DPP: The support group for dysfunctional pilots shippers

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Hi. I’m Claudia and I’m a Kara/Lee addict.I'll be with you this week and, although most of us already know a lot about each other, there are always new people around. So, as it often happens in support groups, I thought it might be a good idea to share my story. I hope others follow my lead and do the same. Don't worry, nobody here is going to judge you. ;)

I’ve been an addict for about a year now. Having watched the whole series in about two months or so,  I guess I can say it didn’t take me too long to go through the “delight and discovery” phase. 

It all started innocently enough. Certain scenes pleased me a lot and  it felt good to  rewatch them again. There were certain blanks in the episodes, so I looked for fanfics to fill them in.

Before I realized what was happening,  I was consuming  fics voraciously. I looked everywhere for them.  I started lurking in forums and reading everything that was recommended there. When I discovered ffnet, I went straight to the longest fics and went on some all-night reading binges. By the time I found out LJ, I had already learned about drabbles and fan vids.

After that, everything spiraled out of control. Not only did I create my own account, I stopped lurking and started to actually participate in some communities. Now I have hundreds of pictures and a significant number of snagged icons on my computer,  I’ve created a few icons myself , I’ve tried my hand at drabble writing and have been tempted to attempt something a little bigger,  I’ve bookmarked tons of fics,  I’m constantly waiting anxiously for several fic updates. I even wish I could attend a convention!And worst of all, I seldom read real books anymore, because I spend so much time with fics. :(

Although I have no difficulty recognizing my problem, I know I’m not anywhere near the road to recovery yet. As a matter of fact,  I fear things might get “worse” before they get “better”. LOL.

What about you? 
How did you get addicted? When did you realize you “had a problem”? What’s your favorite poison (fics, vids, icons, rpgs, thinky thoughts, etc)?

In what stage of addiction are you?

 a) the “delight and discovery” phase – you have just been introduced to pilots and have been experiencing euphoric emotions when you watch them together;

b) the "misuse" phase –  you feel compelled to rewatch episodes or scenes,  to read or write fics, to make icons, vids or picspams for extended periods of time;

c) the “middle” stage – you begin abusing the object of your addiction, even in the face of negative consequences to yourself;

d) the “final” stage – you experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t get your daily fix of pilots.

Are you already on the road to recovery?

Share your personal story with us. Or  just drop by and offer a word of support and care to your fellow shippers to help them go through one more week.

Have a wonderful week!

Comments

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

BSG was kind of like a rebound fandom for me. Or it started that way at least. I was recovering from a BtVS addiction, having gone cold turkey for some months, when I got hooked on Kara Thrace (the whole shipping thing followed soon after). Fanfiction is my preferred poison, and as was the case with my previous fandom I began writing fanfic because I felt a tad guilty consuming without giving anything back. Also there were a couple stories that I just could not believe no one had written yet.

It's been a couple years now and I think I've been in the final stage for awhile. I get antsy if I don't check LJ, read a fic or two... I don't know when I'll quit (if ever) though my fannish output has been winding down (not through lack of interest, just lack of time). I've been in one fandom or the other for so long now that I almost can't remember what I used to do with my time.

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Is it too selfish of me to hope you don't find a new rebound fandom anytime soon?

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

Well, there aren't any new fandoms on the horizon, so I think I'll be around for awhile yet.