Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[NikSac]

<sigh> http://www.etonline.com/news/183727_josh_duggar_parents_share_birthday_message_while_he_remains_in_rehab/

 

Apparently Josh is still in Jesus Jail, but his parents lovingly posted a message to him on Facebook. Is he the only person allowed FB access from rehab?  Or, will he never even see it but the Duggars still want people to leave them alone? (haha) Anyway they said "Today is our son Josh's birthday. The heartache of the past year cannot surpass the joy 28 years ago on this day when we first became parents!"

[Sew Sumi]

I don't think there's anything in that message that indicates where Smuggar is. It's just a lame attempt to tell the humpers that Smuggar may be a loser, but he's THEIR loser. 

[NikSac]

I don't think there's anything in that message that indicates where Smuggar is. It's just a lame attempt to tell the humpers that Smuggar may be a loser, but he's THEIR loser. 

 

True. The FB message was definitely posted today (sadly I checked the actual FB page), but it's hard to tell where he really is based on that.

[Sew Sumi]

Not to mention, the ET Online is relying on a link from DECEMBER to "prove" that Smuggar is still in Jesus Jail. As I said on the Media thread, it's lazy reporting (if we say it, it MUST be true) for an equally lazy audience. Too bad that they can't provide any actual PROOF of his whereabouts. 

 

Neither can I, but at least I own it. Let's face it, Mechelle posts equally impersonal birthday wishes to the kids still living under her roof (again, for their adoring leghumpers to slobber over), so there's really nothing that can be read about his location based on that post. 

 

Meh.

[Obsidian]

Funny, of all their children they actually know what this child likes, but they'd never put it on a facebook greeting!

[Tabbygirl521]

Funny, of all their children they actually know what this child likes, but they'd never put it on a facebook greeting!

Evil, and hilarious.

[NikSac]

Sorry if I posted anything misleading, I definitely didn't mean to.

[Sew Sumi]

Nah, that article was intentionally deceptive. I'm just super picky, because I read critically for a living. :D

[Churchhoney]

<sigh> http://www.etonline.com/news/183727_josh_duggar_parents_share_birthday_message_while_he_remains_in_rehab/

 

Apparently Josh is still in Jesus Jail, but his parents lovingly posted a message to him on Facebook. Is he the only person allowed FB access from rehab?  Or, will he never even see it but the Duggars still want people to leave them alone? (haha) Anyway they said "Today is our son Josh's birthday. The heartache of the past year cannot surpass the joy 28 years ago on this day when we first became parents!"

 

I don't think any of their "birthday greetings' are intended for the birthday people. They're all pr pieces to be read by their media fans.

[becca3891]

My thought is Josh's second, third, or fourth rounds of infidelity.  There is only so much forgiveness for that in the human heart and only so many times a person can hear the usual fundie platitudes before realizing this does not work.  She's only completing round one and hasn't seen it fail yet.

I still wonder if he'll be able to pull it off. I know he wants to -- I don't believe for a second that he's repentant. He was caught, which is far different from just confessing! But I can't even imagine the tight leash Boob is going to have him on now. No more traveling for his gravy train job. No more being in DC and away from Boob and the family's prying eyes. He's going to agree to having an "accountability partner" and getting away on his own is going to be next to impossible, I think. So he may basically be forced into line.

[SometimesBites]

I don't think any of their "birthday greetings' are intended for the birthday people. They're all pr pieces to be read by their media fans.

I couldn't agree more. And this one especially reads that way. Dear Viewers: Even our two-faced, backslapping creeper firstborn could stay on the television gravytrain if we all pretend together!

[yogi2014L]

So I read " I Fired God" this weekend and now I completely totally 100% understand why NONE of these women leave. It was a total eye opener into the cult. Everyone on this board should read it. These people are dangerous and crazy and I don't think Boob is the biggest threat to Anna or any of the J slaves- the cult network is huge and insane.  I have been following the Duggars for years and thought I had a good handle on the cray but nope. The book is amazing. Go read it.

 

I think Anna will need a complete mental breakdown to even consider leaving. I think she will though one day, maybe when Josh gets into trouble again,  with the support from her escaped siblings. Prissy has no chance,

[Aja]

So I read " I Fired God" this weekend and now I completely totally 100% understand why NONE of these women leave. It was a total eye opener into the cult. Everyone on this board should read it. These people are dangerous and crazy and I don't think Boob is the biggest threat to Anna or any of the J slaves- the cult network is huge and insane.  I have been following the Duggars for years and thought I had a good handle on the cray but nope. The book is amazing. Go read it.

 

I think Anna will need a complete mental breakdown to even consider leaving. I think she will though one day, maybe when Josh gets into trouble again,  with the support from her escaped siblings. Prissy has no chance,

Awesome. I have less than 100 pages to go on my current novel and was having end-of-book panic because I don't have another one lined up...UNTIL NOW! I'm really looking forward to reading this. 

 

And still no sign of the Quiverfull Garbage Pail Kid (tm MichaelK)? How are we supposed to witness the power of Christ's forgiveness if they're keeping him under wraps? Probably they're just waiting until the premiere gets closer. It's all pretty impeccably timed. 

[louannems]

So I read " I Fired God" this weekend and now I completely totally 100% understand why NONE of these women leave. It was a total eye opener into the cult. Everyone on this board should read it. These people are dangerous and crazy and I don't think Boob is the biggest threat to Anna or any of the J slaves- the cult network is huge and insane. I have been following the Duggars for years and thought I had a good handle on the cray but nope. The book is amazing. Go read it.

I think Anna will need a complete mental breakdown to even consider leaving. I think she will though one day, maybe when Josh gets into trouble again, with the support from her escaped siblings. Prissy has no chance,

I've also read I Fired God. Another good read about cult-driven patriarchal religion, also told from a daughter's perspective, is "Girl At The End Of The World"". By Elizabeth Esther Edited March 4, 2016 by louannems

[kaleidoscope]

"I Fired God" should be added to the must read list!  It left me with chills.

[Tabbygirl521]

And still no sign of the Quiverfull Garbage Pail Kid (tm MichaelK)? How are we supposed to witness the power of Christ's forgiveness if they're keeping him under wraps? Probably they're just waiting until the premiere gets closer. It's all pretty impeccably timed.

Perhaps Josh still has a heart for side women. He may not yet be broken down enough to be freed.

I watched a bit of a documentary today about "conversion therapy" for gay men. One horrifying account told of the aversion techniques that were attempted. God was invoked a lot by the "therapists." I wonder if anything similar happens at Jesus Jail. I mean, I could just lock myself in a room with a bunch of hell fire preaching on an endless loop and save myself a whole lotta dough, if that is all the "treatment" they offer.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Tabbygirl521

[Obsidian]

So I read " I Fired God" this weekend and now I completely totally 100% understand why NONE of these women leave. It was a total eye opener into the cult. Everyone on this board should read it. These people are dangerous and crazy and I don't think Boob is the biggest threat to Anna or any of the J slaves- the cult network is huge and insane.  I have been following the Duggars for years and thought I had a good handle on the cray but nope. The book is amazing. Go read it.

 

I think Anna will need a complete mental breakdown to even consider leaving. I think she will though one day, maybe when Josh gets into trouble again,  with the support from her escaped siblings. Prissy has no chance,

I read it last week. It absolutely does show why someone like Anna would think she should not even entertain thoughts of leaving, not feel she's able to leave, not want to live outside the cult - I mean family - and not feel she's entitled to demand respect from Josh, even for her children. When the author was dissatisfied, she tried harder to be a good wife/woman/mother. Since the idea has been raised that Anna feels guilty and responsible (at least partly) for Josh's behaviour, it would follow that she'd think that the way to make it better for her and M1-4 would be for her to improve and become even more extreme in her thoughts and behaviours.

[Marigold]

Where the heck is Josh Duggar?

Is he hidden away in some jail cell? Remember the Get Smart show where Max walked through all those doors? I think jim Bob has Josh hidden away like that...he wants Josh to disappear, at the very least, while J&JCO is airing.

[kokapetl]

Where the heck is Josh Duggar?

Is he hidden away in some jail cell? Remember the Get Smart show where Max walked through all those doors? I think jim Bob has Josh hidden away like that...he wants Josh to disappear, at the very least, while J&JCO is airing.

The new Josh (a double) is still healing from his Smuggarplasty.

[Churchhoney]

 I could just lock myself in a room with a bunch of hell fire preaching on an endless loop and save myself a whole lotta dough, if that is all the "treatment" they offer.

 

But then you wouldn't be performing free labor and providing object lessons about the goodness of the RU Jesus off of which the owners of this scamatorium could profit.

[Westiepeach]

"I Fired God" should be added to the must read list!  It left me with chills.

Just bought it. Being downloaded to my iPad as we speak.

[Maharincess]

Just bought it. Being downloaded to my iPad as we speak.

My Kindle as well. I'm at the end of the book written by Sue Klebold (the Columbine killer mom) and when I'm done with it, I'm starting this one.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Back to lurking now.

[Vermicious Knid]

Anyone who has to proclaim themselves Christian just raises a huge red flag for me. That usually means these kind of people, who are truly dangerous and evil. I've know that for years, but then I've never had the association of Christian = Good.

 

And this is why every woman also needs to read A Handmaid's Tale.That's what the fundamentalists would like to do, what they are trying to do right now.

[becca3891]

So I read " I Fired God" this weekend and now I completely totally 100% understand why NONE of these women leave. It was a total eye opener into the cult. Everyone on this board should read it. These people are dangerous and crazy and I don't think Boob is the biggest threat to Anna or any of the J slaves- the cult network is huge and insane.  I have been following the Duggars for years and thought I had a good handle on the cray but nope. The book is amazing. Go read it.

 

I think Anna will need a complete mental breakdown to even consider leaving. I think she will though one day, maybe when Josh gets into trouble again,  with the support from her escaped siblings. Prissy has no chance,

"I Fired God" was a must-read for sure. (Unlike some of you, I ordered the paper copy from Amazon because I am addicted to the feel/smell of books!) But yes, it does help us understand the layers of reasons keeping Anna where she is.

[crazycatlady58]

AND legislate us sinners into their version of Christian sharia law. You know - for Jesus.

Use your voting rights carefully.

Not all Christians want to take away anyones rights. I am a Christian and belive in same sex marriage, that a women can do anything she wants and get the pay she deserves. While I may not agree with abortion I do not want repeal or change the laws that are on the books now. Please do not tar every Christian with the same brush.

[Fuzzysox]

The new Josh (a double) is still healing from his Smuggarplasty.

When Marco Rubio steps down he can just be Josh's double.

[Barb23]

"I Fired God" was a must-read for sure. (Unlike some of you, I ordered the paper copy from Amazon because I am addicted to the feel/smell of books!) But yes, it does help us understand the layers of reasons keeping Anna where she is.

I just ordered my paper copy of "I Fired God" from a used book site for same reason & cost. Yay, I got their last copy. Also ordered "Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk" recommended on the Small Talk thread. I was surprised to see the Duggars & 19 kids & C were mentioned in the synopsis of "I Fired God". Too bad we can't get a copy of "I Fired God" for Anna & the rest of the J'slaves. They could read it secretly by flashlight under the covers in the girl's dorm since there's no Jilly Muffin around to snitch them out.

On a side note, I love ordering &receiving books, as well as reading them. I've said it before, but it's too bad the Duggar kids will never experience these types of feelings. With 19 kids, there has to be a subdued reader or two among them.

[bigskygirl]

Please take the book reading discussion to another place. Leave the discussion on Josh and Anna. Thank you.

[becca3891]

I must have missed something -- both my comment and the person's below me directly referenced Anna and Josh's situation in the context of the book discussion. You'll have to help me understand how these rules work as I'm not understanding how we were at all off topic.

Edited March 6, 2016 by becca3891

[frenchtoast]

Because we read all the posts in the topic and not just the last two posts. The posts were about book recommendations and orders, not much about Josh and Anna.

 

If we really want to get nitpicky--were the books mentioned on the show? Did Anna read the book on the show? Did the Duggars mention the books in the media, social or otherwise? The book discussion is barely tangentially related to Anna. When the conversation becomes essentially a book club discussion we turn the discussion back to the actual subject of the topic, Josh and Anna. Book discussions are more than welcome in the Small Talk Prayer Closet.

[Arwen Evenstar]

I was wondering the same thing....where is Smuggar hiding ou?

Is he back?

Is Goody Smuggar incubating their 5th blessing?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Maybe since the Duggars have actually been quieter than usual, maybe they gave learned the value of not posting every annoying and boring thing they do.

I hope we won't be running out of snark.i have to admit I'm way more into the humor of this forum than anything the Duggars say or do,

[GeeGolly]

Maybe, just maybe, the radio silence is because JB has learned that the 'lesser than' secular audience is not so 'lesser than' after all.

 

 

Sorry, I was having a moment. Please disregard my crazy talk. ;)

[Marigold]

I think josh is locked up tightly while the season of J&JCO is running. I swear Josh is hidden far, far into the depths of the Duggar compound.

He probably gets food pushed through a crack in the door. He is allowed a toilet break and one of the siblings watch him. He has a Bible, a notebook, pen and highlighter. He sleeps on the floor on a blanket. Jim Bob probably tried to handcuff him to a pole but josh found that sexually exciting so Jim Bob ditched that idea.

[Mrs. P.]

I wonder if JimBob and Michelle realize that there is something seriously wrong with Josh. As a young teenager her touches his sisters inappropriately. As an adult he spends money on encounters with hookers and joins an adultery website. That is so fucked up. Do they not see it?

[Marigold]

I wonder if JimBob and Michelle realize that there is something seriously wrong with Josh. As a young teenager her touches his sisters inappropriately. As an adult he spends money on encounters with hookers and joins an adultery website. That is so fucked up. Do they not see it?

I think they see it now.

They know something is wrong with Josh but they don't understand psychiatric issues. They say it is a spiritual problem but deep down, they know something isn't right.

[Aja]

Whoops, totally missed that we're not meant to be talking about the book here. I'm moving it to the Duggars and their ways thread.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Aja

[GeeGolly]

I think josh is locked up tightly while the season of J&JCO is running. I swear Josh is hidden far, far into the depths of the Duggar compound.

He probably gets food pushed through a crack in the door. He is allowed a toilet break and one of the siblings watch him. He has a Bible, a notebook, pen and highlighter. He sleeps on the floor on a blanket. Jim Bob probably tried to handcuff him to a pole but josh found that sexually exciting so Jim Bob ditched that idea.

Sounds like you're describing their prayer closet. Maybe they made Josh his own in one of the sheds.

[NewDigs]

Who's in the treehouse?

[flyingdi]

You know I think they should just recast Josh. Bring in another actor for the part.

[Joe Jitsu913]

I wonder if JimBob and Michelle realize that there is something seriously wrong with Josh. As a young teenager her touches his sisters inappropriately. As an adult he spends money on encounters with hookers and joins an adultery website. That is so fucked up. Do they not see it?

I think they're in major denial. Jim Bob and Michelle would have to admit on some level that their parenting failed miserably. Jim Bob already suffers from inadequacy and I don't think his delicate ego could handle another blow. They have their blinders on and are pretending this is just a spiritual issue rather than psychological. Nothing a little prayer can't fix, right? Josh will be cured from his problems and if he's not, he better pray harder.

They are putting a square peg into a round hole with Josh. Trying to mold him into the image of a faithful husband and father but it keeps failing and Jim Bob would never admit that Josh is morally corrupt. ALL of the Duggar offspring better get married ASAP, have babies ASAP and like it! Josh was married off to Anna because obviously marriage, sex and babies will cure his problems. Except it won't and Jim Bob will continue to push this lifestyle down Josh's throat until Josh either leaves Gothard altogether or continues his philandering ways in secret. Forever loathesome of his parents, Anna and the M'kids.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Joe Jitsu913

[JoanArc]

Who's in the treehouse?

 

I'll have you know it's an arboreal prayer closet/molester quarantine zone.

 

 

I think they're in major denial. Jim Bob and Michelle would have to admit on some level that their parenting failed miserably.

 

Yes, and I don't think this has EVER happened.

[Marigold]

I don't think that Jim Bob and Michelle think their parenting failed. They think they were excellent parents. JOSH made bad choices...Satan built a fortress in his heart.

I bet they both know deep down that Josh isn't normal but won't admit that openly. Fundamentalists tend to think mental health problems trace back to Satan but Jim Bob & Michelle do get out more than the average lunatic Fundamentalist so they might have some clue about psychiatric issues.

But they don't for one second, think it was anything they did or didn't do.

[Talky Tina]

Do you all think Josh isn't "normal" because of something inside of him or because of the weird, warped way he was raised? Or a bad combination of both?

I personally don't think any of these kids are normal.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Talky Tina

[Fuzzysox]

Ok I have a question, what kind of work do the RU people do? I'm wondering if they got sent to help close down a Hobby Lobby in a Chicago suburb? The store closed but on my coupon board people mentioned that the store was going to be all packed up and the merchandise would go to the other remaining stores in the area.

I can see them being used as free labor.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Fuzzysox

[Arwen Evenstar]

Do you all think Josh isn't "normal" because of something inside of him or because of the weird, warped way he was raised? Or a bad combination of both?

I personally don't think any of these kids are normal.

Talky T,

No way for any of us to know for sure, but it seems like a bit of both. That said, even given the bat shit crazy upbringing of Fundies, they don't all turn out like Joshie.

And I think your assessment that none of them could be normal after such an upbringing is spot on.

The only way to know is if Josh was given a court ordered psychiatric evaluation ...but the records would likely be sealed by the motorcycle lawyer who sent Danica packing.

It's the eternal debate of nature vs nurture

Edited March 8, 2016 by Arwen Evenstar

[Marigold]

I agree.

I think it's a mix of nature and nurture.

[Talky Tina]

Thank you for your responses. I'm new here and everybody is so nice. It's rare to find that on the internet.

Nobody knows where Josh is? I hate that I feel a tiny bit sorry for him but I just can't help myself. What he did to his sisters and the other girl was unforgivable in my opinion but I can't help but wonder if it would have still happened if he'd been raised in a more "normal" way.

I just can't imagine being a teenager and having those normal, hormonal teenage feelings and urges and being made to tell your parents about your dirty thoughts and being told how wrong and bad those feelings are. Then being told that if you have those normal sexual urges, it's bad and evil if you, uh...relieve yourself by your own hand so to speak.

The normal things that other boys his age were feeling and experiencing were off limits and evil in his family.

I don't think I'm expressing myself very well here. It's hard to explain what I mean and why I kind of feel bad for Josh. I don't fully feel bad for him but a tiny part of me just can't help it.

[becca3891]

Do you all think Josh isn't "normal" because of something inside of him or because of the weird, warped way he was raised? Or a bad combination of both?

I personally don't think any of these kids are normal.

 

Thank you for your responses. I'm new here and everybody is so nice. It's rare to find that on the internet.

Nobody knows where Josh is? I hate that I feel a tiny bit sorry for him but I just can't help myself. What he did to his sisters and the other girl was unforgivable in my opinion but I can't help but wonder if it would have still happened if he'd been raised in a more "normal" way.

I just can't imagine being a teenager and having those normal, hormonal teenage feelings and urges and being made to tell your parents about your dirty thoughts and being told how wrong and bad those feelings are. Then being told that if you have those normal sexual urges, it's bad and evil if you, uh...relieve yourself by your own hand so to speak.

The normal things that other boys his age were feeling and experiencing were off limits and evil in his family.

I don't think I'm expressing myself very well here. It's hard to explain what I mean and why I kind of feel bad for Josh. I don't fully feel bad for him but a tiny part of me just can't help it.

It's probably impossible to know because of course, very sadly, plenty of people molest their family members who didn't grow up in a Duggar-like environment. BUT, I absolutely think their purity-obsessed ideals can backfire. To be told that masturbation and even thinking about sex is a sin is just dangerous and going to backfire. Not that this means molestation can ever be excused -- but I think it has probably emotionally damaged all of them.

[Churchhoney]

Thank you for your responses. I'm new here and everybody is so nice. It's rare to find that on the internet.

Nobody knows where Josh is? I hate that I feel a tiny bit sorry for him but I just can't help myself. What he did to his sisters and the other girl was unforgivable in my opinion but I can't help but wonder if it would have still happened if he'd been raised in a more "normal" way.

I just can't imagine being a teenager and having those normal, hormonal teenage feelings and urges and being made to tell your parents about your dirty thoughts and being told how wrong and bad those feelings are. Then being told that if you have those normal sexual urges, it's bad and evil if you, uh...relieve yourself by your own hand so to speak.

The normal things that other boys his age were feeling and experiencing were off limits and evil in his family.

I don't think I'm expressing myself very well here. It's hard to explain what I mean and why I kind of feel bad for Josh. I don't fully feel bad for him but a tiny part of me just can't help it.

 

I don't think you're at all alone in this thinking.

 

I have two distinct and pretty opposite feelings about Josh, too. I've pretty much loathed him from the first time I saw him because of the smugness and arrogance I thought he radiated (and those early specials, which I just looked at recently, were after the molestation, so he seemed clearly unregenerate despite everything). But at the same time, I feel very bad for any kid who's raised by his nutso, psycho-controlling and -narcissistic parents and in the Gothard cult, because any kid is going to have horrible warping influences from that and be deprived of any chance to fully develop his or her own potential.

 

 

I think Josh may be by nature a pretty jerky person, but he was also dealt a rotten hand as a kid. For me, there's not much alternative to both disliking him intensely and feeling very sorry for him at the same time.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Churchhoney

[bigskygirl]

Josh is not the first kid to have bad parents and a crappy childhood. Millions of people can say the same thing, but they did not molest their sisters and others, or they did not cheat on their spouses while running around saying certain groups are child molesters or causing all the evilness in the world. Josh profited off his parent's famewhoreness. JB and Michelle failed their children big time, but I do not put all the blame for Josh on them. In my opinion, Josh would have turn out the same way with a normal childhood and decent parents.