My issues with the way fandom treats non-canon and how people strictly want to "win".
I feel this is a rather loaded topic I’m about to get into and there are many counterarguments or ways to view it so I’m very much simplifying it. But since promo started, I’ve seen posts and responses on social media from both Byler and Mileven shippers that have caused me to roll my eyes.
My main question is this: Why do people act like if something isn’t canon, you’re not allowed to like it or that you’re automatically wrong for shipping it? This applies to both ships really and it’s a mindset that has become such a thing in modern shipping culture, and it’s exhausting.
I’ve seen some Bylers telling Milevens they “need to switch to Byler" or Milevens saying they need to switch to byler in fear of losing. And honestly? That mentality is annoying. It’s obvious the Duffers are trying to steer the fandom and general audience toward Byler, and if people end up liking it in S5 because of what happens in the show, that’s great! But switching ships just to “win,” or telling others to switch for that reason? I’ll never understand that.
A lot the dissmissivness stems from milevens (some are homophobic yes, but I also think some just like mileven) wanting the endgame but it’s okay, to perfer a non-canon ship! In the case of byler it’s just important to try and not ignore the actual story being told here. I’ve liked plenty of non-canon ships, which is exactly why I speak up about this mindset. At the end of the day, we all just want to enjoy the story which is why if someone doesn’t like Will or Byler, season five probably won’t be enjoyable for them, yeah. But everyone’s allowed to feel how they feel and others are allowed to disagree. I just wish fandom as a whole would stop acting like liking something non-canon automatically makes you wrong, going to downplaying/villainizing relationships, strictly wanting to win/be on the winning team.