Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[TheFinalRose]

But who would he sell it to? Say he found someone literate to write Duggared In: My Life at the Crossroads Where Shadowy Billionaires, Religious Fanaticism, Cable Television and the Republican Party Meet. Could they find a publishing company that doesn't either live in that space (their current publisher is owned by Rupert Murdoch) or rely on NCLB contracts? And even if they did, I doubt they'd be able to get it into WalMarts any time soon.

 

 

Oh the publishing industry would slap a five million dollar contract on the table for Joshie-poo to relate all the lurid details to a ghost writer in a second. These are, after all, the same folks who took an old, draft manuscript from poor half-blind Harper Lee's safe deposit box and published it with just a quick once-over. The same guys who let EL James just alter Fifty Shades of Gray a little bit, repackaging it from Christian"s perspective, and sold it as Grey.  They are desperate for those bestsellers and I think Josh's story would sell, sell, sell. Both Harper Lee's book and EL James' book had quick turnaround times.  The problem is, how does a publisher get in touch with Joshie now to make him the offer? Send an owl?  

 

 

The thing is, it takes a lot of guts and, actually, actively used brains to leave.

 

 

 

I think if you are a thoughtful mature person this is true. At the same time, there are a whole bunch of impulsive yahoos in the world who act without thinking. I think Josh is somewhere in the middle, he's going to do the most comfortable thing at the moment. So if Monday night it meant not resisting JimBoob's plan to fly him to Rockford, that's what he does.  He'll stick around there until he's starving, or really bored or can't get any of the women to lie with him, and then he's out of there.  If there is a literary agent who can get in touch with him and make him an offer for his story, I could see him with the dollar signs in his eyes, thinking he doesn't need his family anymore.  There's a reason why they call it F-you money...financial independence drives a lot of actions.  

[Darknight]

But isn't that the whole idea behind no education? Josh is totally enmeshed with his father. It is an unhealthy, co-dependent relationship, but this is what they look like. Josh has no independent personhood of his own. Josh has to do as daddy says, or else he is just a loser with nothing going for him. Josh has no education and no real work skills. How can he support four kids without the help of his father? The answer is that he can't; he is totally trapped with no way out but to "please" his father. Wow, well it took a week but damn if I am not coming around to feeling a bit sorry for this little turd. Josh himself knew he was not cut out for all this, so why did his parents force him? Was it really worth it?

Josh can grow a fucking pair and go out a find a real job and get a real education. But nope he's too fucking lazy. Plenty of former fundies had nothing to work with and had to start from scratch but they made a living and supported themselves.

[Darknight]

I can't believe they think that sending Josh to a work camp is going to fix him. They all work for RU. They are not allowed to talk about the problems that led them there. Why are the Duggars such stupid followers? I can probably sell them the Brooklyn Bridge if I wanted to. What's wrong with Josh talking to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for instance? Are they really that afraid that a licensed counselor would try to take his religion away from him and suddenly undo 27 years of Gothard brainwashing? Do they think a licensed counselor would tell him not to be a christian or something? Why are they so stupid? Just why? There is zero possibility of Josh getting help at this place.

Because that means admitting that he has a problem. That growing up fundie didn't do shit to prevent this. Going to a real therapist means JimChelle failed as parents. The goal of gothard is to protect from ungodly influences. Going to a real therapist might make Josh look back on his life and see the holes in it. Then he might influence the young ones. Which means Jim Bob can't have his own godly army

[Defrauder]

How amazing would that be? Alice, like the housekeeper on The Brady Bunch.

LOL.  Remember the mini-skirts Marcia and Jan used to wear?  I am sure the Duggars are not allowed to watch old Brady episodes.  Remembering Alice wearing a uniform and calling Mike and Carol - Mr. and Mrs. Brady all of the time. Classic.  

[floridamom]

I doubt that "Alice" was the laundry lady because that lady seemed to be one of them and liked Michelle and the family so much...she also continued to do the laundry for some time after that as she stated she loved doing it. This poster, whoever he/she is or was doesn't like this family very much and just "told it like it was AND IS".

[kokapetl]

LOL. Remember the mini-skirts Marcia and Jan used to wear? I am sure the Duggars are not allowed to watch old Brady episodes. Remembering Alice wearing a uniform and calling Mike and Carol - Mr. and Mrs. Brady all of the time. Classic.

And Alice too. Josh's ideal woman:

[Julia]

I doubt that "Alice" was the laundry lady because that lady seemed to be one of them and liked Michelle and the family so much...she also continued to do the laundry for some time after that as she stated she loved doing it. This poster, whoever he/she is or was doesn't like this family very much and just "told it like it was AND IS".

 

I kinda wonder about that. I don't think a lot of people are going to volunteer to do the stoop labor for a family with money coming in out of love. I think Michelle just doesn't want to acknowledge that she was paying for help with the housekeeping.

[Fuzzysox]

This. I think that it's so easy to focus on the fucked-up religious part of their upbringing that we forget the fucked-up growing up on television aspect of the equation. Together = apparent disaster.

Someday I hope one of my twins writes her thesis on them. I even have a great title.

 

The Duggar Family: A study of dysfunctionality of a family caused by Bill Gothard's teachings.

[kokapetl]

I kinda wonder about that. I don't think a lot of people are going to volunteer to do the stoop labor for a family with money coming in out of love. I think Michelle just doesn't want to acknowledge that she was paying for help with the housekeeping.

Well she doesn't want to set a precedent.

[NextIteration]

Question from a non-show watcher, are the little ones really that feral?

[Darknight]

Just imagine being a single, working mom who had to return to work after 6 weeks to pay the rent. Not a lot of sympathy here.

Well she should've kept her legs closed according to fundie logic. Remember even Josh wrote on his cupid account to get a job and not mooch of the government. So a single working mother is paying for her sins

Edited August 28, 2015 by Darknight

[SometimesBites]

But who would he sell it to? Say he found someone literate to write Duggared In: My Life at the Crossroads Where Shadowy Billionaires, Religious Fanaticism, Cable Television and the Republican Party Meet. Could they find a publishing company that doesn't either live in that space (their current publisher is owned by Rupert Murdoch) or rely on NCLB contracts? And even if they did, I doubt they'd be able to get it into WalMarts any time soon.

I have to disagree with your assessment, Julia. The Big Five publishers are ready to snap up any book that promises to make a pile of money (despite their rhetoric about being the glorious guardians and purveyors of literature). WalMart, too, is in it for the almighty dollar, and if Josh wrote a salacious tell-all, not only do I think WalMart would give it shelf space, I think the book would briefly touch the bestseller lists The book game is as debased as the TV biz, for all intents and purposes. Now if you'll excuse me, I need mittens, because hell must have frozen over--I can't believe I actually had a difference of opinion with you. :)

Edited August 28, 2015 by SometimesBites

[zoomama]

i am unclear about the references to 'Alice". can someone bring me up to speed on where this person posted or tell me what you a read that was written bu this person?

[NextIteration]

I was reading a blog post by someone who attended the Big Sandy homeschool conference. Her family set up camp right next to the Duggars. Apparently Josie at least really is a wild child. 

 

As a non-watcher but someone familiar with super-premies, I'd chalk any issues that Josie has up to developmental issues.

[Darknight]

I'm still wrapping my head around Josh's choice to have extra-marital sex unprotected. Are the Duggar kids taught about STDs, or is that subject another of their Black Holes of Fear?

Because even if Josh decided he didn't care about his own health, did he not stop to think of Anna's or that of any unborn children?

Josh seems to have been "educating" himself about many things even if his upbringing did leave him in the dark. And the fearless visits to strip clubs, as well as the hoped-for Ashley Madison hookups tell me Josh knew the score about life outside the compound. Unprotected sex is lunacy, and Josh had to know he was playing with fire.

There's no such thing as stds in fundie land.

[What In The]

Unfortunately for Josh and Anna, IMO this scandal or scandals rather, has fully killed his chance of being able to live even a semi normal life. Everybody now knows, his cash machine in the show is gone, and his wife will never likely trust him again. Not good for Smuggar.

[Darknight]

oh gosh, this is mean. i think the original poster was just saying that other gals have had a hard time getting on with their lives too immediately following childbirth. btdt ~~ it sucked! however, if a single mom can deal after a new baby, so can anna.

Well that's what a fundie would say. Even Josh's cupid profile said to people who are low income to get a job and stop living off the government.

[Andalusian]

Someone on another forum I frequent found this from two years ago posted on Reddit.  The originating account has since been deleted but, hey.  Thought it was interesting.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/thatHappened/comments/1kn61t/totally_true_story_about_josh_duggar_getting/

 

Edit -- forgot to add this is the accompanying image for the Reddit Thread title in case anyone can't get it to work.

 

https://i.imgur.com/v6cVkZY.png

Edited August 28, 2015 by Andalusian

[NextIteration]

Well that's what a fundie would say. Even Josh's cupid profile said to people who are low income to get a job and stop living off the government.

 

Laughs, remember the aspirin between the knees suggestion Foster Friess, Rick Santorum's billionaire supporter made to Andrea Mitchell last election cycle?

[kokapetl]

Question from a non-show watcher, are the little ones really that feral?

Yeah they are. The kids were somewhat well behaved in the early days. After Josie was born the kids went really feral. Edited August 28, 2015 by Kokapetl

[galax-arena]

Oh, here's the blog post I mentioned upthread re: the Big Sandy conference. The mother sings Michelle's praises, so take everything with a truckload of salt. 

[Defrauder]

I really don't want to imagine Josh going down on anyone... I hate you guys. 

Just replace Josh with his double Joe Smithson - fake profile pic and all.

[Fuzzysox]

i am unclear about the references to 'Alice". can someone bring me up to speed on where this person posted or tell me what you a read that was written bu this person?

Read about it here:

 

http://defamer.gawker.com/the-web-has-known-about-josh-duggar-for-years-when-did-1706258269

[SometimesBites]

Oh, here's the blog post I mentioned upthread re: the Big Sandy conference. The mother sings Michelle's praises, so take everything with a truckload of salt.

The real kicker in that link was in the photo section: Josie hanging upside down inside...whatever that was--looked like a vehicle of some kind. Feral may fit the bill.

[Isthisok]

http://www.theonion.com/americanvoices/josh-duggar-enters-rehab-following-scandal-51200?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview%3A1%3ADefault

[3 is enough]

The STD that Josh would really have to worry about is Chlamydia. It is very common, most people who have it have no symptoms, and if passed on to a baby in utero can cause eye infections and pneumonia.  

 

The kicker is that if it goes undiagnosed in a woman, it can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it impossible for her to get pregnant.

 

Anna better get tested ASAP.

 

How ironic would it be if Josh's messing around actually stopped the baby train?

Edited August 28, 2015 by 3 is enough

[WescottF1]

Just out of curiosity, what is the fantastic restaurant in Rockford? 

 

We have several.  It might be a run-down post-industrial city, but there is plenty of good eatin' here.

[kokapetl]

http://www.theonion.com/americanvoices/josh-duggar-enters-rehab-following-scandal-51200?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview%3A1%3ADefault

“Hopefully he’ll get the bastardized Scripture he needs.”

14 Kids And Counting

TV LISTINGS August 28, 2011

Entertainment

TLC

10 p.m. EDT/9 p.m. CDT

A downturn in Jim Bob and Michelle's real estate business means it's time to cull the herd at the Duggar house.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Kokapetl

[camom]

 

Oh, here's the blog post I mentioned upthread re: the Big Sandy conference. The mother sings Michelle's praises, so take everything with a truckload of salt.

 

This family couldn't be true Gothardites, though, since they have obviously adopted children (good for them!).

 

Although I hope we have seen the last of the Duggars on TV, I have a terrible feeling that we haven't.  Jim Boob and Michelle will do anything to keep the attention on them and keep the money coming in, including selling out their kids.

[JenCarroll]

Question from a non-show watcher, are the little ones really that feral?

There are reasons we call them the Howlers and the Lost Girls.

[bob.loblaw]

This family couldn't be true Gothardites, though, since they have obviously adopted children (good for them!).

 

I read the "About Us" section and she married a 28 year old guy at 17 after only dating 3 months.  Then fell headlong into evangelism.  Gotta give credit, adopting/fostering 6 kids is a wonderful thing, though I did bristle at the fact that they changed every kid's name after adoption, even ones who were clearly old enough to identify with the one they had.

 

She said Michelle spent all day cleaning the campsite and parenting kids.  I need the receipts on that one, lol.

[Julia]

This family couldn't be true Gothardites, though, since they have obviously adopted children (good for them!).

 

Although I hope we have seen the last of the Duggars on TV, I have a terrible feeling that we haven't.  Jim Boob and Michelle will do anything to keep the attention on them and keep the money coming in, including selling out their kids.

 

Don't you think, though, that maybe their moment has passed? The religious culture war as a political movement is a fairly recent thing, and it seems to be losing popularity with younger voters even though religion itself is doing just fine. I'm sure they'll find private support from the usual suspects, but I'm not sure their opportunities for institutional support are still there. The channel formerly known as CBN is showing a sympathetic reality show about transpeople (as is the Duggars' own TLC), and I think if they do try to go on an explicitly religious channel their weird hostile doctrines are going to be a real problem.

 

Oh the publishing industry would slap a five million dollar contract on the table for Joshie-poo to relate all the lurid details to a ghost writer in a second. These are, after all, the same folks who took an old, draft manuscript from poor half-blind Harper Lee's safe deposit box and published it with just a quick once-over. The same guys who let EL James just alter Fifty Shades of Gray a little bit, repackaging it from Christian"s perspective, and sold it as Grey.  They are desperate for those bestsellers and I think Josh's story would sell, sell, sell. Both Harper Lee's book and EL James' book had quick turnaround times.  The problem is, how does a publisher get in touch with Joshie now to make him the offer? Send an owl?

I have to disagree with your assessment, Julia. The Big Five publishers are ready to snap up any book that promises to make a pile of money (despite their rhetoric about being the glorious guardians and purveyors of literature). WalMart, too, is in it for the almighty dollar, and if Josh wrote a salacious tell-all, not only do I think WalMart would give it shelf space, I think the book would briefly touch the bestseller lists The book game is as debased as the TV biz, for all intents and purposes. Now if you'll excuse me, I need mittens, because hell must have frozen over--I can't believe I actually had a difference of opinion with you. :)

I'm trying to imagine the explosions if that happened. It wouldn't make me sad.

[pennben]

I don't see how Anna can win....she's either a hypocrite because she divorces Josh or is a fool for staying with him. Is there a third option for her?

[3 is enough]

People would still watch the Duggars.  Maybe not leghumpers, but those who disagree with everything they stand for would enjoy seeing their downfall.

 

Isn't the main attraction of most "reality tv" the freak factor? People watch and think, "My life might suck, but at least I am not those people".

 

Of course the show would have to change, and show more conflict.  A rehash of 19 Kids and Counting where they go on about how special they are and show the same boring stuff over and over would not work.  And I doubt Jim Bob would ever agree to show the real goings-on in the TTH.  

 

But you never know.  People desperate for money do desperate things, and with all those kids and grandkids to support his funds won't last forever. 

[Skittl1321]

This family couldn't be true Gothardites, though, since they have obviously adopted children (good for them!).

If you read all their Big Sandy posts, they went for 3 years before applying for ATI membership; but they have, were accepted, and do Wisdom books now.

 

They just weren't when they adopted.

[TheFinalRose]

We have several.  It might be a run-down post-industrial city, but there is plenty of good eatin' here.

 

 

 

Hmm, sorry if you thought I was asking sarcastically. I really wanted to know the restaurant's name since you seemed so excited about it. I've been to Rockford in my life due to friend/family connections so thought it'd be nice to know the place just in case. Also, what if I get bored and want to take a Sunday drive past RU and see if there were any intrepid reporters hanging around or maybe catch a glimpse of Josh? it'd be nice to know there was some good food at the end of the road.

 

 

[JenCarroll]

I don't see how Anna can win....she's either a hypocrite because she divorces Josh or is a fool for staying with him. Is there a third option for her?

Change her name and go on to lead a private life?

[MarysWetBar]

I don't see how Anna can win....she's either a hypocrite because she divorces Josh or is a fool for staying with him. Is there a third option for her?

Yes there is actually:

1. Bend over

2. reach out with both arms

3. Pull head out of ass.

[Jellybeans]

I don't see how Anna can win....she's either a hypocrite because she divorces Josh or is a fool for staying with him. Is there a third option for her?

I think Anna should do what Anna wants to do, not what her families want her to do.

[camom]

 

I think Anna should do what Anna wants to do, not what her families want her to do.

 

And there is the problem.  None of the kids in these families have ever been allowed to make decisions for themselves so they really don't know how to.  I don't think Anna trusts herself enough to not do what she's told to do.  I hope I'm wrong.

[subber]

Anna has options. Her brother has offered to take her and the children in. An Arkansas lawyer has indicated he will represent her for free. She's good with kids. She could do day care or (God forbid) get a job that doesn't require more than a high school education. Admittedly, leaving Josh and starting over would be difficult, and, ultimately it's her call. But she would be deluding herself if she thinks that Bible study is going to "cure" a man whose favorite pastimes are porn and hanging out at strip clubs looking for side action. If she stays, she will have to get used to permanently looking the other way.

[Jellybeans]

And there is the problem.  None of the kids in these families have ever been allowed to make decisions for themselves so they really don't know how to.  I don't think Anna trusts herself enough to not do what she's told to do.  I hope I'm wrong.

I agree with you. I also hope she loses this particular brand of faith of gives them all the middle finger and writes a tell-all.

But she won't.

[Rhondinella]

31 pages of the application & info.

http://ruhomes.org/w...ry_29_FINAL.pdf

 

 

Wow.  There's an entire master's thesis, at least, just BEGGING to be written in analyzing the differences between the rules for men and women in that list.  SO MANY QUESTIONS.  But the one that puzzles me the most is why the women are allowed to sleep in 30 minutes longer than the men?  Things are adjusted so eventually their schedules dovetail back together, so I don't understand the point?  Probably someone read an article somewhere back by "science" that said women need more sleep than men or something. *eyeroll*

 

If the stripper had the baby, JB and Michelle could just adopt it. Boom! 20 kids!

 

 

And their way back to TV!!  Even TLC couldn't resist bringing them back to air THAT!!

Edited August 28, 2015 by Rhondinella

[Darknight]

I don't see how Anna can win....she's either a hypocrite because she divorces Josh or is a fool for staying with him. Is there a third option for her?

Leave fundie land.

[Darknight]

Change her name and go on to lead a private life?

Yeah right, she loves this pony show

[3girlsforus]

Perhaps, but it was a risk free offer. She wouldn't take the help anyway. 

 

She won't even know about the offer. I have no doubt she's a virtual prisoner with no access to anyone outside the inner circle.

[sleekandchic]

I think the women are made to sleep in an extra 30 minutes as just another way to protect good men from lusting after the harlots. The men can get up, showered, shaved, dressed and down to breakfast before The Tempters start roaming the halls in sleep pants and camisoles, or flannel full-length nightgowns. No danger of eye contact and titillation.

On the face of the rule, it MIGHT seem that the women are getting a perk but I dont believe the 30 minutes of extra sleep is anything but just another method of control.

RU's leadership wouldn't consider reversing the rule to give the men the extra time either. Too risky that one of the poor, weak Adams might peek into the hallway to catch a glimpse of decollete or into the bathroom as the evil Eves are showering.

Edited August 28, 2015 by sleekandchic

[CherryAmes]

She should do what Dear Abby always said to do in situations like this (well no situation has ever been exactly like this I guess) but anyway, she needs to sit down and decide whether she is better off with him or without him.  If she chooses him so be it.  It's just too bad she's surrounded by people who aren't even telling her she has a choice.

[wovenloaf]

Wow.  There's an entire master's thesis, at least, just BEGGING to be written in analyzing the differences between the rules for men and women in that list.  SO MANY QUESTIONS.  But the one that puzzles me the most is why the women are allowed to sleep in 30 minutes longer than the men?  Things are adjusted so eventually their schedules dovetail back together, so I don't understand the point?  Probably someone read an article somewhere back by "science" that said women need more sleep than men or something. *eyeroll*

Nobody is going to want 19 little miracles with someone that has dark circles under their eyes, now will they?? They are doing god's work by getting these broads back into babymaking shape!! *barf*

[Wellfleet]

Josh can grow a fucking pair and go out a find a real job and get a real education. But nope he's too fucking lazy. Plenty of former fundies had nothing to work with and had to start from scratch but they made a living and supported themselves.

 

I agree. I think that Josh is quite lazy, and has been most of his life. Which, BTW, is very unusual in firstborns. IMO, he's never shown any kind of genuine ambition or passion for anything - no excitement for something that he'd pursue wholeheartedly. He says he wants to be a lawyer, but if admitted to Harvard tomorrow, I bet he'd leave within a year. Not because he can't handle the work [although he almost certainly couldn't] but because it would be much more work he ever imagined, and much more than he ever planned to do. He doesn't really have the example of hard-working parents to go by either. His father, in large part, has what he has because it was given to him - or because he wheedled, cajoled or pity-partied it out of other people. I have the suspicion Boob greatly disliked his own days as an employee, and often get a mental picture of him coming home in his grocery store shelf-stocker days complaining loudly and long to Me-chelle about how lame his supervisors were, how badly they were messing up, and how much better things would run if he was in charge.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Wellfleet