Oh, and Mako, I forgot to mention this before, and I'm not trying to start anything, but if you've been in my position before like you said, why have you been knowingly contributing to doing it to someone else (me)?
Since you addressed me, I'll answer.
If you look through my post history you will see the years and years of discourse, debate and dialogue I've had over a myriad of minutiae on the topic of FFVII. Sometimes it's been calm, sometimes cool, sometimes heated, and sometimes
utterly insane. But through it all, is the understanding that if you have the desire to engage, you should probably have the chops to deal with the response and feedback.
No, not everyone will see things from your perspective, generally speaking. And when your perspective is so hardened and aggressively advocated for, it's no surprise everyone is going to look at you side-ways and be utterly gobsmacked as to why you're so vehement on one single interpretation.
The reason why I'm "knowingly contributing" is because like all else, it's a discussion board. This is what happens when you posit theories or premises for discourse for people to freely reply to. And the more dug in and aggressive you are with your position, the more likely you are to get an equally opposite rebuttal.
There's a reason why a single word describing Tifa's relationship to Cloud is so vehemently disagreed with, despite the supposed clear interpretation and black and white text existing on a page. Likewise, there's a reason why the default date choice for the Gold Saucer is debated so vehemently, along with the meaning of a certain character's words uttered during a certain date.
Even if you think it's just "one little thing" or not, that doesn't mean it's an understood or universally accepted or even capable of being accepted. And the point of a discussion is to be able to read, understand and when appropriate, incorporate the points that you missed and intelligently and respectfully respond with the synthesis of the points.
Once more, I simply don't even understand why the fact it means so much that your interpretation be made canon, or how it negatively impacts your work. Even if Jessie is never given a single bit of affection from Cloud, or never gives a hint of affection towards Cloud, that does not diminish your creative endeavors at all. Not one bit. Your creative interpretations, works, and ideas are not negatively impacted. You are free to enjoy what you enjoy. I seriously don't get your hang up over it, nor why you seem to somehow take it so personally.
I think DC's Deeground Soldier and Tsviet concepts were some of the coolest new characters and concepts created in FFVII lore, but one thing you won't ever find me doing is being personally offended or attacked by someone who thinks they're a dumb idea that should be burned in hell fire. It makes no difference to me because that's their opinion, they will think what they want, and I'll do the same. And if I were the type to be creatively motivated, I'd probably do fics about them happily and go on about life.
There's no reason to be that strongly associated to one thing, be it a ship, idea, or anything. Especially to this level if you're trying to discuss it and debate it.
