Why Fruit Loops are better than Trix (or Why Peter Should Not Have Been Voted Out)

David Bloomberg, our esteemed editor, writes a weekly column for RNO that examines why the week’s bootee was voted out (for example, this week’s was Why Peter Lost). Since I tend to root for the underdog, I decided that I would try to find redeeming qualities in whoever was booted and explain why I think it was the wrong choice and who should have gotten the boot instead.

Two things I will not talk about: Good reasons why the bootee was booted (David covers that) and videotaped evidence that shows the bootee making a stumble that did or did not affect the outcome of the challenge. I watch the show like the general audience; I do not record it and watch frame by frame. I watch it one time on its first run and then sit down to write this column. This means that I might make minor factual mistakes on some of the side issues and I apologize ahead of time for that. It also means that I do not have time to sleep on it, and as you all know, things look different after a good nights sleep.

So let's get on with it. David told you why Peter was booted out. But was he the right choice? According to a poll on AOL, 75% of viewers thought he was. But Peter had it right. His overall strategy was the correct one to win Survivor and go into the merge with a good solid team. Prior to the merge you vote off the weakest and try to streamline your team to a lean mean fighting machine. Peter was strong. He swam along the boat with Hunter rather than sitting. He tried to help Rob catch the rooster for food. He nearly single-handedly got the team's fire started because of his ability to breathe deeply, and he knew when it was time to sit back and chill out with Sean.

I question whether or not the five people who tossed him ever watched a previous Survivor. Peter was a strong, hardworking guy who was willing to do whatever it took physically to help his team. He was an asset to his team and his only flaw seems to be that he is enlightened. He chooses to tell the truth openly, he suffers from (Lex) van den Berghe Disorder.

What happens the next time the fire goes out? Will they be able to get it going again without a huge effort on their part? Peter's yoga breathing lit the quickest Survivor fire ever. Voting Off Peter was not the smartest thing to do, but Rob, who was my early favorite to win it all, does not have much in the way of worldly knowledge. His mocking of Peter and Sean praying and calling Peter "Fruit Loops" for explaining yoga was telling of his ignorance.

So who should they have voted out? Sarah, without a doubt. To initially show her personality by not doing anything to move the raft and acting like "Cleopatra" (Sean's name for her), standing while everyone pulled the raft to shore was a huge mistake. Immediately hooking up with Rob and hogging the most comfortable "bed" was another big mistake. I think Sarah will make Jerri and Lindsey look like angels before the merge comes to pass – if she lasts that long.

Patricia (Corn Flakes) would have been another choice, but there was nothing that immediately stood out about her actions that screamed "loser." The tribe should have gotten rid of Sarah (Trix) immediately and then if Patricia was really weak, she could have been voted out the next time.

Hunter (Captain Crunch), Gina (Granola), Vee (Cocoa Pebbles), Sean (Puffed Wheat). and eventually Rob (Wheaties) all seemed to be working hard.

One thing that seems extremely unfair, and it may be that the Maraamu tribe simply has not discovered theirs, is one tribe has a waterfall and the other does not. This could turn into a distinct unfair advantage. To have an abundance of water and a place to swim and bathe will do wonders for Rotu.

We will have to wait and see whether or not the loss of a strong guy will affect Maraamu, but the longer they keep dead weight around the less likely it is they will recover.

Peggy Keller is Mother and Behavior Therapist to her two autistic sons and teenage daughter.

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