Seventeen Children

[Chernabog]

It reminds me of that line from the play The Women (it was cut out of the movie version):

(Woman announces to another woman that Ms. Potter is going to have her 9th child)

Womans reaction: "Nine children! Nine children? What is she darling, careless or Catholic?"

I suppose that as long as they had enough money to care for all those kids it would be okay, but there is a point at which it isn't fair for the kids to have to literally mother and father their younger siblings every single day because the parents simply cannot do it.

[Gemini Cricket]

Someone should teach that lady how to cross her legs.

[3894]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Someone should teach that lady how to cross her legs.

Someone should teach that man to keep his pants zipped.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by 3894

Someone should teach that man to keep his pants zipped.

That, too.
Or his fly buttoned as the case may be.

[3894]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

That, too.
Or his fly buttoned as the case may be.

By my calculations Jim Bob's do-ability factor is -73 on a scale of 1 to 10.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by 3894

Besides the fact that the planet is already overpopulated.....

Not really...


http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...52C1A961958260

If this trend continues it could have far-reaching consequences, demographers say. When more and more of the world's most highly industrialized and economically productive nations do not replenish their numbers, their role as engines of global growth -- both as producers and consumers of goods -- is thrown into doubt.

''These developed countries have a particularly important role because they provide a great deal of the economic leadership and social leadership,'' said Joseph Chamie, director of the United Nations population division, which organized the conference this week.

''They are, basically, the producer nations, the consumer nations and the donor nations,'' he said. ''China today is exporting to whom? Basically to the United States and Europe, and that's helping the Chinese economy. Europe alone consumes a great deal and produces a great deal. If they start shrinking there will be a readjustment, and it will be global in its impact. It will affect the entire world economy.''

[katiesue]

It's not for me, but then neither are a lot of other lifestyle choices. As far as I can tell from the tv shows Jim Bob supports the family so as long as that keeps up whatever floats your boat. Yes it's a bit odd and I'm sure some of them will rebel big time as they get older but they're not burdening anyone else.

[Stan4dSteph]

SFGate article from 2005 when there were only 16

Note to Michelle Duggar: If God wanted you to have a massive pile of children, she'd have given your uterus a hydraulic pump and a revolving door. Stop it now.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Babette

Oh, yes, I helped take care of my little brother, but I was not assigned to him full time. I had time to socialize with people outside my family. I was able to experience other teenage girl things, and help my parents/brother. I had choices (most of the time).

True that, for me as well.

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

SFGate article from 2005 when there were only 16

Wow, what a hate filled article, from someone who probably is pro-choice and yet feels they have a right to dictate what that woman does with her body.

To be honest, I think all this knee-jerk judgementalism stinks, from the smallest slights to that abhorrent article. So, she wants to be pregnant over and over, so, they're religious, so, they home school, so, what? It's their lives, and as long as the kids are polite, clean, well fed, and don't start a cult, why should anyone judge them, lest ye be judged, eh?

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

To be honest, I think all this knee-jerk judgementalism stinks, from the smallest slights to that abhorrent article. So, she wants to be pregnant over and over, so, they're religious, so, they home school, so, what? It's their lives, and as long as the kids are polite, clean, well fed, and don't start a cult, why should anyone judge them, lest ye be judged, eh?

Exactly. Like I said it's not for me. But as far as I can tell they're taking care of themselves. And one of their TV shows showed them going to some sort of homeschooling convention so there was social ineraction with kids their own ages (of course with the same beliefs) so they're not living in some sort of concentration camp.

I can't imagine what having 17 children does to ones body. I know it's why women used to die young they'd just finally give out.