Stephanie's Questions

[Stephanie Valencia]

Congratulations, guys. You both did a great job and I'm satisfied to come in third place against the two of you. Your respective styles—both in the game and now during questioning—are wildly different, and that makes it difficult to choose between you. Not too difficult, but difficult.

I'm not an utter narcissist so I won't pointlessly explain my strategies throughout the game (people can read my confessional next week, if it's of any interest), nor will I ask questions designed for you to pander to me or stroke my ego. Your answers to my questions will legitimately help me decide who I'm voting for, so honesty is the best policy.

GINA:

I would like for you to give me two concrete examples of the way your social game exerted influence over the development or outcome of the game. They can be from any point in the season and the particular events to which they relate can be major or minor at your discretion. I just want two more clear examples of your strategy in action. What was your thought process? How did you put it into action? What was the result?

PETE:

What did you originally write about Eddie during the Rites of Passage and what is the backstory that motivated you to write it? Do you believe in the idea that all is fair in the context of a game as long as it's within the rules? Or do you believe that certain events/actions, even if not expressly forbidden, can cross a certain line of decorum and/or decency? If so, did your comment cross that line?

Ultimately, what I'm looking for in both your answers is honesty, accountability, and a generally reasonable and realistic assessment of yourself. It's impossible to play a perfect game; to suggest that you've done so is off-putting and silly, and a jury can easily see through it. So tell us about your strengths and your successes, but be equally straight-up about your shortcomings as well.

I'm going to wait until all the questioning is over before casting my vote. Your opening statements and answers to my questions will bear most heavily on my decision but I'll be paying attention to your answers to the other jurors' questions as well. I'll cast my vote for the person with the soundest strategy, best overall performance in the game, and least contrived responses to jury questions.

Good luck to the both of you, and congratulations again!

[Pete Yurkowski]

What did you originally write about Eddie during the Rites of Passage

"I wish you would have died instead of your aunt. <3"

and what is the backstory that motivated you to write it?

The Backstory that motivated it: Me and him did not like each other. The day he voted me I confronted him about it, I told him, everybody told you voted for me, and he just kept lying and lying and lying, at the point where I just thought this guy seriously has a IQ of zero, or what? And that's where the dislike came from and that's the backstory.

Do you believe in the idea that all is fair in the context of a game as long as it's within the rules? Or do you believe that certain events/actions, even if not expressly forbidden, can cross a certain line of decorum and/or decency?

When I wrote at first, I didn't write it by meaning exactly that. Nobody wishes somebody else's death, that's just... kind of disturbing actually. I just felt like writing something mean about him and that's when I thought about writing it.

Is that within the rules, yes and no. I clearly felt in my head that day it was similar to Sue telling Kelly that had she passed by and saw her in the streets she would let her die starving sort of thing. I just made it harsher.

If so, did your comment cross that line?

I think it did, and that's why I deleted my comment myself once I realized it was too harsh for something I did not really mean for real.

I'm conscious I'm not the most self-aware person in the world but we're all different, I have my own downfalls and my own qualities and you have your own ones.

That could do me in, but again, anybody could see in me a part of them and end up voting me, really we never know. Everything you say in this game is a double sided sword. Good luck with your vote!

[Corinne Kaplan]

May 20, 2013 15:13:44 GMT -5 Stephanie Valencia said:

I'm not an utter narcissist so I won't pointlessly explain my strategies throughout the game (people can read my confessional next week, if it's of any interest), nor will I ask questions designed for you to pander to me or stroke my ego.

awwww, stephanie, so sweet of you. infinite <33333333

[Gina Crews]

So you think it's okay to wish death on someone who just had an actual death in the family all based on the fact he lied about voting you? o.O I can only imagine what you'd wish on the rest of us...

[Stephanie Valencia]

Pete, your question may have seemed loaded or biased but the reason that I asked is because I wanted to give you the chance to demonstrate some humility. You've approached this jury questioning like an insecure fifteen-year-old trying to show off his dick in a locker room. I'm glad you admitted that you crossed the line because what you wrote is disgusting. It's nothing like Sue's comment to Kelly, and even if it was, that's far from a justification. There isn't even a need to explain why what you said is wrong; it's so startlingly self-evident, I marvel at the fact that you thought, even for a moment, that it was okay. In any case, I wanted to give you the chance to rectify it and take responsibility for your actions, and you sort of did. It wasn't as penitent as it maybe should've been, but it's not like you're going into politics anytime soon, so I guess it isn't a big deal. Thanks for answering my question so promptly. Good luck with the vote and the rest of your answers.

[Gina Crews]

I would like for you to give me two concrete examples of the way your social game exerted influence over the development or outcome of the game. They can be from any point in the season and the particular events to which they relate can be major or minor at your discretion. I just want two more clear examples of your strategy in action. What was your thought process? How did you put it into action? What was the result?

My overall strategy was to observe and take advantage if & when the time comes. My social strategy was to be a Natalie White of sorts, but not quite as loyal. Get in with everyone, make genuine connections, be the ear people run to when they need someone to vent to or a vote to flip. This worked well for me because I was always the person in the middle and usually a deciding factor in votes.

F8. I had the choice to side with Pete/Crew to take out Kat or side with Natalie/Crew to take you out. I chose the way I did because I felt more comfortable in a F4 with people I knew how to handle rather than a F5 with people I did not. Nobody influenced my decision.

F7 & F5. Morgan & I had got together and agreed that we were sick of being lied to and used. We devised a F3 plan and worked Pete to make it happen. I later found myself in a position where I had to choose sides where you yourself had come to me about the vote. You knew how the vote was going and even offered me the chance. I was tempted to flip, but I chose to vote out Rob because he was a threat and I had already set his vote off in motion 2 rounds previously.

If I had chose differently on EITHER of those votes this finale would not be the same. The F8 decision would've flipped the entire game around. The F7/5 decision would've cost either Pete or myself the game (depending on how Rob would've handled it). Either way, my decisions impacted the outcome.

These are just 2 of the bigger things I did in this game. When I say I waited for opportunities to arise, that doesn't mean I sat on my ass and smiled. I was ALWAYS actively looking for new moves to make, new cracks to take advantage and more people to interact with. I made sure to ALWAYS have some form of alliance in place. When we swapped, I immediately went to Rafe, Brandon & Pete and asked for confirmation on us sticking together. I did the same thing each swap/team and even more in merge. I always made sure I had some form of numbers in every direction I went. And take advantage I did. Whether it be the above, striking a F3 deal with Brenda, letting Brandon go without a tie, creating individual alliances with nearly everyone, throwing challenges to the people I wanted to win, flipping on Boo, turning the tide on Morgan or even pushing why I'd be a better person to the end with Pete than you. I was ALWAYS in people ears.

In no way am I claiming to have had the best game or even the biggest impact of us all. Only that MY game worked for ME and it worked perfectly as I'm sitting here. I was not carried here. I never intentionally hurt anyone. I never made people feel like shit and I played this game in a way Pete did not. With humility. And that is how I will end it. I hope I answered satisfactory and I hope it was worthy of your vote.

[Pete Yurkowski]

Oh please, way to be dramatic.

edit: (to gina)

[Rafe Judkins]

I love it when Steph uses big words and long paragraphs <3

[Gina Crews]

Says the guy who spent the past day nit picking my every word, insulting me every step of the way. Focus on your own stuff sweety.

[Stephanie Valencia]

Thanks for also replying promptly, Gina. I remember the final five a little bit differently; I don't recall trying to get you to vote out Pete. In my conversations with you, I did very little sugar-coating; you came to me in the final five and I told you that I knew what was going on. I guess it's an inconsequential detail because Rob was about to be voted out anyway, but I thought it worthy to point out.

Thanks to both of you for answering. You've made my decision a little bit easier but I'll still hold off until the end before making up my mind. Good luck and great game.

[Gina Crews]

May 20, 2013 17:31:33 GMT -5 Stephanie Valencia said:

Thanks for also replying promptly, Gina. I remember the final five a little bit differently; I don't recall trying to get you to vote out Pete. In my conversations with you, I did very little sugar-coating; you came to me in the final five and I told you that I knew what was going on. I guess it's an inconsequential detail because Rob was about to be voted out anyway, but I thought it worthy to point out.

Thanks to both of you for answering. You've made my decision a little bit easier but I'll still hold off until the end before making up my mind. Good luck and great game.

I thought you had come to me about that vote, but I just checked my logs and you're right. I went to you. So my apologies.