Jon and Kate Plus 8 Official Thread - Part 6

[kidshop]

I think many people who see the Gosselin situation as abusive are well aware of what abuse means. Emotional abuse is just as damaging (or more so) than the more visible and media ready physical abuse cases. Laws often don't protect kids from emotional abuse.

I don't define not being abused as them being well fed, having lots of material stuff and seeming happy. I have no idea if these kids are abused, neglected or doted on and showered with self esteem building interactions. Saying as a TV viewer on a message board one is certain these kids aren't (or are) abused can't be valid. Abuse is often silent, hidden and takes lots of forms.

I have seen things on the show that make me very uncomfortable and the whole voyeuristic vibe is not for me anymore. What I see is what becomes my reality. Everyone's perception is a bit different, but I didn't see many things I consider to be indicative of a healthy family relationship portrayed on the show.

I saw the AbuseWatch had several bits on J&k a few weeks ago, but I did think it was a bit over the top. I waffle back and forth, but the real issue for me is that there are no laws governing their time in front of the camera and no regulation of their earnings. This may very well be the abuse. No, it's not physical, sexual and maybe not even emotional abuse, but it could be an abuse. We don't know. The other thing is that they earn the money that their parents live on. That is not moral or ethical IMO. All that nonsense about how if one family member didn't want to film they would stop.....sure 8 and 5 y/o's can make that decision! And then Mommy and Daddy won't have an income. It's not healthy.

I also agree that we know too much about them. It's not right, IMO for a child to be so exposed to the entire nation. And there is also the issue that their life experiences are shaped by a tv show director and whatever sponsor is giving the freebie that week.

That's what I think anyway.

 

[DMRick]

Also, I have a right to post here if I watch the show or not, hate or love the show or hate or love Jon & Kate. I'm sorry that some people feel they are a spokesperson for the family.
I'm so sick and tired of people who feel this family deserves and earn everything they get. Just because this dis group feels sorry for this family, 95% of the other sites can't stand them.

Believe me, no one thinks you don't have the right to post. The point I was making was just that interest in this family keeps them going. If you don't want them to keep going, then I don't get the point of following them. But, hey, as you know, you can do whatever you want. I'm certainly not a spokesperson for this family, but just because you don't feel they deserve and earn what they get, doesn't mean I have to feel that way. I also don't happen to agree with you, that 95% of other K & J sites can't stand them. You obviously are not on the more positive sites, and why would you be? You make it clear you like nothing about them. I don't go to the hate (or intensely disklike) sites, because I do enjoy the show and don't hold your opinions...so why would I got to those sites? You stated that this dis group feels sorry for the family, and you are so sick and tired of people who feel this family deserves and earns everything they get..for myself, I am sick and tired of people who always put them down, and find fault, so I stay away from the sites that do that. For me it's really just as simple as that.

 

[DMRick]

but the real issue for me is that there are no laws governing their time in front of the camera and no regulation of their earnings. This may very well be the abuse. No, it's not physical, sexual and maybe not even emotional abuse, but it could be an abuse. We don't know. The other thing is that they earn the money that their parents live on. .

I do agree that it would be good to have some sort of watch dog in place for these types of shows. Like the kids having their own lawyers like they often do in custody cases, and laws to be sure money goes into their accounts. I wonder if they had that in place and we knew for certain the kids were getting a fair amount of compensation, if we would all feel better about the situation. They, of course have no need to show us bank accounts, but that does seem to be the sticking point for many....that we don't know if the kids are getting their fair chunk of change. They very well may be, but many of us would like to see that for sure and real.

It does appear to me, that time in front of hte camera does seem to be mostly play time, and TLC does say it's limited, and K & J have said if the kids didn't want to tape, they wouldn't have to. And maybe if again, they had an advocate, that can prove that to all of us, people would feel better about the show.

 

[DMRick]

I was mostly thinking about mutual respect, kindness, compassion and empathy. But there are lots more things I believe they may be lacking...

Do you mean between Kate and Jon, or between Kate, Jon and the kids? I don't think you will find much mutual respect, kindnes, compassion, etc with a divorce in the wings if you mean Kate and Jon.

I do see the rest between the kids and their parents.

 

[mousey]

I guess that is why the "no bash the Gosselin's" thread on here was so popular! There are things I like and dislike about this family. My point is that since even before these babies were born they (parents) had their hands out begging. Here they are 5 yrs old and the parents can't support their kids because their only job is a tv show which is about the kids. Kids don't do show--Jon & Kate don't make money.
Jon admitted in the Utah interview that they were basically living off people since the babies were born. Concerning the freebie vacations, its one thing to go to the Thomas the Train or Hersheypark, but to fly one of the twins to a spa in SanDiego?? Very realistic for a family of 10!

 

[DMRick]

Concerning the freebie vacations, its one thing to go to the Thomas the Train or Hersheypark, but to fly one of the twins to a spa in SanDiego?? Very realistic for a family of 10!

The beef in my eyes then, would be with TLC if you don't like certain vacations. I would assume they plan the shows they want to tape, base it on what companies are willing to pay to have their company be part of the show and go with it. In most cases, you would see the airline in the credits, along with the hotel and the spa. If you don't, then it's something TLC is paying for, for the stars of their show. Just like the Top Chef Master and Top Chef people travel around, the people in those reality shows don't pay for the travel..it's that darn old placement again. It's what pays for the shows.

I do agree that I too like the 'kid' type programs/fun stuff, but then again, I did think it was a real treat for Mady.

 

[Camicar]

Well, at the rate the show is losing viewers, this may all be a moot discusson soon.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 is shedding viewers at a record pace.

The TLC reality show only drew 3 million viewers Monday night -- down half a million from last Monday's show. It's also less than a third of the 10.6 million viewers who tuned in June 22, when they announced their split.
In Monday's episode, Jon and Kate continued to tape scenes separately with their kids. Kate took their sons to a battleship in Bald Head Island, N.C., while Jon took twins Cara and Mady go-karting.

In an appearance on Live! With Regis and Kelly last week, Kate said she "still holds out hope" that she'll film more episodes with Jon.

"My main goal is to do holidays and things together," she said.

Otherwise, the show may not survive, experts tell Usmagazine.com. I don't know if the show can make that new transition [from two parents raising eight kids to one parent raising the children]," said Robert J. Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "It's like if The Cosby Show, mid-season, suddenly became Married With Children."
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/jon-kate-ratings-continue-to-decline/26636?nc

 

[DMRick]

Well, at the rate the show is losing viewers, this may all be a moot discusson soon.

Madge would have the numbers, but I thought they were about 3 - 4 million before all the 'excitement' started. I think people who never heard of them (but saw them on the rag mag's and wanted to see what it was all about) signed in for the annoncement of the split to see what was going to happen, which made it look like they had a lot of viewers interested in the show. The ratings had already been going down as the kids got older and Kate and Jon's attitude to each other (mostly her's) got so bad. Those ratings are still considered good for a station like TLC according to what someone else posted awhile back.

I think it will be harder and harder to hold people's interest as the kids get older.

 

[madge]

Madge would have the numbers, but I thought they were about 3 - 4 million before all the 'excitement' started. I think people who never heard of them (but saw them on the rag mag's and wanted to see what it was all about) signed in for the annoncement of the split to see what was going to happen, which made it look like they had a lot of viewers interested in the show. The ratings had already been going down as the kids got older and Kate and Jon's attitude to each other (mostly her's) got so bad. Those ratings are still considered good for a station like TLC according to what someone else posted awhile back.

I think it will be harder and harder to hold people's interest as the kids get older.

I don't remember the specifics, but know that 3 million viewers is more than what they had before the announcement shows. And 3 million viewers is still good for a cable network.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 is no longer TLC's highest rated show, though. I think that may be more interesting/telling than the loss in JK8 viewership. Too soon to tell how long the shelf life of Jon and Kate Plus 8 will be. I don't know that we'll know whether or not people are still interested for a few more episodes.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

You stated that this dis group feels sorry for the family, and you are so sick and tired of people who feel this family deserves and earns everything they get..for myself, I am sick and tired of people who always put them down, and find fault, so I stay away from the sites that do that. For me it's really just as simple as that.

You are right, it really is that simple.

 

[heartsy77]

wow I go on vacation for a week and we are on part 6?! We were actually in the BERKS area on vacation; very pretty their.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Friday, August 14, 2009
Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger
http://www.abusewatch.net/

August 13, 2009

Open letter to:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Schriver
The Women’s Conference
The California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women.

Re: Request for the removal of Kate Gosselin from your list of Women’s Conference speakers

Dear Governor and First Lady,

I am writing to register my and our organizations strongest opposition to Mrs. Kate Gosselin’s participation as a speaker in the upcoming October Women’s Conference.

Our organization, Child AbuseWatch.net, is a national child abuse prevention group. We speak for children who have no opportunity to speak for themselves.

We are in the midst of a campaign to have the Jon and Kate Plus 8 program removed from The Learning Channel’s line-up. This is due to what we perceive as sustained emotional child abuse and neglect by the parents; abuse that is packaged and broadcast weekly by TLC.

I have written to John Hendricks, TLC’s chairman twice, requesting intervention without result. Further, in July, we contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Children and Family services requesting that they open an investigation into how the children are being treated on and off the show.

Having Mrs. Gosselin speak at the conference is, in my opinion as a child advocate, an affront not only to the other speakers but also to your audience. Inviting her as an ‘author’ is a joke; her book was co-written by Beth Carson and Jon Gosselin. Inviting her as a mother is a cruel irony.

Ms. Gosselin is in the spotlight of media glare for all of the wrong reasons as anyone who has been to the supermarket or who goes on line will tell you. Infamy is not a reason to honor someone with an invitation to speak.

Child AbuseWatch.net feels so strongly about the plight of these young children that we are calling for a boycott of TLC’s advertisers until such time as the show is taken off the air.

I would appreciate if you would remove Mrs. Gosselin from your speaker roster. She is an unworthy contributor to your efforts and to the great speakers you have lined up this year.

You may see the letters written to TLC on our website: http://www.abusewatch.net/.

Sincerely yours,

Evin M. Daly
Founder, Executive Director
Guardian ad Litem (15th JC)
Child AbuseWatch.NET
www.abusewatch.net



Did anyone see this posted on Truth breeds hatred?? I don't go to that site often, but will once in awhile to see what they are saying. Child abuse?? Come on! These children are well cared for and despite their parents they seem to be happy! I said I wasn't goint to post anymore, but I just keep getting sucked in!!

Wow. That is over the top IMO. Sounds like the people at 'AbuseWatch.net' were looking to get their names out there. Honestly, I don't think the Gosselin kids are abused, not in the least. Sure, abuse can mean different things to different people but this letter is most certainly making clear allegations against the Gosselins. Ridiculous and if I was Kate, I'd be pretty darn peeved. Geez, do they have some vendetta against her? That is just insulting IMO.

This is why people think the show is boring---they are tired of the show being a big informercial about whoever is giving them something or promoting their next vacation. Read any message board after an article on J & K and see what people are saying. You will be surprised. Multiple Blessings is down to .75 on an online bookstore. You really think Kate has a career as an author??
I never saw the globetrotters episode until a few weeks ago. Cara is pulled out on the floor and Mady looks like she lost her best friend. The next scene they are doing a meet and greet and Kate is repeating herself multiple times what you do for 1 you must do for 8, you must do for everyone--well guess what, not everyone got a basketball. Maybe they decided to give some to the group of disabled kids who didn't have the prime seats like the Gosselin's did. You see, its never enough for them--they always are going to want more.
Ratings are dropping and hopefully TLC will have the brains to drop this show.

Actually I believe the context of Kate's comment was referring to the Globetrotter's giving the kids a turn spinning the basketball on their finger. At least that's how I saw it.

Obviously they don't know the meaning of abuse. Where were they when a little girl in our town had bleach put in her eyes by her stepfather? Or when children that are beaten daily and then sent to school. Both cases reported to abuse hot lines, both put on the back burner.
Spend some time in the emergency rooms, and go after the parents of the children who are there with multiple broken bones, over and over. Go after the parents who use the money for food on drugs, go after the parents who leave their young children at night locked in an apartment, while they are out partying, and when the three year old fell out of the second story window, tell that little girl how the Gosselins are abusing their children. Good grief.

Nicely worded Doris! I agree completely. It's a shame that people at those kinds of organizations would get up in arms about the Gosselin kids when there are probably tons of cases in their state being overlooked. Why not help kids who really ARE being abused like the examples you gave?

I think many people who see the Gosselin situation as abusive are well aware of what abuse means. Emotional abuse is just as damaging (or more so) than the more visible and media ready physical abuse cases. Laws often don't protect kids from emotional abuse.

I don't define not being abused as them being well fed, having lots of material stuff and seeming happy. I have no idea if these kids are abused, neglected or doted on and showered with self esteem building interactions. Saying as a TV viewer on a message board one is certain these kids aren't (or are) abused can't be valid. Abuse is often silent, hidden and takes lots of forms.

I have seen things on the show that make me very uncomfortable and the whole voyeuristic vibe is not for me anymore. What I see is what becomes my reality. Everyone's perception is a bit different, but I didn't see many things I consider to be indicative of a healthy family relationship portrayed on the show.

True, we don't know if they're being abused (I don't believe so) which makes that letter all the more absurd. That organizatoin already complained to the TLC chairman twice, petitioned PA to start a child investigation and now they're demanding that Kate be removed from the speaker list because they feel she and Jon are abusing their kids. All because 'they' feel the kids are being emotionally abused and neglected. Would they feel better if the show was off the air and the kids taken away and put in foster homes? Ok, that's a bit of a stretch.

 

[DreaGirl]

Just Jared has up new pictures. In one picture you can see a detailed listing of bills. The only one I can make out is School Tuition 09-10 X 8 $70,000.

 

[madge]

Just Jared has up new pictures.

those shoes are hideous.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

those shoes are hideous.

I was just going to post the exact same thing!

 

[madge]

Just Jared has up new pictures. In one picture you can see a detailed listing of bills. The only one I can make out is School Tuition 09-10 X 8 $70,000.

The big girls' school is $20,000/yr. (not on that paper, I read that on a local Berks, PA message board about the school) ... that would put the sextuplets school at $5000/year.

I can make out a few other things -- the box on the right appears to be line items related to the show -- Jon's clothing (business) and several things (babysitting, cleaning, yardwork) related to filming

the left column appears to be personal expenses -- taxes (marked #1 and #2), propane, credit card, health insurance, pool and a bunch of stuff I can't make out.

 

[Promomx2]

I'd like to have the money Kate spends just on shoes. I can't believe a website hasn't made a list of the other bills on Kate's papers.

 

[madge]

I was just going to post the exact same thing!

some of them, while not my style .. haven't been bad, but looked good on her. these are just plain bad. LOL.

 

[madge]

I'd like to have the money Kate spends just on shoes. I can't believe a website hasn't made a list of the other bills on Kate's papers.

I predict that list she's copying will be leaked by the end of the day tomorrow.

 

[mousey]

You would think Kate would be a little discreet with the list. Princess Di said she was told that the paparazzi could lip read and to watch out for stuff like that. This is going to be one nasty divorce!!!!