The Lonely Js Club: James, Jackson & Johannah

[Absolom]

Wasn't it one of the nonsense tabloids who carried that tale of Kendra starting out with one brother and switching?  I tend to doubt there is much if any fact in it.

[Genevrier]

3 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

Maybe it'd actually be easier. Isn't there some rumor that Kendra and one of the twins were sniffing about each other and then JB or someone removed the twin and inserted Joe into the "relationship" because Joe was older and needed a spouse more...and voila? Apparently it was all the same to Kendra.

If you find a desperate fundie girl/family with a not-so-secret desire to ride the Duggar fame train, maybe having interchangeable sons would be an advantage. Let the suitor fam get a whiff of Duggarness and then just palm off whichever 10-year-old/balding-old-man you're more desperate to unload at that moment. 

How old is Kendra’s sister? Maybe they have her in the queue for one of the other boys.

Edited January 1, 2018 by Genevrier

[Sew Sumi]

17 or 18, depending on her birthday. Definitely of courting age in their circle. Remember, Marjorie Jackson was only 17 when the Josiah courtship was announced.

[Churchhoney]

31 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Wasn't it one of the nonsense tabloids who carried that tale of Kendra starting out with one brother and switching?  I tend to doubt there is much if any fact in it.

Yeah, I don;t think it has much credibility either. Unlike most of the rumors I see in those things, though, this one makes a story that I love. ;  )

[saylubee]

2 hours ago, Absolom said:

Wasn't it one of the nonsense tabloids who carried that tale of Kendra starting out with one brother and switching?  I tend to doubt there is much if any fact in it.

The only reason I even believed it at all is because I’m pretty sure Kendra and a twin were photographed at one of the early weddings sitting next to each other.  I think that was also the season that they started pimping Pastor Caldwell and his mechanic-mentorships with the Duggar boys.  Then we didn’t really hear anything about Kendra and the Pastor until she started courting Joe publically.

But I still think Kendra/the Caldwell’s were sniffing around the Duggar’s for a courtship and she crushed on Joe the most.

[Temperance]

5 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

17 or 18, depending on her birthday. Definitely of courting age in their circle. Remember, Marjorie Jackson was only 17 when the Josiah courtship was announced.

I think/hope they won't do that again (court at 17), especially since they got burned last time. I think TLC would be reluctant to show a wedding for a person who isn't 18. 

[Sew Sumi]

They could put off a wedding until she turns 18, which I think is fairly soon, if it hasn't already passed. 

Who's the lucky JBoy? Josiah? Or one of the twins? Josiah is back on Insta, but he's posting very generic stuff with nary a whiff of a non-family female to be found. 

[floridamom]

ROTFLMAO....what's that?

[Spencer Hastings]

17 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

17 or 18, depending on her birthday. Definitely of courting age in their circle. Remember, Marjorie Jackson was only 17 when the Josiah courtship was announced.

I always forget about poor Marjorie.  I wonder if she ever stops and thanks her lucky stars that she dodged several bullets.  She could be the very young mother of at least two Duggar spawn right now. 

Edited January 1, 2018 by Spencer Hastings

[Churchhoney]

8 hours ago, floridamom said:

ROTFLMAO....what's that?

rolling on the floor laughing my ass off 

So...I'm excited because that was the goal of my post, and the kind of goal I very seldom achieve. lol

8 hours ago, Spencer Hastings said:

I always forget about poor Majorie.  I wonder if she ever stops and thanks her lucky stars that she dodged several bullets.  She could be the very young mother of at least two Duggar spawn right now. 

I wouldn't be surprised if thanks for that was part of her prayers every single day. Her parents' prayers, too, maybe. 

Edited January 1, 2018 by Churchhoney

[BitterApple]

I don't know if you guys saw this, but three days ago Caleb joined the "I'm Not Dating Jana Duggar" boys club. Apparently, he felt the need to address a one-day tabloid rumor that surfaced weeks ago and nobody's cared about since. This poor girl won't have a shred of dignity left by the time she hits 30:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1757851857599496&id=753181671399858

*Mods, Caleb encouraged everyone to share the post and his FB page is public, so hopefully it's okay to link this.

[Lunera]

1 hour ago, BitterApple said:

I don't know if you guys saw this, but three days ago Caleb joined the "I'm Not Dating Jana Duggar" boys club. Apparently, he felt the need to address a one-day tabloid rumor that surfaced weeks ago and nobody's cared about since. This poor girl won't have a shred of dignity left by the time she hits 30:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1757851857599496&id=753181671399858

*Mods, Caleb encouraged everyone to share the post and his FB page is public, so hopefully it's okay to link this.

I swear this is like the 2nd time he has posted something about the Jana rumors being untrue. This guy loves attention,  nobody was even talking about him.

There's an article from October where he and his brother Jacob deny the rumors.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/jana-duggar-courting-news-the-williams-siblings-deny-rumored-relationship-with-oldest-single-duggar-woman-201407/

Edited January 1, 2018 by Lunera

[Sew Sumi]

His profile lists him as a Public Figure. Excuse me while I ??????

What a douchebag. Jana dodged a bullet with this loser.

[BitterApple]

13 minutes ago, Lunera said:

 This guy's loves attention,  nobody was even talking about him.

I had no idea he'd already posted something earlier. What a famewhoring loser. He's acting like the paparazzi are camped out on his lawn hoping to catch sight of Jana sneaking into the house. If this is the caliber of men Jana has to choose from in the Fundie dating pool, no wonder she's staying single. 

[Churchhoney]

8 minutes ago, BitterApple said:

I had no idea he'd already posted something earlier. What a famewhoring loser. He's acting like the paparazzi are camped out on his lawn hoping to catch sight of Jana sneaking into the house. If this is the caliber of men Jana has to choose from in the Fundie dating pool, no wonder she's staying single. 

I suppose this is attributable not just to a fundie dating pool but to a dating pool of fundies who want to be friends with a family led by JB and M.

I guess it isn't surprising that the super-annoying, super-jerky Duggs attract super-annoying super-jerky "friends." But it is kind of horrifying, when you think that these are the people their kids are constantly exposed to.

No wonder the parents do so well with the message that the world is a terrifying place, filled with people who will drag you down to hell, and that you should be filled with fear of it and distaste for it. The caliber of companions they expose their kids to certainly makes that seem a very likely proposition, I'm guessing. 

Edited January 1, 2018 by Churchhoney

[mythoughtis]

To be fair, google Jana’s name. His is all  over what shows up. 

[Churchhoney]

50 minutes ago, mythoughtis said:

To be fair, google Jana’s name. His is all  over what shows up. 

Who the heck are all these prevaricating "sources"? They can't all be Amy. Or can they? 

Edited January 2, 2018 by Churchhoney

[Temperance]

2 hours ago, mythoughtis said:

To be fair, google Jana’s name. His is all  over what shows up. 

Yeah I agree. I would get tired of having it written everywhere I was dating someone I wasn't. Or someone who turned me down.  Maybe she was in a getting to know, and she decided not to go further. 

His statement was a lot better than the last guy's statement, because he appears to be laughing at the picture of his underwear and not at Jana.  He also appears to know a few things beyond bible verses that's nice. (Considering he wasn't born during Bush I, he must have been taught somewhere that read my lips was something Bush I said.)

I'm confused by the reference to his brother Jacob. The last guy who was not courting Jana was Jacob Wilson. This guy is Caleb Williams. Does he have a brother Jacob or is somebody mixing them together?

[PikaScrewChu]

7 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

Who the heck are all these prevaricating "sources"? They can't all be Amy. Or can they? 

Probably a poster named GrammaDugger somewhere on the internet.

[GeeGolly]

The 'sources' are pictures. If Jana is shown in a picture with a man under 30, they're dating. Even if they're sitting at a long table and can't even see each other. The list of guys Jana isn't dating is long. She needs to carry a little sign on a stick saying Not Dating, and pop it up every time a picture is being taken.

[flyingdi]

Someone in another thread mentioned that Jana portrays herself as all sweetness and light.  I have to say I sort of disagree with this.  I don't think Jana portrays herself as anything other than a blank slate and wanting nothing to do with the show she's grown up on.  In fact, I think Jana tries very hard to make sure she's not seen as interesting at all!

[lascuba]

4 minutes ago, flyingdi said:

Someone in another thread mentioned that Jana portrays herself as all sweetness and light.  I have to say I sort of disagree with this.  I don't think Jana portrays herself as anything other than a blank slate and wanting nothing to do with the show she's grown up on.  In fact, I think Jana tries very hard to make sure she's not seen as interesting at all!

YES! The fact that she's a blank state is why so many project this sweetness image on her, but I don't think there's anything to back that up, and some evidence that the opposite is true. She's the one the kids are threatened with if they misbehave, for one thing. Yes, she's the family's workhorse and that's unfair, but being a hardworking doesn't automatically mean "sweet" or even "good."  She hates the spotlight so she'll likely  never have a social media presence, but if she did it's going to be funny when people turn on her. Because I suspect she's the most hardcore fundie of the kidults.

[Arwen Evenstar]

Something popped up on my YouTube about Jana and Caleb being in a courtship. I have had a steenkeeeng head cold that started NYE, so I didn’t feel like checking it out.

if someone wants to check it out, please do.

Edited January 2, 2018 by Arwen Evenstar

[Celia Rubenstein]

1 hour ago, flyingdi said:

Someone in another thread mentioned that Jana portrays herself as all sweetness and light.  I have to say I sort of disagree with this.  I don't think Jana portrays herself as anything other than a blank slate and wanting nothing to do with the show she's grown up on.  In fact, I think Jana tries very hard to make sure she's not seen as interesting at all!

 

33 minutes ago, lascuba said:

YES! The fact that she's a blank state is why so many project this sweetness image on her, but I don't think there's anything to back that up, and some evidence that the opposite is true. She's the one the kids are threatened with if they misbehave, for one thing. Yes, she's the family's workhorse and that's unfair, but being a hardworking doesn't automatically mean "sweet" or even "good."  She hates the spotlight so she'll likely  never have a social media presence, but if she did it's going to be funny when people turn on her. Because I suspect she's the most hardcore fundie of the kidults.

I was the one who said Jana projected a sweet image but that I wasn't buying it. She's got all those kids in fear of her wrath for a reason!

I think the sweetness perception has more to do with how Jana looks than how she acts. The soft, pretty face, the demure little smile. But I've seen flashes of impatience in her eyes that suggest there is another side to Jana that she keeps hidden.  And let's face it - Michelle would probably not have turned over the running of ....well, everything to Jana if Jana didn't follow company policy. And we all know what company policy is for this bunch.

I think it sucks that all these guys feel the need to make sure the world knows they aren't dating Jana Duggar. But part of me wonders ... how do I say this delicately? I wonder if there isn't something about Jana that makes them want to distance themselves from her. And make sure everybody knows it.  I tend to put 99% of the blame on them for being jerks, but I have that small doubt I can't shake. There is something about Jana I just sort of don't like. 

There, I said it!

[zenme]

I'm going to disagree on the Jana not being sweet thing. I think she's the most maternal of all of them, and the way she treats her brothers and sisters--like Joe and the makeup at his wedding, like the way  she was most concerned for Anna when it was discovered that Joshley had a pervy double life...I think she's got a lot of responsibility put upon her and she's charged with keeping everything together. You can't keep the Duggar circus under control by being lax in consequences or not being firm. I feel for her.  As the oldest girl, she's sacrificed the most and up until a few years ago I think she was a Journey to the Heart regular, probably trying to rid herself of impulses not to want to strangle mom or just plain run away.  I think she's involved in one of those strange mother/first daughter dynamics  thing going on with Michelle.  I feel for her.

[flyingdi]

35 minutes ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

 

I was the one who said Jana projected a sweet image but that I wasn't buying it. She's got all those kids in fear of her wrath for a reason!

I think the sweetness perception has more to do with how Jana looks than how she acts. The soft, pretty face, the demure little smile. But I've seen flashes of impatience in her eyes that suggest there is another side to Jana that she keeps hidden.  And let's face it - Michelle would probably not have turned over the running of ....well, everything to Jana if Jana didn't follow company policy. And we all know what company policy is for this bunch.

I think it sucks that all these guys feel the need to make sure the world knows they aren't dating Jana Duggar. But part of me wonders ... how do I say this delicately? I wonder if there isn't something about Jana that makes them want to distance themselves from her. And make sure everybody knows it.  I tend to put 99% of the blame on them for being jerks, but I have that small doubt I can't shake. There is something about Jana I just sort of don't like. 

There, I said it!

She's either the most hardcore fundie or trying desperately to prove to Ma and Pa that she doesn't have doubts about their faith.  I don't like or dislike her,  she's just sort of blah to me.

I don't think an older child should ever be charged with disciplining her siblings even if she helps raise them.  That's just asking for trouble IMO.

This is in response to Lascuba too.  I think Jana learned early that perhaps attention isn't always a good thing.

Edited January 2, 2018 by flyingdi

[lascuba]

1 hour ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

 

I was the one who said Jana projected a sweet image but that I wasn't buying it. She's got all those kids in fear of her wrath for a reason!

I think the sweetness perception has more to do with how Jana looks than how she acts. The soft, pretty face, the demure little smile. But I've seen flashes of impatience in her eyes that suggest there is another side to Jana that she keeps hidden.  And let's face it - Michelle would probably not have turned over the running of ....well, everything to Jana if Jana didn't follow company policy. And we all know what company policy is for this bunch.

I think it sucks that all these guys feel the need to make sure the world knows they aren't dating Jana Duggar. But part of me wonders ... how do I say this delicately? I wonder if there isn't something about Jana that makes them want to distance themselves from her. And make sure everybody knows it.  I tend to put 99% of the blame on them for being jerks, but I have that small doubt I can't shake. There is something about Jana I just sort of don't like. 

There, I said it!

I agree that her looks have a lot to do with it (like Jessa's looks + her attitude get her branded a bitch--if she had the same exact personality but with Jinger's face, people wouldn't hate her as much and instead would celebrate how non-fundie her attitude is). And I also agree that there's likely something about her personality that's partly responsible for guys being so outspoken about not dating her. I actually don't think those guys are jerks for doing so, because if I were to see my name all over the internet over something that wasn't true, my first instinct would be to correct that information.

[Churchhoney]

I'd be surprised if there wasn't some quite nasty, bitter, furious, rage-driven part of Jana's personality.

What else could you expect from a person who's been sent away to Gothardland numerous times to learn to keep sweet about the fact that she's spent most of her time since around age 7 caring for the house and raising the bajillion children of a couple of terminally stupid, emotionally and spiritually abusive assholes, at least one of whom thinks it's amusing to fake-fuck on a mini-golf course with offspring and people they're dating as witnesses and TeeVee cameras rolling? And now Jana apparently isn't considered good enough to go out to dinner with her married siblings but quite good enough to be chief babysitter when the new set of blessings is repeatedly dumped off at the tin house. Seems to me there'd be something seriously wrong with anybody who wasn't good and pissy under those circumstances.

The only way she wouldn't have some really sharp-edged part of her personality is if she'd been lobotomized, if you ask me. And they wouldn't have done that because then she wouldn't be as good at chores. 

If any Duggar kid is altogether sweet, happy and unruffled at this point, said kid must be brain damaged, if you ask me. 

That family's lucky that they haven't yet turned out an ax murderer, in my opinion. 

[bigskygirl]

4 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

I'd be surprised if there wasn't some quite nasty, bitter, furious, rage-driven part of Jana's personality.

What else could you expect from a person who's been sent away to Gothardland numerous times to learn to keep sweet about the fact that she's spent most of her time since around age 7 caring for the house and raising the bajillion children of a couple of terminally stupid, emotionally and spiritually abusive assholes, at least one of whom thinks it's amusing to fake-fuck on a mini-golf course with offspring and people they're dating as witnesses and TeeVee cameras rolling? And now Jana apparently isn't considered good enough to go out to dinner with her married siblings but quite good enough to be chief babysitter when the new set of blessings is repeatedly dumped off at the tin house. Seems to me there'd be something seriously wrong with anybody who wasn't good and pissy under those circumstances.

The only way she wouldn't have some really sharp-edged part of her personality is if she'd been lobotomized, if you ask me. And they wouldn't have done that because then she wouldn't be as good at chores. 

If any Duggar kid is altogether sweet, happy and unruffled at this point, said kid must be brain damaged, if you ask me. 

That family's lucky that they haven't yet turned out an ax murderer, in my opinion. 

Dwerp Boy may not be a true Duggar, but I think he may end up doing something violent. Jill may snap at any minute in my opinion. I am surprised one of the older Duggar sons have not went off the deep end. Josh is a molester, cheater, and porn watcher, but his actions may be the tip of the iceberg. I would not be surprised if there are more family secrets in the closet JB does not want to come out.

[bigskygirl]

I also would not be surprised if JB would have one of his offspring have a lobotomy to control his or her bad behavior. In fact, I would be surprised if he thought of doing it to Josh to get him to control his urges of molesting his own sisters, but he is the oldest and first born son, so a lobotomy would have been out of the question. The sad fact is he would do to one of his daughters because having a daughter bringing shame and embarrassment to the family would be worse in his pathetic mind.

[birkenstock]

I don't get that the feeling that the kids are scared of Jana.  I have no doubt that she disciplines them and they know she expects them to behave, but I don't get the sense that they fear her.  Joy was still a junior member of a buddy team and just starting to take an authoritative role in the house when she threatened to get Jana.  Joy  just kept telling them to obey her and didn't do anything to divert their attention or have them view singing as a fun activity (I don't blame Joy, they were probably all over it and only doing it for the cameras).  I viewed it like a babysitting sister threatening to tell their parents when they get home from work. The littles still act like kids around Jana and aren't stilted like they are with Michelle.  One tap on the arm from Michelle caused Josie to look bashful and stop reaching for a piece of cake during the cake tasting and Jordyn looks petrified of her.  Unless TLC released behind the scenes footage we'll never really know.  

I would be more worried if Jana was only sweetness and light everyday having to deal with her family and also film a reality show that asks her extremely personal questions.  TLC used footage that shaped the audience perception of the girls' personalities.  I don't think Jana is trying to trick the audience.  I hope that she does have some sass in her and gets to spend time snarking with friends.   

The guys may simply want to distance themselves from online speculation and criticism.  The laughing emojis may be making fun of those who have paired them with Jana rather than laughing at the idea they would date her.       

[GeeGolly]

I'm sure a big reason guys state they're not dating Jana is because if they're single they want that known or no girl they're interested in will go near them. And I'm guessing if they're not single their girlfriends don't want the world thinking their boyfriends are cheaters. They probably are bragging a bit too, thinking they're so awesome that tabloids are connecting them to a famous Fundy.

[lascuba]

Didn't Jana attend JTTH as a counselor (or whatever they're called there) the last several times she went? I don't think that would have been the case if she was being sent there for programming. I think she quite liked it there and wanted to "pay it forward," as it were. Maybe it was just an escape from the daily grind of the TTH, or maybe she's grateful that it made her more of a spiritual automaton, but it's clear attending hadn't been a punishment for her for a very long time.

I don't think she deliberately puts forth a false image of herself, I think she takes pains to not project anything at all about her self, and because she's quiet and hard-working on camera, people pin the sweet label on her. I'd actually like her more if I thought she was a bit of an asshole.

[GeeGolly]

There was an episode where Michelle described Jana as a chatty and opinionated child and now she "saves that for mommy and daddy". She obviously has been trained to stay quiet. She has also given little hints that she questions things. I think there is way more to Jana than we all see.

I vote Jana most likely to shake the Duggar cloak. I just can't decide if she'll be the pearl wearing soccer mom or the organic eating earth mother. Either way she'll do it quietly and under the radar.

(no shade thrown at soccer or earth moms)

Edited January 2, 2018 by GeeGolly
spelling

[louannems]

34 minutes ago, lascuba said:

Didn't Jana attend JTTH as a counselor (or whatever they're called there) the last several times she went? I don't think that would have been the case if she was being sent there for programming. I think she quite liked it there and wanted to "pay it forward," as it were. Maybe it was just an escape from the daily grind of the TTH, or maybe she's grateful that it made her more of a spiritual automaton, but it's clear attending hadn't been a punishment for her for a very long time.

I don't think she deliberately puts forth a false image of herself, I think she takes pains to not project anything at all about her self, and because she's quiet and hard-working on camera, people pin the sweet label on her. I'd actually like her more if I thought she was a bit of an asshole.

In the book the girls"wrote",. Jana describes in glowing terms her love of JTTH.  Such a blessing, bla bla.  I do think Jana is extremely fundie and I'm sure she had it really bad as a toddler and young girl. In Michelle's book, she described how she started blanket training just after the first twins were born. I find Jana robotic and unwilling to show us who she is and she also seems depressed.

One thing, (among many) that has always bothered me is in the 2006 police report, it was stated that ALL the kids got the rod.  That means kids in their teens, Jana included.  If JB and Michelle actually believed in spanking teens, that would really show just how crazy their beliefs are.

[flyingdi]

There was an episode where Jim Bob took the kids to what I think was the Creation Museum and Jana expressed slight doubt that everything happened the way it was written.

I think being the oldest girl, Jana probably got the royal what for when she expressed any opinion!  Remember Jill was probably assigned to be Jana's talking head buddy so she could tell us what Jana was really trying to say.

Personally, all in all, I think Jana has just given up!  And that's sad to me.

[ginger90]

Quote

That family's lucky that they haven't yet turned out an ax murderer, in my opinion. 

Some interviews of people who knew suspects in nasty crimes seem to include, “XYZ was always so quiet.”. 

Momma and daddy have set themselves up.

[zenme]

I think she's shy and hates being on camera. I can't even take a photo without  having a near panic attack.  

[BitterApple]

I agree it's hard to get a good read on Jana because these kids have never been allowed to express an authentic thought or emotion in their entire lives. Everything is amazing, wonderful and surreal ALL.THE.DAMN.TIME. The only one who comes close is Jessa and even she's still relatively shackled because of her dependence on Boob. 

[Scarlett45]

6 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

I'd be surprised if there wasn't some quite nasty, bitter, furious, rage-driven part of Jana's personality.

What else could you expect from a person who's been sent away to Gothardland numerous times to learn to keep sweet about the fact that she's spent most of her time since around age 7 caring for the house and raising the bajillion children of a couple of terminally stupid, emotionally and spiritually abusive assholes, at least one of whom thinks it's amusing to fake-fuck on a mini-golf course with offspring and people they're dating as witnesses and TeeVee cameras rolling? And now Jana apparently isn't considered good enough to go out to dinner with her married siblings but quite good enough to be chief babysitter when the new set of blessings is repeatedly dumped off at the tin house. Seems to me there'd be something seriously wrong with anybody who wasn't good and pissy under those circumstances.

The only way she wouldn't have some really sharp-edged part of her personality is if she'd been lobotomized, if you ask me. And they wouldn't have done that because then she wouldn't be as good at chores. 

If any Duggar kid is altogether sweet, happy and unruffled at this point, said kid must be brain damaged, if you ask me. 

That family's lucky that they haven't yet turned out an ax murderer, in my opinion. 

Basically this. Also, Jana was the only older girl that wasn’t molested by Josh, and probably feels a lot of guilt that she couldn’t protect the younger ones. I think Jana knows what a massive dirt bag her brother was and never bought the forgiveness angle. 

Like or dislike Jana I believe she loves the little kids more than their own parents, and is devoted to their well being. 

Edited January 3, 2018 by Scarlett45

[lascuba]

4 hours ago, flyingdi said:

There was an episode where Jim Bob took the kids to what I think was the Creation Museum and Jana expressed slight doubt that everything happened the way it was written.

I think being the oldest girl, Jana probably got the royal what for when she expressed any opinion!  Remember Jill was probably assigned to be Jana's talking head buddy so she could tell us what Jana was really trying to say.

Personally, all in all, I think Jana has just given up!  And that's sad to me.

I never thought that comment by Jana at the museum was an expression of doubt. What she said is a really common talking point among fundies..."I know what those heathens say sounds logical, but it's totally not." I think she was just repeating what she had heard multiple times in an attempt to minister to the audience.

[Arwen Evenstar]

1 hour ago, lascuba said:

I never thought that comment by Jana at the museum was an expression of doubt. What she said is a really common talking point among fundies..."I know what those heathens say sounds logical, but it's totally not." I think she was just repeating what she had heard multiple times in an attempt to minister to the audience.

THE CREATION MUSEUM IS NOT A SCIENCE CLASS! Repeat as many times as necessary.

[EarlGreyTea]

On 12/31/2017 at 5:08 PM, PikaScrewChu said:

Gotta get the older ones married off before the younger ones I suppose. JD is the self proclaimed Bachelor Until the Rapture(TM) so it was either Joe or Josiah next.

 

This concept has a large kernel of truth. It's essentially the plot of The Taming of the Shrew. The father in that play refuses to let the younger girl marry before the older one, so hijinks ensure. I think it's partly because then people will wonder what's wrong with the older one. I've heard that in some cultures it's still a widely practiced concept. I guess it made sense in older times, and in other cultures, where marriage is arranged or comes with an economical aspect. I wouldn't be all that surprised if it's an unspoken rule in fundieland too, in which case JB and Michelle have really, really screwed over Jana and JD, the former more so. Although the Bateses had kids who married out of order, they have by and large married off all the oldest ones. Even Michael at least had Brandon for a fiance while her younger sisters married. Look who Tabby Paine had to settle for!

[Arwen Evenstar]

2 minutes ago, EarlGreyTea said:

. It's essentially the plot of The Taming of the Shrew. The father in that play refuses to let the younger girl marry before the older one, so hijinks ensure.

Unlike Katerina, Jana was forced to dance barefoot on the wedding days of four of her sisters.

[queenanne]

14 hours ago, flyingdi said:

Someone in another thread mentioned that Jana portrays herself as all sweetness and light.  I have to say I sort of disagree with this.  I don't think Jana portrays herself as anything other than a blank slate and wanting nothing to do with the show she's grown up on.  In fact, I think Jana tries very hard to make sure she's not seen as interesting at all!

It’s very hard to be raised in this sort of religious dynamic and maintain a spark of personality.  Maybe Jessa can be a snot because she’s not sensitive and cowed by this type of treatment, and maybe Jana is one of those for whom mere disapproving words are enough to make shrink into a little metaphorical ball.  Don’t underestimate how crushing it can be for a more sensitive person to be scolded and told they should keep their mouths shut whenever they say something with any spark of liveliness that might ‘embarrass ‘ the hive mind.

[Arwen Evenstar]

7 minutes ago, queenanne said:

Don’t underestimate how crushing it can be for a more sensitive person to be scolded and told they should keep their mouths shut whenever they say something with any spark of liveliness that might ‘embarrass ‘ the hive mind.

THIS! It’s Standard Operating Procedure in the Duggarverse.

[flyingdi]

37 minutes ago, queenanne said:

It’s very hard to be raised in this sort of religious dynamic and maintain a spark of personality.  Maybe Jessa can be a snot because she’s not sensitive and cowed by this type of treatment, and maybe Jana is one of those for whom mere disapproving words are enough to make shrink into a little metaphorical ball.  Don’t underestimate how crushing it can be for a more sensitive person to be scolded and told they should keep their mouths shut whenever they say something with any spark of liveliness that might ‘embarrass ‘ the hive mind.

I agree but I do wonder if Jessa ever got the same treatment as Jana.  Out of all her girls, Michelle seems to favor Jessa and Josie.  I think Michelle quite liked Jessa's spark and was willing to nurture it and let Jessa keep it. I think Jessa reminds Michelle the most of herself.

[RedheadZombie]

14 hours ago, lascuba said:

YES! The fact that she's a blank state is why so many project this sweetness image on her, but I don't think there's anything to back that up, and some evidence that the opposite is true. She's the one the kids are threatened with if they misbehave, for one thing. Yes, she's the family's workhorse and that's unfair, but being a hardworking doesn't automatically mean "sweet" or even "good."  She hates the spotlight so she'll likely  never have a social media presence, but if she did it's going to be funny when people turn on her. Because I suspect she's the most hardcore fundie of the kidults.

I hate that this has gotten started again.  If Joy has indeed threatened the kids with Jana, it's because Jana is the one the kids respect and obey as a mother, and Joy is a friend/babysitter.  These children run to Jana when they need things, just like the Bateses run to Michael.  Why Michael gets to be an angel while Jana is a closet sadist is beyond me.  This young woman's life sucks enough without being portrayed as a horrible person.  And if there's any truth to the persistent rumor that Jana chooses not to marry because she fears for her younger siblings' safety and survival, she gets mad props from me.

 

5 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Basically this. Also, Jana was the only older girl that wasn’t molested by Josh, and probably feels a lot of guilt that she couldn’t protect the younger ones. I think Jana knows what a massive dirt bag her brother was and never bought the forgiveness angle. 

Like or dislike Jana I believe she loves the little kids more than their own parents, and is devoted to their well being. 

I agree that Jana carries survivor's guilt for having evaded Josh.  I would not be surprised if Michelle, JB, and even Jessa laid the blame directly on her shoulders.  Jana keeps out of the limelight as much as possible because she's not the famewhore like her siblings.  You also have to remember that Michelle already held a grudge against Jana as a fetus, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Jana bore the brunt of the most severe blanket training.  Josh was the favorite, and JD probably didn't have enough curiosity or energy to leave the blanket.

[RedheadZombie]

21 minutes ago, flyingdi said:

I agree but I do wonder if Jessa ever got the same treatment as Jana.  Out of all her girls, Michelle seems to favor Jessa and Josie.  I think Michelle quite liked Jessa's spark and was willing to nurture it and let Jessa keep it. I think Jessa reminds Michelle the most of herself.

Oh no doubt.  If Jessa had been allowed to go to real school, I'm sure she would have been a mean girl cheerleader, like I imagine Michelle was.  There's a reason Michelle has been repeating for decades that she has no recollection of meeting Jim Bob for the first time.

[Temperance]

1 hour ago, EarlGreyTea said:

This concept has a large kernel of truth. It's essentially the plot of The Taming of the Shrew. The father in that play refuses to let the younger girl marry before the older one, so hijinks ensure. I think it's partly because then people will wonder what's wrong with the older one. I've heard that in some cultures it's still a widely practiced concept. I guess it made sense in older times, and in other cultures, where marriage is arranged or comes with an economical aspect. I wouldn't be all that surprised if it's an unspoken rule in fundieland too, in which case JB and Michelle have really, really screwed over Jana and JD, the former more so. Although the Bateses had kids who married out of order, they have by and large married off all the oldest ones. Even Michael at least had Brandon for a fiance while her younger sisters married. Look who Tabby Paine had to settle for!

It's a real concept, but it's a dumb one. The dumbest example goes to the Brady Girls Get Married, where Jan and her boyfriend of two years have to wait for Marcia, who fortunately picks someone up at a cafeteria.