People get protective of their ships. As someone who's been on the receiving end of ship bashing more than I'd like to think at one time (and also have been where you are right now because of a somewhat similar misunderstanding), it's very easy for me to see both sides and I know how easy it is to get wound up about it. It's very easy to get defensive about something that you love and something you put time/effort/heart into. (I think I'm on a mission to see how many times I can use "easy" in a block of text.) No one person's opinion matters more than any others of course, you're right about that, same with saying whatever you like in your own personal space. But part of fandom is often being insanely passionate about something. Feelings run high, people get angry, and it snowballs. I think you know that I understand that all too well, boo. You've seen me get defensive about my little ship. Sometimes to the point of my being chagrined once I cooled off.

I gotta say, I'm incredibly relieved that I ship absolutely nothing with any sort of conviction with my new fandom. Those crazily passionate feelings about our imaginary friends in their imaginary relationships can be fun but man, there's a lot of times when it's most decidedly not. I love it, but it can be emotionally draining too.

Just be excellent to each other. That's all. (You know it's early when I'm quoting Bill and Ted.) *hugs* Love you.