Also unlike most of you I had the misfortune not to have been able to bear children so when I see shows about big happy families with lots of cute kids, I am drawn in.
So your premise that they jumped at the chance to do they show so they could make money off their kids is way off base. There were numerous families. There have been several of these shows over the years. The Duggars caught on somewhat more than some of the others.
Also, I see a lot of sanctimony here. Most of you may be shocked to know that your children are not perfect angels when you are not around. I worked with Jr. High kids for years, tales I could tell would curl your hair. Fortunately most of them grow out of it and go on to live productive and healthy lives. Like Josh was trying to do.
I don't suspect that every Duggar kid is a perfect angel either, kids screw up, they make mistakes, they are corrected and yes even PROTECTED by their parents. The bias some ascribe to them for being about the money is not knowable. They agreed to do it because they felt it was a way to minister to other families. Other families that apparently will understand the trial, tribulations and joys of being responsible for so many of God's creations! That they have been able to make money and given their children more opportunities then they might have otherwise is to the better, I think.
For all the pontificating on here hardly anyone will admit to watching the show or the interview. I watched the interview. They were as sincere as I have ever seen them. I believe that they did their best. Josh after all is their oldest child. They have learned that even "good" children can and do fail. Now some 12 years after the fact I am willing to bet my house they are far more aware of what teenagers are capable of.
Defconw, repeatedly feeling up the privates of your sisters-—even a five year-old-—doesn’t fit the definition of “mistakes.”