I don't see why people should have to prove themselves to earn respect.
You do when you've recently done things to lose that respect, which was the case between Marten and Dora (she started off already not having much respect for him due to watching his interactions with Faye). But as I said, Dora doesn't have much self-respect either (if not for her insecurities, she would still be with Marten).
Marten isn't completely worthless, but you do have to wonder why none of his friends seem to have any real respect for him.
Because he can be easily pushed over. Because his snapping point does not exist. He has no respect for himself, why should anyone respect him. You know what is funny? That the times Marten stood up to himself from his friends, they saw him as being a dick and what have you, because it's not in his personality to say the things he said. It took being dumped to bring that out of him. A basic Hammer of Dawn.
Our lovable Faye likes to hit people and be snarky and vicious, and that's part of her personality. Hell, that's why Angus likes her. They are both fairly snarky people. Marten however, well, I don't remember the last time I saw Marten be snarky. It's not in his nature. He's easily walked on so when he does prove to not be walked on, he either gets a comment about him being a dick, or if it's his mom apparently, a complete shut down.
You want the most telling thing about Marten's personality?
http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1835He looks like a beaten child. What people like about Marten is that he's a go with the flow kind of guy, that's what we can assume by seeing how he is with friends. He's someone who you can depend on, who's loyal and there, but on the 'con' side of things... He's weak. Sedated. Only makes a fuss about something when his button is pushed.
Hard. He never has a strong opinion about one thing or the other, and with no strong opinions he is easily stomped on. The more I think about it the more I realize that Dora isn't really in as much of the wrong as the forum thinks.
I hate to compare personal life here, but my ex and I's relationship had a few points similar Marten and Dora's.
I was so passive about everything, so nonchalant, she always wondered if I cared much. I would show I cared by always taking her out and stuff, but what she wanted was a strong well... Opinion about something, anything. About showing I cared in more intimate ways. Her baggage was previous relationships, always bringing up different former boyfriends and stuff, I would get mad and so on.
We broke up over issues, and now that we are actually really good friends, we discuss how we both went wrong to make sure we never make the same mistakes again with different people or with each other if that day ever comes. She's helping me realize that you NEED to say what you feel, not just pend it up and hold it for four to six months until it's oven baked and ready.
Back to the main point: Again, why should anyone respect someone who doesn't respect themselves.
If he really, actually wanted that relationship to continue, he would have fought to change her mind.
Instead, Marten just took it like a Mike Tyson punch in the first round.
Instead he acted like a victim and got no sympathy. He drank a lot out of frustration, got punched out by Faye for getting fresh and going on that nice guy complaint that I am really mad used to come out of my mouth at one point in my life, and even now he's eating a buffet of doormatism.
Dora and Marten need to... Well, talk. Hopefully without either of them killing each other and learning what they can about their own stupid, childish, terrible behaviors so they can grow from it.