It's like a freakin' plague.

[monkeybard]

Jon and Kate Plus 8 is bad enough.  Now TLC is premiering Table for 12.  Two sets of twins, the ad for Table for 12 says.  Two sets of twins, and then sixtuplets.  I would venture to guess that most people with only one set of twins would consider that to be plenty challenging.  Two sets?  That's pushing it, but it could happen.  But to reproduce at all after popping out four kids is nothing but selfish and irresponsible.  Stop, stop, stop putting these people on display!  Putting people like this on television implies that it is in some way acceptable that they have bred like rabbits.  It isn't.

Comments

[gigitrek.livejournal.com]

Hey, I (and many other people) would settle for one right about now!

I don't think anyone should be able to arbitrarily tell you how many children you can or can't have, but I would like some more responsibility from the IVF-related medical professionals, which is how the vast majority of cases occur. Make it mandatory for people to have counselling or something before they get additional IVF treatments.

The doctors should find out why parents want large numbers of kids in the first place, and how they plan to support them, not just pay for the IVF treatments. While they're at it, talk about why these parents feel adopting or fostering the additional kids isn't an option for them. That should avoid the crazy octo-mom phenomenon, and let people who genuinely just want big families be happy, too.

[reedfem.livejournal.com]

You need proof of income to buy a car or a house. Why not IVF? Kids are expensive.

[monkeybard]

Word.

[gigitrek.livejournal.com]

Potential adoptive parents have to prove all kinds of things, including income. I never understood why they wouldn't do the same for IVF patients.

[monkeybard]

Yes, yes! It all boils down to responsibility. Responsibility on the part of the parent. Responsibility on the part of the fertility docs. And I'm sure the docs would say it's the parents' responsiblity. Well, yes, it ought to be, but if people are going to behave in a deliberatel irresponsible fashion, then there needs to be some sort of check and balance on their actions.

[monkeybard]

I think I remember that scene from Parenthood. Sums it up very well, IMO.

Yeah, again, it comes down to responsibility. Follow your religion if you want. Just because I don't agree doesn't make it "wrong", but for crying out loud take responsibility! And just as much, teach responsibility. That's a concept that's been lost (at least in the U.S.) with the more recent generations. I can, will, and do blame much of that on the large percentage of Baby Boomers who had kids and taught them that they were "entitled" instead of instilling in them a sense of responsibility and a need to earn the things you desire.