Why Tom Hiddleston-Taylor Swift dating affects us all

Even the most searing of Taylor Swift's chartbusting numbers are clouded by candyfloss pink, blurred by her sleek, manicured blondeness.

One wonders if she willingly partook in her cultural appropriation and emerged the relatable pop princess colour-coded into neat compartments of tween spunk, nifty plaid skirt suits and immeasurable success.

The oh-so-Brit dashing Tom Hiddleston replete with querulous eyebrows, perfect cheekbones and the indescribably attractive cerebral air has fallen for the pop princess.

Swift's recent "thing" with him has been an uncomfortable affair at the least. People have been resenting each of them in turn. Is it a Bond bid or a rebound from a certain Scottish DJ?

Hands must be wrung, sighs heaved and misgivings aired.

No one is thrilled for them, though they do sort of make a cute couple. There are qualms about the unfairness of the pairing and the obvious catch in it. There has to be a catch; this is no run-of-the-mill relationship. But, who is the catch here? Him or her?

We can't seem to agree except that it should not be so. They should find people within their respective genres and social circles, we huff.

From cultural appropriation of characters in movies and books, we have moved on to real public icons, ascribing intentions to them and generally being proprietorial about their choices.

What makes us so entitled? If Hiddleston playing a vengeful and slightly ridiculous Loki doesn't incite our ire, why should Taylor Swift's choice of lyrics?

In the case of the Taylor Swift having dated Calvin Harris or Harry Styles, if not sparkling joy at their "obviously" well-matched personalities, there was amusement at the predictableness of it all. Or, in the case of hardcore fans, hope for the real Romeo to make a breakthrough.

But when things do get a little topsy-turvy, there is alarm, well-meaning bossiness directed at the adult couple.

When news of Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes as a solidly committed couple came out, dismay for Gosling was the predominant sentiment. Surely he could have done better given the calibre of movies each of them have starred in.

If we must drag the comparison down to the lowest common denominator, yes, they are both attractive. Yet Mendes was at the receiving end of the heartbreak jokes.

Through the ages, women have been called out on their choice of men — be it wealthy men, sugar daddies, hunks, nerds and so on. Whatever is the choice, we have a reason to critique it, reasonably.

Taylor can't be accused of that, she is a walking, talking fortune and a pretty one at that. Why then, must we be peeved at her choice?

If anything, the pairing is providing Hiddleston some gushing, American visibility. He's probably been Google searched hysterically and then acknowledged as, "oh, the guy who played Thor's brother".

And, since the majority opinion is that he's a little out of her league, that is the truth accepted far more willingly. There is relief about their age difference and their distinctly different personalities because that gives us hope it won't last.

Is Swift any less wanting of our admiration because she once equated herself with Juliet? The one big accusation against her has been her source of creative fodder — the lessons from her own fleeting relationships.

Authors do it all the time without facing mass censure for it.

As a very accessible public figure, she has been open about sharing developments in her life, often at the cost of drawing disproportionate criticism.

This could well be the off-beat romance that fans of Hiddleston presumably like, a post-Rebecca-esque love or that of a far, far gentler Heathcliff and Catherine.

Now, that's romanticism without the spite. One that we should give them a chance for.