So what did you think about Scott Cam fining Dan and Dani $1,000 for breaking the rules and using power tools after the noise curfew was in place? Do you think it was harsh? Not harsh enough? Do you think they were cheating or breaking the rules? I got in quite a discussion about this …
So what did you think about Scott Cam fining Dan and Dani $1,000 for breaking the rules and using power tools after the noise curfew was in place?
Do you think it was harsh? Not harsh enough?
Do you think they were cheating or breaking the rules? I got in quite a discussion about this on twitter last night. Are we branding them as cheaters or rule breakers?
If you were in the same situation what would YOU have done (regardless if there was a camera on you or not)?
I asked Dan and Dani what they thought about it last night. They were travelling whilst the show was airing (which was probably a good thing as social media was very unkind), but they wrote to me late last night saying they felt pretty awful about the whole thing. I’ll ask them to come over here on my blog today and comment if they can.
I’ll weigh in on this subject later today, but would love to hear your thoughts first before I do…
…
Dani emailed me and this is what she said (I have her permission to publish this):
Dan and I watched the episode in full this morning so we could bring ourselves up to speed with what everyone watched last night. We are both strong characters and had no problems admitting that we had done the wrong thing, although I think the difference with cheating and breaking the rules is that cheating tends to be done in secret or hidden from people and we made no attempt to hide what we were doing and freely admitted to it. I think at the time we were mostly disappointed that our neighbours had kept their feelings to themselves rather than come and express their concerns as I know that both Dan and I would have if it was another team struggling, but that is beside the point.
The Block is such an extraordinary situation that you often find yourself saying and doing things that you would never normally say or do, but I am not using that as an excuse for our behavior in this scenario as we knew that what we were doing was a violation of council noise restrictions and The Block rules. At the time however, we only considered the fine side of things and not the possibility of losing work on a Saturday, which as Lara stated was “selfish”….and it definitely was.
A lot of people are commenting that Dan and I think we have our own set of rules. I don’t believe this is an accurate take on things as we were not the only ones to go over noise cut off times that week whether it be at The Block or not, and whether its 5 minutes or 5 hours (which admittedly is much worse) it’s still a rule breaker and therefore we broke the rules on a number of occasions that week.
We discussed for a long time what we would do if we had won; would we donate the money to charity, split it evenly between the other teams, give the whole prize to the team that got second place or keep it for ourselves, however lucky we didn’t have to make that decision. The best team won fair and square, well done Brad and Lara!!
It’s difficult reading the more personal comments regarding mine and Dan’s personalities because as you well know people are basing their opinions on a small amount of footage from each day that is often the most dramatic. People that have met us have had only nice things to say and have encouraged us for the rest of the competition. As the old saying goes “You should never judge a book by it’s cover”. Now this doesn’t mean that I am an angel but we both take pride in our honesty and willingness to help others, however I am also guilty of judging characters on reality TV programs without thinking or realising that what I am watching is a snippet of someones day and life who is currently in the most unusual of circumstances.
Anyway I could go on forever about this, but it doesn’t change the fact that what Dan and I did was wrong and if we had our time over would definitely go about things differently.
…
UPDATED 3PM:
Here is what I think:
To say that I felt sorry for Dan and Dani last night was an understatement. I really did. I’ve walked the walk so I know exactly how they are feeling.
I can guarantee you that at the time (remember the show is not live) they were feeling a bit yucky about it, copped the fine and then moved on. I bet the rest of the contestants moved on too.
But as they wake up today, it’s like reliving a bad dream. They’d be shaking their heads and wondering why people are so serious about it. To them, the event was probably minor in the whole scheme of things. There is a lot of drama on The Block and this was probably just another day for them.
When Amie and I had our main bathroom dramas (with a tradie we sacked) and we thought we weren’t going to finish, it was a 24 hour drama. Stressful at the time, but over in the blink of an eye.
But parts of this drama have me wondering… Dan and Dani MUST have known they would have been fined/punished. They knew they would NOT be disqualified. They had to have known that.
Why do I say that?
It’s a tv show. Camera’s followed their every move, they would have known camera’s were asking the other contestants to comment on the noise, and they obviously still ran with it.
IF they were going to be disqualified I know they wouldn’t have gone through with the noise.
I know exactly where they are in ‘the game’… about halfway through, they’ve settled in to a routine, they are becoming friends with the camera guys, soundo’s and producers. You start to forget you’re making tv and you just settle in. This is where you can come unstuck. This is probably WHY Dan thought it was ok to break the rules – a bit of a laugh was had at the time, who will really care, oh I forgot I’m making tv…. This is what makes AWESOME tv though.
So this is where I stand…
At the time of the drama, they would have known there was a fine, they would have made a decision to cop the fine no matter what and their priority was to give it everything they’ve got. This is a game. Not real life.
If there were going to be serious issues from real neighbours it would have been dealt with and they would have stopped. But obviously there wasn’t.
I’m not sticking up for what they did. I do think if I was up against them I would have been really ticked off too. It wasn’t fair or good sportsmanship. I thought Dan and Dani would have known from last years series the audience can be so unkind, so let’s not give them any reason to hate us…
But I know, in their mind, they wanted to give everything within their power to get that room done. I have no idea how they fell behind, maybe I missed that? But the reality is, they weren’t going to finish… and they knew they had a good bathroom and desperately wanted to win.
They have been dealt a harder punishment from the Australian public than any $1,000 fine from Scott Cam. They’ll be forever known as cheaters and will find that hard to get around.
I can’t wait to see how the rest of the show unfolds and whether the other contestants alienate Dan and Dani now. I really hope they don’t. If they do, that shows bad sportsmanship on their part too. Anyone who personally attacks Dan and Dani though needs to get a serious grip. It’s tv, it’s edited and it’s not REAL. I will defend them as ‘people’ right until the end. Their little hiccup may not have been the best decision, but they’re still human.
It’s a game. And no one knows what will happen at the end of this game.
Amie and I sold our house for ZERO profit. Would we do it again knowing there was no prize? Absolutely!
Run with it people, be kind and move on. It’s only a game!
How good is this show?
…
So now, what do YOU think?
I’m so glad Dan and Dani ‘owned it’. Good on them. Onwards and upwards!
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Comments
Suzie
They shouldn’t have done it but why should the other teams go talk to them about what they are doing. They did something wrong and need to “own it”!
As for the rest of the show, love it although I think Scott shouldn’t reveal any scores and ask who wants to use their 1 point ( a bit like survivor). Showing 2 of the points last week gave D and D the idea to use the point and that won them the room. I think you have to risk the point and not have half your score there showing. Some you win some you lose.
All the girls whinge a lot though (maybe editing!) but all they do is shop and complain…get in there and get renovating girls instead of crying and running to the shops..you make women look weak.
Eli
They new the rules before they started yes it is only a game but they didnt play fair, they didnt win the room which i am completely happy with.
When you go into this game people are going to have opinions of you, everybody knows that before they go into it.
When the show is over everything will be forgotten.
A-M
Brilliant summation. You know the drum. I can’t believe the venom over it all. This is what made me sick watching you last year, the social media roasting… over every little thing…. and I see the same tweeters abusing this years contestants in the same way they abused you… not knowing you/them or knowing anything about the behind the scenes reality. Everyone needs to move on now! A-M xx PS I still can’t believe you didn’t get a cent? for anything? for expenses? for time away from work? even jury duty pays more. …. but I suppose they only made $40 million plus in advertising… tight budget and all. At least you won them a Logie…. you ‘knucklehead’ (Ref: Scott Cam, TV Week Logies, on stage, acceptance speech, 2012). A-M xx
Katrina
You’re a crack up! Made my day! Lol!
Ez
I would say “rule breakers” not cheaters. They didnt have some secret that helped them win, they just wanted to finish off their room like everybody else.
x
Suzanne Hanssen
I Dan and Danni should’ve been docked $1000 AND 1 point. The other couple had to use their bonus point to ensure their win and,as it turned out they didn’t need to and that’s not fair. I believe it’s cheating and yes they deliberately broke the rules and then managed to look pretty smug about it. Maybe reality TV is only a snapshot of life on The Block and editing can be cruel however they knew all that going in. Tears and tissues notwithstanding how can they complain about being “ganged up on” or speak for others as to what they would do or NOT do.
jodie
just watched the episode i must say i think that what they did is wrong they knew what they were doing was wrong but they did it anyway and if they didnt care about coping the fine then why not just do it at the house….. And really if Dani had just used the wallpaper she had bought to do that wall then there wouldnt have been an issue at all but instead she changed her mind probably not the smartest thing to do
Sheena
You’re referring to the wrong wall. The wall paper was meant for the wall that now has the white tiles.
Kim
I don’t think Dani was sorry and Lara was right it was selfish. Dan was,he is genuine. They should have been disqualified.
But I don’t think we should attack people over a t.v show.
Katrina
Firstly, I’m a huge fan of yours Katrina (I’m also a Katrina), loved you on the show and your blog… Now that my stalker status has been established…..
I feel sorry for them that they have been hung out to dry by the show for the sake of ratings, and let’s face it, it made a damn good show. I dont think they realised at the time that it was as bad, or would LOOK (or be portrayed) as bad as it was. I absolutely think it is cheating in the fact that it gives them an advantage over the others who didn’t break the rules. Other contestants may have been able to finish their rooms to a different standard or saved money on trades if they chose to use power tools into the night. Other contestants made sacrifices to get it done on time, D&D didn’t.
The penalty didn’t reflect the advantage they got (being able to finish the room which they almost won) and it didn’t reflect what it ended up costing brad & Lara. If D&D were disqualified like I believe they should have been, then I doubt B & L would have played their bonus point. If they lose next week by half a point, then it’s almost as though D&D’s rule break cost them $1000 but could cost B&L $5000 (yes I’m drawing a long bow here but it’s there)
In summary- no surprises to see they are wishing they had never done it. It was very wrong and certainly deserved disqualification from that round but everyone needs to just relax a little and pull back on the personal attacks. Good luck to all of them for the rest of the competition!
Happyeverafterbride
All things taken into cosideration, they broke the rules of a game and created an unfair advantage to the other players. If they had won, it would seriously have been unfair because they didn’t play by the rules. You would remember the budget issues you were dealing with, but for them to spend so much on each room, and then at the end of the show, will they fetch a much higher profit because they keep winning? I don’t know the answers. But I loved both their bathroom as well as Brad and Lara’s. Given the circumstances, Brad and Lara deserved the prize money so much more last night. I don’t like thinking ill of nice people so I will just leave it at that.
Toni
To be honest, I love Dani and Dan. Yes, we all know that they broke the rules but hey everyone does once in a while. And besides they wanted to finish their room, everyone should cut them some slack! Remember Channel 9 only shows us what they want to show us and at the moment they seem to be portraying Dan and Dani as some horrible monsters! Even though i have never met either of them, i know that in reality they would be amazing people. So everyone just give them a break.
Ed
Ok… Officially forgiven. Although I was suspected it was a beat of a beat up for the ratings…
.
julienne
I wonder how many viewers there would be if all four couples were sweet and generous and non competitive!
I wonder how many little nods are given quietly from the sidelines for behaviour that is not quite right!
This is entertainment and in this day and age entertainment has to be exciting and controversial it is just a pity that the producers (in the stretch for publicity and viewers) have allowed two young people, fighting to win, to become the butt of unpleasant and malicious social media!!!!!
Mrs V
$1000 fine was not enough we’ve seen this couple spend 3 times that on linen.. It’s just one less cushion on the lounge in their eyes… I am glad they didn’t win the room, and they certainly would have taken the $5k. Dani even complained she couldn’t do what she wanted in the next room because they didn’t win… So saying they would have split it/donated I think is an after thought…
The Panda
“This is a game. Not real life”.
True but games also bring out the worst in people. It shows a lot about a persons integrity and character. Despite the fact that they’ve broken the rules (not cheated in a sense although that could be open to interpretation seeing as though no one else could use power tools …) was there any due consideration given to not only those on The Block but also surrounding residents trying to get a nights sleep who are not involved in this game?
Kudos to Dani and Dan for coming out and making a statement through this site. We have certainly all made mistakes but it’s what we do afterwards that define us.
littlemissairgap
I’m not so sure Dan & Dani “owned” their mistake because Dani is playing the victim in her email response by saying the others should have come and seen them about the noise they were making. Um … no! Why should anyone have to get up in the middle of the night to ask you to stop your dog barking or to turn the party music down or to not use an angle grinder at 1am? Common courtesy & decency is what’s missing in a lot of people today & it seems that for many, it’s the courteous & decent people’s job to remind & reprimand those who feel the compelling need to be right, satisfy themselves or win at the expense & comfort of others.
Kellie
I think people forget it is a reality tv show and obviously we only get to see small snippets & only the dramas – that’s what makes it a great show to watch. I love the drama’s but do not judge any of the contestants on how they may come across on TV & I don’t think any of us have the right to judge their decisions as we aren’t them and don’t know what was like to walk in their shoes. Goodluck to all of them, such a tough show to be part of!!!
Ali
I realse it is a show! And networks edit to suit their own needs for ratings however – they did cheat regardless of what they say, and they went on a reality show knowing they would be watched and judged by the public. I don’t want my sons to see that type of behavior and think it is ok if you don’t get caught or the reason is important enough stuff the consequences.
Danni said no one came to them, but I am sure they showed Dale coming to them earlier regarding working past curfew, the thing that annoyed me the most though we’re the tears……it was all fun and stuff the rules until there was a reaction to the behavior. They should lose points for every hour after or part there of, if they work after curfew and cop the fine.
Ali
Just to clarify when I say they should lose points for each hour, I mean all contestants not just Dan and Danni.
If a contestant runs out of time it should just be too bad deal with it and manage time better next time, everyone gets given equal time to finish right?
Michelle Hayward
It seems to me that some of these reactions are very strong. It’s as if people need to find reasons to be infuriated and incensed. This is why the world is a mess… We’re all human and we all make mistakes, but everyone NEEDS to feed of that anger and that fans the flames more! Instead of just looking at a situation (which happened weeks ago now) and saying ‘Well that didn’t go well…’ and moving on, everyone gets up in arms. Do we get up in arms because it’s 2012 and people are starving in third world countries, do we fight for children or wives who are beaten, do we get so emotional when our utilities go through the roof and our politicians let us down. No…we rant over a ‘reality tv program’ which I am not even convinced is THAT REAL! It’s TV people, how real can it be! When will you learn the media manipulates to suit it’s own needs, you see what they want you to see. I LOVE the Block! I will continue to watch it, just as I always have…but seriously, it’s all done to sensationalise everything and to get you talking. It’s called FREE publicity and you’re giving it more air time by being so INFURIATED. It’s amazing to me that something like this can evoke such strong emotions. Must be nothing else important going on in the world!
I agree with Katrina, for what it’s worth. That’s my comment in a nutshell!
Paul
Use of Power Tools after Hours. D & D did the wrong thing, but another coouple’s builder (I remember) took work offsite and used power tools. The builder had a workshop or space that was not in the suburbs or church yard. Now – nothing was made of that! Does this mean – IF you set up an off-site work place, that you could power tool your work at any time to complete a room…without Cam jumping all over you?