Confession: I Watch Survivor. What would you do?

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I once rolled my eyes at a friend who could not wait to get home to watch Survivor.

Now I watch it.

If you watched this week, how did you react to the option given Cindy? Even if you did not watch it, what would you have done?


Cindy won a challenge. They gave her a prize of a new car (I think a Lincoln Navigator).

They added a twist to this prize, however.

They gave her the option of giving EACH of her four competitors the SAME vehicle, but she had to forfeit her prize.

What would you do?

[Nelson Bradford]

That's what we would have done!

Both my wife and I agree she made the right decision. She has NO assurances the others would have showed her any favors in the future simply because she gave them a new auto.

I believe it was a 2006 Pontiac Torrent - even though that's not the question here.

http://www.pontiac.com/torrent/index.jsp

YEP! She has NO guarantee of winning a million bucks for fighting off those mosquitoes, and the other competitors, but at least she had a NEW SUV waiting for her when she arrives home.

We both love watching Survivor and also Amazing Race. And have you/anyone noticed? They are both coming down to their final shows before Christmas?

You'd think it was sweeps month, wouldn't you?

8-)

-neb

[Wanda Van Winkle]

"They are both coming down to their final shows before Christmas?"

Yes, I noticed! We are both so busy with jobs and such right now that we record the show, so that we can watch it at our convenience, as well as save time by fast-forwarding through commercials.

[Alex Manly]

I agree completely with Nelson.

[Ian Gentles]

I would take the car, the others are rich! LOL

[Loretta Neureiter]

Hi Wanda, As the idea came up I thought "Everyone else would be getting a new vehicle... I wouldn't even have second thoughts about it" Had nothing to do about getting voted off the show or anything else, just my first thoughts.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Hi Wanda, As the idea came up I thought "Everyone else would be getting a new vehicle... I wouldn't even have second thoughts about it"

Do you mean you would give up your car, so that the other four could have brand new cars?

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I would take the car, the others are rich! LOL

Do you watch Survivor? I don't think the others are rich. One is a fishmonger.

[Ian Gentles]

OK may be different programme from over here.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

My daughter, Monica, just discussed this issue with me.

She asked, "What if you got to the end of the show, won the million dollars, and they gave you the option of giving a million dollars to each of the other contestants, but you didn't get a million dollars?"

[Gina Stevenson]

WANDA: "once rolled my eyes at a friend who could not wait to get home to watch Survivor.

Now I watch it.

If you watched this week, how did you react to the option given Cindy? Even if you did not watch it, what would you have done?"

********************************
yes, I was one of those eyerollers, too. ;) 'was pretty much that way about "reality(?!?)" TV. "reality" questionable, since they know cameras are rolling constantly.

anyway, I confess that I've gotten into watching some of it, too ... off & on, actually. If I hear something interesting [since the LR TV is loud enough that I can hear without being in there, most of the time!] while ma's watching it, I'll wander in. This week, I ended up seeing most of it.

the way I look at it, in spite of knowing that taking the car might prompt those who "lost(?)" a car by such a decision [lost something they never really won, anyway] to vote her off, she did the right thing. WHY? because the way you hear them playing the two-faced, back-stabbing sort, frequently [have seen enough, if not all of them, to hear much of this], it seems that one cannot ever fully trust what others might do.

sure, it seems the decent thing to do for the one who wins the million is to perhaps give a car to the one who first gave them one . BUT, who's to say that the million $ winner would be so decent as to make [I]sure someone who gave up a car for them would get one back in return? sometimes things folks in the world have done seem unbelievable [worse than not giving a car, for instance] ... yet things that we can't imagine doing do happen ... everyday.

[Dave McClung]

I am not good at hypotheticals, so I really don't know what I would do, but if the test I took the other day is accurate, I would have given the cars to the others -- not because I thought it would benefit me in the long run, but because I thought it was the best option for the entire community. I could share with you a number of times when I have made that kind of decision.

Interestingly, when I have made that kind of decision in the past (doing what is best for the community) I always seem to come out ahead personally too.

[Cindi Hammons]

I would have given up the car. The reason this was offered was because of the supposed "curse." That's not why I would have give up the car. I look at it this way...because (mostly) she didn't give them the car, she was voted off. If she had given them cars, someone else most likely would've been voted off and she would be in the final four. If she made it to the final two which was very possible, she would most likely have had four "yes" votes for her to win the million. I think it would have been a justified and good risk to give the others a new car.

Just my thoughts.
Cindi H.

[Loretta Neureiter]

Do you mean you would give up your car, so that the other four could have brand new cars?


Yepper

[Rosalie Ross]

I once rolled my eyes at a friend who could not wait to get home to watch Survivor.

Now I watch it.

If you watched this week, how did you react to the option given Cindy? Even if you did not watch it, what would you have done?


Cindy won a challenge. They gave her a prize of a new car (I think a Lincoln Navigator).

They added a twist to this prize, however.

They gave her the option of giving EACH of her four competitors the SAME vehicle, but she had to forfeit her prize.

What would you do?
Hi Wanda. I have a friend that loves to watch that. i personally do not watch it as the last time that i did they were making them all eat this most gross stuff, and i could hardly watch! Do remember that one!? What is weather up there in oklahoma like now? Dallas has been really cold with ice, and schools closed fri. Merry christmas to both of you from us. Rosalie ps. Seems that a lot of places are having that "win a car" type promotions.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Hi Wanda. I have a friend that loves to watch that. i personally do not watch it as the last time that i did they were making them all eat this most gross stuff, and i could hardly watch!

Are you sure you are not thinking of Fear Factor? I do not remember Survivor people required to eat gross stuff, but this challenge comes up on Fear Factor all the time. I disagree with it because it has nothing to do with fear, but all to do with nastiness.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

The reactions of the contestants fascinated me because of the opposite ends of the spectrum. It seems most of them had an either/or mentality--either they adamantly opposed giving up the car, or adamantly supported giving up the car.

In a clip from the contestants following her decision, Rafe (one of the contestants) said he thought automatically that she had to give up the car and give all four others a new car. To him it would have been a no-brainer.

I looked at Michael as soon as they offered her the choice and said, "Of course, I would give the other people the cars."

I view it this way: a new car will get old soon and I would only be helping myself. When in my lifetime will I have another opportunity to completely bless four other people with brand new cars? Impacting four lives/families seems, like Rafe, a no-brainer to me.

My thoughts, like Loretta's, had nothing to do with whether I would win a million later on. I would not expect the others to NOT vote me off. I would simply rather give four cars to four people rather than one car to myself.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Teachers, preachers, parents, elected officials, military personnel and others make this type of decision all the time. The gift is more abstract than the concreteness of a car, but the effect is the same.

Think about it.

Teachers, as a rule, spend money and time getting an education only to work for a great deal less money than they could earn in other professions requiring a college degree. They prefer to have less, materialistically speaking, in order to give more--educating people.

Pastors work overwhelming hours, at times, to minister to others.

Parents may make choices like living on a smaller income in order for one of the parents to stay home with the children.

Elected officials choose to work for much less money than they could in the public realm in order to benefit society.

Military personnel risk their lives in order to protect the lives of others.

These examples can go on and on, but the general idea is the selflessness of people.

Whereas Rafe exhibited selflessness in his immediate thought that a person would just have to give the others cars, another contestant just looked at him in disbelief, "How could she NOT keep the car for herself?" Perhaps Rafe had a larger general abstract viewpoint of giving and she had a more concrete viewpoint.

I just found this option and dilemma an interesting facet that the producers have never offered on the show.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Dave,

Although my first thoughts had nothing to do with coming out ahead, I believe if we practiced this type of mentality, we would more often come out ahead.

To me, scripture supports this idea: the last shall come first and the first shall come last. If someone asks for your coat, give him or her your cloak, also. Do not store up treasures on earth that can be stolen or corrupted (a car), but store up treasures in heaven (goodness, generosity, selflessness, love). My perspective, of course.

Of course, sometimes we must invest in ourselves. People may invest in an education, when the money would be better spent giving to their neighbor. But what if the education places them in a position to make a great deal of money, and thus help many more neighbors? Just thinking of the different perspectives, denying ourselves may not always help the whole community.

[Gina Stevenson]

:rolleyes:... made me feel badly, that I'd take the car & "run" as some have indicated, since I've always been used to being generous. BUT then I decided to not be so hard on myself, realizing that my current "reality" [what we're talking about here ... "reality" TV] has surely colored what I wrote about making sure I got some sort of car.

That "current reality" is a 20-year-old vehicle that sits here with a problem I'm not sure is worth correcting [$$], which leaves me not going out of the house -- despite the weather -- as much as I would if it were running, because when I do go, it's borrowing my mother's car [which I also have been helping keep up some, due to this situation]. All this due to the financial situation that rather prohibits replacement until ... ???

THEREFORE, a brand new car(!!!) sounds terribly good!! ;)

I am not good at hypotheticals, so I really don't know what I would do, but if the test I took the other day is accurate, I would have given the cars to the others -- not because I thought it would benefit me in the long run, but because I thought it was the best option for the entire community. I could share with you a number of times when I have made that kind of decision.

Interestingly, when I have made that kind of decision in the past (doing what is best for the community) I always seem to come out ahead personally too.

[LoraineStanton]

Take the million and share some?

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Take the million and share some?

I admit when Monica asked this question, I did not immediately respond with "Of course give the others the million!" :-)

In the case of the car, keeping it would most likely benefit only myself. With a million dollars, however, I can think of so many people I could help in so many ways.

So I may not be so willing to give up the million dollars. I'm sure my justification would be that I would not know for what the other contestants would use the money. Would they simply blow it on a fancy mansion, or drugs, or ridiculously expensive clothing? Or would they help others? Would the million I had go further to helping others than the million I would give each of them?

Again, I would simply be justifying myself in that case. But I wouldn't mind being put to the test :p

[Jen Blackburn]

Are you sure you are not thinking of Fear Factor? I do not remember Survivor people required to eat gross stuff, but this challenge comes up on Fear Factor all the time. I disagree with it because it has nothing to do with fear, but all to do with nastiness.


actually, they usually have at least one episode per survivor season where the contestants are asked to eat some pretty gross things... at least they're gross to us americans! usually it's bugs and stuff that the local tribes eat or have eaten...

i don't think this season they did that though! maybe the mayans were more advanced with all the corn that they ate instead of bugs! LOL

as for the question with the car -- now that i've thought about it awhile, and if i'd had more time to think - i think i would've done the same thing she did - kept the car... but when i was watching it, my *first* reaction was that of course, i'd give the 4 others a new car instead of taking one for myself... not for the reason of "the curse" but just because that's the type of person i am... not even to get myself further in "the game" ...

[Wanda Van Winkle]

You're right! Now that I think about it, I have seen them eat bugs on the show. I think they might have voluntarily done it a few times, though, rather than the show requiring it, just because they were so hungry.

So what do you think of poor Lydia? If I had won that last contest, I would have taken her with me on the adventure to eat, since she had never gotten to do it. I guess I like to help the underdog.

[Jen Blackburn]

So what do you think of poor Lydia? If I had won that last contest, I would have taken her with me on the adventure to eat, since she had never gotten to do it. I guess I like to help the underdog.

i think i would've taken lydia, too! LOL poor girl hasn't had anything to eat but corn.

but the week before last when they had that auction, she very easily could've bought herself a good meal to eat, but didn't even bid on it! that surprised me! maybe she's not as hungry as she's led everyone to believe! ;)

[Wanda Van Winkle]

"...but the week before last when they had that auction, she very easily could've bought herself a good meal to eat, but didn't even bid on it!"

I KNOW! And did you see her offer her money to Stephanie??? After the way she treated her, it makes me suspect she's co-dependent! Ha.

Oh, well, tonight's the night. We have set the VCR to record it.

[Jon Twitchell]

Be sure to change that timer--the ball game delayed the start of Survivor by 22 minutes...you don't want to miss the end!

[Alex Manly]

Sooooo....I had to laugh when they thought that eatting the sacrificed chicken caused that major storm. The Mayian gods are mad?!?!?!?:rolleyes:

But really... with seeing crosses around the necks of a few players I was suprised at the lack of Christian values mentioned. For instance; Steph saying that she prayed with the Mayians during their sacrafice ritual. I'm sorry but I would have had to pass, on their worship of false gods.

[Steven Stone]

I personally would have taken the car. no guarantees. so has everyone watched the finally. is it safe yet to talk about it?

By the way, I was wondering if she had given all the other cars to the other people, would the host of the show go up to her and say, "since you gave the cars away, we are going to give you a car too." Or maybe they might have given her cash.

Next season looks interesting.


My wife and I are big fans of the show!!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Be sure to change that timer--the ball game delayed the start of Survivor by 22 minutes...you don't want to miss the end!

We got it all.

I enjoyed this season's show. It certainly brings into perspective how we must communicate and negotiate. (Okay, so some of them manipulated, too.) ;)

I was sorry for Rafe in the end, but Danni probably did the right thing to win. And I believe her--that she will help many people. I think she used the word "bless."

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Sooooo....I had to laugh when they thought that eatting the sacrificed chicken caused that major storm. The Mayian gods are mad?!?!?!?:rolleyes:

But really... with seeing crosses around the necks of a few players I was suprised at the lack of Christian values mentioned. For instance; Steph saying that she prayed with the Mayians during their sacrafice ritual. I'm sorry but I would have had to pass, on their worship of false gods.

I'm not superstitious, I don't think. And I don't have to worry about it because I don't walk under ladders. :basic03

I KNEW someone would eat that chicken, though! And Stephanie...well, apparently everyone else thinks she's pig when it comes to eating. I wish I could eat as much as she and not gain weight!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I personally would have taken the car. no guarantees. so has everyone watched the finally. is it safe yet to talk about it?

By the way, I was wondering if she had given all the other cars to the other people, would the host of the show go up to her and say, "since you gave the cars away, we are going to give you a car too." Or maybe they might have given her cash.

Next season looks interesting.


My wife and I are big fans of the show!!

Hey, I thought the same thing later. If I were the producers and someone willingly gave up the car, I would then say, "Since you gave up the car, we are going to go ahead and give you one." Of course, that would change their rules, but it would be nice. I wouldn't give up the car expecting it, though. She was supposed to hope it broke the supposed curse of the car.

Next season DOES look interesting. I can't believe I'm watching this stuff. I heard them say there were twelve seasons, though. Is that right? I think this season is only the third I've watched. So you see how long I resisted...