As an old skool female Who fan, it didn’t even occur to me that you were using “fangirls” there in the derogatory (and, yes, misogynistic) sense of calling men who act weak or silly “girls.” I had assumed that you were genuinely referring to the (much larger now than it was back in The Proverbial Day) female sector of the fandom. Since I’d been seeing both men and women expressing resistance to Matt Smith’s incoming tenure as the Doctor in roughly equal proportion, I did find it rather annoying that you seemed to be identifying it as a primarily female response — not only because it seemed somewhat sexist, but also because I thought it *wildly* inaccurate. Your explanation, while hardly reassuring on the sexism front, at least makes the title make more sense!

One of the more interesting effects of the growth of the internet, in my opinion, has been its role as a catalyst in forcing people to realize just how problematic or parochial our language choices can sometimes be. It’s certainly happened to me. It’s good for us, really, if sometimes rather painful. Apology accepted.

what i don’t understand are the folks who don’t get that it’s possible to be upset over and mourning the departure of Tennant’s Dr. while also 1) still being a fan of DW and 2) looking forward to seeing what the new season will hold. Humans are complex; emotions aren’t always black and white.

And your article also makes it seem like fans have been weeping for years, which is really disingenuous. you state that it’s been over a year since Tennant’s departure was announced so get over it already. Um, there’s a big difference between Tennant announcing his departure and then actually seeing that very emotional departure fulfilled on screen, and that happened less than a month ago, even less from your article date.

look, i’ve been a fan of your site for a while, which was one reason why the article annoyed me, plus i can’t stand the “you’re not a true fan if ” arguments that tend to erupt in all sorts of fandoms but scifi in particular. But your current article title just makes the site seem as immature as the fangirls you’re railing against.

any actor who followed Tennant was going to have his work cut out for him. I’ve never seen an actor and a role so well-matched as Tennant and the Dr., and by your own admission he did a brilliant job and millions of people feel the same. it’s a simple fact that many many people will be mourning Tennant for some time…while also enjoying the new series. believe it or not it can be done. but telling people to “get over it”? that’s not helping one bit.

Matt Smith is entering during a difficult period in SF fandom (if not society in general) where it seems to many people’s behavior has only 2 settings: utter apathy and complete over-the-top psychosis. Back in 2005 you had people grumble about Tennant - and Daniel Craig - but they got over it fairly quickly and moved on. Now you have so-called fans shouting from the rooftops that they’ll never watch Doctor Who again, on the basis of 30 seconds of Matt Smith. It’s insane. Couple that with the fear and loathing about a possible US Torchwood, and much as I don’t want to think about it, Doctor Who could be entering its most danger period (in terms of survival) since Michael Grade put Colin Baker in the penalty box for 18 months back in 1985.