Ben was completely contrived and manipulative. Playing the game is not a reason to dislike someone, as everyone is 'playing the game' in their own way. That's the point of the show. I found Ben's strategy to be extremely transparent, manipulative and frankly lame. He was SO DESPERATE TO GET HIS HANDS ON THAT MONEY.
From day 1 he entered the house as a CHARACTER. Now I don't know Ben in real life, but the caricature of the innocent and awkward mommy's boy didn't match up with the fired flight attendant and budding stand up comedian (look it up) that was revealed upon research.
Manipulation and fakeness:
*Constant pajamas as a calling card - total gimmick. Tim had his skeleton onesie, but never milked it that hard. Ben was relentless with the Pjs.
* The whole thing with walking around with his mum's photo and talking to the photo. Clearly a ploy to get solo air time, air his exposition, and to communicate with viewers directly.
*Doing things like singing, dancing and talking to himself in rooms alone so he could get some solo air time and further play up his caricature e.g dancing in the room and talking about the nerd strikes back or some crap.
* Always playing the victim to make others looks bad, especially Tim. For a time Tim and Ben were clearly big rivals, as Tim himself will admit it was between him and Ben for the prize. Ben would 'get upset' at what Tim would say so Tim looked like a 'villain' while Ben looked innocent.
*Ben would CONSTANTLY be on and on about how he can't afford to eat much at home, his clothes are from best N less. My shoes cost $6 etc. etc. Clearly to endear himself to the viewers as someone who not only deserves but NEEDS the money.
* I felt a few times we saw a subtly vindictive side to Ben but can't remember specific examples so I'll let that one go.
I can't remember much of what went on a year ago but at the time I had a dossier in my mind of Ben's contradictions and fallacies.