and your eyes seeing happiness;

orbitingasupernova:

vonblixen:

I’ve seen A LOT of negativity lately. Not coming from the people I follow (although poor souls do react to it), but in general on Tumblr, and it makes me sad. On one hand because I come here to escape the grim reality of modern life, on the other because it always saddens me to see people express negative feelings with, for lack of a better word, such passion.

What I’ve seen today (for the most part), scares me and is in all seriousness making me consider leaving this party. The fact that people love to bash Steven Moffat is nothing new. I find it all extremely childish and, frankly, stupid, but it’s their choice. It’d be easier to just not watch his shows, but hey, why be mature about it, when one can waste an hour of one’s time watching a show one doesn’t enjoy then five more discussing how horrible/insulting/stupid/etc it was on the internet? Whatever, I can get past that and pretend some people are simply that bored.

What I will never get past, however, is the fact that I’ve seen people comment negatively on children’s work today, and on Matt Smith, who has been elected to carry the Olympic torch in Cardiff. Seriously, people, Moffat wasn’t enough, do you have to pick on children? And on an actor who is doing his job representing the show he’s part of and his country? Because let’s face it, Doctor Who is as much part of British culture as James Bond, or five o’clock tea. 

Others have been far more eloquent than me in expressing their sadness over the pathetic affair we call “fandom”. I just want to say that if you believe that a television show, its head-writer or its actors are in any way obligated to justify your choices in life, your likes, dislikes, sexual orientation, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), your political affiliations or your opinions (on anything from cheese to gender related issues), you are in need a serious reality check. On one hand it’s not their job, on the other hand, they couldn’t if they tried. 

Bottom line, and I’ll try to be as polite about it as possible, please, do yourselves a favour and unfollow me if you hate Moffat, Matt Smith (for any reason), or think that mocking children is funny or in any way justified.

First, before I get to the main problem with your argument, I’m going to say this. If you mocked the children that wrote the DW clip, you are not welcome in my fandom. They are not professional writers, they are not adults, they are children who took the time and energy to try something new, and they did a damn fine job of it. Maybe it seems silly, but hello—Doctor Who is supposed to be silly.

Now, that being said, to just dismiss LEGITIMATE complaints because they offend your idols, well… sorry, but you’re showing your privilege.

Privilege is what allows you to watch a show without feeling hurt or confused by messages that it may present; privilege is what keeps you from understanding and empathizing with others who do not have this privilege.

You enjoy Moffat’s work? Fantastic. I’m glad that your stomach doesn’t churn when you watch a woman talking about how she finally agreed to date her husband after he stalked her relentlessly, and think that’s romantic. I’m so happy that you don’t get triggered by “women have emotions” jokes and the Doctor telling River to do as she’s told. How great that you can watch an episode in which two women are pitted against each other for the affections of one man in one big metaphor for adultery, and adultery is seen as the positive thing. You might get a kick out of Amy sexually assaulting the Doctor, but what if a man did that to her instead? Would you still find it sexy?

Or, look at Sherlock, and lo and behold the Orientalism and flagrant sexism there. Irene’s dominance in bed is twisted into a metaphor for the “game” with Sherlock, and when she loses, she is forced to beg and plead for the great white knight to have pity. And then, she kneels in front of sketchy and racist Al Qaeda-esqe caricatures, a sword held in front her face (phallic imagery) and again, the man can save her from those dirty Muslims and their woman-hating ways. Not to mention the treatment of Sally.

I think Moffat is talented, if overrated and prone to incredibly offensive behavior. He’s written some of my favorite episodes—The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Beast Below. And yes, you might call COMPLAINING ABOUT SEXISM, CLASSISM AND RACISM IN MEDIA “hating” but to me, it’s fucking necessary and valid. Because change doesn’t happen by being polite. Change happens when people tell the privilege-denying assholes who are blocking them to fuck off.

Maybe we wouldn’t be so mad if he just respected our criticisms instead of crying his white male tears to the press and acting like a child every time someone does something he doesn’t like. Maybe we wouldn’t be so mad if he wasn’t such a sexist in the first place.

Does it offend you when I challenge your preconceived notions that entertainment doesn’t need to be criticized? Because here’s why that’s bullshit: more than anything else, the messages we receive from entertainment media inform our opinions and world views. 

And if my favorite show is being fucking problematic and shit, and I don’t question that, I’m just as problematic as my show. Maybe even more so because I stood aside and didn’t use my fucking brain.

Moffat is not a child even if he acts like one; please do not consider for a moment that mocking children and criticizing an adult, privileged and powerful man like Moffat are equivalent in any way.

And fuck if I’ll let any apathetic hipster douchebag kid tell me how to enjoy my show.