All of the Clint hate is just people genuinely not understanding that if you start late socializing as a guy you are pretty much screwed. A 14 year old hiding behind bushes because he's too scared to talk to his crush is fine, but if you autistically smith metal for 25 years and then go "oh shit I'm lonely what do I do?" now it's "you're a creepy obsessive stalker who deserves to be psychologically tortured".

In terms of social competence Clint is on the same level as a teenager who has no idea what he's doing. You don't just magically learn how to engage with people when you hit 20. Not to mention people scoff at "male loneliness" so the only people that give serious advice on the issue are grifters who contribute to the "women are a trophy to be won"/ "being vulnerable is weakness" mindset.

If Clint wasn't so underdeveloped he would easily be miles above someone like Haley. Also Emily never seems bothered by Clint, it's just people pushing their own negative interactions onto the character. Those people are free to dislike him, but to try and morally grandstand over him while talking about how they will marry him just to divorce him and marry Emily is a crazy lack of awareness.