Venting About Someone on a Forum

Wow, I can't believe I'm writing another rant here!  I thought getting a fresh start would mean less rants, more content.  But, the more time I spend online, the more it seems I discover things to rant about.

I am really beginning to hate the writing forum that I said I used to love/still like because of some of the new people that came on this year.  I love differing perspectives, but there's this one user who has some ridiculous things to say.  The topic that prompted this rant deals with fanfiction and character pairings. I should add that it's not so much her official stance on character pairings (which admittedly bothers me, and I'll explain that the best I can), but how she can't seem to justify her views without dissolving into "I'm done!  I'm out of here!"

So, there's this person who believes that all fanfiction character pairings need to be strictly canon.  There are a sizable number of fanfiction writers that believe this, so fair enough.  In a similar vein, she claims that she isn't anti-gay but "straight" characters must be absolutely one hundred percent "straight" even if readers/viewers don't know their true orientation.  This is significant to mention because, well, fanfiction writers love pairing their favorite characters together in spite of/even if/because they can/just because, no matter what the characters' canon relationships are.  

I find her thoughts on the second part a bit concerning on both a personal and literary level.  

First for the personal.  She added that a lot of people on the forum have been saying her views on "straight" characters being "straight" does mean that she's anti-gay, which is kind of telling.  If you have to say "Well, I'm not anti-gay!" when enough people have been making the observation, maybe you're coming across like you are.  Just a thought that was gnawing at me after reading other posts from her and thinking to myself, "Wow, she sounds really intolerant/close-minded!" 

On a literary standpoint, I firmly agree with the folks that say if an author hasn't said "This character is one hundred percent straight" then readers/viewers are allowed to think whatever they want.  A quick related note: Sometimes there may be slashy subtext that the author had no intention of writing that way but it came out as such anyway, but in my reading experience (yes, I'm more of a book person) I've observed that usually it's intentionally there.  In any case, readers/viewers should have the freedom to make up their own minds about character relationships where the author didn't specify.  But if you know anything about fanfiction writers, you'll know it doesn't matter what the author says is canon.  That's the fun of fanfiction (while I never personally got into it myself, a lot of people say that's what keeps them in).

So we have this user with these views, which in short has some issues (see above explanation) themselves, but there's more to it than that.  If she could have a calm discussion on the forum where she says "This is what I think.  This is my opinion.  Like it, hate it, whatever" it would be fine.  I take the most issue with how she reacts when people disagree with her.  She gets upset and writes a post about "I'm right and if this is what you all act like I'm leaving this forum forever!"  In her defense, she did write a later post apologizing for being so quick to anger, but having read other very similar posts by her, I personally find it unbelievable.

I firmly believe that you can say whatever you want, but you also have to be able to justify it.  And when I say justify, I mean that you can have a reasonable discussion explaining why you disagree with the majority view.  If it becomes clear that you're not getting anywhere then by all means back out (sometimes it's the only way to maintain your sanity).  But if you back out, a simple "I stand by my statement" is sufficient.