Below is a post I read from another forum. (hope this doesn't get me into trouble). But I wanted to share and ask your opions as I think its a very thought prevoking and well written post.
Okay, controversial one here: today I want to talk about Big Brother contestants with disabilities and how this can positively (and unfairly) affect their chances in the show.
In today’s politically correct society, we like to shy away from any subject that may cause offence and place emphasis on the minority. In this series of Big Brother’s case, it is Steve and his disability.
Even though I feel this series’ cast is generally very strong, I do think that the producers’ decision to cast Steve was one of huge short-sightedness. It seems to me that rather than looking at his personality and potential to be an entertaining housemate they focused on Steve’s disability and his war hero status and assumed that this would carry him to the end of the series. To me, this is more detrimental than beneficial to the advancement of disabiled people.
By looking at Big Brother’s history, disabled housemates such as BB9″s Mikey and CBB6″s Verne Troyer have always lasted until the bitter end, but, despite what the housemates think, they have never won and I think that this is right. Of course, I have nothing but my utmost respect for those with disabilities, but Verne and Mikey did nothing really to warrant such a long stay in the house.
After the events of the highlights show tonight where Steve was downright hostile to new housemate Keeley, I hope that viewers can see past his disability and evict him the first chance he gets. Since his arrival in the House, he has become self-appointed Head of House who cannot be challenged (because any attempt to do so would no doubt be an accusation of prejudice against him) and he instantly feels threatened by the new housemate.
When Ben presented his controversial view on Britain’s involvement in the World Wars, Steve shamelessly used his war hero status as a way to placate him and make him feel guilty. Any self-respecting disabled person would not dangle their own disability around in order to get their own way.
As the sole source of common sense, Ben is frequently spot on with his opinions on Steve and is often shot down by his fellow housemates as a result. After suggesting that Steve might not be the most deserving winner just because he is an amputee, he was promptly warned by Dave that this could affect his popularity.
Whether this is true or not remains to be seen, but in the past, the public have always eventually seen sense and voted for the more deserving winner.
If we are to truly treat people with disabilities as equal, inside and outside the House, we must look past their disabilities to see the real them. In a strange, twisted, only-in-Big-Brother kind of way, it would be the best kind of equality if Steve were evicted to a rapturous chorus of boos because it would finally show that we can look past his disability and see his personality. A personality that isn’t deserving of winning.
Obviously a Discussion article can’t be a discussion without another opinion. I really want to know what you guys think of this one.
Source - http://www.insidebigbrother.net/arti...pathy-vote.ibb
Okay, controversial one here: today I want to talk about Big Brother contestants with disabilities and how this can positively (and unfairly) affect their chances in the show.
In today’s politically correct society, we like to shy away from any subject that may cause offence and place emphasis on the minority. In this series of Big Brother’s case, it is Steve and his disability.
Even though I feel this series’ cast is generally very strong, I do think that the producers’ decision to cast Steve was one of huge short-sightedness. It seems to me that rather than looking at his personality and potential to be an entertaining housemate they focused on Steve’s disability and his war hero status and assumed that this would carry him to the end of the series. To me, this is more detrimental than beneficial to the advancement of disabiled people.
By looking at Big Brother’s history, disabled housemates such as BB9″s Mikey and CBB6″s Verne Troyer have always lasted until the bitter end, but, despite what the housemates think, they have never won and I think that this is right. Of course, I have nothing but my utmost respect for those with disabilities, but Verne and Mikey did nothing really to warrant such a long stay in the house.
After the events of the highlights show tonight where Steve was downright hostile to new housemate Keeley, I hope that viewers can see past his disability and evict him the first chance he gets. Since his arrival in the House, he has become self-appointed Head of House who cannot be challenged (because any attempt to do so would no doubt be an accusation of prejudice against him) and he instantly feels threatened by the new housemate.
When Ben presented his controversial view on Britain’s involvement in the World Wars, Steve shamelessly used his war hero status as a way to placate him and make him feel guilty. Any self-respecting disabled person would not dangle their own disability around in order to get their own way.
As the sole source of common sense, Ben is frequently spot on with his opinions on Steve and is often shot down by his fellow housemates as a result. After suggesting that Steve might not be the most deserving winner just because he is an amputee, he was promptly warned by Dave that this could affect his popularity.
Whether this is true or not remains to be seen, but in the past, the public have always eventually seen sense and voted for the more deserving winner.
If we are to truly treat people with disabilities as equal, inside and outside the House, we must look past their disabilities to see the real them. In a strange, twisted, only-in-Big-Brother kind of way, it would be the best kind of equality if Steve were evicted to a rapturous chorus of boos because it would finally show that we can look past his disability and see his personality. A personality that isn’t deserving of winning.
Obviously a Discussion article can’t be a discussion without another opinion. I really want to know what you guys think of this one.
Source - http://www.insidebigbrother.net/arti...pathy-vote.ibb
Do you think he was cast because of what happened to him? I honestly don't think so, I think maybe the Producers thought he would be an interesting character due to his experiences, but then who knows?
I bet that would make his eyes water!