Ed,
Everybody has opinions about “Survivor” although no-one will admit to seeing it.
"Heck!" I'll admit to having watched it.
Unlike Odysseus and the Sirens I didn't even have to tie myself to the mast of social science research to avoid being taken in by it. It was just too awful. I found it *tedious*, but I watched for a while to collect data.
On the other hand, Survivor is all too close to the real world *job market* for my liking. I'd rather watch Teletubbies (except for the "skin" factor)....
\brad mccormick
In order to survive, the contestants are faced with choices – often opposite choices both of which (or all of which) are reasonable. Including keeping someone because he is good and can win for them, or getting rid of him because he is too good and may win.
It doesn’t depict anything but the way people will behave in difficult conditions. Perhaps, we should keep basketball off the home screens because so many of the players commit fouls.
Survivor is a great mixture of personable people in strange conditions (to them) doing what they can to survive (which demands cooperation). Most of all, it’s great fun.
When I last wrote of this turgid situation, I said that the women could get rid of the man providing an all woman finish, or they could decide to get rid of Lil who everyone liked. They thought if it came down to Lil and someone else, Lil would win easily.
It did come down to Lil and someone else – a woman. Lil had received an immunity from expulsion by winning a test of endurance over the man. I think, Ed, you talked of getting these husky young men and pretty women to compete.
Lil, the 50 year old scoutmaster, went to the final two with this other woman.
Then she lost, easily, I think by a vote of 6 to 1.
Once again I was unable to predict a winner. I think I have failed to pick the survivor in every show so far.
Ray called it aleatory and we haven’t corrected him. Chance is part of life, but the winners – and those who have done well – have depended on anything but chance. The business of survival in the show takes a lot of thinking and needs some careful choosing of directions.
But, then that’s life.
As I said, I find it great fun. And until the writers begin to run out of ideas I will continue to view it.
I watch no other “reality” shows, though I have heard a couple of finalists of the “American Idol” and wonder if I’ve missed something. Their voices were good. But, perhaps that isn’t a reality show.
So, by all means don’t watch it. Reading a book is certainly a far better way to fill your time. Of course, if you simply want to lay back, relax, and enjoy . . . . . .
Harry
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Henry George School of Social Science
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Tel: 818 352-4141 -- Fax: 818 353-2242
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*From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Ed Weick
*Sent:* Friday, December 12, 2003 4:54 PM
*To:* Ray Evans Harrell; Robert E. Bowd; Thomas Lunde; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*Subject:* Re: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Cavema n Trade vs. Modern Trade
Ray, I do wish I knew where I was coming from on all this. I've always hated vulgarity or, to put it differently, I have a rather idealist picture of what human behaviour should be and if people are depicted as not conforming to my ideals, I find it rather upsetting. "Survivor" may be aleatory art, but it's very carefully planned aleatory art, so it can't really be aleatory. It depicts human behaviour at its most crass and vulgar, but it not only depicts that, it does so deliberately. Why? Because it sells. Therefore, vulgarity compounded! Being an idealist and moralist, I want people to be better than the people in the show itself, better than the people who designed the show, and better than its audience.
As a young person, I spent a year at an art school. As it turned out I would not have made a very good artist- too many barriers thrown up by my ideals. I then became an economist, and I don't think I've very good at that either. I expect people not to behave crassly in their self-interest even if they've demonstrated, time and again, that that is what they want to do.
Ed
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