Ben Higgins - Lauren Bushnell - Bachelor 20 - Discussion - #2

I'm a Ben fan, but I definitely don't think anyone had to twist his arm to do this reality show. Post show it's been him on radio shows Etc.. I think Ben likes the limelight sometimes even more than Lauren. It suits his personality. She's a little more reserved, probably why some can't warm up to her. Did anyone notice that Lauren never really talks to the camera for video snapchats? I find that interesting, it's almost like she doesn't like revealing too much of herself. I also think the show was a way for him to walk away from his 9 to 5 job. No one seems to press Ben about what he's doing right now. But with all the travel they do there's no way he's working full time for his old company. For all we know Lauren is doing just as much behind the scenes with Alaska air that Ben is doing with his old company. Probably both doing just enough to maintain insurance!

I'm always reminded of the interview Lauren did where she said I'm not special, I don't have any talents that make me worthy of all this attention. Lauren's never asked to be thought of as extraordinary, I think she's pretty content as is. And that's always why I thought she was more than ordinary.

^^^^^

Get out of my head. All my thoughts x100!!!! Especially about Ben and his work situation. I love Ben, he's my fave Bachelor lead to date. But the man is totally at ease on camera, he loves to be interviewed. He loves to chat people up. He's SEEKING a very show boaty role and lifestyle with the politics thing (and yeah, a lot of that kind of  career is showboat.) Also great point about Lauren never talking to snap. I never thought about that. Interesting observation.

And you want to know what? They started filming their reality show today. Its most definitely a paying gig. And as others have mentioned, it's long hours. So, maybe it's not the "job" that people want and would admire for Lauren, but to my mind, Lauren is employed right now by Freeform. She just put in a day's work. Maybe she got holiday pay.  

Cool, well then I definitely was giving Ben too much respect. If they negotiated their contract then maybe they did get holiday pay. See moving to Denver was good, she might be able to enter the screen actors guild, something she hadn't gotten in LA. Go Denver! As always all is JMO.

I'm already falling asleep just thinking of them having their own show. Zzzzz.

I think it's a bit too much to expect reality shows like bachelor to bring out extraordinary people, who have talent, great career, etc going for them. The show doesn't even pay for the contestants, but operates on promise of some amount of fame, sm following and shilling. They take part of the show for a promise of the kind of life we then judge them for. Why would a person who has a great demanding career, that they studied for years for, leave that job for this show? It's like when Lauren was told by some IG commenter, that she's too skinny now, she needs to think about the young girls she's a role model for. Who on earth looks for role models from bachelor contestants?
IMO the show is for somewhat famewhorey young people who aren't necessarily that career focused at least yet. And IMO Ben is one of the biggest famewhores out there, he did 2 reality shows on his own, hoardes of interviews and is now entering his 3rd reality show, and possible politics, all very public things. It's IMO unfair to say that Lauren had to twist his arm to do this show, when there's no proof of that. Jmo.

Aww But Ben is such a nice/kind/good hearted/well meaning famewhore! I actually think out of the Bachelor contestants and people who've appeared on the show, he's in the top teir of quality individuals. Someone you could actually admire, or have the potential to admire. And I appreciate him wanting to use his famewhore ways for good, for meaning, going into public service. I think with time, he could thrive there. But yeah, I think he likes the attention. There is no way Lauren is twisting his arm here and making him do something he's totally opposed to.

Slightly OT, Trump is an exception but for a lot the entering the political ring is as much about a desire to help more than fame. Very few ever make it to the point of fame. Most local politicians simply work very hard at more than one job to try to make their communities better. This actually does fit with Ben's demonstrated desire to help others. Local politics is not something you get into to work less, you will almost always ending working harder and longer than ever before. @Kashathediva, with your dad's long experience with local politics would you say this is pretty accurate?

IMO, most on reality tv don't have the work ethic to be able to be successful in politics, you actually do have to do something not just sit around feeling entitled and looking good. Again, Trump is a different beast entirely, but one thing I would never accuse the man of is being afraid of hard work.

So the political thing to me doesn't equate with fame they way reality tv and selfie posting does. All JMO.

stuckinsc wrote:Slightly OT, Trump is an exception but for a lot the entering the political ring is as much about a desire to help more than fame. Very few ever make it to the point of fame. Most local politicians simply work very hard at more than one job to try to make their communities better. This actually does fit with Ben's demonstrated desire to help others. Local politics is not something you get into to work less, you will almost always ending working harder and longer than ever before.  @Kashathediva, with your dad's long experience with local politics would you say this is pretty accurate?

IMO, most on reality tv don't have the work ethic to be able to be successful in politics, you actually do have to do something not just sit around feeling entitled and looking good. Again, Trump is a different beast entirely, but one thing I would never accuse the man of is being afraid of hard work.

So the political thing to me doesn't equate with fame they way reality tv and selfie posting does.  All JMO.

Yes.  :Nod:
My dad started out on city council as a councilman. No pay. Night time meetings. As mayor--received $1/per year. 24/7 job many nighttime meetings. He maintained employment outside politics during this time. 
When he became city manager he was salaried. 
Of course, it goes without saying it's service and hard work. You have to love it.

Ben is a really nice famewhore and reality tv professional. I like him a lot. But he definitely is a famewhore, and in no way private or opposed to reality shows.

What I look for from bach couples is that they're nice people, kind, and not entitled, judgmental hypocrites. My bar is quite low, tbh. IMO I get that from Ben and Lauren. I loved following Lauren's posts about the cat she found, fed and checked on. That's the kind of kindness that I love. I appreciate Ben's work with the hope foundation. IMO they're both equally kind and nice people.

@stuckinsc, don't faint, I don't disagree with your post at all.

I just mean, to run for office, I think at any level, it takes a certain amount of bravado, a certain charisma, a certain amount of balls to put yourself out there and be front and center. It's not a bad thing; don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a bad quality. We need people in this world who have that in them. And totally agree with you about the local politics level, that's hard freaking work, dedication, with very little pay off, but even that requires some ability of showmanship, and as you rise in the ranks, I think the ability "showboat" gets more and more important.  I do think this is a quality Ben might have.

sosleepy wrote:@stuckinsc, don't faint, I don't disagree with your post at all.

I just mean, to run for office, I think at any level, it takes a certain amount of bravado, a certain charisma, a certain amount of balls to put yourself out there and be front and center. It's not a bad thing; don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a bad quality. We need people in this world who have that in them. And totally agree with you about the local politics level, that's hard freaking work, dedication, with very little pay off, but even that requires some ability of showmanship, and as you rise in the ranks, I think the ability "showboat" gets more and more important.  I do think this is a quality Ben might have.

I can agree with this completely. I always thought Hillary was the smarter of the Clintons and probably more committed to helping others (this dates back to a lot of hard work she did even in the 60s), not to start any kind of political who I support discussion. But Bill was the popular one because of his charisma even with the the probably sex addiction and overall smarminess. George W Bush was the same, there were times I thought he was barely competent to tie his own shoes, yet his charisma really resonated, while I think Jeb is highly intelligent and unfortunately has the charisma of a snail. So hard work counts for a lot, but charisma and charm are needed for the bigger steps. I never found Obama charming, so not sure about that one.

I totally agree with your analysis of both the Clintons and the Bush family. 100%, bang on. I do find Obama charming though, I think he has a lot of charisma, maybe not to the Bill level, but he's working it. JMO. Ok, off topic, and won't go further at all, because politics.

@fingersandtoes, I loved those snaps of Lauren and the cat! It's so apparent to me she has quite an affinity and gentle nature towards all animals. I think if she ever were to "pick a cause" or charity or whatever (and I don't personally think she has to for me to like her), but animal causes, animal shelters, adopt don't shop might be a good one for her!