Power of Veto

“It worries me to think that people like April can vote in the presidential election, let alone BB: Whenever you see a particularly manipulative and blatantly misleading attack ad on TV, just know that somewhere out there, it is working on April.”

-- Josh Wolk, EW.com, “Big Brother”: Renegade Kids

Yes, I’m a fan of Big Brother, but don’t let my guilty pleasure fool you. Beneath my affinity for mindless trash lies an inquisitive mind willing to look beneath the surface to find a deeper value.

A bunch of strangers are locked into a “house” for more than two months with no connection whatsoever to the outside world. While inside, their goal is to manipulate their way through the game to avoid eviction by their housemates to be one of the last two standing. At that point, seven of those evicted decide who wins the half million dollar prize. Naturally, petty drama and hilarious hijinks ensue. What’s not to love!

In actuality, Big Brother is an impressive study of psychology, duplicity, and cunning. With cameras constantly rolling, the houseguests often forget they are being recorded, and occasionally, the viewer gets a glimpse into the actual person, warts and all--insecurities, conceit, naiveté, gullibility, and a myriad of other characteristics most of us try so hard to hide while being observed. The show is completely voyeuristic, and much of its appeal lies in the hope of getting a glimpse into these people’s truest selves.

I was never a fan of April’s (one of this season’s bitchy beauties), but this particular observation about her character brings a little understanding. April is the type of person too self-involved to see beyond herself and take into account the bigger picture. Her animosity towards certain other houseguests is completely legitimate; yet, she fails to consider the context of her betrayal. She and 12 others entered the Big Brother house to play a game with a significant cash prize. Bonds made within the house are inevitable, but loyalty is fleeting when everyone is trying to win. While most of the evicted houseguests acknowledge this dynamic, April has shown that she is incapable of letting things go.

Often, life is ruled by emotion. Poor decisions are made when we allow our emotions to get the better of us. It leads to impulsiveness and reactivity. Common sense goes out the window in favor of spite, jealousy and fear. While it ultimately does not matter who she will vote for to win Big Brother, April signifies a tendency for society to lean towards irrationality. Gossip masquerades as fact. Half-truths and outright lies take root because of clever spin or carefully crafted messaging. It’s sad how easily hoodwinked so many of us can be, and it’s scary to think about how a little thoughtlessness can be disastrous for so many others.

Still, despite this prevalent tendency, I have faith that the majority will harness their skills of reason to make the right decisions. The saying goes that hindsight is 20/20, but foresight doesn’t have to be blind.

And who said that I only watch Big Brother for the eye-candy?!?!?! (Insert eye-candy here)

BB10 contestant, Memphis, in all his ripped glory!