# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/41 "2009-10-07T23:51:27Z")
I always though Kasuki (Suktara?) would be hot. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/42 "2009-10-07T23:58:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Vindicated 'shippers are the worst kind. > > The _Buffy_ ‘Shipper Wars were bloody and brutal. Made the Thirty Years’ War look like a kiddy picnic, they did. In the end, the only thing that was settled was that the Rileytarians were heretics, and they were all burned at the stake. > > Spuffy Forever!! I know it sounds insane, but you know, those were good times. Sometimes I find I genuinely miss the shipper wars (though funnily enough, I still don’t trust Buffy/Angel shippers much. Hard to remember they’re not the enemy anymore). Also, Buffy fandom has one of the few canon slash pairings–Angel/Spike. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/43 "2009-10-08T00:17:58Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > Also, Buffy fandom has one of the few canon slash pairings–Angel/Spike. They _were_ good times. _“Angel and me have never been intimate. Except that one…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/44 "2009-10-08T01:09:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > They _were_ good times. > > _“Angel and me have never been intimate. Except that one…”_ Then there’s the _Buffy_ episode when the chick who’d turned her boyfriend into a monster (thanks to Anya back in Vengeance Demon Mode) got introduced to the gang at the Bronze. After she heard a bit about past relationships, she exclaimed “Have \*any \*of you not slept together?” Xander & Spike shared a meaningful glance… Back on _Angel_, Darla told Lindsey he was only interested in her because he really wanted Angel… Yup, the Mutant Enemy crew liked to play with the slashers. (Maybe they still do; let’s hope that _Dollhouse_ lasts long enough.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/45 "2009-10-08T02:13:33Z")
Regarding messing with the shippers, there’s this strip from the webcomic _Questionable Content_: [Suck it, shippers!](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1492) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/46 "2009-10-08T03:22:43Z")
Ro and Barclay! ---
**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 8, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/47 "2009-10-08T03:34:33Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Regarding messing with the shippers, there’s this strip from the webcomic _Questionable Content_: [Suck it, shippers!](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1492) Which was hilarious…but it backfired for me. \>_\> I never 'shipped them before, but that got me thinking about it, and…they’d be cute - in a terrible, terrible way. \>_\> ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/48 "2009-10-08T14:32:45Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > 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. Well, it was kind of rude of you to say that you weep for humanity then, you know? It’s just a way to amuse oneself. As long as you don’t get overobsessed or something. Lots of people have hobbies that seem like a waste of time to me. _shrug_ FWIW, I’m not even defending myself - although I do enjoy wasting my time in fandom, I’m not really invested in any ships. BTW, I think Kripke is shipping Dean/Castiel this season. Holy hoyay, Batman. OH, _Supernatural_ people, your willingness to engage in fanservice is so hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886/49 "2009-10-09T22:11:19Z")
The answers here have been satisfactory. 😉 Thank you. **Saltire** said: > [@](#): > > I get the impression that Clartie is not a large shipper community. The other thread seemed to be strongly leaning toward any relationship not being romantic, but either mentor/student or intellectual peers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-shipper/512886.md?page=2)