What do you think about shipping?

Characters? Yes
Actors/Real people? No (Unless they're friends and they're in on the joke)

The way I see it, it doesn't harm anyone to ship characters, everyone does it at some point, even if they don't specifically call it 'shipping'. As long as you don't hate on other people for shipping something different, or not shipping at all, and you don't start sending threats to writers/producers/actors because your ship isn't canon (which happens way too often) then you're not doing any harm to anyone.

As for actors and real people, I think that's a pretty crappy thing to do. Sure, maybe you want them to get together, and that's perfectly fine, but when you see all the fanfic/fanart about real people, it's a little creepy. It's like a stranger drawing a picture of you and some guy from your work/class/whatever and saying 'you two should get together', it's a little freaky. Like, maybe you want two of your friends to get together, but you aren't going to draw pornographic pictures of them together. It's not different when it's celebrities.

In case it wasn't clear from all the fandom terminology and the fact that my old icon was a ship name, yes I do ship

My OTP is Johnlock, but I'm also a fan of MorMor, Mystrade, Sheriarty, Ten/Rose, Nine/Rose, <insert many, many other ships here>

 

I ship a bunch of people~. Mostly anime characters.

 

She is one cool badass bunny rabbit. I want those bunny ears *steal ears* their mines now.

---------- Post added 5th Apr 2015 at 06:56 PM ----------

It fun shipping characters. Espically if those characters are from an anime and wear bunny ears.

 

I ship people occasionaly, but normally cannon ships such as kyubei and otae, but I do have fantasy ships like Kagura an Okita, everyone in hetalia and everyone in hetalia, etc.

 

Shipping is harmless fun. As long as it doesn't become an obsession, and as long as the shippers don't treat it like "serious business." There's lots of hate on the Internet that gets bandied about between groups of people who think that different fictional characters ought to be coupled; that's a lot of negative energy that could be directed to more productive activities. Otherwise I think a lot of fans are naturally inclined to be invested in those romantic relationships. It might be a living vicariously thing.

 

I'll ship fictional characters from time to time. My OTP is Axel and Roxas from Kingdom Hearts.

 

All fantasy lovers ship characters. I do tend to stick with canon ships, not making up my own.

 

I like shipping characters. Shipping people is weird.

Vinyl x Tavi for life

 

Shipping is not really my thing. I only did it once, which was Korra and Asami. We all know how that turned out.

 

I think shipping is a silly but benign activity. I do like that it's part of what creates devoted fanbases filled with people who are clearly passionate about their hobbies. It's also good for smutty fanfiction and pornography, so I can't knock it there.

Am I a shipper? The answer to that is complicated. I don't really do anything as a shipper other than like the idea of a certain pairing of characters. Is that all it takes to be a shipper? Well then maybe I am one after all. But I place my shipping into two categories: Not Fairy Tail, and Fairy Tail.

For Not Fairy Tail:
My OTP ... don't really have one I feel strongly about. You need one of these to be a shipper, right? Well I like Gon x Killua from Hunter x Hunter. And when I was a couple years younger, John x Vriska from Homestuck. But it's nothing I feel strongly about. I don't get the "feels."

For Fairy Tail:
Can I just mention how much Fairy Tail shipping amuses me? I can kind of understand shipping in other fandoms because you have actual characters, but in Fairy Tail you've got like these bare bones cardboard cutouts of characters, like Juvia. And sadly Juvia has just one character trait, which is being in love with Gray Fullbuster. So a ship like "Gruvia" is kind of just like taking Gray and draping a Juvia-shaped blanket over his shoulders. Also part of what makes shipping hilarious to me is that people are going to stick to shipping the "kawaii-desu adorable/hot pack 'o semi-androgynous manmeat" type characters and pretend like other members of the cast just straight up don't exist.

Like who the fuck's going to ship Jura Neeksis? In my opinion they're missing out, he has not one but TWO character traits: being slightly sensitive about his baldness, and falling over like a paper mache sculpture in a light breeze any time the story needs to make a point about someone else who's not Jura being "very strong."

Naturally I have a lot of Fairy Tail ships:

Natsu x Happy. They're both gay. Human form Happy is optional.
Jellal x Mystogan x Siegrain. I call this one "Solipsism."
Frosch x Rogue (PLATONIC)
Jura x Cancer. Give the poor man one of your reverse magical haircuts, why dontcha?
Ichiya x Nichiya
Mard Geer x Erza. As nakama. They spend lots of time acting in plays and eating cakes.
Dragon Force Wendy x Romeo. But only as gender-benders.
Zancrow x Reader (Me)
OTP: Hiro Mashima x My Scorn

 

If an entertainment medium is compelling enough to make you like the characters, it only makes sense that you'd find particular dynamics as appealing. Personalities and attitudes, working together is one thing, but to provide that layer of affection, it can leave one feeling all fuzzy. Some folks may not romantically ship two characters, but may like the idea of them being a team.

On a scale of 1-10, I'd say I'm about a 4-5, in terms of 'shipping mania'. I amuse myself with some thoughts of character interaction, but I don't religiously adhere to it. Also, there has to be something there, not wishful thinking, but a significant moment or bond, for me to even consider accepting a pair. Though for those who like their massive love pools, you know what, do what you do, more power to you.

For me to romantically ship somebody together, there is one thing that must be met:

They have to work off of each other; compensate for the other's flaws or setbacks. Being together for the aesthetics, that's fine I suppose, but when there's a balanced system involved, it makes it better.

This is why I like
Shikamaru x Temari from Naruto:

​

Both of them are clever, but in different ways. They both have their own approach to life, as well as something the other could use, in making that approach easier done. Their dynamic is appealing, especially when Temari pokes fun at Shikamaru, and that playful teasing is amusing to witness. There's the bonus of them being two of my favorite characters, so having them confirmed as canon, was sugar in my coffee.

The other pairing I'm fond of is
Azula x Ty Lee from Avatar: The Last Airbender.


Hands down, this is my favorite image of them.​

There's some subtle hints throughout the series, with the most notable one being Azula losing it all, following Ty Lee's defiance. They've known each other for a while, they work exceptionally as a duo, and Ty Lee actually knows Azula beyond her ruthless attitude, providing for some of the more revealing scenes and moments. Similar to the previous ship, I like this one due to the dynamic and the give-and-take.

​

Azula gives Ty Lee structure and security, and Ty Lee gives Azula friendship and emotion. Also, Ty Lee brings out the vulnerability in Azula, which is quite amazing, if you know how the Fire Princess usually is. I'm a sucker for cold hearts being thawed, too, and them being my two favorites is, yet again, a bonus.

Then there's
Vegeta x Bulma from Dragon Ball Z:

​

Vegeta is a proud warrior prince, and Bulma is the daughter of the world's wealthiest man. Vegeta is quick-tempered, but so is Bulma. Vegeta is cocky, and Bulma is stubborn. Vegeta forces Bulma to grow up, while Bulma teaches Vegeta about family.

And while they do care about each other, the only thing they love more than each other, is doing things their way. This makes their relationship interesting.

 

Shipping keeps the global economy going, but shipping people is moderately illegal.

Oh, wait.

 

I ship characters. It's fun.

 

I ship fictional characters. I write fanfiction, so... Yeah. I ship Draco/Harry, Merlin/Arthur and a bunch of other pairings.

I feel uncomfortable about shipping real people, though. They're not toys, they're not here just for my entertainment, and I don't want to play around with their lives. Also, if I googled myself and saw some of the stuff that's online and it were about me, I would be really uncomfortable knowing that a whole bunch of people fantasize about me and someone I may not even like all that much (and even if I do, my private life is none of your business). Also, some people take shipping too far and really believe it.
That said, I do believe respectful RPFs exist, so...

 

I prefer to think of it as "appreciation for close bonds". xD AFCBing? watching people who care about each other just really spurs a reaction in me.

i have them for everything i watch or read

---------- Post added 6th Apr 2015 at 01:03 PM ----------

real people? no. i think it's kinda creepy

---------- Post added 6th Apr 2015 at 01:04 PM ----------

:eusa_naug

---------- Post added 6th Apr 2015 at 01:04 PM ----------

i'm pretty much 10/10 passionate about this stuff haha

 

I personally don't see the point in shipping. So I don't care much for it >.<

 

:') since azula's voice actress ships it, i basically consider it canon

---------- Post added 6th Apr 2015 at 01:07 PM ----------

to argue with people