't actually give a d***. BB was some of the most forgettable TV shown in years. I did watch once for about 20 minutes but realised my lawn was growing in a more interesting manner.
I wonder if anyone would notice if they run repeats?
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Comment number 29.
At 9th Jun 2010, KJM wrote:It has taught us that neither the desire to create, nor the desire to be enetertained by, the Victorian Freak Show never went away.
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Comment number 30.
At 9th Jun 2010, Lard_Cheeses wrote:nothing - there is no control group
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Comment number 31.
At 9th Jun 2010, richuk wrote:"4. At 08:38am on 09 Jun 2010, parlovero wrote:
Fortunately we do not have a television so I have been lucky enough not to have seen it. However from what I hear from others who have, it reflects nothing of society apart from the facts that wherever you go their are wierdos and freaks who live in their own sub culture of stupidity, violence and total disregard for others."
Erm, Irony - much?
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Comment number 32.
At 9th Jun 2010, david wrote:What I have learnt from 'Big Brother' is that there are no depths to which television companies won't sink to produce sensationalist programmes.
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Comment number 33.
At 9th Jun 2010, Jonathan wrote:It has taught me that whatever we choose to do for relaxation, there's always others who will chastise us for it - or maybe it is just HYS that has taught me that. Whether it be soaps, fishing, football, computer games, relaxing in the garden with a drink, watching 26 expensive cars drive round in circles or big brother you will be considered 'puerile' and 'lacking intelligence' by others. Even reading a novel is 'escapism' according to some.
I don't watch Big Brother, or for that matter much television at all, but I would never criticise anyone else for doing so, unlike many on here.
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Comment number 34.
At 9th Jun 2010, Rob wrote:I regard it at what killed TV.
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Comment number 35.
At 9th Jun 2010, JohnH wrote:Why Jane Goody?
Why Jane?
Why?
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Comment number 36.
At 9th Jun 2010, Rufus McDufus wrote:It created a whole new genre of reality TV which has sapped all creativity out of programme creation and left us in a void with very little quality left on our screens.
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Comment number 37.
At 9th Jun 2010, Tez wrote:'Big Brother' has shown us just how shallow & mediocre our Society has become. It has also shown us just how intrusive and profit-seeking our Media have become over recent years.
'Big Brother' exists because the Media wants to profit from a show that will use the ever popular 'kitchen-sink' scenario that panders to the base instincts of a 'dumbed-down' part of our Society - along with the multitude of mind-numbing 'soaps'.
We need a more adult, sensible, and PC-free Media than we're being spoon-fed right now. Our current Media is dumbing us down to almost infantile levels...
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Comment number 38.
At 9th Jun 2010, Jane wrote:Why work hard when you can get rich quick and be a 'celebrity' by going on a silly TV show?
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Comment number 39.
At 9th Jun 2010, Icarus_5000 wrote:It has taught me just how far and how low some people will go to be famous.
Big Brother kick started the beginning of reality TV and hopefully with its demise the likes of Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor and Britain Thinks its Got Talent will also consign themselves to TV history.
I won't hold my breathe though.
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Comment number 40.
At 9th Jun 2010, Jane wrote:PS
Recommend and agree with all of the above comments!
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Comment number 41.
At 9th Jun 2010, Mezentia wrote:Not a lot, and what is has, is distinctly unpleasant.
The program is an absolute disgrace, and based on a completeley unacceptable premise for any civilised society, that of deliberately and I would say maliciously, placing people into a situation of potential and sometimes actual conflict for the purposes of entertainment. That it then seeks legitamcy by bringing in so-called experts to examine the inmates' behaviour just shows how puerile are the program makers and desperate to justify the unjustifiable. Any decent human being would neither watch the program, nor support the program's sponsors. God knows what Mary Whitehouse would have said about it, but for once I would probably agree.
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Comment number 42.
At 9th Jun 2010, Chris R wrote:Unfortunately BB has taught me that we are largely a nation of sheep happy to watch such dire mediocrity. Since that programme started 10 years ago we have been swamped with vacuous reality TV full of desparate, talentless people trying to get a fast buck and their 5 minutes of fame. And at the same time 91Èȱ¬ 6 Music, a wonderful radio station which promotes talented musicians and individuality is being threatened with closure.
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Comment number 43.
At 9th Jun 2010, old codger wrote:it what some celebrities will do for money , no matter how stupid it looks , alopng will get me outnod here,its degrading tv
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Comment number 44.
At 9th Jun 2010, chezza100 wrote:It has shown the desperation of people to get their 15 minutes of fame.
When the first series went out it was OK and was a great social experiment. After that the contenders got more pathetic and desperate for fame and the purpose of the show shifted and became a freakshow.
There's maybe a handful of people I remember and even less have gone on to have successful careers.
Alison Hammond was my favourite.
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Comment number 45.
At 9th Jun 2010, Paul wrote:It's taught us to switch the channel to something else ... in fact anything else.
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Comment number 46.
At 9th Jun 2010, Pancha Chandra wrote:Big Brother has brought out the ugly, mean sides of individuals who love power and fame irrespective of the consequences on others. Humility is definitely missing in this contest. The programme is not uplifting at all and highlights the crassness of some sections of society.
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Comment number 47.
At 9th Jun 2010, Lynn from Sussex wrote:Absolutely nothing as I have never watched it, nor would I.
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Comment number 48.
At 9th Jun 2010, Billy The Bull wrote:Put rats in a sack and they will all turn in on each other. Put a mixed bunch of human beings in a confined space and it will reveal mostly weakness and character faults with a few rather special exceptions.
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Comment number 49.
At 9th Jun 2010, jeremy ross wrote:The quality of reality is so poor, providing no fresh, vibrant insight into the human condition. It is cheaply produced, escapist tat which obviously generated large audiances and advertising revenue.It clearly appeals to a large section of the population.
In pure business terms, Big Brother, like 'reality' television in general is a cheap format to produce, generating significant viewing figuars , thence high advertising revenue for the production company. In contrast, high quality orgiginal drama and doccumentaries is expensive to produce so, unless it generates high audience figuars , will not be so attractive for producion companies
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Comment number 50.
At 9th Jun 2010, Phillip of England wrote:What have you learnt from the show?
I have leant that people will watch the most banal rubbish and find it entertaining. I recall on one occassion visiting a friend and instead of music or some thought provoking documentary, she was sat glued to a night vision view of the BB housemates sleeping.
I didn't get it myself.
I am thrilled that the era of reality (yeah right!) TV appears to be drawing to a close. The last decade, for the most part has thrown up some of the most appalling programming since the invention of the TV.
Good Riddence Big Brother, heres hoping we never have to suffer through you again.
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Comment number 51.
At 9th Jun 2010, Skarjo wrote:"What did you do today?
Did you do what I did? That is, get up, get dressed, have something to eat, did something, talked to someone, did some more things, eat some more food, talked to more people. Then got undressed and went to bed."
I don't know about Big Brother, but this thread has taught me that some people get a lot done by 10 in the morning.
Big Brother has taught us many things. Firstly, people will vote (and even pay to do so) if they genuinely think they've got a chance of making a difference (something to be remembered next time an election posts another year of record low voter turnout). Secondly, it has taught us that there is something oddly fascinating about the way people in strange situations will react, take on roles and interact with other people. Third, it has taught us that if you enjoy something, chances are, someone, somewhere, will think you are stupid and make fun of you because of it. Finally, it has given me personally an uncanny ability to predict the cover model of Zoo and Nuts that week.
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Comment number 52.
At 9th Jun 2010, druid2002 wrote:Big brother has shown us that there are approximately 10 millions idiots in this country willing to such inane bunk.
They must hunted down and 'relocated' to an island where they can entertain each other and let the rest of this country get on with its business
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Comment number 53.
At 9th Jun 2010, the_voice_of_reason wrote:Showing borderline mentally ill people locked up in a house on TV shouldn't really be classed as entertainment.
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Comment number 54.
At 9th Jun 2010, Jigsy wrote:I stopped watching TV about three/four years ago because of garbage like this.
However it did teach me that most (not all) of the British public are celebrity obsessed, ignorant, shallow idiots, while that the people who appear on it are just desperate for 15m+ of fame.)
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Comment number 55.
At 9th Jun 2010, True Faith wrote:BB allows low IQ individuals to be degraded and made to perform for the entertainment of another bunch of low IQ to individuals sat at home.
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Comment number 56.
At 9th Jun 2010, Bad Hair Bear wrote:What has Big Brother taught us about human nature? The fact that people will always look down their nose at others television and entertainment preferences, and that nothing short of listening to an obscure 18th century composer and reading Tolstoy seems to be considered by many 'uncivilised' and 'puerile'.
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Comment number 57.
At 9th Jun 2010, EB wrote:It taught us a few things, but mainly that stupidity is unlimited...
And I found BB to be very educative, everytime it was on the screen, I felt like reading a good book!!!
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Comment number 58.
At 9th Jun 2010, Alastair wrote:BB has shown us that stupid, vacuous people will devote hours of their lives watching other stupid, vacuous people. Even better, it has shown that stupid, vacuous people will part with real money to watch other stupid, vacuous people.
Is there any way that these people can be herded and off-loaded on to some under-populated area of the planet and left there until they or their descendants have evolved to the level of the hominids that the rest of us came from? Now that is something that would be worth paying for, rather than shovelling welfare into their benefit-hoovering maws.
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Comment number 59.
At 9th Jun 2010, Brian Brown wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 60.
At 9th Jun 2010, sinistrality wrote:it is manipulated and choreographed and scripted by the producers and sponsors to achieve the point... it is business... and that business is about ratings and marketing.
ergo it teaches nothing, it reveals nothing, it is mogadon for the already brain dead, it is nonsense, it is rubbish, it is stupid... and unfortunately just one of a plethora of televisual puke that fills our screens.
get a life... turn the tv OFF
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Comment number 61.
At 9th Jun 2010, BradyFox wrote:Reality TV can only make talentless people moderately famous for a short while, it cannot make them stars.
The public want such people to EARN their fame.
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Comment number 62.
At 9th Jun 2010, mostly_harmless wrote:Big Brother has shown us essentially two things.....
1) People will do almost anything just to get on television. Very sad indeed.
2) There are many, many stupid people out there who will sit for hours watching this drivel.
Honestly, there is no hope for some people. Anyone who watches shows like this where people are manipulated into making fools of themselves on national television, should really get out more and sample life.
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Comment number 63.
At 9th Jun 2010, Caithnessman wrote:What a load of c**p it was. i hope they bury the tapes at least 6 foot under then pour a load of concrete on top to ensure it stays there.No wonder society has broken down if they are fed a load of this sort of c**p all the time.
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Comment number 64.
At 9th Jun 2010, john wrote:tv/channel 4 has forgot how to produce
good entertainment this is cheap and tatty
and should be on cheap pay per view not on
normal tv channels people want to be entertained
not bored stiff
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Comment number 65.
At 9th Jun 2010, windblown wrote:I have nothing to add. All has been said in the comments above. There is barely a positive comment made about BB apart from an admittance by one commenter that there was, for some, a weird fascination, in watching a group of caged people interacting. Yes. An academic interest for social-psychological reasons is the only positive thing I can say about Big Brother. This is certainly not worth the hype, expense and destruction of our values caused by the programme.
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Comment number 66.
At 9th Jun 2010, Wrinklyoldgit wrote:All that the various presentations of Big Brother have taught us is that garbage attacts.
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Comment number 67.
At 9th Jun 2010, 24 years and counting wrote:Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy! The show took its name, as everyone knows (I would hope), from the personification of control in Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and in turn, the show became perhaps the ultimate prolefeed. Once the show shook of its flimsy premise of "anthropology", first it became a distortion of society...then started to propagate the distortion of society.
It would be a massive error to say that reality TV is the reason for the massive social problems this country has. After all, correlation does not imply causation. But when you bombard people of a lower intellect with these ideas and images day after day for years on end, you know full well what you're doing and where it could lead. When they come to write the book on the dumbing down of Britain, reality TV will get chapters to itself.
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Comment number 68.
At 9th Jun 2010, Delirium wrote:56. At 10:19am on 09 Jun 2010, Bad Hair Bear wrote:
What has Big Brother taught us about human nature? The fact that people will always look down their nose at others television and entertainment preferences, and that nothing short of listening to an obscure 18th century composer and reading Tolstoy seems to be considered by many 'uncivilised' and 'puerile'.
---
I like puerile, my favourite band is the Ramones, I loved the Bill & Ted films.
I despise Big Brother because of its artificial on every level and it deliberately encourages people to enjoy cruelty to their fellow man.
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Comment number 69.
At 9th Jun 2010, Simon Hill wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 70.
At 9th Jun 2010, U14366475 wrote:What has Big Brother taught us about human nature? How stupid people are. However, the big question still remains - Who are more sad, the people in big brother or the people who watch it?
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Comment number 71.
At 9th Jun 2010, Karl Johnson wrote:It has shown that TV companies will dream up hours of cheap, mindless, unimaginative and unoriginal programming (BB, Strictly thing, X-factor, Britain isn't really talented, any number of dancing/find a 'star' for a musical/vote for a celebrity programmes that they chooses to throw at us on a Saturday night) knowing that there is an audience for this rubbish and that they can make money out of gullible people by letting them vote by phone for their most (or least) favourite attention seeking low life.
Time for some quality TV now?
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Comment number 72.
At 9th Jun 2010, in_the_uk wrote:53. At 09:59am on 09 Jun 2010, Keith wrote:
Showing borderline mentally ill people locked up in a house on TV shouldn't really be classed as entertainment.
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Victorians used to go to mental facilities for entertainment. Personally it demonstrated that some people can be entertained by watching those who have mental problems, or those who act like they have mental problems.
It demonstrated the power of 'playing dumb'.
I found it interesting that dead set was created for a few reasons-
Firstly the program focused on stupidity. It focused on the (none too bright) big brother contestants being beaten at every turn by brain dead zombies. I found this an interesting psycological comparison (not sure if it was intended or not) that these people only survived because they were locked up. And they had no hope in the real world.
Secondly I wonder if dead set was made because so many intelligent people were so vocally sick of big brother and watching a load of contestants be outwitted by zombies would entertain so many of us. Or maybe it was a way of demonstrating how people dont like seeing morons in a house, yet will watch brain dead zombies.
Either way I will thank big brother for identifying the none too bright of our society which was easy to identify by sections of the public discussing 'what happened last night' gasp. Not saying all the viewers are stupid but there is something wrong with the people who model themselves on the 'freaks' chosen for the big brother house.
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Comment number 73.
At 9th Jun 2010, Martin Swift wrote:Big Brother is really a load of tosh!
I didn't like the first one, neither the celeb versions...
Just so glad that this is coming to an end...Just like Mr. Ross no longer being on the 91Èȱ¬ very soon...
Good times are ahead I pray!
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Comment number 74.
At 9th Jun 2010, Mrs Vee wrote:Big Brother has taught me the truth of that old adage "The more people I meet, the more I like my dog".
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Comment number 75.
At 9th Jun 2010, Trouble McTrouble wrote:'Big Brother' has taught us one thing; we are beyond all help if the people that go on it are a typical example of society today - I loathe the programme and will be glad to see the back of it.
It's also taught tv companies that reality shows are cheap tv, and is the reason we have almost wall to wall reality garbage now instead of quality television.
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Comment number 76.
At 9th Jun 2010, ash wrote:It makes me cringe to watch otherwise normal people to become the most loathed on national TV. Remember J O'Meara and Jade Goody !. People may soon forget them and move on but Jo O'Meara ended up having a nervous breakdown. They bring it on them selves. Is the misery and loathing that follows after being in the show worth a few days of limelight ?
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Comment number 77.
At 9th Jun 2010, MrWonderfulReality wrote:Controversy is the MAIN and CENTRAL core of most media, whether newspapers or tv or radio, because it attracts attention from the public and is highly profitable via increased viewers/readers and increased advertising revenue. Some news items are controversial in themselves but the media has a habit of mixing it up a bit/lot and diverting from facts/relevence to create a higher level of controversy.
Its basically s*** stirring for profit or increased audience numbers.
As 91Èȱ¬ is not profit motivated I do not understand its similar behaviour as to my mind it's reporting especially of the news on tv and radio should be more like the "Times" than down market like "The Sun."
There are much more worthy things to watch on tv or read about. Big brother is basically an enclosed human version of "Meerkat Manor" whereby they have got hold of a few different Meerkats from different clans and put them all in one confined space, some fireworks are bound to happen.
Its popularity is with a minority audience so its audience can hardly be claimed to be representative of total available viewer numbers or population of UK, thank goodness.
In my view it's basically a programme for "simples" peoples who have made the "simples" freedom of choice decision to watch something so basically useless and of low mentality order. Big Brother in my opinion is like a modern version of gladiators but weapons are handbags and sharp tongues at twenty paces.
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Comment number 78.
At 9th Jun 2010, notoappeasement wrote:As usual we have learnt nothing. We are so oblivious to the flack we have had our show biz people must be the most shameless creatures in this country. Get rid of the parasites living on public money. Along with 91Èȱ¬ Channel4 ought to be broought down to earth and close down.
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Comment number 79.
At 9th Jun 2010, RoyaltyinTheChampionship wrote:I thought it was an interesting social experiment when it first started but on the rare occassions I caught it, it soon became clear that actually it was all "fake" and people played to the camera. In the end you realise you are watching people being bored and a lot of the time you couldn't even hear them as the sound was removed when they spoke on certain subjects. That's not great tv and I think the biggest lesson is if you hype something up enough you can get people to watch anything.
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Comment number 80.
At 9th Jun 2010, in_the_uk wrote:55. At 10:09am on 09 Jun 2010, True Faith wrote:
BB allows low IQ individuals to be degraded and made to perform for the entertainment of another bunch of low IQ to individuals sat at home.
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When performing monkies are outlawed for cruelty to animals, we find a replacement performing monkey
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Comment number 81.
At 9th Jun 2010, The Real Mark Smith wrote:It's shown us that you can be 'famous' and a 'celebrity' for anything and nothing these days.
It would seem that the days when people achieved fame and recognition for actually being good at something are a distant memory.
'Reality' television has lowered the bar of modern culture.
Hopefully this trend will diminish, otherwise the evolution of mankind could well be doomed.
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Comment number 82.
At 9th Jun 2010, LeftLibertarian wrote:It shows that a format which was novel and interesting once, will be done to the death by TV executives without an ounce of creativity to their names.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 82)
Comment number 83.
At 9th Jun 2010, notoappeasement wrote:To call this a reality sow is a misnomer.
More of a stupid joke.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 83)
Comment number 84.
At 9th Jun 2010, Bluemoaner1966 wrote:Big Brother has taught me absolutely nothing because I am not interested in a load of idiots sitting around doing nothing.
Before anyone says I should be at work instead of typing this, I am on a break. I work at home and I can look after my son while he is on half term holiday.
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Comment number 85.
At 9th Jun 2010, afreethinker wrote:It has taught us that there are some very stupid people in this Country..those that watch, those that participate in this rubbish..maybe not..they get paid too much for trying to bolster their "double Z Celeb" status and of course there are those who buy articles advertised by these people...goes to show that some people will do anything that a "Celeb" tells them...what utter rubbish/trash this programme is.
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Comment number 86.
At 9th Jun 2010, Tony_Watt wrote:its taugt us that were all living in a "big brother" house, e.g. "normal" people going about there day being filmed on cctv every were we go, with the "goverment" (big brother) teling us what to do and making us "work" (do tasks) for food and benifit's. only difference is people keep getting "voted" in to are "house" in the back's of lorry's from france not out. some1 tell divina we've had enough!!!
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Comment number 87.
At 9th Jun 2010, pjaj wrote:It's taught us that some people will do anything for money or a few moments of fame, and that a lot of people will watch them doing it. Just like the gladiatorial combat of ancient Rome - beer and circuses for the masses.
How low can television and its audiences get? What next, real fights to the death? Public executions?
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Comment number 88.
At 9th Jun 2010, goatie wrote:A singular demonstration of just how bad TV can become when people get carried away with themselves.
It made a lot of money for Channel 4, produced a decent theme tune - well, for the money it cost them, something had to be worth it - and spawned an awful lot of 'reality' series.
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Comment number 89.
At 9th Jun 2010, Pure Evil wrote:"What has Big Brother taught us about human nature?"
That there is no poor quality TV that is cheap, tacky, terrible, mindless, tedious enough for the "Great" British public to lap up and love.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 89)
Comment number 90.
At 9th Jun 2010, There is no Silicon Heaven wrote:Big Brother has taught us absolutely nothing about human nature, all we have learnt is that the British public have far too much time on their hands and the majority of them are disgusting plebs hungry for their fifteen minutes.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 90)
Comment number 91.
At 9th Jun 2010, claire wrote:its taught me that there is a load of pathetic people who are in our society and people who have no life of their own like to watch pathetic programmes like big borther. I hope they never do any more of this rubbish
Complain about this comment (Comment number 91)
Comment number 92.
At 9th Jun 2010, Martin1983 wrote:Big Brother - Under the thin veneer of a "social experiment on human nature" (and that's stretching it), it's utter, banal, bottom-of-the-barrel, voyeuristic drivel. All it comes down to is a bunch of exhibitionists playing silly buggers.
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Comment number 93.
At 9th Jun 2010, Lucy wrote:That some people will do anything for their fifteen minutes of fame and a bit of cash.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 93)
Comment number 94.
At 9th Jun 2010, sean56z wrote:Big Brother proves one significant point. Women and transsexuals do not mix. The programme's in the house (and out of the closet) set-up demonstrates animosity between contestants. They vie not only for money, but privilege to romance men.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 94)
Comment number 95.
At 9th Jun 2010, Ken B wrote:Never to watch television ever again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 95)
Comment number 96.
At 9th Jun 2010, JFR wrote:Sadly it seems to have shown us that we no longer teach our young people how to behave properly or to aspire to anything beyond a short five minutes of "celebrity". We also no longer seem to be able to make our own entertainment preferring to stare for ours at the very boring antics of others, preferably with a drink in our hand. What a horrible world we have created for our children, Big Brother is just an outward manifestation of that world WE (the sixties and seventies generation) have created, greedy, shallow and with no real sense of aspiration or decency. Its all me, me, me; now, now, now, - and blow you Jack I'm ok I'm on the TV.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 96)
Comment number 97.
At 9th Jun 2010, Chris wrote:What has it taught us?
That we've become a nation of soap-opera, reality-TV watching chavs? Chanvs who like to spend their time watching other chavs behaving like chavs.
The popularity of that kind of brainless "entertainment" makes me dsad at what this country has become and afraid for it's future.
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Comment number 98.
At 9th Jun 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:Nothing apart from gullibility.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 98)
Comment number 99.
At 9th Jun 2010, Delirium wrote:64. At 10:32am on 09 Jun 2010, john wrote:
tv/channel 4 has forgot how to produce
good entertainment this is cheap and tatty
and should be on cheap pay per view not on
normal tv channels people want to be entertained
not bored stiff.
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Couldn't agree more Channel 4 has seriously lost its way in recent years.
It's supposed to be at least partially a public service broadcaster and recieves gaovernment funds, which should be some kind of guarantee of quality.
Is showing 'Come dine with me' repeats for 3 hours on a saturday afternoon a public service?
As for More4- when they planned that channel did they envisage themselves showing 6 hours of 'Location, Location, Location' a night?
Was that the 'highbrow entertainment' they promised us.
They should be embarassed.
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Comment number 100.
At 9th Jun 2010, Mark wrote:I can't wait to see what will replace this rather pathetic program. Perhaps "celebrity [whatever THAT is] pretend to be a tramp." Or what about "Take the WAGS to see the poor people." How about "Look at the poor deformed people." Oh, wait, someone already went there... [nope, I don't watch any of it]
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