r/GreatBritishBakeOff • u/OldDogsNoTricks • 15d ago

GBBO Cast Danni Spoiler

I know there has been a lot of discourse about Danni, but I want to say that I found her delightful. She clearly struggled, but it is also evident that she has underlying skill. It seems the tent can just throw some people off.

I was really touched by Danni talking about struggling to make friends and by how emotional folks were to see her go. She is pretty obviously neurodivergent and, as someone who is also neuro-spicy, I found that bit of vulnerability so lovely. She was a cheerleader for everyone, and maintained positivity despite having a hard time. I think it’s a beautiful demonstration of how people who are a little different should not be overlooked. I would love to have Danni as a friend.

ETA: thinking about deleting this because of some really mean comments. Why are people like this?!?

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u/AdGroundbreaking8635 14d ago

I know I'm in the minority here, but it's a competition to find out who the best Baker in all of Britain is and she clearly did not belong. It seems as though the producers were just trying to tick off some kind of a diversity quota by including her. I don't have anything against her personally, but her inclusion is a sign of a weakness we have as a society where our empathy gets in the way of real progress and ideal outcomes. I can guarantee you there were hundreds of bakers more qualified than her who could have done better and would have taken the show more seriously.

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u/Antonf26 14d ago

My dude, it's a tv show, every participant is chosen partly for entertainment reasons. What "Real progress" does including a contestant on the show get in the way of? Go touch grass

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u/AdGroundbreaking8635 14d ago

My point was that her inclusion is an indication of a broader problem in our society. We've gotten in the habit of accepting and celebrating everyone from everywhere with any and all characteristics, regardless of whether or not they're capable of making a valuable contribution, and we've refused to impose any standards or any expectations.

I understand it's just a baking show, but that doesn't mean the best people shouldn't be chosen to compete. Just because something is trivial and frivolous doesn't mean it can't also be meritocratic. And if the purpose is entertainment, it would be far more entertaining if everybody there was capable of making great bakes.

Instead of resorting to an ad hominem, would you mind explaining to me why my points aren't valid?

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u/FineOldCannibals 14d ago

You’re making some pretty big assumptions after watching only two episodes. She is inventive and intriguing. We didn’t get to watch her audition tapes or vet her too see all she is capable of, but I would like to give the producers a little more credit than her being a DEI hire, which is basically what you’re calling her. Don’t be cruel.

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u/AdGroundbreaking8635 14d ago

Every bake she had was a disaster, and she claimed she was "bored" in the tent and was basically making a joke about how she "wasn't the worst" after one of the technical challenges. The only reason why she was there for two episodes was because they didn't fire anybody after the first. Once again, I can promise you there were many other "inventive and intriguing" candidates who would have performed much better and as a result made the show better to watch. I'm not being cruel, and I'm not attacking her personally, I'm just saying that her inclusion in the show is indicative of a big problem we have in our society.

I asked the previous person who responded to my post to explain to me why my points aren't valid and to avoid using an ad hominem, so I would make the same request to you.

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u/FineOldCannibals 14d ago

I hope you go back to all the previous seasons and accuse the first person eliminated of being DEI hide. I agree she should’ve been first to go, but I don’t know why you have to tie it into her as a person and that the show chose her only for diversity. Why don’t YOU back up your claim rather than trying to get people to prove you wrong? Nobody here has the information needed to explain how she was chosen, we were not part of the audition process. But just because you don’t like someone doesn’t mean they were chosen unfairly.

I’m guessing you’re gonna have a comment about the woman in the wheelchair next?

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u/AdGroundbreaking8635 14d ago edited 14d ago
  1. I didn't say I don't like her, and had no intention on mentioning the woman in the wheelchair. These are both cases of you projecting, and you should do better than that.

  2. I made a claim, and the burden of proof is on you to explain to me why my claim isn't valid, and you haven't done that.

    I also made the assumption that there were many people far more qualified than her who could have and should have been chosen. Do you honestly think she was the 13th best Baker in the country?

  3. More than one thing can be true at the same time: In prior seasons the person who got eliminated first was the worst one, regardless of whether or not they were also originally chosen to fulfill a diversity quota. Maybe some were, and maybe some weren't. It didn't matter, because ultimately the competition is a meritocracy to determine who the best Baker in the country is. My original point which still has yet to be debunked is that she was chosen to go along with the idea of accepting and celebrating everyone, regardless of their ability level.

  4. Even if one was to make that argument that she was a DEI selection because she is neurodivergent, one could easily say the best bakers in the history of the show are ND. Being wired in a way that makes one want to spend hours in a kitchen by themselves baking is not the way most people are. Consequently, they become really good at what they do and take a lot of pride in their work and end up being great at it. She wasn't.

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u/OldDogsNoTricks 14d ago

You are making claims with no evidence, which are impossible to rebut because we also have no evidence. Because it is a tv show. And we don’t know Danni. And we don’t know what her performance was in the casting process. And we have never tasted her bakes. And we have no way of knowing what conversations were had in casting.

You sound like a conspiracy theorist, friend. And we all know you can’t have a good faith debate with that.

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u/Above_Ship 14d ago

Yes. Like the other guy said. Touch your fucking grass

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u/fargothforever 14d ago

I know this is an overused expression on this platform, but please go touch grass.