Before I even start, I realize that everything that I'm about to say is basically supporting what I'm 'soapboxing'...But I'm hoping someone can explain the behavior.

I had posted a while ago that we took Jon & Kate off our Tivo. It was a pretty quick post, nothing mean about either of them - I didn't really think there was a need. I think I said something to the effect of "I won't say anything here that hasn't been said somewhere else already". But at the time I wrote it, it was a "topic" of my day, our house, my life - so I blogged about it. Which I think is what a lot of bloggers do.

Unrelated to that, I spend a unhealthy amount of time perusing trashy celebrity websites; People, US, Radar Online, and TMZ to name a few. And not so trashy - EW and TWOP. I like my television shows, and I like movies - although I don't get to see as many as I like.

What I'm confused about is this. If everyone is SO pissed off at these two, and are essentially demanding that this show be taken off the air; spouting that they are exploiting their children, they are horrible people and they are only doing this for the spot light and their 15 minutes...

Why do they continue to give them their 15 minutes?

The posts about this family on the trashy websites have hundreds of comments. Hundreds if not MORE. Is it really so hard to understand that if you want the celebrity to die around someone - then maybe you should stop paying attention?

There's also this really popular website that is dedicated to them - but not in a good way (which I'm not going to name because I fear hate mail). I'll admit, I've looked at it quite a bit. And for the most part, they do make good points, and it isn't filled with just a bunch of crazy people screaming I HATE KATE...But what kills me is that the biggest thing they stand behind is boycotting the show - but they run detailed SHOW RECAPS on the website!

Maybe its just clearer to me than some. If I don't like something on t.v., I turn the channel. I don't buy billboard space and make a stink. I have enough shit going on in my life that I don't have enough to time to take on a "cause" as silly** as some reality show. Not to mention that they are only feeding into the one thing that keeps them on the air.

I guess I don't get it.

**Heading off the hate mail. REALITY SHOWS are silly. Not, I repeat, NOT eight small children. Those children are darling and precious of what I've seen and do not deserve any of this. Kids are resiliant and I hope that one day they all write tell-all books and make millions and live plush lives.

12 comments:

King of New York Hacks said...

I'll watch them when they appear on that show INTERVENTION...because that I would laugh at...and then I'd know their children are safer.

ashley said...

I don't hate Kate. Everyone thinks she is a total beast, but hell, if I had 8 kids I'd probably be just like her. You can't let the pack run wild and someone has to be in charge. Jon is a wimp and a total douchebag. Huge doucher.

minivan soapbox said...

@Ashley - I certainly agree to a point - Not to mention...Regardless of what happens behind closed doors - it would kill me to find my not even ex-husband running around with 22 year olds....And having them sleep over in my house with my kids.

Aunt Becky said...

I find them fascinating, but, like you said, not in a good way. But I don't tend to seek out information about them, because I think they're just kind of sad.

I also don't watch the show. But, you know, I was all over the Britney circus. She's my girl, Britney.

The Women's Colony said...

If they aren't willing to stop themselves it seems someone (and the public would be a logical choice) should stop them.

They've totally thrown away a happy life for the limelight. Why would any want that?

-B said...

But doesn't it seem that the only way for the public to stop them from making spectacles of themselves is to STOP WATCHING the spectacle?

mumma boo said...

You're not alone - I don't get it either. I think once they got on the celebrity hamster wheel there was no way for them to get off of it.

Kelsi said...

ditto! People need to give J&K a rest, change the channel and let them figure things out w/o all of us involved.

DKC said...

So true. And also true of our society that even when we are screaming for them to get off the air...we can't look away. We trash "celebrities" for their downfalls - and still hit every gossip site we can. Kind of sad.

Before the blow-out I caught the show now and again, so me not watching it now is not a big deal. I do wish they would go away for the benefit of those kids though.

Meg said...

I have never really "gotten" the whole idea of that show. Cos I need a reminder that even on my bitchiest, most horrible parenting days, there is someone out there who has it worse? Bite me!

*sigh*...it'll die down eventually. I hope.

SmartAssMom said...

I'm so guilty of watching the show when it comes on instead of boycotting like I think everyone (else) should.

I'm just a reality tv whore.

I do NOT record the show, though. That's a big step for me.

Swistle said...

I think it's because people are kind of.....dumb. Like, I read People magazine, and people are always writing letters about WHY IS THE MAGAZINE GIVING 8 PAGES TO BRITNEY AND 1/2 PAGE TO SOMEONE NO ONE REMEMBERS??? or else they're all WHY 8 PAGES OF BRITNEY AND NOT ABOUT SOME REGULAR REAL-LIFE PERSON??, and I'm always like, "Really? You don't understand this?"