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James Barber wrote:

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I can see why people wouldn't like him. His political views will have an influence (I don't care about political views outside of the game -- aside from BB8 Jen, who had no political views that I can remember, many of my favorite players had views I probably wouldn't agree with in real life). He's very earnest and has a bit of a tin ear socially. He's not as good a player as he thinks he is. He's also a very easy option. At the start of the season, he was probably one of the most hated. There's also the whole Catholic element, which I get, although I think in some cases it's more of an excuse for some (especially in the house -- seeing April, of all people, lecture about what makes a good Catholic was one of the more delusional moments of the season).

I also see him criticized for thinking America loves him. Maybe he does, but if he does, he's never said so (unlike April, Ollie, Michelle, among others). He may think he's a mastermind or that people get a kick out of him, but he's never said America must hate Jerry because Jerry doesn't like him (he's said Jerry probably comes across well on TV), he's never said he will be voted back in by America, he's been able to admit when some of his plans didn't go over very well.

Then there are the insults like Michelle accusing him of molesting students, which basically said she had no valid criticisms of him, so she went for the cheapest shot.

I like Dan because he's always thinking, maybe not always in the right direction, but the wheels are always turning. He has fun in the house, he's patient, he doesn't start in with the ugly attacks against others, no matter how they treat him, and in the end he knows this is only a game. He seems to have a very happy life outside of the house and that's shown in his gameplay, because for the most part, his gameplay hasn't been based on insecurities, on wanting to get laid, or wanting to be a cool kids. I feel sorry for him because I think he may not be fully prepared for just how insane some of the others in the house turned out to be, and what they have said about him, but he wanted to be on BB, and that's part of BB.

I think he's rolled with the punches in the house remarkably well and he's one of the people who has moved the show away from freak show territory. His gameplay hasn't been perfect, but has been underrated (the veto mess will always be used as an example of why he'll lose, but I think if he gets to F2 and loses, being friends with Brian and voting out Jessie are the main reasons why). I enjoy watching him operate and trying to figure out what he'll say or do next, and have that in reference to game moves, not a screaming match or a threat. There's just something likeable about him, to me, a good combination of what I like most in a player.

I don't know how much longer he'll be in the game, but I'm glad he'll at least presumably get to spend his birthday knowing he's off the block and still having a good chance of getting to F2. Then if he's there, if he loses, he can watch the MOJA bunch twist themselves into a self-righteous pretzel one last time as he gets 50K.