we out here, discoursin'

Oh hey, I guess I'm cannonballing into the discourse pool. Greeaaat.

So I have some OpinionsTM. Some are new, some aren't. I'm not looking for a fight with anyone; I'm just making my stances clear and saying my piece. If you are uncomfortable with what I have to say or disagree with anything i point out, I am completely willing to have a civilized discussion, or you can block me if that's what you prefer. I won't take it personally.

In my opinion, Stevinel is pretty disgusting. In case you haven't seen the sentiment float around, mine is pretty similar to a lot of other "antis". Steven is a human minor, who doesn't have the mental capacity to consent yet. Gems are born fully developed adults, humans are not. Greg and Rose was fine because at that point Greg was a fully developed adult.

A lot of the reason Stevinel is accepted by some is the lack of understanding why it's not okay. From a little bit of digging, I've found it's pretty common for Stevinel shippers to be minors themselves. This sort of explains the lack of comprehension of the difference between minor and adult. Not to mention, it's easy to have problematiqueTM ships or opinions at a young age.

(Warning: this is the part where it gets more controversial!!)

That's why I don't think demonizing all of the people who ship this is a very good idea. I personally think that most of these shippers will grow out of it.

Does that mean we can't criticize the ship? Of course not. That's the reason I make this post. It's to critique, and possibly educate if I am correct in what I say. (If I say anything that sounds inaccurate, please inform me!! I'd love to learn more and I'd hate to spread misinformation.)

Also, I'm certain some of them could be p*dophiles. I just don't think all of them are, or intending to be spreading it. (Only a very specific type of brainrot makes you say p*dophilia is okay lol)

Now, I think we've gone over the first problem. My second issue with this ship is the most common argument

"Spinel is teenager coded!!!!"

I can't say much on this, because its not my place, but saying a traumatized and emotionally damaged person with a childish personality, and then equivocating that to an actual child just. Doesn't sit right with me?? I don't know, it feels a little bit like ableism. @mcnuggetsandfandom said it way better than I could.

"Spinel is an adult just like every other gem. Abandonment issues and an edgy clown aesthetic don’t change that." 

Link to the full post (sorry idk how to hyperlink on mobile)

https://mcnuggetsandfandom.tumblr.com/post/188724087083/people-really-out-there-saying-spinel-is-teenager

So yeah. Treating a traumatized person like a child doesn't sit right with me personally, especially since it's used to justify an age gap between an adult and a minor.

Next up: Connie. I've seen a good amount of Stevinels completely ignore or mistreat Connie's character for the sake of their OTP. I think this quite honestly does a HUGE INJUSTICE to Connie's character. (Also!! Connie is a POC!! And as a white person I can't say too much on this, so POC followers if you have anything to say on this PLEASE DO, but erasing a POC character, even unintentionally, is a little YIKES.) I even saw one tumblr user replace Connie with Spinel in Together Alone (which was before Steven's Birthday, making him 13 at the time!! Yikes!!)

Plus Connie doesn't deserve that IMO lol.

Sure theres no shortage of badass women/female presenting aliens, but come on guys. Why take away a brown girl who can dominate with a sword and fights aliens, AND keeps up her grades on top of that. A legend.

Next: What is the basis of Stevinel anyway?

Most people seem to like it for the dynamic. What people neglect to think about is *drum roll*

Spinel tried to kill him!! + throughout the movie they end up accidentally reminding each other of their own trauma. Which isn't the greatest base for a romantic relationship. I'm not going to go any further with this since it's been touched on before by a lot of people. I could see them becoming friends, but Spinel has healing to do first.

Finally

"Wouldn't it be okay to just age up Steven?"

No. Steven was written as a minor, and Spinel as an adult. Changing ages in AUs does not change the fact that this is the dynamic they were written with.