Hi again my friend, rebotco! One of the things I enjoy most about these boards is that certain postings cause me to see things from a perspective I might not have otherwise considered. I really like reading all the diverse viewpoints, even if I don’t always agree with them. This will be my last lengthy post on this thread for awhile (I promise, everyone!!).
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebotco;3927648;
I think it is important for people to be aware of the circumstances common to the Dionne exploitation and the Gosselin exploitation. While a lot of aspects of their lives are certainly very different (more than 70 years separate them in life), many comparisons between the Dionnes and the Gosselins are eerily, disturbingly similar. Consider this:
The Dionnes were taken from their parents by the Ontario government and used as a tourist attraction for profit.
The Gosselins were put to work by their parents and TLC to film a TV show to be used as an attraction for profit. (The Gosselin children were also taken away from the extended family and friends who helped care for them early on.)
The Dionnes were cared for by three nurses, a housekeeper and two maids, and were guarded by three policemen.
The Gosselins are cared for by a series of nannies and a non-specific and ever-changing number of "girls" and "helpers." (Security for the children is unknown, but the mother is guarded by a man who carries her purses.)
The Dionne compound had an outdoor playground designed to be a public observation area.
The Gosselin property has a long driveway used frequently as a public observation area for photographers.
The Dionnes were viewed as a single unit and made to wear matching outfits.
The Gosselins were viewed as a single unit and made to wear matching outfits.
The Dionnes were taken out to play on a playground for 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day so that strangers standing behind a one-way screen in a viewing structure could gawk at and be entertained by them.
The Gosselins were filmed up to many hours a day so that strangers watching the screens of their HD TVs and computer monitors could gawk at and be entertained by them. (Testimony was given that TLC cameras also filmed the children in their bedrooms 24/7.)
Between 1934 and 1943, about 3 million people visited Quintland to view the Dionne children.
On June 7, approximately 3.4 million people turned on their TVs to view the Gosselin children.
The Dionne father sold souvenirs and photographs from a shop near the girls' nursery home.
The Gosselin parents sold photographs of the children for $20 a pop (cash only, thank you very much) at churches and speaking engagement venues.
The Dionne sisters were used to publicize commercial products. Sales of many products increased because of their promotions.
The Gosselin children are used to publicize commercial products and tourist attractions. Sales of products have increased because of their promotions (e.g., crooked houses).
After the Dionne parents won back custody of the girls, the family moved into a new 20-room mansion, which was paid for by the Quintuplet fund.
After their show became successful, the Gosselin family moved into a large home on 20+ acres, which was paid for by the work of the children.
The Ontario government and nearby businesses, combined, made hundreds of millions of dollars off of the Dionne children.
The parents, TLC, and sponsors of the Jon & Kate Plus 8 show, combined, have made hundreds of millions of dollars off of the Gosselin children.
The Dionnes lived at home until they were 18. After that, they had almost no contact with their parents.
The Gosselin outcome will be determined years from now in this matter.
The surviving Dionne sisters wrote that the exploitation they suffered in childhood ruined their lives. They passionately pleaded for parents of high order multiples to protect their children's privacy.
The Gosselin outcome will be determined years from now in this matter.
In 1998, the surviving Dionne sisters reached a monetary settlement with the Ontario government to compensate them for the exploitation they suffered.
The Gosselin outcome will be determined years from now in this matter.
In the final analysis, all of these children were put on display as curiosities for the amusement of others and as a means for others to profit off them. None of these children had a voice in whether they wanted to be used in this way. And none of them had any power to make the invasion of their privacy stop.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Spanish Philosopher, George Santayana
Have a great night, everyone.
