I thought we might try & keep a separate thread regarding this topic. I will transfer a few posts from another thread to here to help keep the conversation going on the same tracks so people don't have to repeat themselves.

I will just post the main ideas please do not be offended if anything get missed.
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Ivy wrote:

There are really deranged people out there! (not that this is something new!)

Amanda Abbington tweeted this after she defended Steven Moffat and is now getting death threats! I have no words!

Right. After this long winded tweet, I am putting this to bed once and for all. I am now receiving death threats. Some people want to kill me because I stuck up for a friend. Death threats. I mean, really? Are you serious? Some nameless, faceless cowards actually want me to die. What a wonderful world we live in. And all because of this: I don’t think Steven Moffat a misogynist. I don’t think he is a homophobe. What he is, is a thoroughly decent man, who, in my opinion, writes high quality drama that is hugely popular and continues to win awards. In my opinion. What I witnessed the other week was cyber-bullying at its most rampant.
Now, I consider myself a feminist. I am the first to champion women and I happen to work in an incredibly male-dominated profession where good, challenging, stand-out women’s roles are still dwarfed by the huge amount of amazing men’s roles. And where women still have to fight to be taken seriously and keep their clothes on. I am also a mother, first and foremost and I juggle those two careers precariously. Women are made to feel guilty for having children, not having children, working for a living, getting married, staying single, usually by other women, I hasten to add. I have been a professional actor for nearly twenty years and in that time I have been on the receiving end of misogynist behaviour more times than you can possibly imagine. I was sticking up for a friend, who, I felt had been bullied.
Now, if you don’t like Doctor Who or Sherlock or indeed, any of Steven Moffat’s writing then don’t watch it. If it upsets you to the point of sending him death threats, then don’t watch it. Be constructive, please, of course, I am all for that but when that criticism turns ugly (and I stress, the stuff I read had become incredibly offensive) then constructive criticism goes out the window and it becomes very personal and frightening. Last time I checked, death-threats were not in the least bit constructive.
I have recently just tried to stick up for a young actress who was being harangued on Twitter. It amounts to the same thing. Faceless bullying again. And it is in no way constructive. I sincerely apologise if I came across too strong with some of you. Twitter tends to have that effect on people. The internet can be a fantastic place or Hell on earth. My reaction, in hindsight, may have been a knee-jerk reaction. Maybe that’s because I was horrendously bullied as a child and so any sort of injustice and cowardly attack is heightened to me. Or maybe, I was defending a friend who has contributed to British drama more than any one of the people who were cussing him last week. You see, you all have a remote control. You can always switch off. Just an idea…

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Mattlocked wrote:

And this shall be the reason why Moffat has been called a misogynist.
Not sure if it's even worth posting it here, but maybe one or the other wants to read. (I stopped after having read the first quarter.)
I don't know exactly what she's talking about as I don't know DW. But anyway it seems to me........... hm, build your own opinion.

http://stfu-moffat.tumblr.com/post/30991164205/how-moffat-ruined-doctor-who-for-my-little-sister

Quote: You see, you all have a remote control. You can always switch off. Just an idea…

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Sam wrote:

Whether he is a misogynist or not, he should not be attacked so cruelly on a social media site. But, that's social media for you, that's never going to stop. Writing him personal letters would be more effective (though those could be very hateful too at least it's not in the public eye). People making death threats is just so stupid...

I read that girl's post Mattlocked. I don't watch DW either but the point with the Doctor's quote saying “She’s been brainwashed, it probably makes sense to her. Plus, she’s a woman. Oh, shut up!"  does seem inappropriate. She has sections on Sherlock which I went and read. She makes good points. The thing is, men do these kinds of things without realizing what they're doing. They don't mean to put down women and probably respect them in "real life". I think he should consult Sue or another female so he gets a female viewpoint, one he isn't familiar with, to help write the female characters. I don't think he's a misogynist but he should welcome female feedback more if not from the fans, then women close to him. Heck, maybe he does, I really don't know much about him. And that's the thing, I cannot make a proper judgement because I don't know him. I love Sherlock and he does some great writing. The female characters could use some work yes but that's still where we are right now in the world. Female characters could use some work in most shows/movies.

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kazza474 wrote:

History of the misogynist tag worn by Moffat.
The latest & loudest misogynist tag came soon after Scandal aired; a British journalist published THIS in the Guardian on 3rd January this year. There was a huge response from both sides, Moffat was asked about it in several interviews & chat shows & most thought hopefully it has died down for a while.
I agree with some things she said but the conclusions and interpretations she drew from this were frankly those of a hysterical woman.

Why do woman have to play this ' I want to be equal' game? If you want to be equal, shut up & get on with life!

But in true 21st century style people keep jumping on old, retired bandwagons because they don't have the tenacity to make one of their own.

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Mattlocked wrote:

Some are really "obsessed" by the idea of belonging to a discriminated group. The reasons vary. So it's not easy to criticize them. He/she can be quite quick, thinking "Ah, that's only because I'm a woman", "Of course, because I'm blonde", "...because I am only the trainee", "...because I am overweight", "... because I'm black" and so on........
I think mostly it's a lack of self-confidence they have to work on!
Someone posted a similar thing somewhere here in another tread regarding criticizing "Elementary". When you do that, you are of course either a misogynist or hostile to foreigners. Just because Joan Watson is female and has Taiwanese roots.

That's why I stopped reading the blogger's post because I felt she was kind of overreacting on simple jokes.
A while ago jokes about blondes were very common here. So (as a blonde) I could have walked around being angry and offended.....or telling those jokes myself - what I did.
I don't care much if I make a mistake and some guy tells me: "Tsss, women!!" I confess I tell my male colleagues the same from time to time. "MEN!!"  Of course it depends how and to whom you say things like that.....

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Sam wrote:

Things don't change by shutting up. And we have a lot to change. Not referring to Moffat but in general.

Maybe the fact people keep talking about Moffat is old but feminism isn't.

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Wholocked wrote:

Depends what you mean by feminism. A lot of people who nowadays call themselves feminists (and I don't mean 'all', just a lot) are pushing for women to have more rights than men, not equal rights. They assert their rights because they're a woman but don't have any issue with men being squashed in order to give them what they see as their due. Young women are becoming self-righteous, entitled, emasculating little bitches if you ask me ;)

ETA: Yes, I'm a woman. Yes, I believe in equality. But I believe in equality for ALL, not just some and certainly not just women.

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Ivy wrote:

Amen to that. Equality is the word!
Some women/girls are trying too hard. Just be youself and don't let yourself get screwed over.

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Davina wrote:

Depends also what you mean by 'equality'. If 'equality' equates to 'same' then we simply are not. If 'equality' means equality of opportunity and in treatment then that is a different matter. All people have the right to that regardless of gender, race, creed etc.

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Sam wrote:

Wholocked wrote:

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Yes, that is what I believe as well. Feminism to me is wanting equal rights for all genders and sexes. Yes, some take it too far but people take things too far in every aspect of life.

Davina wrote:

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This is definitely what I mean. Opportunities/treatment. Ex. Women still get paid less than men with the same job title/position in the US (not sure about other countries). I don't want women to make more than men. Sex/gender shouldn't come into play when determining a salary. Neither should race, ethnicity, etc, but you know what I mean.

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Davina wrote:

Here we have Equal Pay legislation.

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The Doctor wrote:

In Australia, women still get paid significantly less pay for the same position as men.

Welcome to the Past!