@forceway LMAO THANK YOU. I do feel like some people saying that some people only being able to enjoy media through a shipping lens is a very valid point, especially when this leads to certain "fans" missing the point or themes of a piece of work or shunning anything that doesn't have two conventionally attractive characters to put together.
But on the fuckin' flip side, some people who say these things also seem to dismiss shipping all together as an inherent "missing the point" as if most critical thinkers cannot just... Have multiple ways of thinking about or engaging with something they enjoy. The way some folks talk, they're just bringing back old school fandom homophobia and "UUUGH WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING GAY?" with a new coat of paint.
I dunno how to word it better but like there's some nuance to this and it seems to never get acknowledged.
