Does the fanbase cause you to like or dislike a ship?

[Cybersai]

Now, most people who ship characters do so with a fanbase. An online fanbase. Like this one.

How does shipping characters online affect you? If you see a ton of other people supporting your ship, does it make you feel good that a lot of people see the same things you do? Or vice versa, does it disappoint you if there are few people supporting your favorite ship?

Likewise, if a certain group of shippers are annoying, does that cause you to dislike a ship because of their fanbase? And do canon ships have this affect on you as well, since canon shippers tend to be the most gloat-worthy?

What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

[Archaic]

While I know it's an issue for some people, I don't really give a damn about what people think about the specific group of people who might support each ship. All I care about is which ships

a) Appear to have some actual evidence going for them
and
b) Which ships don't have evidence, but would be still cute to see in fanfics and fanart.

 

[taitofan]

In short: No.

Longer... If I really love the ship, I'm perfectly okay being the only fan. It's cool if others start liking it too, but it's not a requirement or anything. And any ship I don't like is because of the ships itself, not its fans. I've never stopped liking a ship because of its huge/annoying/whatever fanbase, and I don't intend to start. I might shy away from the other fans, but not the ship.

As for canon... It bugs me when shippers of the "big" ships swear it's canon all up and down and that any other opposing ships are wrong, but I typically don't like those ships anyway... And in Pokemon those ships aren't canon anyway, so whatever. When it's an honest canon couple in question...I usually don't like those either, so a self-righteous fanbase isn't going to change my opinion any.

I like a ship for the ship, not the fans.

 

[Barb]

I don't really care whether my preferred ship is supported by an online fanbase or not. Some of the more rabid shippers might get on my nerves at times, but they've never stopped me from liking a particular ship or from getting into a particular fandom.

 

[Hyatt]

Well I really dislike IkariShipping. It has like zero hints in the anime but the fanbase makes it like the neo Contestshipping.
I only want Shinji with Ash.... no girls except for me. I get really ticked off with IkariShipping fanart
Sorry to any Ikarishippers I may have offended.
but seriously, when Shinji was like "Omae wa....?" in the Kurogane episode to Hikari, it was obviously saying he had no interest in Hikari. He only remembered Ash
8D
note: omae wa is basically like saying "and you are....."

 

[A Concerned Solomon]

Three words: Yes, yes, and yes. Pokeshipping comes to mind because it has the most morons. (And yes, you guys know it - that's why you tried to make your Snobby Elitist Pokeshipper group.)

 

[AnimeDutchess]

Hm...for me, I guess it's a combination of both. I like a ship because it's either cute (Ikarishipping), has a lot of evidence going for it (Contestshipping), or both (Palletshipping XDDD hooray for OTP!!!). I dislike a ship because of either:

A.) It intereferes with my OTP
B.) It's members are mostly very snooty, elitist, and annoying (coughPOKESHIPPERScough)

now I'm not saying all the fans of a certain ship are like that; some are very nice people who are very tolerant. but most of the fanbase is more likely to be rather mean. T.T

Honestly, I only have a problem with Pokeshippers. any other ship, even ones that interfere with my favorites, are perfectly fine with me because the fans of them that i've met are decent people who are tolerant of other ships.

...plus, i think it becomes ingrained into almost all shippers that ship against Poke to assume that almost all Pokeshippers are out for their blood. ^^;;; unfortunately, I'm part of this group...*shrugs*

 

[Swifty]

Three words: Yes, yes, and yes. Pokeshipping comes to mind because it has the most morons. (And yes, you guys know it - that's why you tried to make your Snobby Elitist Pokeshipper group.)

And we happen to have the most smart people of any ship. Our smart to moron ratio is actually has a positive value, compared to most ships out there who's smart to moron ratio is like, zero.

 

[vee2x_paradox]

The fandom of anything from shipping, to the show itself does not matter to me whatsoever on my preference or beliefs.

If the fandom somehow interferes with it drastically, or if I actually interact with the people in it, it can change my preference from positive or negative.

 

[Jo-Jo]

I don't like ships that are pure crack but have reams of supporters who think it's bound to come true. Then I want the ship to get bombed out of the water so they'll STFU. Aside from that, nope.

 

[Cybersai]

And we happen to have the most smart people of any ship. Our smart to moron ratio is actually has a positive value, compared to most ships out there who's smart to moron ratio is like, zero.

You have to admit, Swifty, when certain members of your fanbase make posts like this:

http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showpost.php?p=422776&postcount=1626

You can see why it gives a bad name to the fanbase as a whole. Let me know if you head explodes after reading it, it's really shocking that anyone can view the anime in this manner.

 

[Swifty]

You have to admit, Swifty, when certain members of your fanbase make posts like this:

http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showpost.php?p=422776&postcount=1626

You can see why it gives a bad name to the fanbase as a whole. Let me know if you head explodes after reading it, it's really shocking that anyone can view the anime in this manner.

I'm not really finding what's so shocking about that post. Try again. I suggest trying the SPPf PokeShippers discussion thread.

EDIT: reading it a second time, I'm identifying an ardent stance on Misty's absence and accompanying recommendations for drastic measures be taken in light of it. And an anti-May and anti-Dawn sentiment, but her opinion is at least supplemented with valid justifications.

But nothing shocking, at least to me. Irrational? Perhaps. Shocking and deviant? Not really. Until something comes to the point where "Ash and May are a great couple because May is so moe-like" then I'll consider.

 

[Cybersai]

I'm not really finding what's so shocking about that post. Try again. I suggest trying the SPPf PokeShippers discussion thread.

I think that thread is one of the few examples of rational people, thank goodness. They sound somewhat depressed, but they're good people. Why do you think I have a problem with them? I don't challenge them.

But nothing shocking, at least to me. Irrational? Perhaps. Shocking and deviant? Not really. Until something comes to the point where "Ash and May are a great couple because May is so moe-like" then I'll consider.

I think the fact that you don't find a post like that to be "shocking" really shows how low the standards have become as to what bizarre opinions are passed around nowadays. If something like that has passed "shocking" and moved into "normal" territory, then good god, there is some seriously up here. Where have the intelligent assesments of the Pokemon series gone, then? And those are valid stances, wtf?

It's just something to keep in mind before you go out on Shooting Ristar.

 

[Vycksta]

Yes and no.

I don't care whether the ships I support has only me as being a true fan (( Like Nynaeveshipping, something i'm actually very happy about )) or tons of fans, if I like it then I like it. Hell, I cannot stand Ignitionshipping and Bashoushipping for the life of me but their fanbases don't go all out to annoy me, a Senirasushipper, so i'm fine with it.

HOWEVER if the fanbase is really, highly insanely rabid ro the point that you want to bash their heads in with a spoon... then yes, with Egyptshipping thanks to my best friend's little sister. That is very rare for me though, to hate a ship thanks to fangirlism. Geez, i'm rabid with MY OTPs...

 

[Duckgon Z]

Yes. Wait...yes.

One certain fandon that shall not be named makes a big deal about their ship being "cannon" and tend to shoot down ANY OTHER SHIPPING WITH THOSE 2 CHARACTERS EVER!!!111! They shout out all this, the Powers that Be, aka, the writers and directors, support the ship so you should should to. Like cows to a slaughter, alot of people that ship something that's not "cannon", switch to cannon. The last time I checked, the internet was a place where everyone can express themselves freely.

And then there's this fandom. I hate to say it again, but Pokeshippers really irk me to no end. They act like their ship has the best shot of being cannon and even when there have been literaly no hints in around 5 or so years, not including dub hints, which tried to warp everyone for AAML. Then they load this mountain of evidence, when you just want to ship your shipping. Personally, I like Orangeshipping and Ikarishipping, but I have no desire to really get involved in debates and such because of certain individuals that I won't name.

So I don't really dislike the ship, but the shippers of the ship make me dislike them.
*sigh* Glad that's off my chest.

 

[Swifty]

I think that thread is one of the few examples of rational people, thank goodness. They sound somewhat depressed, but they're good people. Why do you think I have a problem with them? I don't challenge them.

Because you've always been a dick to PokeShippers. I might as well assume the opinions motivating that behavior is amortized everywhere else.

I think the fact that you don't find a post like that to be "shocking" really shows how low the standards have become as to what bizarre opinions are passed around nowadays. If something like that has passed "shocking" and moved into "normal" territory, then good god, there is some seriously up here. Where have the intelligent assesments of the Pokemon series gone, then? And those are valid stances, wtf?

Instead of postulating why an opinion is absurd, your point would be acceptable if you elaborated on why that post is mind blowing to you. You're simply saying that it's unacceptable and because I think it's not so bad as you make it out to be, that I've lowered my standards without even explaining what the hell the standards are.

It's just something to keep in mind before you go out on Shooting Ristar.

There are morons in any ship. The reason why PokeShipping has the most is because it's the biggest ship. It's basic statistical analysis. Example: Since the 1970s, the amount of women in the United States Military had been reduced drastically. Would you argue based on that fact that the military is discriminating against women or is producing an environment that's hostile to women? No, because the overall number of personnel in the military was lowered since the 1970s; The percentage of women in the armed force actually increased since 1970.

 

[Cybersai]

Because you've always been a dick to PokeShippers. I might as well assume the opinions motivating that behavior is amortized everywhere else.

Not really, I've debated against them harshly at various points, yes, but that's about it. When was the last time I started a debate thread over at SPP? I don't think I've done any debating there since Jo-Jo's thread was closed when AG ended and we agreed Contestshipping was canon. When was the last time I actually posted on the Pokeshipping thread over there? Maybe back in early 2006 or something? Go search my post history if you're so intent.

Instead of postulating why an opinion is absurd, your point would be acceptable if you elaborated on why that post is mind blowing to you. You're simply saying that it's unacceptable and because I think it's not so bad as you make it out to be, that I've lowered my standards without even explaining what the hell the standards are.

That kind of reaction about cartoon characters is completely unacceptable. Especially the crap about May/Dawn turning girls into Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, while Misty is this "god" character that all girls should strive to be like. Seriously, do you think Dawn is channeling Lindsay Lohan? Wuh?

If this was said in a joking manner maybe I can find the fun in it, but as far as I could tell that person was 100% serious. It's bullying, that's what that is.

There are morons in any ship. The reason why PokeShipping has the most is because it's the biggest ship. It's basic statistical analysis. Example: Since the 1970s, the amount of women in the United States Military had been reduced drastically. Would you argue based on that fact that the military is discriminating against women or is producing an environment that's hostile to women? No, because the overall number of personnel in the military was lowered since the 1970s; The percentage of women in the armed force actually increased since 1970.

It probably does get the most flak because its the biggest ship, although your shippers census and Jo-Jo said that during 2006 Contestshipping surpassed it in popularity...and I don't see Contestshippers making the same kind of "noise" in the fandom as other shippers do.

Contestshipping has become just as much confirmed canon as well...ANY ship in the anime, so why are those shippers not as well... "vocal" as certain other people I can mention?

We already have a close-to canon ship in Pokemon, Contestshipping, and their fanbase is well behaved and probably the best example as to how canon shippers should act.

 

[Swifty]

That kind of reaction about cartoon characters is completely unacceptable. Especially the crap about May/Dawn turning girls into Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, while Misty is this "god" character that all girls should strive to be like. Seriously, do you think Dawn is channeling Lindsay Lohan? Wuh?

If this was said in a joking manner maybe I can find the fun in it, but as far as I could tell that person was 100% serious. It's bullying, that's what that is.

She didn't explicitly say nor imply that Dawn and May are turning girls into Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. She wrote that May and Dawn don't do much to prevent the airhead/dumb blonde stereotype from being proliferated. It's valid criticism even though I don't agree with it. But it's certainly not shocking she would think that.

It probably does get the most flak because its the biggest ship, although your shippers census and Jo-Jo said that during 2006 Contestshipping surpassed it in popularity...and I don't see Contestshippers making the same kind of "noise" in the fandom as other shippers do.

Contestshipping has become just as much confirmed canon as well...ANY ship in the anime, so why are those shippers not as well... "vocal" as certain other people I can mention?

We already have a close-to canon ship in Pokemon, Contestshipping, and their fanbase is well behaved and probably the best example as to how canon shippers should act.

And I'd argue that PokeShippers are as well behaved as ContestShippers. To be honest, let's backtrack to the original point: I'm not seeing this "stuffing canon dogma down everyone's throat" behavior that PokeShippers are actively notorious of being.

The only time I've seen PokeShippers becoming incredible assholes and anal retentives (Sup y'all) about PokeShipping being canon is if someone fired first and challenged the notion in the first place. The Ash is a main character, arguably the most popular, so there's a lot of people who would like to challenge the notion of the biggest ship, PokeShipping, as being canon. As a result, there are a lot of people who are getting into tangles with PokeShipping, ultimately creating a lot of people who are sour about the resulting skirmish after being hammered by a zillion hints and being pointed out their debate fallacies.

Comparatively, ContestShipping is a ship between a secondary character and a recurring character. The saliency of the love life of May or Drew would not be as high as that of Ash. Thus, there are fewer people who have engaged in combat with ContestShippers and lived to tell about it compared to the amount of people who have engaged with PokeShippers.

 

[phantomness]

YES.

*Cough* Pokeshipping *cough* Please don't get me started on the flak I got...

 

[A Concerned Solomon]

Answer me this: why was the OPS formed? Like it or not, these guys have made a mess of things, to the point where Pokeshippers on the whole are on the defensive about the whole thing.

You knew this post was coming, or should have, because of the ship's reputation. That you had to take a stand against it to prove some kind of point appears much like the patented chase-the-younger-Misty-fan-whose-logic-is-bad trick we've seen so often. Trying to bludgeon me to death with the proportions of dumb-to-bright (which are going to be based on nothing but impressions for every side of this, since there's no effective studying and will thus go nowhere) isn't going to work very well in changing my mind or anyone else's. Let it go, man.