Why don't people like Ben?

[seneca]

Personally I find it irritating that a grown man can be so inadequate at almost everything.

Each to their own, but that sort of thing doesn't bother me. To me he is simply a character on a tv drama. He might be inadequate (in some ways), but he is also quirky, talented (at acting), funny and a personality that stands out from the crowd. Take fictional characters like Mr Bean - people don't dislike him for being clumsy; or George Costanza - people don't dislike him for being short, fat, bald and neutroitc. Ben is a character not a role model.

 

[tilliii]

i just can't believe he's 30.

 

[up_all_night]

Ben cannot possibly be any duller than what Matt, Ed, Caleb etc had to offer and yet I don't see the same backlash against those housemates which leads me to beleive there's more to it than Ben being 'dull'.

Personally there's something in many australians that gets them riled up about someone as inoffensive as Ben is. Whether it is his over the top niceness or what-have-you, it really gets them worked up.

As I said before it also manifested when Steve Irwin was at the peak of his popularity. So many Australians were deadset embarrassed by the bloke and were convinced he was playing up a caricature to gain a wider international audience and absolutely loathed him because of it.

Who said he was any Duller. I think the difference is, there is some human interaction between Matt, Ed and Caleb and the other housemates. Ben just ditters around in a daze like he's in a plastic bubble cut off from everyone.

Ben being 'inoffensive' has nothing to do with it. He's just not entertaining and there's nothing latch on to. His distance and bubble world removes him from the social interactions and drama of the house. Making him in his own little Ben show which frankly I do not find interesting. There is also no potential for anything interesting to happen there. Unless other people make him interesting.

Yeah Mikkayla teaching him to cook was amusing, but that was Tim pushing him to go and get it, then Mikkayla doing the work.

The other guys at least can have proper conversations about the conflict. Even if they're dimwitted like Ed.


Steve Erwin was playing a caricature. He was an entertainer. That's part of show business, part of being effective. He was still genuine but he totally was playing a role.

 

[Sorceress]

^^That's all opinion though.
I find Ben very entertaining and find him to be amusing.
Dare I say this but Ben's character in an Ed body would be perceived very differently by a lot of people.

[MENTION=11846]Sorceress[/MENTION]

Do you have enough hours in the day to read my reply as to why.

Haha you never say more than like a sentence in one post anyhow!

 

[Kaz]

Haha you never say more than like a sentence in one post anyhow!

A sentence is all I need to get my point across.

Not like some here (not you) who waffle on & on & on & we still don't get what they wanting to say.

 

[up_all_night]

^^That's all opinion though.
I find Ben very entertaining and find him to be amusing.
Dare I say this but Ben's character in an Ed body would be perceived very differently by a lot of people.

Haha you never say more than like a sentence in one post anyhow!

But it's people opinion as to whether they like him or not. There's no objective fact. Besides he's an emotionally stunted man baby.

 

[AM_092]

I'm not very fond of Ben, though I can admit he was quite funny last night.

Nonetheless, I don't want him to win. Ben needs to show us some gameplay and versatility in his role in the house.

 

[CaspersMum]

A sentence is all I need to get my point across.

Not like some here (not you) who waffle on & on & on & we still don't get what they wanting to say.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM waffles....

But it's people opinion as to whether they like him or not. There's no objective fact. Besides he's an emotionally stunted man baby.

Emotionally stunted man baby!! Hahahahahaha!!!!

 

[talene]

There's no objective fact. Besides he's an emotionally stunted man baby.

gold

for what its worth i think the 'emotionally stunted man baby' is a defense mechanism and a way to get what he wants.
in a similar vein to Tullys histrionics.

i've seen him behave quite normally at times.

 

[Elspie]

The thing I don't get about Ben is why is he in there? What's his end game? Everyone else has said really why they are there but I feel he is hiding what he is there for. At some point I thought maybe his Mum and Nana made him apply so he could get some life skills,met some friends as they seem to look after him a lot.

I don't care about him really one way or the other. I laugh sometimes at the things he does, he seems to be a nice type of person, but as time goes on I don't think I would miss those moments if he left.

 

[Connoisseur]

Who said he was any Duller. I think the difference is, there is some human interaction between Matt, Ed and Caleb and the other housemates. Ben just ditters around in a daze like he's in a plastic bubble cut off from everyone.

Ben being 'inoffensive' has nothing to do with it. He's just not entertaining and there's nothing latch on to. His distance and bubble world removes him from the social interactions and drama of the house. Making him in his own little Ben show which frankly I do not find interesting. There is also no potential for anything interesting to happen there. Unless other people make him interesting.

Yeah Mikkayla teaching him to cook was amusing, but that was Tim pushing him to go and get it, then Mikkayla doing the work.

The other guys at least can have proper conversations about the conflict. Even if they're dimwitted like Ed.


Steve Erwin was playing a caricature. He was an entertainer. That's part of show business, part of being effective. He was still genuine but he totally was playing a role.

You're entitled to your opinion and that's fine. But it's exactly that awkwardness that Ben brings to the house that keeps me entertained. Some of the convos between Tim and Ben for example have been some of the funniest moments in the house IMHO. Whereas I can't think of 1 thing that ed, caleb and matt have been involved in that even brought so much as a smile to my face.

 

[Connoisseur]

The thing I don't get about Ben is why is he in there? What's his end game?

Hmmm the same reason most hms are in there, to possibly win a quarter of a million dollars?

 

[Spectator O.O]

I think people don't like Ben because they are prejudiced against him. Whether people admit it or not, someone who is a bit different always gets outcasted because others are narrow minded and not accepting of other people who aren't a certain way. His sexuality plays into that as well, although I don't think that is the main or only reason. I think Ben is a lot more clued in than people give him credit. He does seem sheltered but he is no where near as negative a personality as a majority of others. He also has interesting things to contribute, not like housemates Ed, Caleb and Matt who are all just eye candy.

 

[Shackles]

I think people don't like Ben because they are prejudiced against him. Whether people admit it or not, someone who is a bit different always gets outcasted because others are narrow minded and not accepting of other people who aren't a certain way. His sexuality plays into that as well, although I don't think that is the main or only reason. I think Ben is a lot more clued in than people give him credit. He does seem sheltered but he is no where near as negative a personality as a majority of others. He also has interesting things to contribute, not like housemates Ed, Caleb and Matt who are all just eye candy.

I agree.

People hate him because he's an easy target. Like that playground bully who picks on weak people. It's rather disgusting that grown adults still do that atrocity. He's just 'special' and different. Not everyone has to be like one another.

Seriously people, go pick on meatheads like Matt, Ed and Caleb, who are just carbon copies of each other.

I don't think his sexuality has anything to do with this. Being feminine doesn't equal gay as there are so many masculine gays. People who hated Bradley didn't bring up his heterosexuality. It will be immature and plain dumb for people to hate Ben because of his sexuality.

[MENTION=31278]Christina[/MENTION] - It's not that he hates dogs. People are just germ freaks. I'm like that too. I don't want to be touching animals all the time. You can't use that against him. Not everyone is a dog lover.

[MENTION=28562]Connoisseur[/MENTION] - I agree with some of the points you made. But I actually liked Ben 12. He was funny, smart, heartful and, yes, mean. He was a true guy who could say anything to your face. That is a genuine person in my book (Ed and Matt aren't). Yes, Matt and Ed are eye-candy. And that's what sets them apart as 'non-boring'. Since Ben is no looker, he is boring and disliked. But he is much more entertaining, seriously. People are just shallow.

 

[AM_092]

I don't like awkward people in real life. I don't like awkward people on TV.

Ben's not even that awkward. Just annoying.

 

[up_all_night]

I think people don't like Ben because they are prejudiced against him. Whether people admit it or not, someone who is a bit different always gets outcasted because others are narrow minded and not accepting of other people who aren't a certain way. His sexuality plays into that as well, although I don't think that is the main or only reason. I think Ben is a lot more clued in than people give him credit. He does seem sheltered but he is no where near as negative a personality as a majority of others. He also has interesting things to contribute, not like housemates Ed, Caleb and Matt who are all just eye candy.

Oh please that's such a cop out.


With the eye candy, they have nothing going for them except that. It's their distinguishing aspect. With Ben it's that he's an oddball.

No one denies Ben isn't more clued on than he seems, but that's why people are annoyed. Because they can see he's not giving it his all. He's playing the role of an idiot child.

 

[up_all_night]

I agree.

People hate him because he's an easy target. Like that playground bully who picks on weak people. It's rather disgusting that grown adults still do that atrocity. He's just 'special' and different. Not everyone has to be like one another.

Seriously people, go pick on meatheads like Matt, Ed and Caleb, who are just carbon copies of each other.

There's nothing to pick on them except that are vapid vessels.

Ed is the biggest game player of them all. But he adds nothing. So there's little to talk about. It's the same with Matt. Nothing to talk about.

Ben is strange so there's something to talk about. The show is about discussions and Ben is some one that brings up more to talk about rather than a set of abs with a haircut.

I don't think his sexuality has anything to do with this. Being feminine doesn't equal gay as there are so many masculine gays. People who hated Bradley didn't bring up his heterosexuality. It will be immature and plain dumb for people to hate Ben because of his sexuality.

Yeah at this stage, I don't think you'd be getting anyone so homophobic even watching a show like Big Brother.

 

[Christina]

I agree.

[MENTION=31278]Christina[/MENTION] - It's not that he hates dogs. People are just germ freaks. I'm like that too. I don't want to be touching animals all the time. You can't use that against him. Not everyone is a dog lover.

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought he said he hated Mr C and jokingly said he would evict him if he had the chance when he had his little rant about the dog.
Anyway, doesn't matter...as you say, not everyone's an animal lover.
I still prefer him to most of the others as he seems like one of the few decent HMs in there..

 

[SoshiMECH]

It might seem superficial but seeing him wear pajamas all day and everyday is beginning to get on my nerves!

Ben, please put some cloths on! It's not cute! It's just weird!

 

[mikidiki]

It might seem superficial but seeing him wear pajamas all day and everyday is beginning to get on my nerves!

Ben, please put some cloths on! It's not cute! It's just weird!

^ This