Amazing Race: All Stars

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I guess I just don't see using tactics that are within the rules as "unconscionable." These people voluntarily signed up for a race. Not a cooperative team-building event, not a leisurely world tour. A race. Short of breaking rules or causing someone harm, I don't find anything done within the game to get an advantage in that game "unconscionable". Within the game, Rob and Amber are ruthless, but above board. They don't cheat, they don't blame their failures on anyone but themselves, and they are completely up front about being there to win the game.

They don't strike me as the type who would carry that same philosophy outside of the game. The may be arrogant and ruthlessly competitive, but nothing's ever given me the impression that they're like that in real life.
Their whole attitude is, "This is a game, the only goal is to win the game, so why weaken my position with concepts of charity, honor, and morality that have no bearing on the game."

If I wanted to watch a reality show about lying, cheating, and back-stabbing I'd watch Survivor or Big Brother.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

If I wanted to watch a reality show about lying, cheating, and back-stabbing I'd watch Survivor or Big Brother.

Cheating?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Cheating?

Cheating on the rules, or cheating other racers... Both are wrong, IMO. My I remind you that it was R&A that stole the paper with directions that a flight attendant wrote out for U&J? Nasty people. Ugh!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Cheating on the rules, or cheating other racers... Both are wrong, IMO. My I remind you that it was R&A that stole the paper with directions that a flight attendant wrote out for U&J? Nasty people. Ugh!

All's fair in love and war. If your catcher's not disguising his signs with a man on second base, you deserve to have your signs stolen.

Perhaps I'd dislike the way they play a little more, and perhaps I'd feel for the other players if those other player weren't whining so much about it. But the more they whined, the more I wanted R&A to play them like fools. It's one thing to be annoyed at them being sneaky and manipulative. But DO something about it. Don't bitch and moan and expect them to suddenly make nice. You know what you're up against, do what you need to do to either accept it or fight back.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

All's fair in love and war. If your catcher's not disguising his signs with a man on second base, you deserve to have your signs stolen.

Perhaps I'd dislike the way they play a little more, and perhaps I'd feel for the other players if those other player weren't whining so much about it. But the more they whined, the more I wanted R&A to play them like fools. It's one thing to be annoyed at them being sneaky and manipulative. But DO something about it. Don't bitch and moan and expect them to suddenly make nice. You know what you're up against, do what you need to do to either accept it or fight back.

IOW, descend to their level. No thanks. I’d rather watch a show where teams win or lose based on their racing abilities, not on how well they can screw the other teams. (I hate the Yield for that very reason.) As I said before, if I wanted to watch Survivor, then that’s what I’d be watching.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

IOW, descend to their level. No thanks. I’d rather watch a show where teams win or lose based on their racing abilities, not on how well they can screw the other teams. (I hate the Yield for that very reason.) As I said before, if I wanted to watch Survivor, then that’s what I’d be watching.

No, I didn't say descend to their level. There are other options: i.e., do a better job of avoiding them and not giving them the chance to "cheat" off of you. Don't fuel their fire by yelling at them. If play your game and don't waste your time and energy on them. If your game really is the better way to play, you'll win. Whining, yelling at them, crying foul when none is committed does zilch except make them look better and you look foolish.

Of course, I still don't consider anything I've seen Rob and Amber do "descending" to anything. The WORST thing that they did was when Amber said "got it" when they came back from the wrong direction, and the only way that's bad is if Mirna and Charla did exactly what you're saying Rob and Amber do wrong, namely take cues from other teams.

But in the end, Rob and Ambers actions should have no bearing on the other teams. Fortunately for them, it does. If the other teams would stop whining and start thinking, Rob and Amber-like tactics would become moot. As long as they continue to want everyone to play nice rather than ensuring that they aren't "victims", they will continue to be "victims".