The disabled are people too

Sometime in the last week one of the online "shows" that follows Big Brother, "Dick at Night", had a guest panelist (Jun, I believe), say that BB has had every type of person on the show.

 I respectfully say, no they haven't. In season 1, they had a house guest who was an amputee but no other disabled person that I know of since then.

In fact, I don't remember any disabled person on any game show on television. And if there has not been one I am a bit offended but not surprised.

In many ways the stigma that comes with a disability is almost as bad as the disability at times.

I have often been treated like I have a mental disability just because I am physically disabled. I have had people talk to me like I am a little kid. And most annoying of all is having people look at you with pity.

I know that I talk funny, when I hear my voice I always sound like I am drunk and have been asked if I was drunk a few times when answering a phone.  But its a little part of my disability where I have to think to breathe when I talk. As a kid I remember being taught being able to breathe properly but I don't always think about it and often run out of breath.

I move slow even for a disabled person. I remember being in gym class with other disabled kids, we had this game where a traffic like cone was place in the middle of two separate rows of kids. The gym teacher would call out the name of two kids and the object was to knock the ball of the cone first. The teacher would always put me up against Debby because we were the two slowest kids in the class; I never got to the ball first.

For some silly reason I tried out for wheelchair basketball the first time I went to college. That was one of the most humiliating experiences I have ever had. The other guys literally wheeled circles around me.  The coach tried just using me a defender to just block shots and that was bad too.

So, yes there a a number of things that I can't do but none of it means I am dumb.  And I know that there are other disabled people who are more intelligent than I am.

So it would be almost impossible to convince me that there aren't a number of disabled people who would do well on a game show.

Even though there are a few physical competitions on BB I think it's possible for a disabled person to do well on BB. Those who follow the show knows there are a few people who never won competitions but did well on the show.

I wish I could be that person. It would probably never be me but I hope that before BB has its last season (which I hope is a long time from now) I really wish a disabled person would be on there.

Personal critic

I just finished reading a short story in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. For one of the very few times I can think of; my first thought was, "I bet the critics loved this story". That is an odd first thought  for me to have after reading any story. I have never been a fan of critics. I think most of them take their jobs a bit too seriously.

I can't remember specific books that received a lot of criticism but I do know that two of my favorite authors, Stephen King and Tom Clancy, have received plenty of complaints about writing books that were to wordy and unrealistic.

Again, I can't think of any specific movies that received bad reviews; but most of the time it's the same criticism, lack of realism.

Musically, I'm sure that my all time favorite, Billy Joel, has taken criticism for not having a meaning in some of his songs.

I have always wondered why critics and other people look for realism and deep meaning in the different forms of entertainment. I have always thought that reading, music and watching TV or movies was about getting away from reality for awhile.

Is something entertaining me a taking my mind away from the reality of my life has always been the only standard for whatever I am reading and listening too.

I have never liked it when I have been criticized for the things I like. I know that most don't enjoy wrestling, or Barry Manilow, or back in the day Tiffany.  I like what I like and don't like what I don't like. I think that is a good thing for me and everybody else.

Wouldn't it be a boring world if we all liked the same thing?

I wonder if I can download Tiffany on my IPod.

Glad to not be a parent

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/14/florida-mother-accused-beating-son-for-using-facebook/?test=latestnews

It's stories like this that have convinced me that some people are not fit to be parents. And its a shame that you can't stop people like that from having kids.

I realized a long time ago I would not be a good parent. I have little to no patience for things and kids seem to make a lot of unnecessary noises which bothers me.  For a few years I babysat for my best friend during the summer while she was working/going to school and her husband worked.  After 8 hours I was always worn out and ready  for home.

But even if I was a parent I would hope that I wouldn't result to unnecessary measures to punish them.

It seems that this mother had the right intention but very poor on the punishment side of things.

If I were a parent I think I would want to monitor what my children do on the computer or who they talk to on their cell phones. I would put an adult block (?) on the cable and internet..

As for punishment, I can know say I would do things a little differently than what my parents did to me. My parents main punishment was to ground me which consisted of sending me to my room and no TV for the whole time of the punishment. This only bothered me during football or baseball season.  The rest of the year I didn't care because they never took my stereo away.

I have  thought about things I would do if I were ever a  parent.  I think that a good punishment would be to have a small room where there would be a book case, a table and chair and a writing pad. I think I would have my child write about what they did wrong.After they had done that my wife and I would sit down and talk with our child about what they had done and should have done. And I would  have them be ground for hopefully a sufficient amount of time which would include having to go to that small room and do their homework.

At least that is what I hope I would do.

I do believe that no child should be touched in anger.

Manipulated?? BB

I am just know starting to adjust to the fact that not everything on Big Brother is "natural". I am not exactly happy about it but I believe that is a fact.

I also know that some who might read this don't know what I am talking about.

A little overview. There has been, to many others an obvious story line the producers of BB have been showing on TV.  They are obviously featuring the trials and tribulations of Brenchal, (otherwise know as the couple of  Rachael and Brendon). I think most BB fans think of them as the most hated couple ever on the show. Well, Brendon was evicted on the previous Thurday's show. I was happy because I actually believed that was the end of Brenchal on TV.  Ahh, but things change quickly.

 Until last Thursday four of the house guests who started the season were evicted from the house. During the week before Thursday BB gave the viewers an opportunity to vote one of those HG's back into the house and competition. And the twist turned out to be that who ever won the vote would have to compete with the HG who was eliminated this week.

Well, a guy named Lawon was evicted. Actually, it was hard to tell he was there a lot of the time.

Here is where I believe the manipulation begins.  Before Brendon left no one watching and commenting on Twitter or on blogs seem to like him and a vast majority was happy he was evicted. I was convinced there was no way he would be voted back in. I didn't think the viewers would be that insane.  For you who may be reading and know what I am talking about:  I know he was leading in most of the polls I saw. But I saw that it was a close race in most of the polls with CASSI (emphasis enough?) was a close second. And in most of the polls I remember seeing Dominic was a distant third.

But on Thursday's show Julie Chen said, "More than 2 million votes were cast. And here are the results. Keith, Cassi, you will not return. I can tell you it was CLOSE. The winner  who received more than 1 million votes. The winner is Brendon."  At this point my jaw literally dropped and I (for real) almost fell out of my wheelchair.

In most polls I saw Dominic was in the teens percentage wise.  But when Julie said the voting was close I take that to mean that Dom had to have gotten almost 1 million votes himself.

I can't prove anything but something feels funny here.  I know it I tried everything I could to vote but was unable to on CBS.com. I have see numerous comments from others who had problems to. I can't help but wonder how many of those people had the same problem I did. The first few times I tried to vote I checked the box right next to Cassi's picture before I saw that I had to register to vote, which I had done the last few seasons.  I changed my password, emailed CBS for help and nothing worked.  I can't help but think that there is a way to program the voting to not allow certain votes to be cast. I am NOT saying that this did happen--I just am a bit suspicious.

Goddess of the Dish, (bbdish.com) you might be reading this and I wonder if you can prove that I did not comment that things were rigged until after the competition.  I am not sure about the voting, but I am almost positive that BB producers did not decide what the competition was until they knew what the voting results were. I am sure that they had a couple of different competitions lines up depending who won the voting.

That is what I do think was rigged for sure and I yell, foul, foul foul.  Lawon NEVER had a chance. Of course  he put himself  for eviction but that is another story.

The only thing that helps is we are now 48 after Brendon was allowed back in the game, many, many commenters are already whining and moaning about Brenchal.

You know what they say about Karma don't you?  I think its true and it is why I will enjoying all the negative Brenchal comments this week.

Negative youths?

I read an article on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall in which he claims to have Borderline Personality Disorder. From what I read it sounds like bipolar to me.

As usual, I read some comments about the article and of course there were plenty of negative comments. As I have written about I have seen plenty of negative statements on Twitter.

And I am starting to come up with a theory.  I wonder if the majority of the negative comments come from young adults. I don't know of a way to prove or disprove this theory but I wish I did.

What I do know is that in my younger days I was a much more intolerant person that I am now. I do have some room for improvement in that area but as they say, "Progress not perfection"

I don't remember specific instances but I am sure that I did my share of  name calling and judging just on people's looks.

There was a time when I did not understand that a person's bad behavior could be due to mental illness and not just because they were jerks.

And there was a time when I thought the world revolved around me and I did not really take an objective view of the world. I am not saying I am perfect at that yet either but  I am trying.

Now, I can look at  athletes like Brendon Marshall and Mr "I can't feed my family on $45 million" Terrell Owens and not just think they are just major jerks. I won't recount all the things those two have done because there is just too much to say.

 After heating Mr Marshall's admitting to having BPD I can't help but  wonder if other athletes who come off as huge jerks might also have disorders. In the comments section of the articles, most responses were respectful and understanding with well wishes. But there were a number of other comments that were disrespectful and, in my opinion, juvenile.

That is when I started to think of this theory. Which led me to think about my younger days.

I have heard it said that, "youth is wasted on the young".  The older I get the truer that seems.

Gratitude

First of all, I would like to share some gratitude. In the past few days I have picked up a new friend on Facebook and have two new followers on Twitter. These are probably small, little things to most of you but this is part of what I hoped to accomplish by doing this blog. I wanted to get my voice out there and hope to "meet" new people.  Maybe things are beginning to turn around on the online social front.

But I want to give a big Thank You to Carolyn of   bbidish.com.  I am figuring it is she who is following me but using her web site's name and I am truly grateful that she has done so. I have grown to greatly admire and respect her over the years.

 I started really getting interested in Big Brother about four years ago.  My interest in BB really got stoked when I found the dish chicks web site. By the way I want to Thank Genie for being part of my BB life also. Can't forget the Mistress of the Sea.

Anyway, Carolyn and Genie follow the BB house as well as they possibly can and over the years a family of sorts has developed on people sharing their thoughts on what is going on in the house. And thanks to Carolyn's rules the discussions are always respectable even when there are disagreements there is no name calling.

Hey, Carolyn, if your reading this and still giving away shirts---does this qualify me for one? ;)  If Gaytor can shamlessly try to get one I figured I could give it a shot.

Tweeting not always good

I have written about the lack of civility and the social networks a bit before but I feel the need to add a little more  to it.

As I have said on here I am a huge Big Brother fan. For those that don't know about it; it is a reality/game show.  This year fourteen people entered the BB house; where the object is basically to evict one house guest per week until two remain. And then a jury of house guests who were evicted vote on who won the season. And the prize for  the winner is $500k.

The key thing that attracted me to this show was the fact that the house guests are on camera for the whole almost 3 months of the show. No, there are no camera's in the bathroom.

One of the good things for me is that the last few years I have been able to buy the online feeds and have spent many nights hanging out (so to speak) with the house guests.

The only rule really seems to be anything goes except physical confrontations.There are contests to determine the Head of House, whose main purpose is to pick two nominees to face eviction. Those facing eviction, the HoH and other house guests play for the Power of Veto, which gives the winner the right to take one of the nominees for eviction away from facing eviction and then the HOH nominates someone else in their place.

I think I have given a decent overview of BB.

Now, imagine being in that situation and knowing that other house guests are allowed to lie, form alliances and generally speaking do whatever they can to get someone else nominated while trying not to get nominated themselves.

It can get pretty stressful and heated in the house. And believe me things can and do get ugly in there; that is the nature of the game.

I have no problem, generally speaking with what goes on in the house. Like the real world there are house guest who I have liked a lot and house guests who I couldn't stand through the four seasons I have been watching it.  But I always try to keep in mind that people act differently in stressful situations and some of their behavior is going to be offensive to some.

I like it because of the company I get to "have" for  three months but I also like it because I have always enjoyed watching people. I never like going on rides in the amusement parks; I preferred the people watching much more.

But I have noticed that mainly on Twitter, people tend to forget that the house guests are probably a lot different in the BB house then they are in the real world.

On Twitter I have read some of the most nasty, mean spirited things I have ever heard or read anyone say about someone else.

This season every one of the house guests have been targeted but the one who seems to get the most offensive treatment is Kalia, a African American woman who I think is in her late twenties and looks a heck of a lot like Ophra.  Kalia looks like she is, a slightly bigger woman but attractive. She unfortunately has been called every name in the book on Twitter.

And that is a real shame.I personally am concerned with how Kalia's family is taking the negative reactions. It is not fair to them.  None of the people tweeting these nasty things is perfect and I think that if we could put camera's on them 24 hours a day, seven days a week we would see a lot of negative stuff from those people.

I know I definitely would not want to be on camera all the time, I know I do some  unwatchable  stuff.

Whatever happened to if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?