Fundy Reaction Responses to Smuggar's Guilty Verdict

[HerNameIsBuffy]

1 hour ago, JermajestyDuggar said:

They got their start on the Duggar show. The only reason why United Bates of America was a show was because of their appearance on the Duggar show. It was kind of like a reality show spin off. But now they are going to pretend like all that didn’t happen. 

Sure.  Just like they pretend a picture of Nathan Bedford Forrest wasn't hanging in their "confederate room."  Besides the racism, who the hell has a "confederate room" when they have double digits of kids living in a small house.  

[Alisamer]

2 minutes ago, GiggleOfGirls said:

“…we are thankful for our justice system in its punishment of such evils” definitely reads to me as though they’re glad Josh went to jail for his crimes.

Yeah that. Plus I don't think I've seen any responses that say "We are praying for Josh in his new season of life" or whatever. It's all "Josh's family" or "Anna and the children". 

I think the older Duggarlings were either victims or disgusted by what he did to his sisters. The younger ones probably don't know him well enough to care much - he's so much older than them, plus once the run of baby girls started again they were being parented by the older sisters who knew to keep them away from him. So I doubt there's a whole lot of sadness for Josh himself. Probably some "well, he got what he deserved" or just plain relief, but not much concern about how hard life will be for Josh himself. 

[Mama Mia]

1 hour ago, breakfree said:

Honestly the Seewald's statement is the best I think we could possibly hope for from them. Taking the words in it at their most obvious meaning they do seem to be saying they agree Josh is guilty and at least that is something.

I think they worded it very well. It’s got to be incredibly difficult to come up with the right tone. It’s her brother. He did evil things that hurt people. He still has a wife and children who are part of their family who need support. Their kids and the younger M’s probably have the closest relationships of the little Cousins due to similar ages. It’s all hard. It sounds like they are glad he’s in jail. 

[louisa05]

Lori has spoken: 

Presumably her reaction to Bobye Holt’s testimony was to pretend it doesn’t exist. 

[Cam]

The Seewald statement doesn’t say that they were shocked or surprised when the charges were filed. They knew the case against Josh was not just possible but also probable. They’re glad the justice system finally nailed him and he will be punished. Their talk of the “unfathomable grief and pain” of Josh’s wife and kids is letting us know Anna is taking it very hard. Maybe even possibly finally letting the truth sink in that she married an axe murderer a pedophile. Who knows what went on between the sheets with Anna and Josh. He could have insisted she call him Daddy and use baby talk and other disgustingly creepy things that sicken her now.

[HerNameIsBuffy]

3 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

Lori has spoken: 

Presumably her reaction to Bobye Holt’s testimony was to pretend it doesn’t exist. 

I am an imperfect parent, but if they're going to say that about the Duggars I want ranked categories.  

[Alisamer]

That's surprisingly concise and sensible, for Lori. 

Guaranteed her next post will be something mind-bogglingly offensive or un-self-aware.

Lori, pointing out that they did as much as possible to sweep Josh's problems under the rug, therefore actually worsening them by not addressing them early, all while dismissing their daughters' experiences and doing little to protect them, is not "slander".

[imokit]

Re the Lori statement

I'd say that forgetting the details about your daughters being molested makes you by definition a pretty shitty parent.

That's not even looking at the rest of the stuff they've done.

[HerNameIsBuffy]

2 minutes ago, imokit said:

Re the Lori statement

I'd say that forgetting the details about your daughters being molested makes you by definition a pretty shitty parent.

That's not even looking at the rest of the stuff they've done.

Speaking of which, does anyone know if his campaign opponents are using any of this in their ads against him?

[JermajestyDuggar]

Lori is full of shit. She’s always talking about raising children the right way. The Duggars raised their kids in a Lori approved way. Yet here’s Josh. Lori can’t have it both ways. You can’t constantly blame all the world’s problems on parents raising children the wrong way. And then when they do it the right way and it turns out a monster, you just throw up your hands and say, “it’s not his parents’ fault!” 

[3KidsAndStopped]

57 minutes ago, louisa05 said:

Lori has spoken: 

Presumably her reaction to Bobye Holt’s testimony was to pretend it doesn’t exist. 

Here is Lori's award for stating the bleeding obvious 🏆

One prodigal certainly does not make anyone bad parents. But using your faith as a reason to emotionally, spiritually and psychologically browbeat your offspring into unquestioning and instant obedience, having more children you are capable of personally caring for or housing or PROTECTING, whilst parading them on national television as the epitome of an all american happy family most certainly does.

[Idlewild]

And good parents don’t ‘forget’ on oath about their daughters being abused.

Good parents don’t have to be sued to provide their children with remuneration for the work they put in to provide the parents with a comfortable lifestyle and many other privileges.

[Dandruff]

2 hours ago, xenobia said:

Ben just posted this on Facebook: 

This message irks me.  I realize he's a pastor and this is how he chooses to view things, but investigators and prosecutors caused the truth to be known, and a certain father-in-law appears to have funded the effort to prevent it.  Same guy who couldn't remember details of his daughters' abuse.  Same guy who's now posting about the situation being grievous.  Name begins with a J.  I sense a side-step and I don't like it, though - to be clear - I'm not against valid defenses being presented.

If it's a perfect deity's responsibility to cause the truth to be known then why didn't He/She/It let it be known before now or, even better, prevent those babies from being tortured and murdered to begin with?  These questions come up when it isn't acknowledged that there were people who bore enough power and responsibility to have been able to make a difference, and didn't, while others chose to follow the subsequent trail and confront the evil.

[Freejin]

4 hours ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

I wonder what Gil and Kelly felt about Carlin's name being in one of the texts he sent during the time he was downloading.  I know it wasn't about her, but just knowing someone was typing my daughter's name while doing that would sicken me.

Wait - what happened?

[Nutella Ace]

6 minutes ago, Freejin said:

Wait - what happened?

One of the text messages used to establish when Josh was at the car lot was a discussion with someone about a car for Carlin (possibly as a wedding present or something but not sure if I’m remembering that right). 

[louisa05]

Lori ramped it up. Not sure where she posted this. Got it off Reddit: 

[neuroticcat]

5 hours ago, FluffySnowball said:

I doubt we’ll get a statement from the Bates. Yes, both families know each other and it seems they used to be rather close, but the Bates would be stupid to highlight any connections to the Duggars now. They now have their own show and a much better public image, without any major scandals. So to keep their wholesome image, it’s best for them to stay quiet and post wedding pictures. And I’m sure Kelly is media-savvy enough to know this. 

They won’t post. It also reminds any half awake people that Gil is still IBLP and that however wholesome their instas appeal they were once ago frumpered up in matching dresses and giving the Duggars the side eye. I am surprised Carlin hasn’t at least done an inspiring Bible verse vague support post  simply because she claims to be Joy’s best friend.

[3KidsAndStopped]

Jill has posted an update on instagram and I have to say, she looks genuinely relaxed and happy. 

[FluffySnowball]

3 minutes ago, 3KidsAndStopped said:

Jill has posted an update on instagram and I have to say, she looks genuinely relaxed and happy. 

True, though her T-shirt has a telling message (maybe I’m splitting hairs now and am detecting meaning in everything, but it seems more than a coincidence  to me that she wears something with “no shadow you won’t light up”): 

[3KidsAndStopped]

Nice spot! 

[metheglyn]

14 minutes ago, FluffySnowball said:

True, though her T-shirt has a telling message (maybe I’m splitting hairs now and am detecting meaning in everything, but it seems more than a coincidence  to me that she wears something with “no shadow you won’t light up”): 

Whether it's at all related to her thoughts or not, she also mentions that it's in the 70s outside and decent weather after rain, so a good time to go for a walk with her dog and son. In contrast, Josh is now locked up and only able to look out on the weather if he has a window, and go outside when he's given permission to. His last full day outside of jail/prison was during freezing weather. So Jill's able to revel in the freedom of choosing to take a walk on a nice day, while Josh simply can't.

[shesinsane]

I read and reread the Seewald's statement, all I see is "CSAM is bad, and it greatly hurt Josh and his family." Which is technically correct*, CSAM is bad, and puts all the blame on the CSA materials, not the guy who downloaded and viewed them.

"We are thankful for our justice system in its punishment of such evils." 

They might be calling Josh evil, but I read this as be stating CSAM is evil, and they consider Josh another victim. Which is what I would expect from people in a cult, because they are unable to admit that despite all their rules, prayers, accountability, JOY, etc, the eldest blessing has gone bad. Very bad. Irredeemably bad for most of us, but if one views CSAM as the true evil, time in prison will give Josh the insight to renounce porn (yet again), leave it up to Jesus (again), and return to his home as if he was on a decades long business trip. 

*The best kind of correct. 

[HerNameIsBuffy]

1 hour ago, Freejin said:

Wait - what happened?

I can find the source in a little bit, but from memory one of the innocuous texts he was sending while waiting for his CSAM to download said something about having gotten the Versa in for Carlin.

It didn't say who the text was to, or if it was Carlin Bates, but as she's gotten cars from Josh before and how many Carlins do people know people think it was probably about a car he got for her.  No idea what she drives.

So it didn't involve her, but as a parent I'd be squicked out my daughter's name was even mentioned while he was doing that.

[EmCatlyn]

15 hours ago, zee_four said:

When I was 14 I wrote a 3 page note to my boyfriend about why we should lose our virginity with Bible verses. 

 

He was in a straight edge Christian punk phase (ahh the late 90s and very early 00s) an awesome teacher who got us all into the outdoors was Christian so he was emulating him. 

 

Needless to say it worked. Amen.

That was some note—3 pages, bible quotes and hormones.  How could he resist.😉

[Smee]

22 hours ago, Carrots said:

Breakdown by Sheila Gregoire - https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2021/12/my-take-on-josh-duggars-guilty-verdict-amnon-and-tamar-replayed/

TL;DR Jim Bob failed his daughters because conservative evangelical men are power hungry misogynists that think sons are more important. Everything blew up because he failed to listen and care in the first place.

Side note: I love that she calls King David in the bible a misogynist as well, this gets glossed over so often in favour of the "beloved by God" narrative.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm not familiar with Sheila Gregoire, but this part triggered the tears.

Quote

God is not honored by an abusive, destructive marriage staying together in name only, where people are systematically losing their sense of self... demanding that women stay in a marriage with a sexually addicted husband, enables the destructive activity to continue because the abuser bears no consequences. 

It's been a hard year. I didn't expect freejinger to play such a significant role in healing, but it has. You people are far more supportive to strangers on the internet than JB and Michelle were to their own daughters.

 

Anyway, back to the family statements. I think Ben's is better than JB's but not as good as the Dillards'. I don't know what they really think or feel, but clearly they're not willing to be outspoken enough to put Jessa's parents offside. There are many failings in this cult but ultimately (from what we know, at least) Josh's actions are the worst, and it is appropriate for them to focus on those.