Help for a non-shipper?

[Sovereign]

Okay. Even though I've been a Pokemon fan almost all my life, I had never heard of shipping until I got into using the internet to pursue my love of Pocket Monsters. I saw the term shipping pop up a few times, so naturally I investigated via Bulbapedia; I like that place.

I got around to looking and discovered that it's about relationships between different characters. Cool, I thought. Ash and Misty/May/Dawn have a fan base of their relationships with Ash.

... I then did a little more exploring, and discovered that this stuff gets pretty crazy. Apparently, people think of all kinds of combinations. It never once occurred in my mind that Ash would like Brock, or Gary, or anybody other than the girls he travels with.

Okay... I guess I can see why maybe some people can see that... But it became even more strange. I started seeing stuff about Gym Leaders shipping each other. Apparently, anybody can ship with anybody. I could handle this...

... But not what I saw next. Apparently, some cities are shipped?

Please, I'm just looking for someone to help explain shipping to me. I'm actually pretty intrigued in this stuff, but I know nothing about it other than what Bulbapedia told me.

Anyone care to explain shipping in detail? If not, feel free to close this thread. I just can't find anything that would explain this madness.

 

[zel]

well. i was surprised and a bit disbelieving to read that someone had created a township (pun very much intended), but i checked and yes, such a thing exists.
... huh. learn something new every day, i s'pose.

anyways. what you have to understand is that the list of pokemon shippings is, at this juncture, completely ridiculous. a lot of the time (and i know this from experience), people name ships just for funsies~ so even though we have ship names for pikachu x ketchup, gary x his right hand, or even pallet town x viridian, that doesn't necessarily mean that people actually ship these things. they just felt inspired/whimsical and got to namin'

But it became even more strange. I started seeing stuff about Gym Leaders shipping each other.

i'm not really seeing how this is so strange...? IMO, it's less strange to ship the gym leaders/elites/etc than it is to ship ten year olds. ;p but that's just me. is it strange because they have little to no canon personality? in that case, all you need is a little creativity~

you gotta keep an open mind when it comes to pokemon shippings. and i mean a very open mind o3o
some of the more obscure ships might confuse you at first, but... i'm sure in time you'll grow used to it, just like the rest of us. xD

(i would try to explain shipping in general, but... eh. it's a difficult thing to explain. basically all other fandoms take part in shipping, though, so i suggest googling it)

 

[Fwee~]

Cities? What was this called?! I MUST SHIP THEM!
But to give you the basic rundown of shipping; it's forcing two people together into a relationship either two-sided, one-sided, or evilness, and we make them in love! Of course, some people are OBVIOUSLY at least have a crush, and those tend to be the most-supported ships. Of course, some ships, such as Outcryshipping (I believe that's what it's called), are still supported, but since the people in question have little chance of meeting, they aren't as heavily supported.
And, hey! Piketshipping is TOTALLY canon! Did you see Pikachu's face?! Total love, man.
All joking aside, shipping is a fun pastime, just make sure you avoid them flame wars; they're nasty things.

 

[Azure Butterfly]

I'd say shipping is about 50% people being dedicated to two characters being in a relationship and discussing this pairing with others, and the other 50% is people coming up with crazy pairings no one in their right mind would seriously ever believe to be cannon. Crazy pairings are more joking around than serious shipping, but it's fun to take something over the top like Leafeon/Flint and make it work.

Also, Pikashipping isn't Ash/Traveling Partner but is so totally cannon.

 

[Luna Tiger]

Anyone care to explain shipping in detail? If not, feel free to close this thread. I just can't find anything that would explain this madness.

A good percent of the 'ships are crazy, and meant all in good fun. There are a number of 'ships involving inanimate objects that were make specifically for the crack and for the insane (and at some point, a good couple of them were running jokes, such as the "wooden sausage" found in one episode, and the Sub Sandwich/Rice Ball.

Yes, there's a 'ship that has cities, decorations from Gen III (the shields), the PokeFlute, Ash's hat (a couple of those), Ash's shoes (for the pun: SoleMate), vehicles (Lawrence and Zero's flying ships), and body parts (Misty's Hand/Brock's ear). They certainly aren't meant to be taken seriously. ...One might, just in case there is one I'm forgetting that's supposed to be.

People make up a lot of 'ships from a lot of angles. There's a prettiness involved that some people believe should have a name (like, say, Cynthia/Umbreon; that's pretty). Some 'ship pokémon from their games (I totally 'ship Absol/Skuntank and Ninetails/Typhlosion from my games), there's a fine-line connection ('shipping the CotD Jaco with the likes of Falkner or Winona, because all three are bird trainers), and some just because of how and who will meet in that great big world on the road.

Trainers travel, and trainers collect pogeys. In someone's mind, they want and wish the most of their 'ships to happen someway. Not on the show or in-game, though, because the likeliness of it is...well, none.

That explains the nevermet ships, while I'm at it.

It's easier to explain big 'ships like Pokeshipping and Pearlshipping: there's constant interaction.

The lesser 'ships (say, um...Punyshipping. Max/Vivi Winstrate) are usually just based off a an episode, but if the signs are obvious, those stick in more than a few people's minds (like the seven-or-so people who actually had crushes on Brock).

Lorelei/Misty is old-school popular, in this context. Then they made Misty idolize her in FRLG and it was one of the backburner dark horses. Just because a 'ship isn't mentioned much doesn't mean there aren't a lot of silent supporters.

Shipping gym leaders, elite four members, villains, heroes, rivals, that's all obvious, because they're united under a common title. And depending on the interaction some of them get, bam. You got yourself a little piece of "Aw" for the cold and harsh nights. (Even if they don't interact, you can easily imagine if they would or not.)


But it breaks down to this: we have fun (when people aren't fighting; oh. how people fight). =) If you take nothing away from this thread, take that nugget of wisdom. Shipping /is/ fun...when it's not taken so seriously (some people find the groove, many others are revolted by it). But that's also why shipping iz srs bizniz.

^^; Just...if you stick around (and we hope you do), be prepared. It's a jungle out there.

 

[Liligant]

I found towns being shipped wiith each other weird not gymleaders...oh well! For gymleaders Gracefulshipping actually sorta exists in Pokemon Adventures (coz Wallace and Winona apparently had some sort of relationship in their past...)

 

[Reyairia]

I think the townshipping thing is exclusive to the pokemon fandom because I've never heard of anything like it in any other. It seems more like it was a joke to me. o_o

 

[FatBunny]

I think the townshipping thing is exclusive to the pokemon fandom because I've never heard of anything like it in any other. It seems more like it was a joke to me. o_o

Of course it's a joke...they're flippin' cities.


But this is pretty much why I've grown apart from other fandoms I've been in. pokemon shipping is just so much crazier. It scares me sometimes. But I can't help but love you all.

 

[Shiny Noctowl]

The only canon ships are Red x Yellow, Ruby x Sapphire, and Diamond x Platina. All other shipping is baseless speculation and is therefore pointless and counterproductive. The best explanation is that shippers are either insane or that they can't get a partner in real life so they try to project their desires onto fictional characters.

 

[Luna Tiger]

The only canon ships are Red x Yellow, Ruby x Sapphire, and Diamond x Platina. All other shipping is baseless speculation and is therefore pointless and counterproductive. The best explanation is that shippers are either insane or that they can't get a partner in real life so they try to project their desires onto fictional characters.

That's your opinion, since the /only/ canon couple you just mentioned is Ruby/Sapphire.

Not the point of this thread, btw.

 

[playgirl]

bro you forgot betelgeuse and electrictentacle in your ONLY THIS IS CANON

oh and carnivalshipping

you really can't get more canon than that unless your definition of canon is: false

regarding the validity of shipping it's an extremely productive trolling outlet. the shippers who take it seriously for whatever reason are prime targets. basically supporting a dissenting ship from the majority in any situation is a 'troll' to someone who can't handle it.

also faking shipping extremism ruffles feathers.

also some characters just look good together or are some of the few characters the writers of pokemon decided should be hinted at actually getting laid any time in the last decade.

 

[FatBunny]

Yeah, only the people who can never get boy/girlfriends are the ones who ship. It's not like the vast majority of the US already freaks out about Brangelina or Tomkat or anything. hdear:

Just saying, that's a very bold statement to make.


Personally, I like shipping both common and unusual couples, because it's fun to try to take 2 different personalities and brainstorm on how their relationship would work out. Because to me, being spoon-fed official couples isn't quite as fun as thinking of new ones...although sometimes I can grow to just adore a canon couple (like RxS).

 

[hopeandjoy]

This is the really insane side of shipping.