Jon & Kate + 8: Kate Supporters Are a Strange Breed
An Answer to the Many Comments Received About My Original Article
Thanks to this unbeknownst experiment in human nature and online psychology, I've drawn a number of conclusions about the type of person that supports Kate. Apparently, for Kate fans, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The following are some of my more amusing observations - consider this an extended answer to the hundreds of comments I received on my other article.
1. People assume I actually watch this show regularly. More accurately, they assume I sit there stewing and throwing popcorn at the TV out of anger at Kate. I've been told many times how I have no life and that I shouldn't watch the show if it aggravated me so much.
Now, here's the funny part. I don't watch the show. I've only seen it a couple times in passing and I've refused to watch it for a long time. My husband and I agreed that it is like watching a train wreck, and those are never fun.
After I wrote the article I was done with the whole topic, that is until hundreds of people (with lives, obviously) felt compelled to ruffle their feathers, stick out their cyber-chests and leave perfectly "sane" comments on my article. The irony here is thick.
2. People assume by my opinions that I'm "sanctimonious" or otherwise arrogant and that I'm a perfect wife and mother.
Is it any surprise that these people were the rudest and loudest of them all? They say that Jon and Kate are "real" people in a "real" marriage. To me, all this means is that they see Kate's downfalls in their own actions and personalities. They're just as messed up as Kate is, and feel guilty about seeing themselves in the mirror, so to speak. In short, I call it being socially-challenged. How so many people are blind to this, I will never understand.
So am I an elitist? I don't know and I really don't care, but I do admit to having an enormous amount of common sense and self-intuition. When I brought this topic up to my husband to see if I was the crazy one in all of this, he said, "Well, there are a lot of bad marriages out there, and there's plenty of men who settle with mean women with low self-esteem. I hear about it from my guys everyday at work!"
I would never dream of talking to my husband the way Kate does, and I don't treat my kids the way Kate sometimes does. This is my reality. So, I'm sorry. Maybe I was wrong to think that having a healthy marriage, well-behaved kids, and not being a jerk or a loudmouth is the American norm. In fact, I'm surprised I was able to find a man to marry me at all, what with my apparent lack of peppered personality.
3. People don't get that whether you have one kid or thirty, the stress that comes from having children does not mean it's acceptable to berate your spouse or talk down to your kids. This is called stress management or even anger management, people, and it's around for a reason. It was devised for people who lack common sense (or different levels of mental illness) when it comes to interacting with others under stressful situations. Go out and find ways to deal with your stress. Go fishing, go to the gym, have sex, whatever, just don't take your frustrations out on your spouse or children. Acting out constantly is inexcusable, yet there are those who say, "Don't judge until you walk in her shoes." That rationale is small-minded when we are talking about mistreating others in that context. Sorry, was that more common sense? Let me continue.
4. Kate's fans are overwhelmingly Christian, and not the unassuming kind. They are the type of Christians who boorishly and ignorantly assume that everyone they come into contact with, both online and in real life are Christians too. I couldn't help but shake my head at all of the judgment verses quoted from the Bible, as well as other snippets I could personally care less about, because I'm not Christian (shock I know, because all Americans are Christian, aren't they?). This leads directly to:
5. Most of her Christian supporters are judgmental hypocrites! The angry Christians did some of the strongest judging. Go figure. Those comments were surely written only for my amusement. Thank you for the laughs.
Why do I come off so brash? It's not because I torture myself with that show, or because I'm a hateful person, or because my mommy didn't love me enough. It's because I'm utterly astounded at the level of ignorance and complacency among Jon and Kate supporters.
The conservative crazies who think that Kate is one normal gal, or that her marriage is normal, need to get a clue (and possibly some counseling), because being a basket case is never normal. Sure, no person or no marriage is perfect, but not all marriages are dysfunctional. The point isn't to strive for perfection. The point is to strive to treat your loved ones as you would want to be treated. I didn't need a Bible to teach me that concept.
Then again, the word sadomasochist was created for a reason, and it might just be how Kate's supporters derive their sense of well-being. To each his/her own I suppose. I choose to live a happy, loving, and nurturing environment. And you?
Published by Alicia White
Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design. View profile
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- Jon & Kate Plus 8: Watch but Don't Judge
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123 Comments
Post a CommentWhy did Christian fans embrace Jon & Kate Plus 8 and behave badly online during the couple's divorce? Answer the challenge to shine or shred: http://www.jonandkateprayers.com/2010/03/will-you-shine-or-shred.html
Hm... The others are right. Reading this post, I got the sense that you are a very self-centered person (which is funny, because you are bashing on Kate for these very same reasons). I'd also say this whole article makes a pretty weak argument, even amidst all your great witticisms, because all you do is bash on the Kate supporters. If you want the Kate supporters to see your point of view, I don't think calling them out on it, (saying they are hypocrites or essentially dumb for liking her) will help you make your point. I'm not a mindless Kate supporter, but I'm not a hater as well. I'm simply trying to point out these things as a neutral person.
What it all comes down to is you're entitled to your own opinion, and others are to theirs. If you want others to consider your points, it is very, very unwise to treat the readers as if they were retarded.
If you're going to rewrite this with those things in mind, I look forward to it. =]
Holy cow! Who put you on your pedestal? Talk about being judgmental. You do the things you accuse Kate of, such as think anyone who has a different opinion than you is wrong. You are basing all of your judgments on snippets of their lives. Maybe, since you are so unbelievably wonderful, you should offer to instruct her the proper way to behave?
THANK YOU!!!!! This artical sums up EXACTLY how I feel about Kate and her fans.
Thanks for the great article! Anyone who thinks the marriage between Jon and Kate is something to look up to emulate has a pretty twisted view of love and marriage. I'm married and I'm a mom and I'm embarassed for Jon and those children. Kate needs professional help. No one would EVER allow the shoe to be on the other foot and watch a husband say the things she says. Everyone would be up in arms about emotional abuse. She is greedy, selfish and completely unaware of how lucky she is to have had eight healthy children. She takes the world for granted, uses people and throws them away when she gets what she wants. She needs a "reality" check and this show needs to be cancelled so these kids can have some semblance of a normal life. The other shoe will drop...mark my words.
This article is nothing more than an attempt to cash in on the page views. The original article made a big stink, and comments equal page views. It's all about the money. Give it a rest. This is beyond ridiculous.
I almost can't take reading anything more about the Gosselins. Yeah, its true, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, if you're someone that doesn't see anything out of line. As far as Kate having a parenting style that works for her, as one comment stated,..lets just see what the kid's opinion will be when they are grown and have the freedom and maturity to do and think whatever they wish. Some things have a way of back-firing, no, EXPLODING, in people's faces years later. And as for the notion of "having 8 children and attempting to do what she does", I would love to be so pampered and have so much help! People aren't watching the show carefully enough and remembering the hired help, as well as volunteers. I'm not bashing Kate, lets just say I know the difference between having a discerning eye, and passing judgement-and there is a difference. She's not a great mom, with all things considered, she's average.
I am a mother of 3 and also a Christian. I watched a few episodes because I wanted to get some ideas of things to do with my kids and I thought this show would offer that. No Christian family would allow their children to be filmed in underwear and throwing temper tantrums. When their children strike each other, no one sits and talks with them about this. To simply tell them to go to time out is not enough. Sometimes I notice that the children must go and say they are sorry and hug , that part is great. However I have never seen the parenting part. Often a couple of the children are focused on when they are angry and yelling at their parents. There is never a discussion with the children about speaking properly to their parents. Also, the parents seem to laugh at the matter. This is so sad. Although I find the children to be adorable, I do hope that PEOPLE stop tuning in so that these children can go about their private lives. I feel that in the future they will be embarrase
. I have never seen her be out of line with the children. People have their own way of talking to or disciplining their children. How they disciplining and raise their children work for them. They have really good children. Yes they throw tantrums, scream and whine, as do all children their age. But overall they are well behaved children. So, KATE!!! and Jon must be doing something right. Lay off of her. Or better yet, have 8 children and attempt to do what she does. Let's see how perfect you and your life would be!
(my posts are listed backwards so please read from the bottom up)
I had to learn that over the summer. My husband works for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and in June he had to direct a sports camp in Italy. I was left at home by myself with the kids for two weeks. I was a little worried because he had never been gone that long before. So, I decided that like Jon and Kate's home, my house needed to be on strict schedule. The time my husband was away went great. Because of the schedule I planned out, I was finally able to get in bed before 9pm. That was totally new to me, the small babies would usually keep me up much later (11pm-12am). With that said, although I can't relate to Kate on the level of 8 children, having more than 2 is a big job. And she handles it well. And Jon handles his role as the father well also.