Mollydukes,

<< [W]hy [did you speak] …to Poirot about me rather than address your criticism… to me?>>
I was addressing my concerns to Poirot as head girl prefect of OLO.

<< SPQR I am sorry that you don’t understand how to use the word misogyny.>>
But I do. I think you might be behind the times. The M word has undergone something of a revision in recent times (in recent days, even). Misogyny now encompasses anything that a quorum of women find offensive —even looking at your watch a while a woman is talking is misogyny. So if anyone thinks only men are capable or deserving of being politicians –as Poirot apparently did (!)-- then that most certainly would be classed as misogyny –and the fact that it came from a female who is using a male pseudonym only makes it all the more sinister!

<< is it not a good thing to show off the things you do well>>
I think we all know that four-year-olds haven’t got much they do well

<<We…need to talk about the issue and construct rules for today …>>
You are something of Jekyll and Mr Hyde character Mollydukes. With one breath you spout noble platitudes and the next like a character out of A Clockwork Orange you go out of your way to bait a good civil guy like Curmudgeon.

<<I am also grateful for the internet. I have never found it to be 'safe' to argue face to face with a man so I love this way of interacting. I don't have to be scared of the usual response - violence verbal or physical that I have experienced and seen so much of in my work - when a woman fails to defer to a man>>
You must have had some traumatic experiences –I felt/experienced similar when I had nuns are teachers.

Can I ask a personal question: Are you of Asian background?
The reason ask is that some of your expressions have very Asian tone.

PS: It would be interesting to see you start a thread about: <<old white male rules>

SPQR,

"....So if anyone thinks only men are capable or deserving of being politicians - as Poirot apparently did (!)..."

I was - as you are well aware - replying to Hasbeen, and referring to his comment (on another thread) regarding Bob Carr.

I realise you're attempting to come across as oh-so-clever, SPQR, but deliberately dissembling other poster's intentions isn't clever at all. Can't you debate without being underhand?

You'd make a good politician.

A man can be a misogynist yet not sexist. Hating women, yet accepting they have the right to equality before the law. I know men like that Interesting, isn't it?

Poirot,

With all due respect, we now (since at least three weeks ago), live under a new paradigm.
And henceforth we'll all need to watch our P’s and Q’s, and he’s and she’s.

We have all seen how when Romney says: "binders full of women"
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/17/opinion/cardona-binders-women/index.html
It betrays his deep disdain for women.
That when Abbott comments on “The government lack of experience in raising children”
It is a slur about women’s right to choose.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/23/julia-gillard-misogynist-sexism-baby

The scales have been removed from our eyes.

The “old white man rules” that you and I might have grown up with, no longer apply.
And, as a sign of solidarity I suggest you re-label yourself [Ms] Marple.

SPQR Sorry but I have no idea how to respond to your comments and questions.

I don't mean to be insulting, but you will see it that way. I am not Asian, I am an 'aspie' if that makes things clearer and I don't do normal human interaction.

I see no evidence that you have anything to offer me, in my search for 'the truth'. I don't actually believe there is such a thing as objective truth but I am sure that we should continue this admirable quest; that is what science and scientists do, and the scientists who are finding 'truth' include climate scientists and social scientists.

You don't really have much to offer in the way of information or interesting opinions that challenge my worldview. Your 'claim to fame' is that you are (or you think you are) proficient at taking cheap shots and I think that is a dysfunctional way of behaving. It negatively affects our ability to build a better world that is inclusive and makes the best 'use' of, and provides opportunities for all types of people.

I have no agenda to shut you up or remove your right to say stupid and nasty things, you go right ahead but I do deplore the miss-information that passes for opinion here.

I have 'revealed' some of my'traumatic' experiences - which I think of as opportunities rather than tragedies - in previous posts some time ago. I do believe you can search this site if you are interested.

I myself am not really interested in what individual people do, I am interested in the patterns I see in human behaviour. I do try to be normal, but it's not easy when one isn't 'normal' or 'neuro-typical'.

But thanks for your response.

Mollydukes, Very well put. I admire clear and rational thinking.