# New Survivor -- these fools can't make fire?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 2, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163 "2004-02-02T07:12:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163/41 "2004-02-04T16:15:29Z")

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I feel the producers may design the twists to benefit Richard. Him being around makes for good drama.

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**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163/42 "2004-02-04T17:07:51Z")

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> [@Ferrous](#):
>
> I’m not so sure. It’s a dangerous game, but it could pay off for him. He knows he has no chance playing the classic strategy (the one he pioneered), so he’s trying a new one. He may be hoping that if he’s not perceived as a threat anymore, that perception plus the novelty value of having “the king” to kick around will make them not vote him off for a while.

I don’t think acting like an asshole made him seem like any less of a threat. If anything it would make people wonder what the hell he had up his sleeve and conspire to vote him off even faster. A good schemer can do the same thing time and time again and people will believe them “this time,” i.e, Jonny Fairplay. The object is to convince the target that it is actually in the schemer’s best interest NOT to betray the target. Richard, by playing an asshole, isn’t using his skills at manipulating others to best effect. The same fear of him that makes others want to vote him off also makes other want to ally with him.

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**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163/43 "2004-02-04T17:26:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by BiblioCat_
> 
> …they said “Bur **nt** ” Log not "Burn **ing"** Log.  
> I know a lot of people were speculating that “Burning Log” might be a source of fire, but I’m sure whoever was reading the map said “Burnt” Log.  
> Could be worth checking out, at any rate.

Ahem. Burnt Log = **charcoal**.

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**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-these-fools-cant-make-fire/227163/44 "2004-02-04T17:44:08Z")

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And if he CAN make fire, why not make fire and put it out every day? That way, the tribe wants fire, it needs Richard.

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