Vicky8675309

Does anyone think Jeremy played "big"? He has played a great UTR game but I don't consider idols "playing big"….maybe if he uses one on Spencer (a la Natalie…..his use of one on Stephen was wasted since Stephen still left the next episode) which would be him bringing Spencer to the end rather than Spencer fighting to get there by himself. I only ask about this because I think Jeremy will win but imo it doesn't fit with Jeff's EW quote: "The finale is … phenomenal. Historic. Unpredictable. And ultimately satisfying. I think it will cap off, in grand fashion, what most fans will regard as one of — if not THE greatest season of Survivor. I have absolutely loved the way this group played. I am proud and impressed by the level of fierce dedication to playing to win. Everybody went big. I hope future players take a note from this season. You want to be a part of something amazing? You want a shot at being asked back? You want to be remembered? You have to play big. You have to remember that if there are 20 people playing, 95 percent of you will lose. So you truly have very little to lose. GO BIG or do yourself and your family a favor and STAY HOME."

Spencer, total cutie, is frighteningly skinny. I like skinny guys but he is looking emaciated. He looks like he has lost the most weight especially since he was slender to start with. Keith and Tasha don't look emaciated. Kelley is skinny but still looking good. I'm sure Jeremy has lost a lot of weight but he was so muscular/bulky to start with that it isn't as dramatic as with Spencer. I worry about Spencer's health but he seems to be holding up well (ah, to be his age once again).

You are not an awful person and I think many of us loved Teethgate. I thought it was particularly powerful in that Dawn who tries to play sweet and innocent (didn't own her sh*t) was lying her teeth off (lol) about saying she wouldn't have really quit the game if Brenda hadn't found her teeth. Bullsh*t! Dawn was totally going to quit when she didn't think she would get her teeth back. I was shocked that she lied about it rather then saying "Sorry Brenda, you are right, you saved my game and I screwed you. It's for a million dollars. Sorry". Even at the FTC after she lied to Brenda and said she would have stayed in the game she still didn't show her mouth until Brenda pushed for it at least 3 times and Dawn finally realized that Brenda was not going to let her talk her way out of it. It's the last juror at the very end of the FTC and so when push came to shove, she had to show her mouth without teeth or say "I've been lying all night long". I'm probably awful because I was so happy that Brenda still didn't vote for her and that no one voted for Dawn. HaHa, she showed her mouth (not a big deal imo) and it was too late in that she was shown to be the liar she was. No problem with lying in the game but own it in the FTC! Karma;-) I didn't like the fake apology after getting criticized by the public (social media) and the fake acceptance. I wasn't thrilled with jeff putting them on the spot for the fake apology/forgiveness.

agree I don't know if Dawn was bright enough to intentionally use her emotional vampirism as part of her strategy, not that it was a good strategy for winning but it did help get her to the end. I understand about reacting viscerally to some players. I can also see how someone like Dawn is annoying and I avoid people like her IRL. It sounds like the editing was fairly kind to Dawn in that it showed her crying but it didn't really show her using Corrine. It showed a "normal Dawn" and Corrine just out of the blue talking to her about her & Malcolm's plan to flip everything and target Phillip. Then to the camera she said last time she flipped and lost so this time she wasn't going to flip and I remember thinking that was faulty logic and basically came to the conclusion she was stupid if that was the only fact she looked at. I didn't like Dawn and I'm not defending her. I do think she tried to emotionally manipulate people (intentionally) like Cochran (but I don't think it worked) but I think most of the emotional manipulation (unintentional) didn't work. In other words, to intentionally emotionally manipulate another person in the game seems like it could be intelligent depending on how it is done and other factors. Whereas to unintentionally manipulate someone in the game seems lucky or unlucky but not intelligent. By emotionally manipulate, I am not talking about people skills or aura or presence (not like how Kim or Denise or Jeremy have good "people skills" since they have a calming presence or are charismatic or something they give off in speech and/or actions that cause people to intrinsically (?) like them (something innately appealing about them).

It would be great if both Jeremy and Spencer get the same number of votes and they both win;-)

http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Recurring_Challenges For me, the most entertaining challenges to watch are Basket Brawl, Battle Dig, Kicking and Screaming. However they are not challenges that favor my favorite players (the Cochrans, Spencers, etc…)

great example of 3a! Brenda got screwed by winning that challenge. Below is just some babbling about Survivor: Caramoan's Brenda, Dawn, etc... I didn't start watching Survivor until 5 or so years ago and binged them all in a short period of time. I didn't pay that close attention to them and was likely influenced heavily by the edit. After watching the past 2 seasons in real time more closely and reading about them here, I've paid closer attention to the show, strategy, and edit. I've recently re-watched some of the seasons. Brenda and Dawn are interesting players and both seem like flawed humans but I don't think either are "good" or "bad" but a mix of good and bad (just like all humans). I recently re-watched "Fabio's" season and Caramoan. It wasn't until the very end of Caramoan that I realized that Brenda was from Fabio's year and that she was one of the kind-of-mean girls who was best friends with Naonka (she laughed with Naonka about amputee Kelley and while not overtly cruel she was passively cruel imo and IIRC). However on Caramoan she redeemed her image until FTC (teeth thing) however I understand her motives at FTC and while I don't think it was totally out of spite but more to show that Dawn was lying. I liked Brenda in Caramoan but not in Nicaragua. She wasn't extremely prominent in Caramoan since she more more low-key until toward the end. Plus there was so much other drama going on that she wasn't directly involved in. Dawn couldn't have won against Brenda and so I can understand her getting rid of her however her game was so bad (get to the end but can't win) that I don't know what she could have done different at that point in the game except play for #2 and keep Brenda. Maybe in Dawn talked to Eric and said, we can't win against Brenda and I can't vote against her but you may want to….not sure. Dawn annoyed me but I understand her. I think she was similar to Brendon in that she couldn't control her emotions. She released them by crying and she was emotionally unstable. I don't think she intentionally cried and she ended up seeming to others like she was a basket case and emotionally manipulative. Imo she came across as selfish--so wrapped up in her emotions and ignored the impact they had on others. I guess she ran into the jungle to cry alone so she wasn't 100% selfish. What's strange is that for a woman so worried about how she appeared to others (dentures or partials or whatever teeth thing) she didn't realized how bad it would look for her to cut Brenda even though strategically it made sense (but didn't make sense in that she couldn't' win the game with or without her imo). I guess she wasn't self aware enough to realized she couldn't win if she got to the end with any of them (unless it was just a finale two and it was her and Sherri but it wasn't a final two). Maybe she could have gone for a scenario where at F4 the others pick her over Brenda but still, I don't see how she could have won since she couldn't win against Cochran and is she cut Cochran then it would almost be as bad as her cutting Brenda (Cochran was her therapist). Dawn didn't bully Corrine. Corrine came to Dawn wanting Dawn to switch to be #5 or 6 of a 5 or 6 person alliance). Corrine approached Dawn and why wouldn't Dawn tell her alliance about it since she is in a better spot with her own alliance and then they could thwart the flipping of the bottom (Malcolm, Reynold, Eddie, Corrine). Plus Corrine did the same with Sherri and both Sherri and Dawn told on Corrine. When watching it I was disappointed since I didn't like Phillip and I like watching the bottom flip however I think Dawn and Sherri made the right call for their game. Cochran played an awesome game and his speeches/answers at the FTC were great. The first time watching that season I didn't appreciate what a great game he played. Why did Erik have medical problems? He went to every reward, had rice and beans and survivor is only 39 days long. They implied starvation but I don't see how he was starving with all the rewards.

Great write up. Team reward: a player should totally try to win and exhibit good sportsmanship after winning (or losing); no excessive celebration in front of the other tribe Individual reward: throw the challenge so that you don't win however if it is for an advantage then it gets trickier** **advantages seem more complicated. When they are advantages to help win an IC then they seem ok to win. However when they are for something like a double vote (Dan), steal a vote (Stephen) or hints for hidden immunity idols (Malcolm) then they are more dangerous and it seems like one would not want to win (unless you were in a "Mike" situation where the entire tribes hated you and there was nothing you could do to change their minds).

I don't think someone having kids should factor into the game and neither should their "need" or "financial" status factor into the game. Survivor is not a charity! I'm ok with Jeremy winning but not because he has kids or his wife is pregnant. Those are non-factors imo.

why do people try to win individual reward challenges? (rhetorical question) Unless it is for a clue or advantage (and you need it) then those are the challenges to lose (don't have to piss people off plus you don't seem like a threat)

I'm re-watching older seasons of Survivor and I like Brandon going off on Phillip in the Caramoan season. I agreed with what he said but not with his actions of pouring out the rice and beans (but it was entertaining). I don't think he is "crazy" and I think he just hasn't learned to properly control/express his emotions. I like Monica Culpepper and was disappointed when she was voted off One World which had some of the nastiest Survivors (but I like Kim). I can't stand Boston Rob and do not want to re-watch the season where they manipulate the edit so that one almost roots for him…I think Redemption Island. I got a kick out of watching his fake fainting on, I think it was, HvV. He was such a malingering cry baby. Russell H is a villain I love to "hate" where as Colton is a villain I "hate". However, I am ashamed to say that I found both to be entertaining. I don't think Malcolm and Joe are drop dead gorgeous. They are attractive.

I think you have to nominate them to get them included. If they are already members then they can't be nominated again. FairPlay picked Rupert which is strange since I would have thought that FairPlay liked smarter players. I'm surprised Rupert hasn't already been inducted since he is so popular Yul should have been inducted. Hmm, if I can think of enough people and figure out their last names then I may try this out.

big surprise (sarcasm)---the short deaf model won. The finale of Project Runway was a spoiler for this finale imo. I won't even mention all the white gloves which were also spoilers imo. At least Nyle can do catalog work and his photo with the husky was great. When shot from certain angles his face is gorgeous. This season, especially the finale runway, has been such a joke.

Where did Andrew Savage say that the winner was a good ambassador for Survivor? Assuming he knows everyones vote, I wonder if his perception of a good ambassador is as follows: Jeremy, Spencer, Tasha, ….maybe Kimmi next or Keith. I wonder who he would rank the lowest and can he move past Kelley idoling him out to respect her game.

I thought the bandages and various wraps were to cover tattoos that may have copyright or advertising/marketing (or something) issues. lol

I've been neutral about Joe both last season and this season. He seems nice but he doesn't capture my attention. However on re-watch of this episode, by the end of it I was feeling sad for him. He was crying silent tears at TC and really tried to stay in the game. He fought hard (but ineffective) at TC. I think I prefer blindsides since I don't have to see prolonged suffering. Lol, I sound like a softie but I love horror shows however, despite how "unreal" reality shows are, I don't want to watch "real" suffering. I think Joe played a better game this time then he did last season. He just needed more knowledge on strategy. I got over my sadness pretty quickly since Joe has a lot going for him in life and he should do well. He seems like a nice guy…actually this cast, in general, seem like decent human beings (for the most part)

I maybe wrong but I think it is a deer tick that transmits the disease. I don't think deer ticks are on horses (not sure).

True but that was a voting bloc thing and ultimately didn't effect her. I'd like to think she knew about it and that we just didn't see it but I don't think she is that good of an actress since her TC expressions of surprise/irritation seemed genuine. Anyway, it didn't hurt her/them in the game and it kept one of them guaranteed close to Jeremy incase Spencer had difficulty getting back in with jeremy. Maybe Tasha and Spencer don't have a pre-game alliance but on multiple episodes that have acted in ways that make me suspicious of a very hidden deeper alliance (I'm could be 100% wrong)

now I am even more convinced Tasha and Spencer had a pre-game alliance and they are low key about it and I think it will last even though I doubt they get Jeremy out due to his idol. I had been thinking this for a while but when Spencer's girlfriend said "Hi T" and Tasha got all smiley and waved at her it just reaffirmed it imo. I also think Joe should vote for Spencer if he gets to the end---Spencer saved Joe at the last vote which led to Joe fulfilling his dream of making it to the family visit and seeing his dad. girls alliance….now we know why Spencer aligns back with Jeremy (at least one of the reasons) for now Interesting that Kelley got a negative edit. She's been one of my favorites (mainly for that idol play that got Savage out but then again she knew it was her due to Joe telling her). Dang it, I let the editing get to me, lol..

I'm mystified about why Yolanda is believed to be correct despite the fact she contradicts herself, says unbelievable statements (bella's DUI was due to lyme and some many other examples), has herself said she was brain dead or something to that effect, multiple specialist (didn't see even go to Mayo) said that they couldn't explain the etiology of her constellation of symptoms despite extensive testing, has been unreliable and misleading in the past, pours who knows what into her body trying to find a cure yet didn't heed respectable doctors advice (IIRC) and give an antidepressant treatment an adequate treatment trial (not sure), and so much more. Who knows what David and her's relationship was like when she became symptomatic…we don't. Depression can cause profound fatigue, psychomotor retardation, sleep to much or insomnia, increased or decreased appetite, apathy, chronic pain, etc. To be fair, chronic pain and chronic health ailments can cause depression (vicious cycle). I tend to be skeptical when patients diagnoses themselves especially when it goes against established medical practice. Maybe she felt fatigued and a doctor mentioned possible lyme disease and she unconsciously ran with it. I also find it suspicious that she posts (or instagrams) so much of her health information yet I have seen her post any CSF testing results from lumbar punctures. I don't know Yo personally and don't have access to her health records. I keep thinking of somatoform disorders and more importantly the following (from aafp): "Two related disorders, factitious disorder and malingering, must be excluded before diagnosing a somatoform disorder. In factitious disorder, patients adopt physical symptoms for unconscious internal gain (i.e., the patient desires to take on the role of being sick), whereas malingering involves the purposeful feigning of physical symptoms for external gain (e.g., financial or legal benefit, avoidance of undesirable situations). In somatoform disorders, there are no obvious gains or incentives for the patient, and the physical symptoms are not willfully adopted or feigned; rather, anxiety and fear facilitate the initiation, exacerbation, and maintenance of these disorders." I don't think she is malingering and she could have some post-infectious syndrome, depression (Her "my king/my love" never seemed reciprocated and I bet she saw the writing on the wall long about so maybe depression started long ago) and/or factitious disorder. I have no idea of what if any unconscious internal gains she has but maybe public sympathy or something else). Also depression can be so severe that people appear to be severely demented. Also all these toxins and who know what she takes as "treatment" maybe causing symptoms. I don't understand why she doesn't just do one at a time and then give it a decent trial before determine effectiveness rather then doing several treatments of different substances all at once or sequentially. I have no idea what she has but I don't take her word as fact based on her history. Especially when she says her kids have it and when respected medical professional at academic centers (like Mayo and like The Cleveland Clinic) say her symptoms are not from lyme. Maybe she had lyme and now she has symptoms due to adverse effects of nontraditional "treatments" or leaky silicone breasts. She may or may not have some infectious or post-infectious illness or autoimmune disease or other etiology of her symptoms. However I do not consider Yolanda a reliable doctor who can diagnose herself when the academic physicians (less financial motivation, more up to date on new diagnoses or rare presentations/variations of rare diseases) say she doesn't have it (IIRC). I have seen reports/clinic notes from a "lyme expert" on a few patients and basically if you could pay cash (a lot) then it seemed like any and all symptoms were diagnosed as lyme disease despite negative testing and lack of response to treatments. It raised a lot of red flags for me. The financial motivation on the part of that physician and the documentation/tests/etc made me briefly consider reporting him to the state medical boards but I decided not for a variety of reasons. I'm not saying she didn't have Lyme Disease or Lyme Disease affecting her central nervous system. However I do not find her to be reliable…plus she is "brain dead" (not really but she says it herself). I do believe the posters on this site about there own health struggles and I wish everyone the best, including Yolanda. Yolanda decided to use her health as her storyline so I do not feel any qualms about questioning her claims/diagnosis/treatment/etc despite not having seen her medical records (just going by what she says). Everyone has their own experiences, knowledge, biases, opinions, etc but I think we all wish her well. I do agree that that health care providers have lots to learn and there is much we don't know about many diseases/conditions/etc. Lyme and syphilis are two great mimickers of neurological disease (can present, neurologically, very diversely and basically you can put them on the differential diagnosis for most neurological symptoms.

I wish Yolanda was off the show or demoted to "friend of" status for purely selfish reasons on my part. I worry that these episode discussions will mainly be about Yo's constellation of symptoms (aka syndrome) and lyme dz vs other ("nos"). I've found everyone's comments interesting but if the entire season is just this then it may get repetitive. I haven't made it past episode 1 or 2 of the most recent RHOC but it sounds like a season of crook's cancer vs non-cancer was debated a lot. Maybe it is just personal preference since the endless debating about Kim's alcohol/drug addiction and co-morbid personality disorder (narcissistic pd) didn't seem to get old. I've never been a big fan of Yolanda (cliquish behavior, poor treatment of Joyce [with bg as the main instigator], and so much more). Also, I watch tv during limited free time to distract from health issues (unfortunately when not at work, I need to do something to keep my mind busy otherwise I tend to dwell on negatives [physical deterioration, health issues] rather than appreciate life as it is). See, now I am all whiney. lol, it's my fault (I am responsible for myself and my reactions) and you all keep posting about Yo :-) Enjoy!

That is not true. I think you are referring to CHRONIC Lyme Disease and not Lyme Disease (which does exist according to the CDC and traditional western medical practice) we see how good prohibition worked with alcohol

Thanks you all. I'm sorry for the confusion. I thought the period was a typo since there was no space after it. My bad.

I guess it would be really tacky to ask opinions on who is sicker (or more likely to die or become demented first), Kim vs Yolanda? I'm leaning toward Kim.

What is the Fishy Thumbs up? Does he think Spencer made a mistake? Sounds like he maybe leaking spoilers if he is telling people Spencer made a mistake. Then again I don't know what a Fishy Thumbs up is? Kind of sounds like a thumbs up for a good job but that goes against making a mistake so is Stephen now changing his mind or deflecting from his bitterness and realizing it was the logical decision based on the known facts/observations regardless of the ultimate outcome. No spoilers but please clarify your comment since I don't read Stephen's website/blog/whatever and not sure what he is saying with the fishy thumbs up. Thanks!