Shipping Rant
I was looking through the tag for one of my ships and was sad to see most of it was hate. The primary issue was the age difference between the two characters, how people thought it was pedophilia and disgusting, which is an understandable argument. But since I have a couple ships with an age difference, I just wanted to get this off my chest.
When I like a pairing, when I go “I ship it,” regardless of gender, age or anything, it isn’t based on the sex the characters could have. I base it on how the characters interact, how they connect and affect each other emotionally. That they mean the world to each other without needing to have sex to validate that bond is how I want to appreciate all my ships. To me, it’s two people who care about each other very much without crossing the line.
If the age gap closes and the younger of the pair aging up, either in fanfiction or in the actual work, then the possibility for physical intimacy comes in. Until then, they could be considered very close friends.
‘Pedophilia’ is a very terrible thing to exist, and ‘Pedophiles’ are the worst sorts of people. That is the point people are trying to make when they hate on a ship with a severe age difference, and it is a completely valid one.
But when I love a character, it’s because I don’t feel they are that sort of person. Is it so impossible to consider ‘Love’ in a relationship without ‘Sex’ being in the forefront and the only reason for the ship?
