Episode 08

[Holly Hoffman]

Wow, what a way to start the merge, but there are a few things we'd like to know.

Kim J left with a strong majority tonight. Do you think that maybe it was a wasted opportunity to take out a bigger player?

There's been a lot of talk about idols in the recent rounds, particularly with Sean. No sign of them at tribal council though. Does it concern you that there's this talk but nothing has happened yet? What about the new idol that has been hidden?

Now that we've hit the jury, how do you plan on impressing those watching in order to convince them YOU should win Stranded in Venezuela?

[Linda]

No. Taking out a big threat was not possible. I am not for flashy moves, I am for efficient moves. The next two votes should progress the same. 12 is too big a number and if anything got out..not worth it at all.

Idols don't worry me. In fact sean says there is a good chance he will "spread the wealth" and give an idol to lex or me. Worst comes to worst, we try a blindside at final 9 or so, or we just wait until they can no longer be played, presumably at f5.

And I plan to talk to people, get to know them, and make sure they realize I am more powerful than I seem. But that isn't my focus just yet. I wont piss people off, but too much jury pandering is dangerous too

also I a very proud of myself. I have now outlasted my only previous org performance(12/17, voted out at merge for being a threat :P)

[Linda]

People alredy want to make big moves..that would be suicide at this point. -_-. Patience is a virute none of these folks know

[Jeff Probst]

Are you at all concerned that waiting too late to make a move would make you seem like a follower in the eyes of the jury?

[Linda]

No. Because I will make a move. When it becomes time,, not before that. I think they will respect me more for playing a smart game and not making a move for the sake of making a move as opposed to just doing flashy games. Im not Ressel Hantz

[Linda]

Jeff, can you confirm the idol transfer? Thanks!

[Brenda Lowe]

People alredy want to make big moves..that would be suicide at this point. -_-. Patience is a virute none of these folks know

What are these 'Big Moves' that people want to make?

You talked last episode about 'having to play this right', wanted Clarence out, but settled for MamaKim - someone who was 'eating out of your fingers'. Explain to me how sending one of your own numbers was playing it right? Do you trust Sean & Vee, the people who've been away for three rounds, and the people you've only just met that much already?

[Jeff Probst]

Jeff, can you confirm the idol transfer? Thanks!

I can confirm that Sean has sent you that idol in Private Messages.

[Linda]

People alredy want to make big moves..that would be suicide at this point. -_-. Patience is a virute none of these folks know

What are these 'Big Moves' that people want to make?

You talked last episode about 'having to play this right', wanted Clarence out, but settled for MamaKim - someone who was 'eating out of your fingers'. Explain to me how sending one of your own numbers was playing it right? Do you trust Sean & Vee, the people who've been away for three rounds, and the people you've only just met that much already?

I know there's moves to flush Sean of both his idols, which lol because I now have one of them. It could be beneficial to me for him to go because then NO ONE outside Lex/Vee could ever see me playing my idol coming, and I'd make it seem I had nothing to do with it, so they'd be part of the surprise. HOWEVER, Sean is also loyal to me and Lex, as the transfer proved, so it would also be cutting a number for me, which then cuts one of my paths to the end. Lindsey seems to have been talked out of making a move.

Sarah seems the easy target, but I could honestly see a large number of people going. We'll see

And Kim J was eating out of my fingers, but was not a pathway to the end. She was a mere number, nothing more. Love Mama Kim, but keeping her would have just brought up suspicion and a target on me. There are some people worth saving and some not worth saving. She fell into the latter. Now, Kimmy, who is out of the "alliance", is worth saving though. She ONLY trusts me and Lindsey, so for us she is perfect to have. People like her too, so she isn't an immeadiate target. If things were to go simple and Sarah and Clarence were then to go, a move to take Patty or Gina out at Final 9 would be PERFECT.

Something else I could do is feign worry for the idols around F7/8 and want to flush them, and play "double agent". Tell everyone else to vote 3-3, but Lex and I actually vote with Sean and Vee, taking out someone else.

So to say I'm just a follower, as Jeff implied , would be wrong. I compare this to Sophie and Albert. Lindsey and others want to make moves that will look good/be entertaining, but really aren't smart. So I, like Sophie, have to reel them back in and prevent anything stupid from happening

[Jeff Probst]

I've now seen you shoot down several changes in the plan that you have formulated for yourself. You keep saying that you don't want to be a russell hantz, you don't want to overplay... Is it possible that you're overcompensating by purposely trying not to make moves in an attempt to not overplay?

[Linda]

One way to find out! Speaking of which, I just went through winners who made big moves postmerge and it is a fairly short list. Vecepia, Sandra in PI, Chris, Danni, Yul, Earl, Parvati, JT, Denise, and Cochran. Some of those are arguable as well too. Im here to win not get 3rd.. I may love Cesternino, Fairplay, and the ilk, but I want better. :P


Though I was just discussing stuff with Sean nd he agrees we shouldn't use people we are sure we can trust. So clarence and sarah can't be used, yet those woild be 2 dangerous unknowns. They need to go

And since you guys are so pissed I wont make such a big move, what would you want me to do? :P

[Linda]

lol Clarence sent Patty this message

I'm hearing from people that the four people who voted against what we did were Kim J, Sarah, and a combination of 2 of these people [Lex, Linda, Kim P]

Sarah said she wanted to flush an idol or something?

Yes, like I'm going to betray the alliance I just formed.

I know you guys would love it since I'd be, uh, "making a move"

[Jeff Probst]

Why do you assume that we want you to make big moves? We want each player to play as hard as they can so when they leave they don't look back and say "damn I should have done more" which happens 90% of the time. For some, Playing hard means letting other people make moves and reacting well to them. For others it means pushing people to make moves they want to be made, and for others It means making it themselves... But I can guarantee no one leaves the game having not done one of those three things without regrets.

[Jeff Probst]

Having said that, which of those three do you fall into, or do you plan on being the fourth option?

[Linda]

Probably some combination thereof. I like other people making their ideas, and then manipulating those so that my ideas are the successful ones. By the same token, then, I also like other people thinking my ideas are something they came up with, because that keeps me in a position of trust with everyone, without being seen as a threat

That said, I still maintain there is a time and place for everything. Right now we have two wildcards. Wildcards are dangerous. Then they can go. Other than that, I think I can safely figure out where everyone left will be standing and who I can and can't manipulate.

F9 is where things will get very interesting. Already rumblings for plans to flush "both" of Sean's idols. I am putting myself in the middle for both, so I will know where everyone's votes are going, which then gives me the option to either manipulate it so a 3-3-3 vote turns into 4-3-2, or 2-2-2-2 turns into 3-2-2-1, or whatever. On the other end, it also means I can make Sean play his idol wrongly, or not play it at all as he goes home.

So if you think I'm not willing to have moves happen, I think that should prove you wrong. It's just all about timing. And F9 will be a helluva lot of fun. And crazy. And exhausting. But fun nonetheless. That's going to be the most important merge vote I think, since it will determine the rest of the game.

[Linda]

forever cursed by that challenge..

[Linda]

I AM SO FUCKING PISSED RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA

[Linda]

Lindsey legitimately broke my heart. I loved her. I would have done anything for her. Hell I was going to bring her to the end, evne knowing I'd most likely lose against her

[Linda]

and now Sean was fucking lying to me too. Fuck it all.

[Linda]

and I decided to be a bitch...fuck me. This game has legitimately affected me terribly