Thoughts on OTP-ness

[jedi_of_urth]

After everything blew up on mrv3000’s post yesterday, I’m going to temp fate with my own talk about OTP shipping. But I’m pretty sure a lot fewer people in fandom know who I am so we’ll if the wankers find me.


Okay, I use the terms OTP fairly loosely, but it still first it has to mean two things:
-That I feel invested in the relationship.
-That I decidedly prefer the two characters together over any other pairing involving them.

There are plenty of ships I enjoy but don’t feel invested in. They work out or they don’t but I don’t really spend much time away from the show caring about that relationship.

The second qualification does not mean I don’t respect, and sometimes even like, other options for shipping the characters, but it does mean that I can clearly tell that one of them is a favorite.

Neither of these mean that I don’t respect that other people have different opinions. Neither of these mean that I don’t sometimes dabble in other ships from the show, sometimes even involving my OTP. It just means that *to me* there is a pairing that I enjoy a lot and prefer over other options.

I’m not even going into any specific fandom examples. Ask away about them, but for the main post I’m keeping it fandom-neutral.

But to get back to mrv3000’s original point, why does fandom see to think it’s “wrong” to have a favorite? And to have a strong opinion about why they are your favorite? And to have opinions about others ships (though not the shippers mind you) that may or may not be influenced by they ship you like best? Or just to not ship anyone/everyone?

Go ahead and approach fandom and shipping however *you* want. But seriously, be respectful to people with other opinions and approaches, especially when you enter their space.

Comments

[moon-blitz.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I even have an OTP for Doctor Who. I mean, there are a ton of pairings that I enjoy and like to read (as insane as they are), but none that I'd insist on loving more than any else.

Actually, I don't seem to have an OTP for most shows I watch, just because I don't go crazy where shipping is concerned. I suppose it depends on the characters and the show itself. Does that make any sense?

[jedi_of_urth]

Yeah, but are you offended by people who do have OTPs? That's the question. I happen to get investing in the shipping in most shows, do you think it's wrong?

That's the argument Michelle's post seemed to devolve to (not her fault, the crazies found her). That people wanted to make sure OTP shippers knew they were DOING FANDOM WRONG AND REPRESSING MULTI-SHIPPERS OR NON-SHIPPERS BY BEING OTP SHIPPERS.

Back when Heroes was good I didn't need a ship to get into, and I never did on that show. But I got how other people could be interested in the shipping most of the time (anything involving Sylar and my ability to be understand goes flat). And most importantly I LEFT THEM ALONE. I didn't feel the need to go in and say "You are wrong to ship anything on this show especially if you have a favorite pairing, dirty people." There are plenty of reasons why Heroes fandom is a filthy place, but that people ship and even have OTPs isn't part of it.

[moon-blitz.livejournal.com]

No, no, absolutely not! I don't mind if someone has an OTP (or OT3/4), and most times I can even see the logic behind the pairing. Everyone is allowed to enjoy a show in their own special way, whether it be by theorizing about what will happen in the episodes to come, or by writing fanfiction about their favourite pairing.

And those crazies are obviously that: crazy. OTP shippers are not doing the fandom wrong by only focusing on two characters. In fact, they are adding to the fandom by expressing their love for the show in their own unique way.

I never got too involved with the Heroes fandom (haven't seen anything past S2, not sure if I should), but I do have a few favourite ships of my own. If there is a pairing in any fandom that I dislike or can't get (Zuko/Katara being one), I just avoid it and let those people who enjoy that pairing do their own thing.

[jedi_of_urth]

I figured you weren't crazy like that, I usually assume most people aren't, but a few bad apples crop up and things get nutso.

I may complain about certain pairings on my own journal, or if specifically asked about opinions regarding something I don't like, but on other people's the most I'll say it 'Well I'm going to have to disagree with you about X/Y, but as long as we can agree to disagree, cool.' Or, you know, ignore it altogether, which is what I mostly do.

As far as Zuko/Katara specifically, I don't really ship it either. For one thing Aang/Katara OTP, but I do think Z/K have an interesting dynamic that if well written could be make for an interesting ship.