[James]

And I'm sure I would have won the freaking gif challenge if I didn't typo Raft for Rat in the first answer got me 7/10 and I had the answers posted at just about the 10 minute mark.

[Paul]

I get that criticism, exploiting personal feelings and I take it in stride, you're right. I even knew when doing the Stephanie thing tonight (which is true by the way, the girl is taking the game hard...you can just tell) that it was like "yeah...this one isn't my best moves". I wouldn't say my intent was to paint James as a bully, but a dictator. If it come off as trying to paint him as a bully I want to apologize because that wasn't the intent. The line between the two can be thin I guess but I don't want to ever be like "He's a bully!". As I recall it, and I could be misremembering, I approached you, talked about how he was dictating the game and that Sydney going next made me uncomfortable...which was true. But I did see the opportunity in using his play style against him there. I remember a specific moment in the post challenge scramble where everyone was losing their minds and you were genuinely my voice of clarity. I credit you with the Morgan move because I was ready to vote for Sydney after all that and you just laid it out really succinctly to the point where I felt like you essentially laid out the dynamics you thought were out work and how Morgan leaving would affect them vs. Sydney and I agreed. Maybe that wasn't your intent but that was how I interpreted it and went with it.

I apologize I didn't mean actual bully. I meant dictator like you said. I wasn't saying I didn't either it was just your earlier statement of "morgan is paul's fault" is true but it's also because it hurt james which is something we both were trying to make happen. That's all I meant. Mike definitely never disparaged James in any actual way. 

Oh yeah, I also want to make it clear in jury too now that there's no way you all can doubt me. The King and Queen Duo was never a thing. That Morgan vote truly didn't hurt me in the game in the way you all were anticipating. I don't think I would have necessarily ever voted for her but we weren't playing "together" per say.

I think Morgan and I maybe talked game once the entire season lol. Most of our DM's were mostly just banter lmao.

Well like I said to Mike, what really matters is perspective at the end of the day. It looked like you two were close it looked like it would hurt you. Does it really matter if it's the truth if you're getting someone out that isn't you? 

[Mike]

Okay man. I mean you did that multiple times. Saying how personal you felt about the stephanie thing. That was your move, trying to make people connect with you on a personal level to feel safe. It's a move, not one I would make, but it is. Hey man it's a game. But don't deny that's totally what you did. you painted James to be a bully. 

I get that criticism, exploiting personal feelings and I take it in stride, you're right. 

The one thing I will say about this though. Let me preface this with two things. 1. I don't think this is actually what you were doing. and 2. It's not like I expected us to do weekly zoom calls haha. But anyway, what I will say is: for the sake of other people's mental health. There are ways to exploit emotional feelings without bringing in deeply personal things. Like you saying, "because of that convo we had I just feel so close to you". Referring to a convo where I unloaded some deep shit on you. Turning that around to make me feel close to you can be a bit messy and leave people feeling a bit fucked with. You're gonna get fucked with in these games but it doesn't have to be like that. You just as easily could have connected our love for nerdy shit and called us nerd bros. But referring back to our deep convo as a reason why you wouldn't make a move against me is, in my opinion, a bit much. I still have much love for you, this comes from a good place. Just felt like it needed said. 

Yeah I talk about it in one of my confessional where I knew where we went with our conversations - which were authentic by the way, I meant everything I said about the connection there man - was going to make for a heartbreaking moment for me in the season when I had to take you out. It wasn't done lightly. I had so many people who claimed allegiance to me in this game and I was really hoping to have the narrative of choosing between Hali and Steph at the end because I love those girls and it would have been dramatic as fuck.

But back to you point, it's crossing a line and I didn't feel good about it. I'm a very personable person who likes to be interested instead of interesting. I invest deeply in people, everyone - even James can attest that we talked about lots of stuff that we connected on that was unexpected.

I take the criticism on the chin because it's a fair criticism. It's not like we're playing for a million dollars. So yeah, I'll express it constantly that I am truly sorry for that to you of all people because we went to the most personal place out of anyone else in this game for me.

[Paul]

I get that criticism, exploiting personal feelings and I take it in stride, you're right. 

The one thing I will say about this though. Let me preface this with two things. 1. I don't think this is actually what you were doing. and 2. It's not like I expected us to do weekly zoom calls haha. But anyway, what I will say is: for the sake of other people's mental health. There are ways to exploit emotional feelings without bringing in deeply personal things. Like you saying, "because of that convo we had I just feel so close to you". Referring to a convo where I unloaded some deep shit on you. Turning that around to make me feel close to you can be a bit messy and leave people feeling a bit fucked with. You're gonna get fucked with in these games but it doesn't have to be like that. You just as easily could have connected our love for nerdy shit and called us nerd bros. But referring back to our deep convo as a reason why you wouldn't make a move against me is, in my opinion, a bit much. I still have much love for you, this comes from a good place. Just felt like it needed said. 

Yeah I talk about it in one of my confessional where I knew where we went with our conversations - which were authentic by the way, I meant everything I said about the connection there man - was going to make for a heartbreaking moment for me in the season when I had to take you out. It wasn't done lightly. I had so many people who claimed allegiance to me in this game and I was really hoping to have the narrative of choosing between Hali and Steph at the end because I love those girls and it would have been dramatic as fuck.

But back to you point, it's crossing a line and I didn't feel good about it. I'm a very personable person who likes to be interested instead of interesting. I invest deeply in people, everyone - even James can attest that we talked about lots of stuff that we connected on that was unexpected.

I take the criticism on the chin because it's a fair criticism. It's not like we're playing for a million dollars. So yeah, I'll express it constantly that I am truly sorry for that to you of all people because we went to the most personal place out of anyone else in this game for me.

Takes a mature person to just say, "yep, oops." and for that reason you don't have anything to worry about from me. Ol Paulie just had his widdle feelings hurt and needed to stand up for himself haha.

But no and like I said I know you weren't malicious about it and even if you did use them for game I still know they were real. WHAT WE HAD WAS REAL! Nah pleasure meeting you and I can't wait for us to return to all-stars ;) haha

[James]

I apologize I didn't mean actual bully. I meant dictator like you said. I wasn't saying I didn't either it was just your earlier statement of "morgan is paul's fault" is true but it's also because it hurt james which is something we both were trying to make happen. That's all I meant. Mike definitely never disparaged James in any actual way. 

Oh yeah, I also want to make it clear in jury too now that there's no way you all can doubt me. The King and Queen Duo was never a thing. That Morgan vote truly didn't hurt me in the game in the way you all were anticipating. I don't think I would have necessarily ever voted for her but we weren't playing "together" per say.

I think Morgan and I maybe talked game once the entire season lol. Most of our DM's were mostly just banter lmao.

Well like I said to Mike, what really matters is perspective at the end of the day. It looked like you two were close it looked like it would hurt you. Does it really matter if it's the truth if you're getting someone out that isn't you? 

It does for the end game. If Mike would have made F2 and tried to take credit for that move, do you think either Morgan or I would vote for him simply on that fact alone? I can't speak for Morgan but I sure as hell wouldn't because it's simply just not the case. He would think took a shot at my other half in the game but really didn't means terrible game awareness. Now if he would have twisted it around and said he did that to get me out because I or Morgan were seen as  perceived individual threats? Then yeah maybe i would consider voting for him to win.

Realistically, i just know some of you were probably acting smug as hell after the move so I just wanted to clear the air lol.

[Mike]

Well props to you Mike for painting me as a dictator, truly don't understand what exact examples you used as persuasion but it worked lmao. I guess it didn't take much to get Steph on board THAT train lol.

 

So I called out early in the game that I was way too dogmatic last time and you were just doing small things that told me you were committing to your information too much. Really small ways in the way you would speak that made it easy for me to redirect attention at you. And I only noticed it because I did it last game myself

[Paul]

Oh yeah, I also want to make it clear in jury too now that there's no way you all can doubt me. The King and Queen Duo was never a thing. That Morgan vote truly didn't hurt me in the game in the way you all were anticipating. I don't think I would have necessarily ever voted for her but we weren't playing "together" per say.

I think Morgan and I maybe talked game once the entire season lol. Most of our DM's were mostly just banter lmao.

Well like I said to Mike, what really matters is perspective at the end of the day. It looked like you two were close it looked like it would hurt you. Does it really matter if it's the truth if you're getting someone out that isn't you? 

It does for the end game. If Mike would have made F2 and tried to take credit for that move, do you think either Morgan or I would vote for him simply on that fact alone? I can't speak for Morgan but I sure as hell wouldn't because it's simply just not the case. He would think took a shot at my other half in the game but really didn't means terrible game awareness. Now if he would have twisted it around and said he did that to get me out because I or Morgan were seen as  perceived individual threats? Then yeah maybe i would consider voting for him to win.

Realistically, i just know some of you were probably acting smug as hell after the move so I just wanted to clear the air lol.

Well you are the expert on smug

[James]

Well props to you Mike for painting me as a dictator, truly don't understand what exact examples you used as persuasion but it worked lmao. I guess it didn't take much to get Steph on board THAT train lol.


 

So I called out early in the game that I was way too dogmatic last time and you were just doing small things that told me you were committing to your information too much. Really small ways in the way you would speak that made it easy for me to redirect attention at you. And I only noticed it because I did it last game myself

It's called pretending to be confident lmao. There's a reason why they say that "all you need is confidence and people will believe what you say/believe you're in the right spot" (see the kid at the Game Awards for example, blended right in lol) so I assumed that would have worked well in Survivor lmao.

Im just an honest/no bullshit kind of person so I guess that comes off very weird in a game like this where lying is the norm.

[James]

Well like I said to Mike, what really matters is perspective at the end of the day. It looked like you two were close it looked like it would hurt you. Does it really matter if it's the truth if you're getting someone out that isn't you? 

It does for the end game. If Mike would have made F2 and tried to take credit for that move, do you think either Morgan or I would vote for him simply on that fact alone? I can't speak for Morgan but I sure as hell wouldn't because it's simply just not the case. He would think took a shot at my other half in the game but really didn't means terrible game awareness. Now if he would have twisted it around and said he did that to get me out because I or Morgan were seen as  perceived individual threats? Then yeah maybe i would consider voting for him to win.

Realistically, i just know some of you were probably acting smug as hell after the move so I just wanted to clear the air lol.

Well you are the expert on smug

[Paul]

Just messin with ya. Clearly I don't know what I'm talking about I'm here too. Paul is always here for a good time, not a long time. Mission accomplished. 
 

[James]

I need to keep up my villain persona for the cameras. 

[Mike]

Oh yeah, I also want to make it clear in jury too now that there's no way you all can doubt me. The King and Queen Duo was never a thing. That Morgan vote truly didn't hurt me in the game in the way you all were anticipating. I don't think I would have necessarily ever voted for her but we weren't playing "together" per say.

I think Morgan and I maybe talked game once the entire season lol. Most of our DM's were mostly just banter lmao.

Well like I said to Mike, what really matters is perspective at the end of the day. It looked like you two were close it looked like it would hurt you. Does it really matter if it's the truth if you're getting someone out that isn't you? 

It does for the end game. If Mike would have made F2 and tried to take credit for that move, do you think either Morgan or I would vote for him simply on that fact alone? I can't speak for Morgan but I sure as hell wouldn't because it's simply just not the case. He would think took a shot at my other half in the game but really didn't means terrible game awareness. Now if he would have twisted it around and said he did that to get me out because I or Morgan were seen as  perceived individual threats? Then yeah maybe i would consider voting for him to win.

Realistically, i just know some of you were probably acting smug as hell after the move so I just wanted to clear the air lol.

Like I said before, the plan was to own the mistake of targeting you, not the actual move itself. I'd own getting Morgan indirectly killed but the idea was "I fucked up but I made a massive game adjustment and here I am". I also really highlighted that the blindside came off the "dogmatic" stuff you did more than anything. It's all in the confs but I'm tired haha

[James]

Well Michelle is my new favourite. From first boot to King of the Losers would be an awesome story to tell.

[Paul]

I need to keep up my villain persona for the cameras. 

Speaking of when are you guys going to leave my house?

[James]

Well Michelle is my new favourite. From first boot to King of the Losers would be an awesome story to tell.

I guess I should have said Queen huh? Oh well its 1 AM leave me alone.

[Mike]

For the crowd when they show up later - any predictions on tonight? 

I feel like if Michelle wins it's gotta be a Hali/Steph boot here and it puts her in a great spot to finish it out. Would love to see Hali or Steph win for the drama of it but I'm not entirely convinced Voce or Sydney realize that Michelle is marching to an easy win if she stays so even if Michelle wins, not sure if her boot is guaranteed (but they'd be crazy not to).

[James]

Won't be missing tonight!

[Mike]

For the crowd when they show up later - any predictions on tonight? 

I feel like if Michelle wins it's gotta be a Hali/Steph boot here and it puts her in a great spot to finish it out. Would love to see Hali or Steph win for the drama of it but I'm not entirely convinced Voce or Sydney realize that Michelle is marching to an easy win if she stays so even if Michelle wins, not sure if her boot is guaranteed (but they'd be crazy not to).

meant to say even if Michelle loses but I guess Michelle and winning are synonymous with each other right now so whoops.

[Mike]

Really fun looking challenge. Also seems in Michelle's wheel house for what we've seen from her so far. Should be a good one.

[James]

LOOOOOOL Steph fucked it.

Forgot the first shape.