# What is a "shipper"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886 "2009-10-07T03:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/21 "2009-10-07T14:13:00Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’m positive. As TWDuke said the opposite of slash is het. Google “slash archive” and you won’t find a fandom that uses the term to mean stories about straight pairings. Just to confuse the issue a bit more, the punctuation mark “/” can be used in either context, but the word “slash” definitely implies a same-sex pairing. Historically, this seems to be an outgrowth of the fact that Kirk/Spock was the most common pairing back in the day (when dinosaurs roamed the land and fanfiction could only be found on dead trees). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/22 "2009-10-07T14:44:01Z")
m/m ship = slash f/f ship = femslash m/f ship = het ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/23 "2009-10-07T14:53:23Z")
I weep for humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/24 "2009-10-07T15:15:49Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I weep for humanity. Why? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/25 "2009-10-07T15:43:51Z")
Well, in a warehouse, which is what I assume Warehouse 13 is, a “shipper” is the person who ships the orders to their intended destination. “Pickers” gather the items off the shelves and bring them in baskets to the “packers”. Packers box them up and send them to the “shippers” who slap the shipping labels on them. Although that probably wasn’t what they meant. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/26 "2009-10-07T15:55:55Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I weep for humanity. Ever read the Zeus/Io ships? Or the Zeus/Ganymede slashes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liddle_Lamsy_Divey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/27 "2009-10-07T16:16:04Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > I first encountered it in relation to _The X-Files_, but it’s possible it predates that. > . It certainly does. Rabid shipping as we know it probably began with Jo/Laurie from Little Women. A detailed essay can be found [here](http://community.livejournal.com/ship_manifesto/237830.html). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/28 "2009-10-07T16:27:26Z")
> [@Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](#): > > It certainly does. Rabid shipping as we know it probably began with Jo/Laurie from Little Women. A detailed essay can be found [here](http://community.livejournal.com/ship_manifesto/237830.html). The first 'ship to be canon-stomped just because the 'shippers were so annoying! ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/29 "2009-10-07T17:01:14Z")
To add a bit of info in direct answer to the OP, “Clartie” is a mashing-together of the character names Claudia and Artie on the show. I couldn’t remember the names of anyone on the show, so I got this by googling “Clartie shipper”. I was a bit surprised that the first two hits were this thread and the one that inspired it. But the third one helped me. I get the impression that Clartie is not a large shipper community. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/30 "2009-10-07T19:05:36Z")
How often does it happen (in an ongoing medium like a TV show) that the relationships are influenced by the fandoms? I can see a writer saying “Well, a lot of fans seem to think there’s some tension between X and Y, so let’s give them what they want”. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/31 "2009-10-07T19:16:51Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I weep for humanity. > [@Kyla](#): > > Why? I know it’s none of my beeswax, but 'shipping seems like an inordinate amount of enthrallment for…what, is what I’m scratching my head over. It’s beyond just entertainment; it’s kind of crossing that line into obsession. Plus, I’ve always seen fanfic as kind of, well, submissive, or resigned to the lower tier, or something…kind of like a cover band. But I don’t begrudge anything that makes people happy, and it doesn’t hurt anybody, so, ultimately, I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/32 "2009-10-07T19:19:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How often does it happen (in an ongoing medium like a TV show) that the relationships are influenced by the fandoms? I can see a writer saying “Well, a lot of fans seem to think there’s some tension between X and Y, so let’s give them what they want”. Maybe. I hope this is not the case with Supernatural, though:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/33 "2009-10-07T19:48:48Z")
IMHO, and people may disagree, “shippers” are generally “shipping” relationships that are at least suggested by the canon, and in many cases (Mulder and Scully, Booth and Bones) the show’s bread and butter is the UST that breeds shippers. The slash fic girls are more reaching for it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/34 "2009-10-07T19:52:17Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Maybe. I hope this is not the case with Supernatural, though:eek: You know Kripke pushes it though. Fangirl typing at the computer: “This is wrong,” Sam said, as Dean ran his fingers through his brother’s hair.’ ---
**Author:** ![Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liddle_Lamsy_Divey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/35 "2009-10-07T20:03:45Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > The first 'ship to be canon-stomped just because the 'shippers were so annoying! Heh. Although, I did say “rabid” shippers, a lot of whom are fans of non-canonical pairings. They tend to be crazier than your average shipper, and are usually passionate about a pairing that they desperately _wish_ were canon, despite evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Liddle\_Lamsy\_Divey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liddle_Lamsy_Divey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/36 "2009-10-07T20:10:40Z")
Missed the edit window! There are exceptions, of course. Not all people who ship non-canonical pairings are crazy, and will agree to disagree. Also, it should be noted that there are ships called “crack pairings,”: an insane pairing, done just because. For more info, see [this.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CrackPairing) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/37 "2009-10-07T21:15:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How often does it happen (in an ongoing medium like a TV show) that the relationships are influenced by the fandoms? It happens from time to time…both the ‘well, let’s give them what they want’, and…well, canon-stomping the 'ships. Accelerating the intended relationship for one or the other…giving one or the other a new canon love interest…in extreme cases, killing one off. Or simply mocking them (oh, the wank when the creators of Avatar made fun of every possible 'ship - including the canon 'ships - at a convention). My personal favourite is when Craig McCracken wrote a segment of a Powerpuff Girls episode to mock the PPG/Rowdyruff Boys 'shipping. (The ‘when we were teenagers’ part of City of Clipsville.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/38 "2009-10-07T21:21:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I know it’s none of my beeswax, but 'shipping seems like an inordinate amount of enthrallment for…what, is what I’m scratching my head over. It’s beyond just entertainment; it’s kind of crossing that line into obsession. I don’t know about that… Really, it’s just engagement with the characters, in a context that happens to be romantic. If you’re not going to be interested in the characters, why read the book or watch the show at all? Sure, there are some folks who really are obsessed, but the term “shipper” is not restricted to them at all: It also includes all of those folks who were happy to read about Harry and Ginny finally kissing, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/39 "2009-10-07T21:23:09Z")
> [@](#): > > (oh, the wank when the creators of Avatar made fun of every possible 'ship - including the canon 'ships - at a convention) Do tell more: That sounds like it has great humor potential. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/40 "2009-10-07T22:07:23Z")
There’s not really that much to it… Some details might be a little off, since I’m not active in the Avatar fandom, and caught this when it spilled over into other communities. Avatar 'shipping wars can be pretty insane - up to Harry Potter level at times. Particularly Kataang (Katara/Aang) vs Zutara (Zuko/Katara). Kataang is canon, but Zutara very popular among the fans. At a convention some time back (San Diego Comicon, IIRC), the creators had a little video poking fun at the ships. Rather ignoring the fact that Kataang and Zutara both got poked, a lot of Zutara fans…overreacted. Cursing the creators for daring to push Kataang over Zutara, vowing to stop watching the show, etc. Avatar’s creators, BTW, have a lot of fun with 'shipping…an Avatar comic magazine included a 'shipping guide of sorts, which included the highly cracky Momo/Appa. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886.md?page=3)