Yeah, I get that (I'd love to see one in real life, as well!) But I also get GRRM's point that the feudal system is often romanticised in fantasy and it really is a reminder that it really was a system in which so few people had any kind of personal agency - I think it's more understandable as a reaction to a lot of…

Sadly, people's reaction to Game of Thrones is a scary indicator of how they feel about current rape culture. If a guy says "no, way, Khal Drogo isn't AT ALL a rapist?" Probably tells you quite a bit about his views on marital rape in general.

I think it really does come down to - is always sexist to portray an unbelievably sexist society? Because I don't think so - I think it's amazing and inspiring to see great female characters struggling in a world where women are UNBELIEVABLY oppressed.

Yeah, he made a lot of comments about how fantasy would use the structure of nobility without the horrible implications - that feudalism meant you actually owed the noble houses your life or that they could rape without consequence. It was something he really thought was ridiculous and glamorising, so you are…

I don't think anyone would argue that society in Westeros is an unbelievably misogynistic and patriarchal - but the women are shown as overcoming and working around it and as every bit as clever, flawed, evil and smart and basically human as the male characters.

Not necessarily - I'm not sure I'd have a problem with it if there were actually interesting male characters who we saw dealing with the unfair restraints the society placed on them. What it really comes down to is can you portray a sexist society without being sexist and I think you can.

Actually, as someone who works with domestic violence survivors, I find Sansa to be a really accurate reflection of the mindset (not trusting anyone, making decisions for her own safety which came seem counter-intuitive from the outside) and criticism of her reminds me a lot of the various criticism people DO make of…

It's "there for him." And you are basing this on your own opinion because you think children who have a full time mother...what exactly? They're not more likely to have happy relationships, be better educated or contribute more to the community. Children in orphanages aren't shown through academic research to…

By that logic, let's not deny kids candy because they want it - if 4 year olds can judge what's best for them. Parenthood isn't just about the short term and I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have been so high achieving if my mother hadn't been such a kick butt role model.

Indeed. But if you read this article, it really does come across that they look down on working women and that's not feminism of any kind.

I'm a protestant and I got to have the bank holiday too, so I have NO idea what you're on about....

In fairness, he definitely was! But as another poster said, it would have made a super interesting article to compare Paddy's Day and Cinco de Mayo with how they're viewed in their native habitats.

Probably the wisest course of action! And yes, it is pretty awesome to have tomorrow off!

I can understand that people elsewhere wouldn't necessarily have the "hide and seek cover" mentality that permeates city centre Dublin!

I do enjoy it - it's nice to have a break before Easter holidays and it's cool that Dan gets something out of it. But it'd be nice to have an actual discussion of the holiday and how it's viewed, rather than shutting it down, as you seem to want to. If you don't want to, don't participate!

Now if only he'd actually legislate for X!

I really don't think you can speak for all of us in Ireland.

Damn straight.

I think if you're discussing the "real holidayness" of something then, yes, it is worth a discussion.

Really? Because what I'm most excited for is the bank holiday tomorrow. I'm certainly not venturing out into Temple Bar to celebrate "heritage and culture"