Huh. Probst actually kind of impressed me at TC tonight. (I'm not done watching so I don't know the outcome.)

Probst actually kind of impressed me at TC tonight

If he ever gets bored with this TV Thing, he should become a couples counselor.

for male couples only, I think.

I bet he has learned a lot about teasing out issues in the last several years. Although I always think of his job as more to stir thugs up. (okay, I'm not fixing that.)

I was surprised and impressed at how Probst handled the situation at Tribal Council. Especially considering I'd spent the previous half hour squirming with discomfort about how the white teammates were reacting.

I think Phillip had something too, when he made a parallel that at least some of the contestants could appreciate (w/r/t gender issues.)

Also, Steve, while I understand what you're getting at, a few seasons on the LA Raiders football team does not make you Nelson Mandela. Best thing to do is shhhh! Listen.

Best thing to do is shhhh! Listen.

Yeah, there was really nothing Steve could have said that would have made it better for him. Which is unfortunate because I don't actually think he said anything racist - he used a term that Philip has experienced in the past as being racially coded, but I think if you swapped out Philip for Coach or Johnny Fairplay, Steve would have said exactly the same thing.

You know what though? As crazy as Phillip is, I am not going to discount whether he felt like Steve was treating him with a lack of respect. Sure Steve said he was "crazy", but the overall sentiment of lack of respect is what sent him over the edge.

Phillip is a little off and I wouldn't want to spend a day with him, but the group's response to his request would have ticked ME off.

As crazy as Phillip is, I am not going to discount whether he felt like Steve was treating him with a lack of respect. Sure Steve said he was "crazy", but the overall sentiment of lack of respect is what sent him over the edge.

I agree with this as well. I definitely can't discount Phillip's reactions here and I was very uncomfortable with the rest of the tribe doing so.

Oh yes - I forgot to say Steve & co were also acting like assholes over the rice issue that started the whole thing. (Actually Rob started it by manipulating both alliances into keeping their original tribe's food supplies separate in the first place, but he's done an amazing job of making everyone forget that. He's playing Russell's game right now, only he's doing it right.)

Now that I've finally seen the episode, Jeff did a good job teasing all that out.

All I coil think of during that exchange es te privilege of being white. I doubt Steve meant anything racial by his comment but I think Phil was not crazy for responding as he did.