I’ve been wondering what your opinion is on people being rude and hating on others for shipping 2doc. Is it really that bad? I feel like that their relationship has gotten better over the years, so what’s the big deal?
Hmmm. This is a question where, while it might seem like there should be a definite answer, idt there's a definite answer. It honestly depends on who you're asking. I'll try my best to explain. I'll also preface this by saying that a lot of this will be based on anecdotal evidence. I can speak on myself and people I know, but that still won't cover everyone's perspective and experience.
The canon is very inconsistent and unreliable. People develop their personal canons based on what pieces of it they want to prioritize. For example, many hold ROTO above most other sources. If a new interview came out saying Murdoc never put an egg in the microwave while on tour, a lot of people would disregard that entirely because ROTO specifically said that Murdoc once put an egg in the microwave on tour. Others would argue the new canon overrides ROTO because it's what Jamie cleared now, meaning that must be what he wants us to think.
The same exercise can be applied to 2Doc. On this blog, you'll always see me arguing in support of the hc that their relationship is getting better, and that they truly care for each other. I like to imagine scenarios where they go through the pain of confronting their mistakes and traumas to grow as individuals and find a way to love each other because, well, I love a challenge (so many people used to say this sort of approach to the ship was impossible). I think there's a lot of evidence that supports this particular brand of 2Doc, esp in the newer phases. However, there's still a good amount of evidence that would suggest otherwise, if someone wanted to. I've seen that evidence used by people who hate the ship as a means of shaming others AND by people who love the ship and want it to be "as fucked up as possible" (and those two groups tend to be at odds with each other the most out of all of us lmao). I could probably argue for all three sides if I wanted to.
So, the answer to your questions is yes and no. "No, the ship isn't that bad, and their relationship has gotten better," AND "Yes, the ship CAN be that bad, and their relationship has stayed mostly the same." The latter isn't my preference, but it's a valid and supportable interpretation. You may see (or at least this is how it used to be) fans who are against the ship assume all 2Doc fans are the latter, hence the sometimes extreme responses and accusations about the community. But last I checked, the portrayals of the ship had gotten more diverse. No one should be assuming all 2Doc fans are the same, though I understand why we have that reputation.
HOWEVER x2 - it's also important to acknowledge that even when someone decides to portray a character growth arc, that someone could still find this portrayal upsetting. For some, any sort of depiction of abuse survivor falling in love with their past abuser will be unacceptable. And that's valid too. I personally give people who don't like the ship their space and am understanding if they don't want to interact. It's a triggering ship. In my experience, being able to show the other person that you respect their boundaries and understand their discomfort lessens the anger/defensiveness and assumptions they may have made about me based on what I ship. Ideally people wouldn't be hateful or rude beyond that regardless of what kind of 2Doc you like, though I know it happens. I've heard about it and seen it and it sucks, though with with the changing fandom landscape I struggle to find solutions. I don't know how bad it is out there these days, but I hope people are at least talking to each other and trying to understand one another before they forming an opinion about someone’s character.
