I'm really uncomfortable with the way the media is jumping on Jon and Kate and judging them. I can't think of anything more horrible than having other people examine your marriage and grade you.

Yeah. I mean, I've watched their show, actually most of the episodes (I have a weakness for really bad reality TV, I admit), and when I saw them on the cover of People magazine, it was just, "Huh? When did they go from reality show on cable to People magazine material?"

I can't think of anything more horrible than having other people examine your marriage and grade you.

Started the moment they went on air. They came to us with their relationship.

Who are Jon and Kate? I mean, would I know them from some other place/cultural touchstone? Because they're all over the place now, and it seems like they just came out of the aether, like bandom.*

*(Okay, when *I* became aware of bandom's existence, it seemed like one day it wasn't there and then the next it was, like some collective brain decided all at once that MCR was LJ icon-worthy. [Which they are.] I realize that bandom existed before I knew of it; but with most fandoms, I became aware of them gradually, not all at once. But with bandom, it was all at once. And that's how Jon and Kate seem also. But not as pretty as MCR.)

They were the subject of a couple of documentaries on TLC for having popped out multiple sprog.

Then it became a series, in part because Kate is a raging shrew.

Started the moment they went on air. They came to us with their relationship.

I don't care. I don't think that justifies the type of arrogance and contempt that I'm seeing. This may just be my opinion, but the marriage thing is hard enough without millions of unqualified people judging your interactions.

They had twins, and then sextuplets. And for the past few years, have had a weekly reality series on TLC. Which, until this year, was usually things like fun outings while Kate freaked out about every bit of dirt. (When they were in Disney World, and a three-year-old girl spilled some ice cream on her shirt, Kate was crying, "She's ruined! She's ruined!" as she tried to clean her up.)

Yeah, but Dana, they can't have it both ways. They can't parade their crap on television, then whine about the public intruding on their private lives and not expect fallout.

They can't parade their crap on television, then whine about the public intruding on their private lives and not expect fallout.

t shrug I still don't think it justifies the things people are saying. She's an ugly bitch. They're horrible people. The children are spawn. It's her fault. It's his fault. They should have aborted some of the kids. He should beat her because she's so mean. And so on.

haven't watched any o them on tv. Won't. Can't. I pretty much have problems for a lot of reality shows -- I value privacy. I really can't even justify watching-- because I would feel hypocritical.

and from what I have observed -- marriages are a mystery. I know why mine works, i can guess why others work, but there are a whole bunch out there that are incomprehensible.

I still don't think it justifies the things people are saying.

I think that many of the people are completely out of control, but the relevant difference between my parents' marriage and theirs is that they told the out of control people about theirs. And they told me (or, more accurately, my TiVo) and that's more than just leaving your house with the door open and hoping no one talks trash about your decorating style. It's inviting people in, including ones who are nasty.