Zoe Wiloh

Honey, if you claim that, you’re "shipping" you’re a "shipper," just like everyone else. The only thing you’re being criticized for is presenting your personal preferences as irrefutable facts, when they’re just your preferences, and pretending to be neutral when you clearly aren’t, since you’re obviously leaning toward one side. And since neither side has been confirmed by the creators, all you have are your own interpretations, your own way of seeing things, and your own preferences. That’s your perspective, and that’s fine. Those are your tastes and preferences, but that makes you a "shipper" whether you want to admit it or not. Because as long as the devs haven’t confirmed anything, there are no facts, only interpretations. Since these interpretations aren’t based on anything irrefutable and stem from personal preference, given that there’s nothing verifiable, your own tastes and inclinations make you nothing more than a "shipper." You aren’t someone presenting facts, because there are no facts; there is nothing to support that, on both sides. "Shippping" refers to the desire, preference, or fantasy that two people or characters might have a romantic or affectionate relationship; so, unless you view Tifa and Cloud strictly as companions or friends, sorry to break it to you, you’re a "shipper," just like everyone else. I don’t see why that’s a bad thing, or why you’d feel the need to pretend you aren’t one. Do you think that gives you more credibility? No, it doesn’t; it makes you come across as untrustworthy, someone who doesn’t even understand their own perspective or where it comes from, and who never questions it. Someone who doesn’t question their own ideas, who does not acknowledge their own inclinations and biases lacks critical thinking.