# News Flash: Arkansas Woman Gives Birth to 16th Child--Wants More **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947 "2005-10-12T20:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/81 "2005-10-14T13:00:58Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Long hair is sexy! Have you SEEN the photos? This poor woman hasn’t changed her hairstyle in the past 100 babies. Oh? It hasn’t been 100 babies yet? Well, it seems like it has… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/82 "2005-10-14T14:30:26Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > Have you SEEN the photos? This poor woman hasn’t changed her hairstyle in the past 100 babies. > > Oh? It hasn’t been 100 babies yet? Well, it seems like it has… :dubious: Actually, looking at the pictures I was stunned at how attractive they both were, especially in the early pics. I always had this concept in my head about the religious zealots being rather, well, not that attractive. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/83 "2005-10-14T14:47:01Z")
Anyone else see them on “The Early Show” this morning? After seeing their interview, I still think they’re okay. I will say one thing: those were some of the best-behaved children I’ve ever seen on a TV interview. They talked to the parents and the oldest son. The oldest boy talked about how they help look after the younger children, and said he felt it was good practice for when they have children of their own, and felt it was a good bonding experience for the family. Hannah Storm also insisted on listing all the children’s names and mispronounced half of them. She pronounced Jinger as though it rhymed with Zinger. The dad complimented the mom and credited her with a job well-done in how she handles that many kids. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who forces his wife into submission. Of course, this was a five-minute interview, so things could be different at home. By the way, I think if their eyes looked funny in a picture, it must have been just the lighting. The children all looked very normal and cute. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/84 "2005-10-14T14:57:02Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > These people are commonly known as successes in the evolutionary game. Actually I think that won’t be determined until their kids have kids. After all, if all their kids are so traumatized by growing up in such a large family (not that I’m saying this will necessarily or even probably happen) that they decline to have children of their own, the Duggars can’t be said to have passed on their genes to the larger population. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/85 "2005-10-14T19:01:57Z")
Heck, I know quite a few families with 10, 12, 14 kids. But they are Hasidic Jews, so they keep to themselves, so they don’t cause this big uproar. They’ve been having these big families for generations. And you know what? They manage just fine. Ed ---
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/86 "2005-10-14T19:39:02Z")
Nothing is wrong with instilling your own personal values into your children, but I think there is something wrong with not allowing your children to think for themselves and be able to form their own opinions about the world. These children have absolutely no access to obtain any sort of information outside of what their parents allow them to read/see. The “field” trips they take do not substitute real world experience, and the children are under the close supervision of their parents and siblings. None of the children are essentially allowed to do anything without another family member present. As for no Internet allowed in the house, yet they have a family website… beats me. If you are curious, go to [duggarfamily.com](http://duggarfamily.com). Sorry I don’t know how to make an HTML link. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/87 "2005-10-14T20:36:37Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who forces his wife into submission. Of course, this was a five-minute interview, so things could be different at home. Agreed on second point. If five minutes of pleasantries were meaningful in any way, psychologists would be a hell of a lot more insightful than they typically are after the first session. Duggan Dad creeps me out, but there are even creepier things in this world. I say leave them alone to have kid 19, 22, and 34. I might even send burkas for the girls. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/88 "2005-10-14T21:29:13Z")
I also saw the documentary. I sat with my mouth agape, like I was watching a train wreck. At that time they only had 14 kids, but still! The Duggans are _extremely_ organized. Every child knows their job, and the older kids pitch in to help the younger ones. I think the thing that impressed me was that the Duggans had planned everything to the penny. I don’t think they’re hugely rich, not with that many kids, but I got the feeling they’ve owned their own businesses and are self-sustaining. The children seem well-behaved, and mom seems to be rather calm and collected. As long as they’re not on welfare or food stamps, they can have another 20 kids for all I care. I’ve seen too many women have five kids by four different men (all of whom are nowhere to be found) who are a lot worse parents than the Duggans. Plus, they got married when she was 17, and they had their first child when she was 21. Since they’re still married they must be doing _something_ right. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/89 "2005-10-16T21:26:04Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I guess that will be Gods way of saying, “Your quiver is FULL.” You know how people who have huge numbers of cats or dogs are considered to be crazy cat collectors by most everyone? If I had 16 cats I bet everyone would think I lost my marbles. “Collecting” kids seems even crazier to me since humans are more difficult to take care of. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/90 "2005-10-16T22:56:38Z")
16? Wow! My hat off to her. I just had my first kid, and although she’s the nicest, quietest, happiest kid I’ve ever seen I am still about to come undone just had my first kid, happiest undone 16 hat her, narf!.. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/91 "2005-10-17T16:18:13Z")
Two pages & it has to be this conservative C’tian who says… “it’s not a clown car; it’s not a clown car; it’s not a clown car…” ? Seriously tho, the daughters do need more training than to be wives & mothers, and I bet in actuality, they probably will have a lot of marketable skills (hell, efficient managing of a household can be training for lots of lucrative careers). Anyway, if they are caring & nurturing & provide for their own, God bless 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/92 "2005-10-17T20:16:33Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Two pages & it has to be this conservative C’tian who says… > > “it’s not a clown car; it’s not a clown car; it’s not a clown car…” ? Well, only if you’re not actually reading the thread. Look up the top of the page. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/93 "2005-10-17T22:51:18Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > This family seems perfectly capable and as long as the children are properly cared for, loved, and educated, there is nothing wrong with having a large family. Oh no? We need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that the U.S. can support the same population density as Europe. Europe has no deserts. Almost the entire western half U.S. _is_ a desert, at least for the purposes of sustained agriculture and habitation by massive numbers of humans. Our water supply is just about tapped out as it is. And this is without even getting into the question of how much more Americans consume than others do. BTW does anyone have a link to that family website? ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947/94 "2005-10-31T04:37:43Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > BTW does anyone have a link to that family > website? [Old one](http://www.jimbob.info/index.htm). [New one](http://www.duggarfamily.com). [Family album](http://www.jimbob.info/pictures.htm). [Typical day](http://www.duggarfamily.com/articles/typical-day.php). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-arkansas-woman-gives-birth-to-16th-child-wants-more/325947.md?page=4)