Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Ask the Duggars: The Question I Hate Most

This topic idea comes courtesy of Angelique, thank you!

During the "Ask the Duggars" someone invariably asks the one question I dread most...not "are you going to have more kids," or "how do you handle laundry," or even "how do you handle meal times..." while we're all sick and tired of hearing those questions, and the many more that get repeated ad nauseaum, here's the one that makes me want to scream and throw a tantrum: "What do you think about the carbon footprint you and your family are leaving for future generations?"

Why does this bother me so much? There are many reasons, but the first reason is this: it's an elitist question; an "I'm better than you and you don't deserve to live on this planet while my family does." The people asking this question over and over and who make this argument on blogs and message boards over and over say they only have 2 kids and the Duggars are taking up the earth's resources that could be used for their children. Excuse me?? Why are their children any better and more important than the Duggar children? First of all, taking away the environmental component of the question, what it boils down to, is that these people are saying that because they only have 2.5 children, they somehow deserve the earth's resources before the Duggars do because they are somehow more prudent and wise. Elitist crap.

Ok now let's bring back the environmental component back in and discuss just how the Duggars do reduce their "carbon footprint," if in fact there actually is one. First of all, they buy as many things used as possible. Things most people would be throwing out and would be buying from new materials, the Duggars are buying used. The Duggars also heat their huge house with wood from their own land. They carpool--rarely do they go places with just one person in the car--how many of you can say that?

To be fair there are some things they do that do bother me. They do use paper plates and paper napkins. With their industrial washer they could do a load of dishes in 3 minutes. When they first moved in, Michelle said they were using regular plates and using the industrial machine, but after a few days they switched to paper plates. I'm guessing with so many kids it is probably easier--breakage? Once they are older it would be nice to have them using proper plates and washing them--they have wood-heated water so what's the big deal with washing?

So the Duggars do deserve to be here just as much as anyone else does. When you start to ask that question, you start to open a Pandora's box that gets scary. Who deserves the earth's resources and who doesn't? Do you really want to start asking that question? I don't think you do.

14 comments:

  1. I agree with this. With people being so ~green, they think it gives them some kind of entitlement to living on the Earth and using her resources. The Duggars are raising a family, and sorry they aren't considering something as trivial as a carbon footprint. I don't blame them for being a little less than interested or concerned about it, especially with the number of people they have- there are more important things for them to be concerned about, for example precious baby Josie. They aren't having children to deliberately effect anyone's space or resources, so step off people! Also the whole over population thing that people like to hang on to- they have adequate space where they are, no one is being compromised by an onslaught of Duggars, they aren't raging war on us. People just need something to talk about. They need something to criticize.

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  2. This is a great subject... and I hadn't thought about how elitest that question is and you're absolutely right. The asker has usually pre-judged the Duggars and is really saying by having that number of children you are taking something from us. People really struggle with the idea that the Duggars are givers not takers.

    The question at the moment that makes me see red is the health one - along the lines of doesn't Michelle think that her body is telling her to stop having children, she nearly died and Josie is ill - that's because Michelle is too old, had too many kids....... ad nauseum

    To me this attitude is one of justifying their opinion with a judgement on Michelle - based on a lie, but in a particularly nasty way IMO

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  3. not only that but i'm guessing that the girl who asked that question on the show would probably not have a problem with couples having 2 kids. lets see that's at least 18 adults along with the 19 kids for a total of almost 40 people opposed to the 21 duggars. that's 9 houses instead of 1. that's 9-18 vehicles just for the parents compared to the smaller amt. of vehicles that the duggars drive. and the duggar's carbon footprint is bigger how exactly?

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  4. Your position is very well thought out. The "carbon footprint" issue is from the Theosophists. These evil Luciferians are the core of the Lucis Trust which is the spiritual foundation of the United Nations.

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  5. Amanda..yes and all those families have homes full of useless yet "necessary keeping up with the Joneses" crap like wii's and flatscreens and computers in every room....it's THOSE families that bug me that ask that question...but they drive a hybrid Tahoe (a massive SUV that happens to be a hybrid that still only gets 22 mpg) so they think they are better than everyone else...

    ok so if i offended anyoen with flatscreens, computers and wii's i didn't mean to, i have tvs and computers in 3 rooms....but you get my point...it's the "holier than thou" thing...i was trying to point out by "you Duggars are leaving a huge carbon footprint" when the asker is forgetting to look at their own...and does a family of 3 really need a 3,000 sq foot house even though they can afford it? Ok let's pummel the rich! hahaha wow i'm on a roll aren't i...sorry folks..didn't mean to be mean with this one :)

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  6. First off -- I will admit to being "semi-crunchy" I do believe in people doing what they are comfortable with to preserve our resources - and most importantly, be good stewards of the earth God allows us to live on.
    However, I do not believe that family size factors into this at all.
    I do think the Duggar's do several things that would be considered "green" whether their motive is saving money or the earth - it doesn't really matter. They have been mentioned here - and yes, by taking hand me down clothes and buying used - yep -- bigger difference than recycling a few bottles. Less vehicles -- beats a hybrid (ok, I do want a hybrid - mostly because I'd love to save more on gas :) or living in Iowa I suppose I should drive a flex fuel vehicle...oh, back on topic :D)
    Along with Marybeth, I really wish they would use real dishes. You could whip them through that dish machine quite easily. There are plenty of less breakable options, and they would be easier for the kids to use and probably have less messes.
    Honestly, most of the "green" things we do at our house, are because they are cheaper AND work better -- (cloth napkins, towels, cloth diapers, reusable bags, water bottles, always take my own travel mug to the coffee shop, etc.) Do I do everything green? Nope, nor do I have the desire too. We all chose what is most important to us and go with it.

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  7. Great post. That question bothered me too. My question is to the girl...does she really know what she's talking about or does she parrot her teachers/professors/media source?
    And I too wondered about the paper vs real plate thing.

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  8. oh, another thing they do better than a lot of families that are so vocal about being green? The Duggar kids actually PLAY OUTSIDE!

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  9. Chipper you are SO right. I was taught that "outside" time helps kids sleep well at night. The Duggars appear to have TONS of toys and table games.

    That question was really embarrassing. How could she ask such a thing, with a straight face?? Would she prefer large families move to Mars? There were many questions that didn't get answered, but that on really floored me.

    TLC needs to have another "questions" episode. A more updated version.

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  10. To be fair there are some things they do that do bother me. They do use paper plates and paper napkins. With their industrial washer they could do a load of dishes in 3 minutes. When they first moved in, Michelle said they were using regular plates and using the industrial machine, but after a few days they switched to paper plates. I'm guessing with so many kids it is probably easier--breakage? Once they are older it would be nice to have them using proper plates and washing them--they have wood-heated water so what's the big deal with washing?

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    They would be having more water waste if they used nothing but real plates (theirs are the plastic plates you see on restaurant buffets if you look closely)

    You are also adding more chemicals to the waste water (soaps).

    If they had the right kind of furnace heating the water in the tubing under the tile (we don't know how they heat their washing and cooking water just how they heat the house) they could in theory use the paper plates as fuel as well. (but I doubt they do, I would though simply because I'm that cheap)

    Styrofoam though you can't burn like that it releases nasty chemicals when you burn it...

    Paper plates are also cheaper in the long run than washing as many plates as it would take for their family.... they buy them in bulk making them less than .01 per plate, vrs water and soap for washing them...

    The industrial washer is FASTER yes, but it uses almost the same amount of water and soap, and for a family of their size would take 4-5 loads just for the plates, cups and cutlery alone much less pots and pans they cooked with and served out of.

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  11. Of all the things that bother me about the Duggars, this is absolutely NOT one of them. I really have no problems with the amount of resources they use. Resources are not children. resources don't feel neglected in certian circumstances, or have their emotional needs left unmet.

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  12. I am tired of people spouting green nonsense. If people want to be truly green they would not live in large houses, they would not use electricity in large amounts and flush toilets would be replaced by composting ones. Buying something does not make you green.Growing your own food and living a sustainable lifestyle by not using fossil fuels to make your own energy, instead harnessing the natural fuels requires an investment SOEMTIMES depending on hwo simple you can live you can avoid commercial expense.. I know people who do it and would not go back. Of course they live on less than most people do but they have made that choice a choice few people in this world would make voluntarily.

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  13. Are you not familiar with the zero population growth movement?

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  14. How is having 3 Duggar familys

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