I've hated it so much when people I know try to tear down my affection for Spike, and when I've been attacked in fandom (one of the first e-mails I ever got for a story was shortly after Seeing Red, and the person told me I needed to get professional help for loving a rapist, and that obviously I had severe emotional problems, etc.) for how I feel. So I can't even imagine what it'd be like if my own sister was ragging on him as a way to make me realize I wasn't liking a worthy character!

I can get not liking the same characters. But I really don't get why people need to dismiss one as a way to build up another -- drives me nuts, and it's something I see far too often. Hang in there, though -- you're so not alone in your feelings, so at least you have the backing of millions!