Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Big Brother is watching you

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Posted by D. Lerious on :

Recently, I heard about a new show on tv,( called Big brother) where basically, a la Real World, a group of people are put to live together and cameras are watching them all of the time, even in the shower and batheroom!!!!!! I think it's like survivor in that each week a person is voted out, and I believe the prize is half a million or so, which, IMO isn't enough for having your privacy invaded. Would you participate? How much money would it take for you to do it, if at all. Personally, I would never do it, I mean, no amount of money is worth your privacy, and the ability to go places without being recognized and bugged. I mean, who could live in peace with cameras all around one?

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

If I had the money, I'd cam this entire house. Of course, I'd be in control, & all the cams would be perfectly concealed. It'd make one hell of a show, I'll tell y'that...

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"Do you know how much YOU'RE worth??.....2.5 million Woolongs. THAT'S your bounty. I SAID you were small fry..." --Spike Spiegel

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

News from Survivor says that two people in a tribe are having an affair. No one knows if either one of these two are married.

I wonder if the same thing will happen in this show. *grabs popcorn*

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"My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht."
Psychiatrist: "Again."

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Oh, I so want to write a huge post about reality TV and everything it implies. I mean huge, huge. Sol obessing over a new TMBG release huge.

Which reminds me, I haven't done for Working Undercover For The Man. I'll have to add it to my list.

But, this will have to wait, I fear.

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But the dead only quickly decay. They don't go about being born and reborn and rising and falling like souffle. The dead only quickly decay.
--
Gothic Archies
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! For the love of God, Montressor!

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

When I first heard that "Big Brother" was going on air in Germany (it was in the Netherlands before that, as almost every German show), I was very concerned about it and I hoped that the media commission would outlaw it, but they approved of it. I decided to boycott the show, so I can't tell you what it was actually like, although I'm sure it was rather harmless and darn boring form what I couldn't avoid to hear.

Anyway, after "Big Brother" had come you couldn't switch on the tv without seeing it or hearing people talk about it - on every channel. Even though I've never seen it, I couldn't avoid to see those dull people and hear their stupid talk (one of them didn't know who Shakespeare was). Many of the people I know, even and especially the intelligent ones, followed the show, and annoyed me with their frequent talking about who was to leave next and who was the most handsome and such.

Ironically, those who left first (and were permanently in the tv after that) earned the most money. They became "stars" (well, in Germany, everyone who's been on tv once is a star). All this would have been still endurable, if not three(!) of the ex-candidates had recorded songs and seriously hurt my ears. I can only recommend to permanently disable all tv and radios everywhere this should go on air.

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"Species 5618, human. Warp-capable, origin grid 325, physiology inefficient, below average cranium capacity, minimum redundant systems, limited regenerative abilities."
Ex Astris Scientia

Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :

Big Brother has been a very big success here in the Netherlands.
They removed the cameras in the toilet almost immedialty. In the shower, in one of the two opposite corners one of the camera's was also removed.
So they 'tuned it down' a bit.

I heard there was some type of Big Brother idea where a woman was put in a small house complete made out of glass, and standing in the middle of a city...

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"Do you want to be President?"
"Yes."
"Put you hand on the book and say 'I do'."
"I do."
"Good, done. Let's eat!"

- G'kar and Sheridan, Babylon 5.

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Y'know what the scary part is? I doubt that this is going to be the lowest point that mass entertainment will reach...

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"I'm sick of you little girl and boy groups: all you do is annoy me, so I have been sent here to destroy you..."
-Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

No, definitely not. The next psycho-show is about candidates who have to "survive" on a lonely island.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

That was done in the UK over a year ago. It was an island off the coast of Scotland, I believe.

Adn they weren't psycho's. Although one of them was very weird.

Quite frankly, it's far far FAR better than another fly on the wall documentary series about Vet's, or Jerry (which has gone downhill recently. He's not even trying anymore. And the new theme tune's crap).

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"I can't believe we're actually gonna meet Guru Lou. Everyone says he's the wisest man in the universe. He's sensitive, creative, has a great sense of humour, and he's a really smooth dancer. *giggles*"
"You're confused Polly. We're not meeting Paul Newman."
- Polly & Speedy; Samurai Pizza Cats

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Bernd: Odd... Survivor has been airing in the States for a few weeks now, and, AFAIK, Big Brother is just starting. I guess they're showing them the other way 'round in other places...

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"I'm sick of you little girl and boy groups: all you do is annoy me, so I have been sent here to destroy you..."
-Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

I thought the new low was this new "Fugitive"-type show that's supposed to be starting up in Australia.. where the guy/guys have to get from Point A to Point B without being 'captured' by either the show's 'bounty hunters' OR 'alert citizenry.'

I refuse to watch ANY of these shows. When they're on, I go down to my basement and watch porn. It's more intelligent entertainment.

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"Nobody knows this, but I'm scared all the time... of what I might do, if I ever let go." -- Michael Garibaldi

Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :

Sweden has lost it's television-virginity too, with "Expedition: Robinson" (started 3yrs ago, similar to survivor), "Villa Medusa" (6 people take care of a house together) and then there's my "favourite", "The Bar", with a bunch of celebrity-wannabe's running a bar together, live.

My friends and co-workers thrive in all the bullying, backstabbing and trashing taking place in this new era of TV, so me feels...pretty lonely.

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Ready for the action now, Dangerboy
Ready if I'm ready for you, Dangerboy
Ready if I want it now, Dangerboy?
How dare you, dare you, Dangerboy?
How dare you, Dangerboy?
I dare you, dare you, Dangerboy...

�on Flux, "Thanatophobia"

[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited July 09, 2000).]

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

*Runs out of this thread and puts in a tape of old DS9*

Ahhh...

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"One more day before the storm
At the barricades of freedom!
When our ranks begin to form
Will you take your place with me?"
--Enjolras, "One Day More," Les Miserables

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Tora: What ep? And can I watch with you? PLEEEEAAAAAASSSSEEEE!!!!!!

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"My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht."
Psychiatrist: "Again."

Posted by RW (Member # 27) on :

I really sat down and tried to watch this show once, to see what the fuss was about, but I just couldn't. It was just too mind-numbing. And we are talking about those people outside the house, imagine what it must be like for the people inside. And upon looking at the US version candidates I just couldn't help myself noticing there are one (count them! ONE!) each token black and asian among some ten white people. THAT's boring.

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

When I read "Fugitive" show, my first thought was that Schwarzenegger's "Running Man" might be possible in the near future too. They probably won't show live killing - but who knows?

Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :

TWO token blacks, RW. One token Asian, but no token Latino.

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"Truth about Santa Claus debunks Santa God. God evolves from Santa."
-Gene Ray, http://www.timecube.com

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

See, you can almost hear the thoughts percolating inside my braincase. But I still don't have the energy for it.

But why exactly the negativity towards the reality TV? Far less annoying a trend than, oh, newsmagazines or hospital dramas, both of which have had their day on U.S. TV. They may make me hate everyone on them with a passion, but that's part of the fun.

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

I don't know if I'd call them less annoying. I put them all on about the same level... :-)

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"If I wanted your opinion, I'd call you up in hell."
-Ozzy Osbourne, "Tomorrow"

Posted by Xentrick (Member # 64) on :

There was a "Fugitive"-like show on American TV a few years ago. People running though open country chased by fascist-looking guys on ATV's, as I recall.

Mercifully, it's lifespan was brief. It was beaten in the ratings by "American Gladiators," another program we would have been better off without.

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

What's even worse than reality shows? Teen soap operas......No, actually reality shows are worse. But then you could argue that they're on equal footing. Because reality shows are solidly grounded in soap opera.

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"One more day before the storm
At the barricades of freedom!
When our ranks begin to form
Will you take your place with me?"
--Enjolras, "One Day More," Les Miserables

Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :

I don't watch reality TV. There is a gay couple living next door, and crack heads across the creek, and we all live in a hollow (holler) with hillbillies and red necks. Reality TV just isn't as interseting as reality.
One of the gay guys is a cousin of mine, and I'm realted to most of the hillbillies and rednecks.

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Fool of a Took, throw yourself in next time!!
Gandalf