Spock always used to say, “I like to think that there are possibilities.”
John Bon Jovi sings, “If there’s one thing I hang on to, that gets me through the night. I ain’t gonna do what I do want to, I’m gonna live my life.”
Many a juror on the last episode of Survivor has said, “I played the game honorably, and I can look at myself in the mirror with no regrets” and other bull-shit platitudes about honor, pride, etc.
A co-worker and I were discussing salaries today, and is par for the course I avoided any actual figures when talking about how much I or anyone else makes. My peer raised the idea that you couldn’t find someone to do what he does for the amount he gets paid. I countered with absolutely you can. He then said to bring them in because we need more talented folks. I would if I could, FSM knows I could use the referral bonus, but I don’t know these people that exist. Regarding if they’d do it for x amount of dollars, the simple fact is nearly everyone is overpaid. Not by market value, but by what their true value is. I like to think I’m good at my job, and it is a skill that apparently not everyone can do, but it’s not life or death, it’s not rocket science, and it’s not THAT hard. People that work at McDonalds, a regular restaurant, a grocery store, a gas station all work as hard as I do, there job just doesn’t pay as much.
Life boils down to two basic things. Opportunity and what you do with said opportunity. The opportunities you are presented with are a crap-shoot, often luck based on being in the right place at the right time. There’s a finite amount that you can do to open up additional opportunities, so you have to make the most out of those you get.
I’ve squandered many an opportunity over my lifetime. Blown an interview, been too much of a dork on a date, missed an open net goal, bombed on stage, sold stock early/late, etc. It happens.
There are two types of reality game shows. One which is based on talent and voting by the public (American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Last Comic Standing) and the other based on being voted out by an individual or a group (Big Brother, Survivor, Rock of Love, Hell’s Kitchen, Flavor of Love, The Bachelor, etc.) The Amazing Race doesn’t really fall into either category directly, so I will avoid that for now.
But Matt, you’ve thrown out quotes, anecdotes, nice little theories, but what are you talking about? You seem much more schizophrenic than normal. What is the topic? Are you just wasting my time? Well, yes I am wasting your time, but I do have a point, which as most things (for me) relates back to reality TV.
In a perfect world where everything is fair and nobody gets advantages by the time any person graces my television screen on a show I’m watching they have been through a grueling process. Multiple interviews, tapes, tons of paperwork, drug screens, background checks, etc. From beginning to end of a cycle (first tape to airing of a finale) the total time consumed is more accurately measured in months or fractions of a year than in weeks. This time consists of lots of hurrying up and waiting. Oh the waiting. Is that ring of my cell phone “the call”? Not an unknown caller, so no it’s not. I have a voice mail, could it be? What, you need more paperwork? No problem. It is mentally exhausting thinking if you want it bad enough it will happen. Of course some people are picked up at a gas station the week before Survivor starts filming so this doesn’t apply to everyone.
Remember back there where I talked about the different types of shows? Any show that has a dependency of how others (or other) in your group perceives you puts a spin on how you might and possibly should act. After going through an arduous process to get into the game, why would you choose to not make the effort once the game is afoot?
I’ve often railed on those who get into a game (show) and talk about (or actually go through the act) of quitting. It is an insult. It is an insult to the countless thousands who would kill for your spot. It is an insult to the hundreds that made it past the initial application process. It is maddening to the dozens of finalists that made it to the cusp of being on the show but didn’t quite make the cut. It is also insulting (and possibly career damaging) to the hard working folks in casting that stood behind you in meetings and pitched you as a candidate, saying why you would be good for the show. That being said, I guess on some level I can understand why someone might quit. To a man, everyone that has been on Survivor has said that it is harder than they ever imagined it would be. The lack of food, the draining environment, etc. is almost assuredly harder than I could imagine. However, that still doesn’t make it right. At worst (best) it is roughing it and sticking it out of 39 days for a potential payout of more than many people will make in a lifetime. Suck it up and stick it out.
Last night I saw something that is worse than quitting, something that really blew my mind that someone who was 2/3 through a season of Survivor had never done before. A one in ten shot at a million dollars, surely something worth playing for (to paraphrase Probst), right? Apparently not. For the first time ever someone gave up. Didn’t quit, but just gave up on the game. Not in a traditional way of giving up, but this was unique. This was someone saying that they were better than the game, above the game. Brenda flat out said that she was “above” scrambling. It is something a desperate person would do, she would never scramble, and she would rather be out of the game than scramble. As a multi-time applicant this is worse than quitting. She was all about the game as the game went her way from day one to day twenty-something. As soon as it actually became a challenge she didn’t want to be involved in it anymore. Until last week many posited that she was one of the better players in recent memory. She proved that to be a fallacy last night. The scary thing is she could have won it all if she made it that far. She was cocky, and in many ways reminded me of the pretty girl fresh out of high-school that finds out that good looks will only get you so far. Good riddance.
I think one of the questions on the application should be, “would you quit?” If the answer is “yes”, circular file that bad boy. One of the questions is what would you not do for a million dollars. In the future if the response to that question is I will not be humble, I will not lower myself, I will not scramble, dump that app as well. You are on a reality show for god’s sake. You’re not doing charity work, you’re trying to win a big payout. If you’re not willing to do what you have to do, no matter the personal pride cost, don’t bother applying. Pride is a great thing, it has no place here. It’s a game, if it’s within the rules there is NOTHING I wouldn’t do to stay in if it got me one step closer to making the finals. I can give a closing statement like no one else, so I could do whatever I wanted, if I made the finals, that money is mine.
Who’s left, and who can win?
Sash – Sash and his recently departed cohort committed one of the worst sins of Survivor, the sin of pride, to the point of cockiness. He played well, but I think his time left is on the short end, immunity idol or no. Much like the season when Vecepia won, there came a moment when a few people lower in the pecking order realized that they had numbers, as those calling the shots don’t. Expect him to come in 7th. Won’t win if he makes the finals.
NaOnka – The holder of the other immunity idol. Has played one of the most disastrous social games ever in Survivor history. Stealing socks, stealing food, being real, fighting a person with an artificial leg. From day one she has shown a stunning lack of caring about anyone except herself. Has actually shown a small amount of game play recently. Is in a unique position, because she can’t win, can she? This alone makes her someone to take to the finals, but if she does make the finals, does the fact that she made it overshadow the fact that she’s a terrible person? No. Can’t win. Will get voted out next week, but will play her immunity idol. Will come in 6th.
Benry – Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but a nice enough guy. Is competitive and seems to be having glimmers of gameplay. He is a threat from a competition stand point, so eventually he will be taken out just to level the playing field. Will come in 8th.
Fabio – Holder of the immunity necklace next week (according to the preview if you watch closely), but that might be selective editing. He is smarter than he comes across at first, and is actually starting to put together a pretty solid case for winning the game. However, he will come in 5th. If he makes it to the end, he has a shot to win unless he is up against…
Jane – A tough old lady who is getting a killer edit. Marty had a good point that what she said about his kids was way out of line. If she makes it to the end she will win. She will not make it to the end. She will come in 4th.
Chase – He’s a moron. I don’t know if he’s ever seen Survivor before, but he certainly doesn’t understand the game even if he’s seen it. As he said he’s playing with his heart, which is a good thing, because he doesn’t appear to have a brain. He’s gone next week at number 9.
Purple Kelly – When voting was taking place last night my wife asked me who Purple Kelly would vote for. I told her that Kelly doesn’t get to vote, because I don’t think she’s technically even in the game, kind of like how a student might audit a class, she is auditing Survivor. Her lack of impact or dialogue was always a point of question for me until Jeff asked her a question last night. My god the woman doesn’t have a lot going on upstairs. She might be the least eloquent person ever to play the game and that is saying something. However she is in the top 3.
Holly – Talk about a recovery. She should have been gone in the beginning of the game and she wanted to quit. Now she’s got her second wind and that should carry her far. Her problem is her insistence to talk to everyone. Top 3.
Dan – Rounding out the top 3 is the one person in the game who really doesn’t need the money. Having just sold a house for just under 7 million, the game is a lark for him. As much as you can see he’s struggling, he’s not giving up. Now that the game is individual there is no reason to take him out, and he could make a legitimate case for being named sole survivor for making it to the end when he had a target on his back from day one.
Top 3
Dan, Holly, Purple Kelly
4 – Jane
5 – Fabio
6 – NaOnka
7 – Sash
8 – Benry
9 – Chase
Upon further reflection, Sash and Benry will probably be flopped, but this is my order for now (I have not checked on-line so these are complete guesses). So who wins? Drumroll…
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Holly. From throwing out shoes to cashing a million dollar check, she’s come a long way. And she never felt that she was above scambling, which if nothing else earns some of my respect.
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