Jon & kate...The Duggars I Have a Question

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I do not know how I have enough time to even think about this but I do. I was watching the news and they were talking about how The Gosselins are under investigation due, in part, to child labor laws. I was thinking about all the other reality TV families, mainly the Duggars. Now I enjoy watching 18 Kids and Counting with my kids. It is one of the few shows that we can all enjoy together or they can watch alone without having to be monitored. I understand the the Duggars are a TOTALLY different kind of family than the Gosselins but I was wondering, since they have their kiddos on the show, too, if they could possible be looked into at a later date. I am pretty sure that the Duggars would cancel their show if they thought they were harming the kids but I am just wondering what makes their show so different that Jon & Kate...in the eyes of the law.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Ok, clearly I have missed something...

Why are Jon and Kate under investigation? Please fill me in.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Ok, clearly I have missed something...

Why are Jon and Kate under investigation? Please fill me in.

Yesterday the story broke that they were under investigation for child labor laws. Kate gave a statement that they are just living in a house that happens to be taped. I guess PA child welfare stated that this was not the case and that the kids in fact are working and the parents are profiting from it. They stated that the kids are working way too many hours, I guess something about how the kids or parents are or are not making money is a big factor. Kate is standing by the fact that they are just being taped as any child would if they were making a home movie.

 

[happygirl]

For supposely violating child labor laws. It a bunch of nonsense.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Ok, but they have been doing this for 4 years. Why is it all of a sudden an issue?

 

[happygirl]

Ok, but they have been doing this for 4 years. Why is it all of a sudden an issue?

That depends on what side of the fence you are on. A lot of it started when Jon cheated on Kate

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'm sure this belongs in the other Jon and Kate thread and I am behind on them right now but has he admitted that he cheated?

 

[MM27]

Kate's brother and sister in law were also interviewed on one of the morning shows and they talked about the fact that laws needed to be put in place to protect children because they feel as if the children are being exploited.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I'm sure this belongs in the other Jon and Kate thread and I am behind on them right now but has he admitted that he cheated?

I did not post this on the other thread for a reason. Please see my original post to this. I do not wish to discuss Jon and Kate's marriage

 

[brittsmum1998]

I'm wondering if the 40 episodes this season has raised some eyebrows. I don't know how many they normally do but I know 40 is definately more than the usual season for them.

 

[happygirl]

i'm wondering if the 40 episodes this season has raised some eyebrows. I don't know how many they normally do but i know 40 is definately more than the usual season for them.

i

 

[tinatark]

Kate's brother and sister in law were also interviewed on one of the morning shows and they talked about the fact that laws needed to be put in place to protect children because they feel as if the children are being exploited.

I saw that.. but are they even in contact with J+K or the kids? I thought I had read they weren't.

 

[mlynn]

I heard on one of the Philly station news.That child service received a call aobut Jon and Kate +8 so by law they have to look into the complaint.

 

[MM27]

I saw that.. but are they even in contact with J+K or the kids? I thought I had read they weren't.

originally I read somewhere that her brother Kevin said that he hadn't spoken to them for a year, but in the interview he mentioned talking to them.

I think the big issue is that Jodi and Kevin both said that the kids complained to them that they don't like having the cameras around all the time and on their family vacations.

 

[Nancy]

Kate's brother and sister in law were also interviewed on one of the morning shows and they talked about the fact that laws needed to be put in place to protect children because they feel as if the children are being exploited.

Ya know I just wonder if they (the brother and SIL) had been offered a contract and received money to be on the show if they wound be saying the same thing...I think not. I think there is a lot of sour grapes from them because supposedly Kate vetoed them getting paid to be on the show.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Also the labor laws in question are state laws. The laws could be different in Arkansas vx. PA.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Also the labor laws in question are state laws. The laws could be different in Arkansas vx. PA.

I wondered if it is partly that. I noticed that since there are so many kids not every kid is in every shot. Mainly the older kids are the ones that are in most scenes. Also 18 kids and counting is very much like a home movie...TV style. They show the kids going on a trip and doing day to day stuff. Jon & Kate started that way but ended up showing all the thing they can now buy.

 

[TheZue]

It'll be interesting to see what comes of that. I would just have ethical issues with putting my kids pictures out there before they could really give proper permission. Not everyone wants to be famous. But that really is the crux of the child actor issue, but at least with child actors they are paid and they aren't having their own personal space & time being spread around since it's fake. These kids have had every private thing put on TV...baths, potty time, tantrums, the dentist, birthdays, and much more. They weren't old enough to be asked and it will follow them for a long time. There probably do need to be laws put in place to protect kids in terms of reality TV.

I've even gotten to the point I don't really like putting my kids pictures out there. Nothing to do with predators or anything. His image is not mine to distribute, even on things like facebook. As he got older it just seemed odd to put it out there without him being able to say yes or no and have no understanding of what he would be agreeing to anyways.

That said I have watched and enjoyed John and Kate, but I didn't really think too much about it earlier in the series, maybe because there weren't so many episodes? Maybe because you didn't see the divorce headlines on the magazine stand knowing their kids are seeing the same thing? Maybe because it seemed to be a small show with a small fan following? Who knows, but either way it's getting huge and those kids do need some consideration in terms of their rights over their images and payment that is seperate from the parents.