Rafe's Ramble

[Rafe]

I think the order was pretty obvious after Judd got the boot, and it was hinted at after Billy left. As far as all of the little workings before the merge -- *shrug* Not impressed, actually.

It's like you see who's in the game and you align with people you already know. Hardly a challenge in that aspect. For Brooke and BJ to say they were aligned from Day One really puts a game into perspective... and not in a good way.

Considering they weren't even on the same tribe, it makes for a pretty weak excuse to say that they wanted to stick together for ANY reason. It doesn't make sense. You don't make your number one ally someone on a completely different tribe unless you know for a fact that they'll stick with you whenever you finally all meet up. You were friends before the game, so please don't pretend that your cross-tribal alliance was some ornate working and Jim's involvement while being on a THIRD tribe made it that much more impressive.

It's not. All of your hard work in the game to manipulate and dominate and blah blah blah is great, but your "tight alliance" is not a product of meeting in this game.

So now we're left with individual achievements in the game, I guess. I personally think that the social element of this game is the biggest factor in determining who ultimately comes out on top. How you relate to people and influence what they do it someone's real power, and that's one of the biggest reasons I'm sitting here. Yes, I did well in the challenges, but really the big flashing "JURY" sign over my head was that I just didn't connect with enough people who made the merge. Plain and simple.

A lot can be seen with how you treat people, I think.

BJ had no problem being an asshole to me for no good reason. He was snide and condescending when it was clear that I was leaving. That round I tried to swing things, but we all knew what was going on -- the numbers just weren't there for me, and my whole idea was based on a lie about Morgan's vote, haha.

So BJ's true colors were revealed. He's a prick. But at least he was upfront about his feelings.

Brooke, on the other hand, is a very different case. She will go out of her way to get to know you and then toss you aside when you're no longer needed. I would have considered Brooke and I to be friends, if only in the loosest of terms (since it's a game). But when she knew I was going she ignored me... very subtle!

I guess my point is that socially you were both successful, but only because of relationships that you had in place BEFORE the game began. When it comes to trying to forge a NEW friendship you blow. For real.

So now to my question (finally... but I titled it "Rafe's Ramble" so you had fair warning)

How do you think you would have done had you played the game WITHOUT knowing anyone from the cast beforehand?

[Bobby Jon]

As we all know, the ORG Community is actually not that large. It is common for people to know each from one game to the next. I will say, that yes, I did know Brooke, Judd, and Ruthie from previous games...I felt confident that Brooke could be trusted, so I snagged her before anyone else could. I did NOT, however, know Brandon, Cindy, Jim, Morgan, Jamie, Billy or you before this game.

You must also keep in mind, Rafe, that this game did not begin with us all being in different tribes. We were one Jie-normous group of mis-fits...and when I was put into the situation to save myself in that First Round, that is when I did most of my "bonding".

If I did not know Brooke before this game, I really don't think it would have affected how things turned out, other than the fact that it would probably be Cindy sitting here beside me in the Final Two since she was my next closest ally.

This is 100% the truth, so if you don't believe any part of what I've said...there's not much I can do or say to alter that.

[Brooke]

Rafe as I said in my answer to Judd, I have played many games in the past months, and what I have been doing has been working for me. I am sorry you came into this game with a chip on your shoulders, because that is what is sounds like.

You knew me from another game, through your boyfriend. You had no problems trying to latch on to me, knowing the previous game I won and how I won it. Yes, Jim was in that game as well. In the while I was trying to be your friend, I was not acting until I find out your using me and going around bashing me to the others. You are the one that ignored me first. That was when I felt betrayed by you. I was naive when it came to you. I did like getting to know you and had fun talking, it was real and I don't regret that. After you left you were so bitter to me. I just stopped talking to you.

As for knowing any of the other players, as I said to Judd and as Bobby Jon quoted, this is a small org world. I have played many games and some with people I know. This one was my second Survivor game. I have played Big Brother games as well. I built this alliance with people I knew and some I didn't, but we made a plan after the game started. You were never around, who knows, if you took that phone off and talk to us what could of happened. I was social right off the bat. We all worked together and we all trusted each other in our alliance. It took 5 of us to do this and I do think it was amazing that no one knew. Of course we were thinking what would happen when we all got to final 5 but I don't think things turned out messy. I hope to continue friendships I have built in this game. Whether I knew them before or after. Now with you, I wanted to be your friend but you were just using me.

I hope I answered your question and I hope not to hear anything more about going outside our tribe and knowing people in this game. Oh and as I recall, Morgan and Jamie knew each other as well, they were bonded to the end.

If I didn't know anyone in this game would it of been different, well of course, but I wouldn't of changed my strategy if they weren't. Survivor is a game on who is the sole one left. I believe I played this game and earned the title. If I don't get it, then who would I want to have it more then Bobby Jon.


<3 Brooke