Actor Mayim Bialik

[No Regrets]

Let's just say I wholeheartedly agree with the top comments under her article on her FB page.

[Capt. Hilts]

Bialik responds to critics:

Bialik fires back

Quote

Bialik addressed the backlash early Sunday via a message posted on Twitter, writing, “A bunch of people have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine and twisted them to imply that God forbid I would blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior.”

“Anyone who knows me and my feminism knows that’s absurd and not at all what this piece was about. It’s so sad how vicious people are being when I basically live to make things better for women.”

 

[mirs1]

7 minutes ago, Capt. Hilts said:

Bialik responds to critics:

Bialik fires back

 

The FB live withe ne NYTimes will be at 9:15 AM. 

I really hope the tone changes with respect to the post you mentioned.

[spidergirl]

9 minutes ago, Capt. Hilts said:

Bialik responds to critics:

Bialik fires back

 

Mayim should have thought about those who doesnt know her so well. The way she worded some thoughs had the risk to be taken like they were by some people who suffred some kind of abuse. I believe she would make a proper apology meanwhile.

[Capt. Hilts]

That's why you have your publicist write it and your lawyer vet it.

They are professionals on the use and interpretation of language.

Edited October 16, 2017 by Capt. Hilts

[mirs1]

9 minutes ago, Capt. Hilts said:

That's why you have your publicist write it and your lawyer vet it.

They are professionals on the use and interpretation of language.

If not the main piece, the twitter post you mentioned would have benefit a lot of her publicist's help, I think it made things worse, judging on her social-media feed.

[Jonny]

49 minutes ago, mirs1 said:

If not the main piece, the twitter post you mentioned would have benefit a lot of her publicist's help, I think it made things worse, judging on her social-media feed.

Yeah I would agree.

This FB chat will give her a platform to clarify her position or stance on the subject.

I am sure she will take into account that her poor choice of words (imo some of them were, or allowed it to be twisted) may have caused some offence and will apologize.

Edited October 16, 2017 by Jonny

[No Regrets]

Listened to Mayim's video on FB and I now understand what she was trying to say. I still think it wasn't the greatest idea to use the Harvey Weinstein situation to talk about how she chooses to handle herself in Hollywood. I realize she was just talking about her experiences but it really did come across as victim blaming. And I'm saying that as someone who is a victim of sexual assault. Then again I hardly know women in my personal life who aren't. Unfortunately. 

Carry on.

[serena_1995]

Yeah,  as someone who has been a victim of groping ,  roofying and assault myself just a few yrs ago, i found the whole thing a bit self congratulatory .  great if  her personal  experience has not been  like that and i dont think she was outright victim blaming or that she even meant to obviously. but at the same time i found it weirdly passive aggressive and condescending  towards  actresses who were victims, especially the generalizations about them being more  attractive/their diet/  behavior/dress code etc . Glad to hear the FB live cleared it all up tho. 

Edited October 16, 2017 by serena_1995

[Nogravitasatall]

10 hours ago, serena_1995 said:

 I don't agree with  some parts of what she said about attractive women/dressing  a certain way etc .  The wording of it, rubbed me the wrong way too. 

I read the piece. It didn’t sit well with me either and I didn’t really know why. It should be all about the perpetrator. Maybe she fixed it later, but it’s all about the perpetrator.

And that’s usually a male, making a choice to act that way.

[MTBigBangTheoryFan]

Poor Mayim she always seem to get criticized and trashed for every single thing she says. She can never catch a break it seems

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nogravitasatall]

2 hours ago, MTBigBangTheoryFan said:

Poor Mayim she always seem to get criticized and trashed for every single thing she says. She can never catch a break it seems

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

*****  *** ******. She published an opinion piece in a major global newspaper. What do you think would happen? She expressly invited comments by doing that. She was messaging, others choose to message back.

People  assault regardless of how other people look. She may have just been randomly fortunate it hasn’t happened to her. 

Edit: I may have misunderstood you. You might have been making a wry comment about Ms Bialik’s prior expression of opinions on things of which I know nothing and for which she has garnered criticism and that this was part of a trend. I don’t know.

Edited October 16, 2017 by Nogravitasatall
Applied a filter

[Capt. Hilts]

2 hours ago, No Regrets said:

Listened to Mayim's video on FB and I now understand what she was trying to say. I still think it wasn't the greatest idea to use the Harvey Weinstein situation to talk about how she chooses to handle herself in Hollywood. I realize she was just talking about her experiences but it really did come across as victim blaming. And I'm saying that as someone who is a victim of sexual assault. Then again I hardly know women in my personal life who aren't. Unfortunately. 

Carry on.

I thought it was good and interesting how she related that science at university wasn't a whole lot better.

[Carlos]

I think that Mayim grossly misspoke on the Harvey Weinstein subject matter, and can't seem to stop putting her foot in her mouth. Furthermore, she's apparently not capable of admitting her mistake. Don't say that people take things out of context, just admit to the fact that you were saying stupid shit, problem solved. Nobody forced her to voice the opinion she voiced and to word it how she did. In this occasion any backlash is 100 % her fault.

7 hours ago, MTBigBangTheoryFan said:

Poor Mayim she always seem to get criticized and trashed for every single thing she says. She can never catch a break it seems.

When an opinion is public it is open to criticism. In this case, IMO, any criticism and backlash she gets is fully warranted.

[HeWolf]

8 hours ago, Carlos said:

I think that Mayim grossly misspoke on the Harvey Weinstein subject matter, and can't seem to stop putting her foot in her mouth. Furthermore, she's apparently not capable of admitting her mistake. Don't say that people take things out of context, just admit to the fact that you were saying stupid shit, problem solved. Nobody forced her to voice the opinion she voiced and to word it how she did. In this occasion any backlash is 100 % her fault.

When an opinion is public it is open to criticism. In this case, IMO, any criticism and backlash she gets is fully warranted. Really? Any backlash? So, if someone decides to physically assault her for expressing her opinion that is fully warranted and her fault? 

I wonder at her mindset in thinking she needed to, or should, address the Weinstein issue at all. Mayim knows that her viewpoints on many things are outside the mainstream and sharing them often brings about criticism from those who do not agree. 

The idea that she misspoke is one that I am not so sure about. I think she said what she meant and probably not as directly as she may have liked. If saying how she feels means she put her foot in her mouth, then I guess she did. I don't think she meant to blame the victims for whatever harm they may have suffered at the hands of Weinstein. I do think she was trying to say there are ways to avoid certain situations and those methods have worked for her. Sadly, nothing is ever going to eliminate the risks associated with interacting with other human beings. Victims are victims, and perpetrators are perpetrators. The victim is not to blame for the actions of the perpetrator. Sometimes there are ways to mitigate risks, but when the perpetrator is someone in Weinstein's position I don't see there being a lot of ways for his victims to have known the danger they were in ahead of time. The whole situation is made more tragic by the fact that so many knew about him and did nothing to stop the behavior. How many of his victims would have been spared the harm he did if the Hollywood establishment had spoken out sooner and taken away his power?

Mayim expressed her views and those that do not like them are free to disagree. Sadly, there are many in the entertainment world that would love to take this as a chance to shift the dialogue from discussing Weinstein's behavior to Mayim's comments. It will be a sad day if that is what happens...

Edited October 17, 2017 by HeWolf

[Carlos]

2 hours ago, HeWolf said:

I wonder at her mindset in thinking she needed to, or should, address the Weinstein issue at all. Mayim knows that her viewpoints on many things are outside the mainstream and sharing them often brings about criticism from those who do not agree. 

The idea that she misspoke is one that I am not so sure about. I think she said what she meant and probably not as directly as she may have liked. If saying how she feels means she put her foot in her mouth, then I guess she did. I don't think she meant to blame the victims for whatever harm they may have suffered at the hands of Weinstein. I do think she was trying to say there are ways to avoid certain situations and those methods have worked for her. Sadly, nothing is ever going to eliminate the risks associated with interacting with other human beings. Victims are victims, and perpetrators are perpetrators. The victim is not to blame for the actions of the perpetrator. Sometimes there are ways to mitigate risks, but when the perpetrator is someone in Weinstein's position I don't see there being a lot of ways for his victims to have known the danger they were in ahead of time. The whole situation is made more tragic by the fact that so many knew about him and did nothing to stop the behavior. How many of his victims would have been spared the harm he did if the Hollywood establishment had spoken out sooner and taken away his power?

Mayim expressed her views and those that do not like them are free to disagree. Sadly, there are many in the entertainment world that would love to take this as a chance to shift the dialogue from discussing Weinstein's behavior to Mayim's comments. It will be a sad day if that is what happens...

When I said any backlash, I mean that her opinion could be criticized and that people could "verbally" scathe her if they chose to do so. Of course I didn't mean that any physical response to her (or anybody else for that matter) for an opinion is warranted.

Furthermore, of course she misspoke. Otherwise she would attempt to clarify anything. IMO, I think she should have just accepted that she worded her opinion badly and therefore just move on or at the very least not try to blame somebody else for how the opinion came across. Saying how she feels is not putting her foot in her mouth, but when she does so and doesn't sat exactly what she means, then yes. I personally think that the example she gave saying how she avoided certain situations, and how that worked for her if the very thing that shifts attention from the perpetrator to the potential victims, because it implies, however indirectly that the victim behavior can determine the outcome of any potential harassment victim, and shifts blame to the victims and not the sick fuck who's abusing them (or trying to).

I see what you're trying to say, but I think in this case your assessments are flawed. In Weinstein's case the only way to reduce the risk of anything bad happening, even if you knew beforehand, would've been not to meet with the guy at all, and I'm pretty sure that a lot of professional futures depended on exactly that, so what could they have done?

[HeWolf]

1 minute ago, Carlos said:

When I said any backlash, I mean that her opinion could be criticized and that people could "verbally" scathe her if they chose to do so. Of course I didn't mean that any physical response to her (or anybody else for that matter) for an opinion is warranted.

Furthermore, of course she misspoke. Otherwise she would attempt to clarify anything. IMO, I think she should have just accepted that she worded her opinion badly and therefore just move on or at the very least not try to blame somebody else for how the opinion came across. Saying how she feels is not putting her foot in her mouth, but when she does so and doesn't sat exactly what she means, then yes. I personally think that the example she gave saying how she avoided certain situations, and how that worked for her if the very thing that shifts attention from the perpetrator to the potential victims, because it implies, however indirectly that the victim behavior can determine the outcome of any potential harassment victim, and shifts blame to the victims and not the sick fuck who's abusing them (or trying to).

I see what you're trying to say, but I think in this case your assessments are flawed. In Weinstein's case the only way to reduce the risk of anything bad happening, even if you knew beforehand, would've been not to meet with the guy at all, and I'm pretty sure that a lot of professional futures depended on exactly that, so what could they have done?

I appreciate and understand what you meant. My question was to the extreme because that is the way the modern world seems to work. Opinions that are perceived as disagreeable need not be met with discussion. Rather, they are to be silenced. Mayim is a bit of a square peg in a world of round holes. I'm an aging, male, baby boomer that doesn't agree with many of her ideas. But, they are her ideas and she's entitled to have them, and to share them as she sees appropriate. I can disagree. I can argue, I can debate. I can choose to avoid them. I can choose to not support her acting, or other expressive ventures. Those are my rights. I do not have the right to silence her, no matter how extreme, or offensive, I find her opinions. There is a long tradition of 'Point - Counter Point' in editorial venues. This is how civilized discourse takes place. 'Point - Shut the Hell Up!' isn't discourse at all. It's tyranny that kills dialogue and any hope of civilized interaction between people of opposing viewpoints.

I honestly believe she was less than completely clear in her message because she was trying to make her point in a less offensive way. Her attempts to 'clarify' sound like the sort of language you tend to get from someone that is apologizing for something they don't feel was wrong. Her example of avoiding certain situations or behaviors, and how that has worked for her is what it is; Her experience in relation to her choices. Not everyone has to make the choices she does. Everyone that makes her choices will not have the same experience. And, choosing to live and manage a professional life differently from Mayim's way isn't wrong. Nor does it make bad things that happen to people at the hands of someone like Weinstein anyone's fault but his. 

As for your final question; That is the same minefield Mayin walked into. It is one that I will not stroll about in. There may have been ways to mitigate the risk of meeting with Weinstein. In reality, there may have been none at all. The accounts that are surfacing lead me to conclude there were times when nothing would have prevented his predatory behaviors. However, one that may have would have required those who knew exposing him loudly many years ago. Instead, the Hollywood establishment, and culture, protected him. In fact, they turned him into source of amusement and made jokes. Weinstein is 100% responsible for what he's done, but there are a lot of people in Hollywood, the media, and politics, with blood on their hands.

Thank you for the discussion on this issue. I appreciate the conversation and, though we may not agree on all points; the civility and consideration are gratefully received.

 

[Carlos]

1 hour ago, HeWolf said:

I appreciate and understand what you meant. My question was to the extreme because that is the way the modern world seems to work. Opinions that are perceived as disagreeable need not be met with discussion. Rather, they are to be silenced. Mayim is a bit of a square peg in a world of round holes. I'm an aging, male, baby boomer that doesn't agree with many of her ideas. But, they are her ideas and she's entitled to have them, and to share them as she sees appropriate. I can disagree. I can argue, I can debate. I can choose to avoid them. I can choose to not support her acting, or other expressive ventures. Those are my rights. I do not have the right to silence her, no matter how extreme, or offensive, I find her opinions. There is a long tradition of 'Point - Counter Point' in editorial venues. This is how civilized discourse takes place. 'Point - Shut the Hell Up!' isn't discourse at all. It's tyranny that kills dialogue and any hope of civilized interaction between people of opposing viewpoints.

I honestly believe she was less than completely clear in her message because she was trying to make her point in a less offensive way. Her attempts to 'clarify' sound like the sort of language you tend to get from someone that is apologizing for something they don't feel was wrong. Her example of avoiding certain situations or behaviors, and how that has worked for her is what it is; Her experience in relation to her choices. Not everyone has to make the choices she does. Everyone that makes her choices will not have the same experience. And, choosing to live and manage a professional life differently from Mayim's way isn't wrong. Nor does it make bad things that happen to people at the hands of someone like Weinstein anyone's fault but his. 

As for your final question; That is the same minefield Mayin walked into. It is one that I will not stroll about in. There may have been ways to mitigate the risk of meeting with Weinstein. In reality, there may have been none at all. The accounts that are surfacing lead me to conclude there were times when nothing would have prevented his predatory behaviors. However, one that may have would have required those who knew exposing him loudly many years ago. Instead, the Hollywood establishment, and culture, protected him. In fact, they turned him into source of amusement and made jokes. Weinstein is 100% responsible for what he's done, but there are a lot of people in Hollywood, the media, and politics, with blood on their hands.

Thank you for the discussion on this issue. I appreciate the conversation and, though we may not agree on all points; the civility and consideration are gratefully received.

 

I agree with almost everything you say. I think we ( you and me) sort of think the same thing but were coming at it from 2 different angles. in regards to what you say about calling Mr. Weinstein out on his behavior, I believe when Mira Sorvino mentioned this a long time ago nobody paid any attention to her. That speaks volumes about "Hollywood culture". Abuses of power like this shouldn't be permitted. I hope the more this gets talked about the faster it goes away. Btw, I totally believe Mayim has a right to voice her opinions. However, if she does so in a public forum, I (or anybody else) has a right to disagree with her, and criticize her (or agree as the case might be).

[Spaced_up]

Big sigh!!!

Mayim Bialik is constantly trying to get in the press. She's a TV star, this topic has nothing to do with her. Sure she's entitled to her opinion but why is it always her? Why does she feel the need to stick her nose in? The ‘hurt’ she is talking about over people being shocked and disappointed is nothing to what this man did to all those actresses. All she’s doing is distracting the press on to herself. She just wants movie roles and this is her way of getting attention. I find it very manipulative.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Spaced_up

[3ku11]

Well she has an independant thought. I diddn't see it as victim blaming. It just seems in America no one can have an independant right now. As it suggests hate. Absurd really. 

[Denyy]

10 hours ago, Spaced_up said:

Big sigh!!!

Mayim Bialik is constantly trying to get in the press. She's a TV star, this topic has nothing to do with her. Sure she's entitled to her opinion but why is it always her? Why does she feel the need to stick her nose in? The ‘hurt’ she is talking about over people being shocked and disappointed is nothing to what this man did to all those actresses. All she’s doing is distracting the press on to herself. She just wants movie roles and this is her way of getting attention. I find it very manipulative.

How has this nothing to do with her when she's literally in the same industry as Weinstein and, first and foremost, she's a woman? Like it or not, sexual assaults and abuse of power can be found in pretty much every industry and field and both need to be discussed constantly by everyone, not only by people who are/were directly affected. Mayim is just a very outspoken person and this is what outspoken people do - they share their opinions.

[joyceraye]

13 hours ago, Spaced_up said:

Big sigh!!!

Mayim Bialik is constantly trying to get in the press. She's a TV star, this topic has nothing to do with her. Sure she's entitled to her opinion but why is it always her? Why does she feel the need to stick her nose in? The ‘hurt’ she is talking about over people being shocked and disappointed is nothing to what this man did to all those actresses. All she’s doing is distracting the press on to herself. She just wants movie roles and this is her way of getting attention. I find it very manipulative.

I don't blame anybody for wanting to attract work to themselves, and if in showbiz not become a subject of a 'Whatever Happened To....' show. While Mayim is working she'll be wanting to bring in as much by way of earnings now in case she doesn't get the chance later. Drawing attention is a useful way. In the acting business they need versatility and variety of role  offers continuing for a lifetime. They don't always get it. The more they get themselves noticed the more chances they have.

[luminous]

 

[joyceraye]

Thanks for the links to the article. I can't see anything wrong with it. Mayim's been careful to refer to accusations and allegations and to write in general rather than as if someone's been tried and found guilty.  If she was asked to write about her experiences then she did so frankly. I had seen some of the comments on the article and wondered whatever Mayim could have said. It occurred to me that it was probably nothing to justify the comments. I was right. Most of them had nothing at all to do with what was in the article and some were answering to the reverse of what she'd mentioned.

I began my working life before the term 'sexual harassment' had been coined and when nobody,whether on the ground or in authority, thought it was anything to complain about. it wasn't illegal and wasn't grounds for resigning from a job.  I'd been raised in an era when the powers that be were encouraging us all to think that girls should be aiming to be career women. The reality of arriving in the workplace compared with what my education had led me to expect was literally shocking. I hated it. Nobody warned girls about that side of things until they got there. Girls warned one another whom to avoid and whose office was safe to enter alone etc. At the same time, there were bimbo types who didn't mind. I'm sure there still are. Some men only went for that type, some were pervs who'd chase anything that moved regardless, others were decent family men who wouldn't dream of trying anything.

9 minutes ago, luminous said:

 

That's silly. You shouldn't respond to what people say you've said if you didn't say it, especially if what you've really said has been twisted.

[Spaced_up]

22 hours ago, joyceraye said:

I don't blame anybody for wanting to attract work to themselves, and if in showbiz not become a subject of a 'Whatever Happened To....' show. While Mayim is working she'll be wanting to bring in as much by way of earnings now in case she doesn't get the chance later. Drawing attention is a useful way. In the acting business they need versatility and variety of role  offers continuing for a lifetime. They don't always get it. The more they get themselves noticed the more chances they have.

Someone I agree with. Yes that is the motivation. Mayim is outspoken but she’s also extremely opportunistic. When Kaley was getting tons of negative press over her short marriage, Mayim released a piece about HER amicable relationship with her ex. But I am very pleased to see her apology, I think it shows character.

Edited October 19, 2017 by Tripper