<p>I loathe Jon and Kate. They’ve just bought a $1.3million dollar home and a condo in Park City, Utah. Yet, they continue to visit churches on an almost weekly basis with their hands out collecting $25K speaking fees and passing the collection basket at each speaking engagement. They also charge $20 for each photo. They claim they need money for the children’s college funds and their retirement. Since when is it up to the general public to support this family? Have their heard of getting jobs???</p>
<p>Cat119 where did you hear about the Utah home? I haven’t heard that yet - are you sure it’s not confused with the new Penn home???</p>
<p>No, there is also a new condo in Park City!! There was a video interview with Jon a couple of weeks ago on some site (sorry I can’t remember, but it was with a local Utah reporter). It is in the same housing community where Jon and Kate took the freebie ski vacation with all of the kids in tow for the tv show. Gag. Anyway, Jon loved it there so much he apparently bought a condo so he can go on his own or with Cara (his words) and hang out with 15 year olds (also his words) and ski and snowboard. This guy has never grown up. It is sickening to me how much this family has been given and they make no attempt to give back or even say thank you.</p>
<p>It’s true. They’ve purchased a condo at The Canyons village.</p>
<p>I have no issues with them earning money so that the family can have a good life and enough for college educations for the kids. What I think is sad about the situation is two-fold. First, the alienation of family members when they don’t do what Kate thinks they should and, second, the possible ill-effects on these children of the constant and total exposure to the public. Do they ever interact with other kids? Have friends over? It doesn’t seem so, from what we can see, and now with the move to another town, and to a secluded property, they will be even more isolated.</p>
<p>^ I am not sure this is so bad. If you already have eight same age playmates, do you really need more friends? Especially at this age. The older girls from what I saw in some episodes do have outside friends.
I’m sure we only see a very sliced and diced and packaged part of their lives.</p>
<p>I know lots of friends who grew up on farms. They mostly played with their family. They seem pretty well adjusted to me. I agree with the other poster who suggests that there are lots of childhoods, most are fine even if they aren’t our idea of them. </p>
<p>Do those who feel what they do is morally wrong not feel also a bit guilty watching the show at all? By watching it, aren’t you in some way supporting it?</p>
<p>from the little reading I did do, it seems as if one of the issues people have with the show, is exploitation of the children. Supposedly, child labor laws do not apply to children in the entertainment business. In California, they’ve enacted their own labor laws to protect those children, but Pennsylvania has no such laws (again, I got this from very brief reading I did). I can certainly understand that point of contention.</p>
<p>My wife watches it, I refuse except to hurl the occasional epithet at the television screen. Typically when they come on I turn on my zune and either read or grade papers.</p>
<p>“Since when is it up to the general public to support this family?”</p>
<p>If people are foolish enough to give them money, IMHO they’d be fools not to take it.</p>
<p>I find both of them annoying at times, but the kids are adorable. I also don’t like how Mady is painted as the evil, drama queen. It only encourages her to live up to it. However, it does seem like a “real” reality show, warts and all. </p>
<p>Michelle Duggar, OTOH, gives me the creeps. There is very little that seems like “normal” behavior on that show.</p>
<p>Tango14 I totally agree with you about the Duggar family. They are just too darn happy and I have yet to see her angry with one of her kids. And what about the oldest one who just got married? I happened to see the episode a while back when they were courting and made the pact of no kissing until marriage. Oh and they had to have another person with them whenever they went on a date. That is just strange to me…nothing wrong with their choices just a little different.</p>
<p>ok… just heard the family in California already has six children, including two sets of twins!</p>
<p>Someone is quoting the “National Enquirer” … are you kidding me???</p>
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<p>OMG, is is true!?!?!? Dick and Jane Plus 2 singles, 2 sets of twins, and octuplets. TLC will be just salivating over that one. I cannot even imagine.</p>
<p>^^^This is what I heard on The View today, when Elizabeth announced she’s pregnant again.</p>
<p>CBS news is reporting the mother has 6 children already, but only one set of twins. Definately NOT from the National Enquirer. They have video of neighbors being interviewed as well as a grandparent. The family lives in a neighborhood of 2 and 3 bedroom homes, already a family of 8. And they were planning to just bring home 8 more. Well actually 7, the eight was a surprise even to the physicians. The grandparent made a comment about how things would be a little “tight” with 16 in the house. Ya think?</p>
<p>What reputable fertility clinic would do this to a family?</p>
<p>I don’t forsee them hitting the limelight on TV… the very idea of having fertility treatments to get pregnant with #7 would sink that show!</p>
<p>And that Dugger group are really creepy. It makes you realize that there is some undercurrent in normal society - Irish Travellers in $60,000 SUVs, Polygimists, Survivalists, etc…</p>
<p>I heard the Duggars just had another child - ? How many do they have now, seventeen?</p>
<p>Duggers have 18 kids now. </p>
<p>I read on a different forum that the mother of octuplets is single, unemployed, on government assistance and received her fertility drugs in Mexico. Whether it’s true or not, I have no idea.</p>