# Big Brother doesn't know **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602 "2001-09-14T14:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/1 "2001-09-14T14:48:16Z")
I don’t watch the show, but this is just wrong. Many people can’t get enough news about the terrorist attacks in the U-S, but a few are getting absolutely none – those locked up in ``Big Brother’’ houses. Producers of versions of the reality-TV show running in Belgium, Denmark and South Africa have decided to stick to their rule forbidding participants from learning about anything outside the house. Only the Netherlands, where the show originated, made an exception for the 18 contestants in the Dutch house. In Belgium, a psychologist for the ``Big Brother’’ producers advised against letting the 12 people in the house know. She claims showing them the images ``immediately creates a panic situation because they won’t know how things will evolve.’’ She says producers checked with contestants’ families to make sure no one inside the house had ties to victims of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. As contestants are voted off the show, which began September 3rd in Belgium and runs until mid-December, they will be informed about the attacks by a psychologist. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/2 "2001-09-14T14:56:05Z")
However, the remaining three contestants in the American Big Brother house WERE informed after some debate among producers because _one of the contestants had a relative in the Towers_ This required a debate? Morals are one thing and ratings are everything I suppose. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/3 "2001-09-14T14:59:01Z")
Unbelievable isn’t it? For the sake of a TV show, these people don’t get to witness and be involved in the most important thing ever to happen in their lifetimes. Just unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/4 "2001-09-14T15:07:35Z")
I would be livid if I was in their places! I’m surprised at the psychologists. Finding out months afterward would do more harm, I would think. When the battles start, and I think that’s pretty much a given, I wonder if they plan to tell them that? ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/5 "2001-09-14T15:11:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Barbarian \* > \*\*In Belgium, a psychologist for the ``Big Brother’’ producers advised against letting the 12 people in the house know. > > She claims showing them the images ``immediately creates a panic situation because they won’t know how things will evolve.’’\*\* Neither do we on the outside, even if we spend all day watching the news. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-brother-doesnt-know/81602/6 "2001-09-14T15:15:24Z")
At first I thought someone might fly a banner to let them know but on the other hand (US BBII), no planes could be in the air. At any rate, BB is on the web 24/7 USA: > **[CBS Shows - Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night & Classics](https://www.cbs.com/shows/)** > > Watch full episodes and clips of Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night and Classic shows on CBS.com. Talk with other fans, catch up with your favorite shows and more. shows: Tues. Sept. 11 8pm Thurs. Sept. 13 9pm Thurs. Sept. 20 8pm FINALE