Wow I've been watching BB for years, and enjoyed reading these forums for most of that time, but never before felt the need to go to the effort of creating an account here for what will likely be a one-time post.
It surprises me reading this thread and others what perfect, neat lives most people on here seem to privileged enough to have had as that isn't my experience of people I know in everyday life. I say this as I don't know how anyone who has actually lived through any kind of hurtful or traumatic experience could be so judgemental of others' methods of coping with them.
In the first weeks of the show I found myself identifying with (not necessarily liking) Tully, as my twenties were a time of great upheaval and family issues and I am also quite an emotional person. It isn't something I like about myself and is not attractive to watch exaggerated on TV in another person, but the fact that we cry when sad, frustrated, tired, hormonal, or otherwise stressed out is not an indication of our inner strength. I am not saying that I know Tully is stronger than people are painting her to be, but I also know for a fact that I have survived things that many have told me they could not go through. Yet in other situations I can seem an emotional flake.
With regards to the Drully situation - their initial affectionate friendship is entirely believable to me. When I was that age I was going through some of the hardest things I think I will ever have to, yet also having the time of my life with some of the best friends I will ever have. At that age friendships and love can feel so intense, particularly in my experience in groups of friends that spend a lot of time doing everything together. Throw in a party scene and the need to escape occasionally from the pressure of feeling you need to hold a family together and these friendships become intensified.
I know for a fact that my partner and I at the time hugged, kissed and cuddled all our friends all the time. We were all comfortable with each other physically as well as emotionally and the level of trust was extremely high and nothing ever happened that we would have construed as cheating, although reading this thread there are a lot of puritans who would have had us crucified for some of our actions. And no - we weren't swingers!
Drew and Tully are apparently both more craving of affection and emotional support than may be typical for some, a possible character flaw that I can identify with. They also seem to have a lot in common and an obvious chemistry. Put them in a contrived situation with no way to "touch base" with their own individual identities outside the house and I can see why they (like Jade's fixation on Ed) have ended up this way. There is no way for us to say if they are genuinely in love or not (I'm not sure there is ever a definitive test for this anyway), but the feelings are real for them. They'll only know how real once they are back outside and see each other living their real (though vastly changed now I'm sure!) lives and deal with the attention both positive and negative. As for Tully being some kind of evil cheating conniving liar - seriously??? This is one of the most heart-on-sleeve honest people on this show, and she's been living the whole thing on camera. She may not have conducted herself in a manner that you would approve of, but to put her on a par with someone who has been married and living a double life for years is just ridiculous. I certainly have sympathy for Tahlia, but shit happens and people fall in love whether it lasts or not. I wouldn't like watching the person I love fall in love with someone else on daily television with the world commenting, but to be honest I don't think I would like watching someone I love in the BB house at all!
The way I see it, there has to be some element of narcissism in everyone who applies to go on any kind of reality show, particularly one like this where you are entirely isolated from everything that makes you feel connected to your sense of self. (Sorry that was a really clunky sentence but I'm not sure how to say it clearly). I just find it bizarre when any housemate in particular is criticised for being attention-seeking, isn't every single one of them pretty much by definition?
Haha ok rant over. I do have to admit that though I can't watch people I despise (and there haven't been any this season, although Mikkayla really grates on me), I would much rather watch people who have depth, different dimensions, and psychologically interesting actions and reactions. This I choose over the pretty shiny plastic "nice" ones any day. If I wanted to watch fake-arse bland posers every night I'd watch Home and Away.