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

[mserrada.livejournal.com]

I swear you copied mine before I could write it!
Only real difference, I took the plunge and have been writing and slowly posting.

Otherwise, Ditto on all you said.

Definitely D) daily fix a must. Family member has tried several intervention attempts without success. I'm afraid this looks like a long term fixation and some things are just too strong to fight.

So, enablers Unite and fight off the forces of RL.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Hey there, DPPs actually run from Monday to Sunday, so you're a day early. :) No worries though, just letting you know.

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Gosh. I'm so, so sorry. In my defense, I can only say that I was going to post tomorrow, but today I checked the schedule posted on Dec 9 to make sure I had the dates right and this is what it reads there.

January 31 - February 5: angelicalangie

February 6 - February 12: damao2010

February 13 - February 19: queenofthorns

February 20 - February 26: rayruz

From what I noticed (only now, that I was kind of forced to pay attention to this), DPPs were scheduled from Monday to Sunday till January. The dates in February all go from Sunday to Saturday.

I'll send Angel a note and make sure I apologize. But I guess the more, the better, right.
:)

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Addicts stories are never that different. LOL.
Nobody has tried an intervention with me, yet. But none of my friends get my fixation either. So I don't talk to them about it.

So, enablers Unite and fight off the forces of RL.

So say we all. :)

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

Oops! My bad on the date messup. Yeah, no problem. Two is better than none!

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Hello, my name is Kate, and I'm a shipper.

I first found pilots right about a year ago when I started watching BSG. Reading fic started when I realized I was shipping a completely doomed couple and figured that I needed some delusion. ;) Writing came about six months ago. I enjoy watching vids and admiring others icons.

I'm not even trying to quit my disfunctional ship because denial rocks!

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Oh, boy. I'll say that I am certainly in the final phase of addiction, but I am also rip-roaring my way through the misuse phase (still writing fic and making picspams) and the middle phase (where my friends and family wonder where in the hell I am). Pilots suck up most of my free time and the addiction is running strong.

I REFUSE RECOVERY AND INTERVENTIONS! Hardcore shipping to the end!!

[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]

I totally get what you mean but needing some delusion. I have got to a point where my delisional world (fanfics universes) is becoming more real to me than the "real world" (canon). *shrugs*

In short, you're absolutely right: Denial rocks!

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

I think you are well into full dependency mode, my friend. And I myself thank the gods for that. After all, you help me get my daily fix and withdrawal is a bitch. ;)

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

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

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

Hi, my name is Ana and I'm a shipper. (that sounds strange).
I discovered BSG around a year and a half ago and it was love at first sight. I'm afraid that i ended up by getting in the final stage awhile back, namely after i saw the series the first time - in less than two weeks i might add.
I refrained from writing firstly because english is at least theoretically my third language and for reasons that have to do with my job, but i read a lot of fanfiction.
I'll not go to the reason that i started to watch BSG because you all would end up with headaches. But i can tell that i'm one of the strange persons that saw the pilot of Caprica before seeing BSG.

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Hi Ana.
You're not alone in watching the whole series in such a short time. With the exception of those people who actually watched it while it was airing, I'm probably one of the people who took the longest to see everything (a couple of months).
And English is not my first language, either. So I understand what you mean.
I've never seen Caprica. Is it any good?

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

To respond to your question: Caprica is good but different. for one, there aren't space-fights, or vipers but there are (more in the second half) gun-fights and mobsters.
you get to see - even if it confusing for a while - how the cylons got to exist, some very interesting its of info about the Adamas (the lighter makes an appearance or two) and some scenes with the C-Bucks playing pyramid.
the only problem is that they tried to condense to much info and its very heavy on the mythology.
all in all i have to take the time and re-watch it in order to get all my ducks in a row but i'm not sure that i would do that if it would not be about the Adamas.

[numb002.livejournal.com]

Wwll actually depends on the day, bu most closely I fit in to D. If I don't get my daily dose of fanFic (that is my personal favorite poison ;-)) it tend to be grungy.
I'm thinking about writing myself, have some ideas but it has to wait for now, you all know real life often goes in the way of any plans...
So for now I read and read and read...

[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.