DPP - I ship, you ship, we All ship ...

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

.... but WHY?

Okay class, today's DPP is a thinky-thought one (sort of).

In the same spirit as shah_of_blah's wonderful "Friending Meme" about a month ago, I want to throw this out and see what everyone has to say.

1. Why do you ship?
2. What is it about shipping that appeals to you/is fulfilling?
3. Do you have personal criteria for shipping, i.e., what particular character traits draw you to ship them?
4. (Since this is a Pilots comm), why do you ship K/L specifically? What is it about THEM in particular that fits your answer to the three questions above?
5. How did you become a shipper?
6. What was your first ship?

All answers are optional. Don't feel the need to answer each question individually. Your answer can be as complicated or as simple ("I ship K/L cuz they're pretty") as you want! This is just so we can all learn a little bit more about each other ...



I ship because I love the passion, the excitement, the energy between whoever my OTP might be. That fluttering feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when your ship is right there in the moment? Yeah. That’s what I love. So really, I ship because I miss having that little flutter. You know, that first flush of love, of lust, of wanting to be with someone so badly that it physically hurts? Well, once you’ve settled down and spent a few years with your partner, that is replaced with a softer, warmer glow. The adrenaline rush is no longer there and and I get that rush through my ships.

I am always drawn to the female character first, so my criteria for shipping is it has to involve a strong, independent, doesn’t-take-crap-from-anyone woman (not girl; WOMAN). Of course, having an attractive man is the second criteria. Muscles and hip dents and beautiful eyes and smiles are a must ☺ Physical attractiveness aside, they also have to be able to call each other's crap, not be able to "hide" from each other and basically be, as cliche as it sounds, made for each other. They should compliment each other in every way.

I didn’t start out shipping Kara & Lee. I know, I know. Don’t start throwing things at me, please. When I started watching BSG, I did it in one ridiculous marathon. I think I saw the whole thing in less than a week and that included Razor & The Plan. I was so engrossed with the plot and wanting to know what would happen next, that I wasn’t too focused on shipping. After I was done watching, I started reading fic and THAT’S when it all came to light for me. I went back and re-watched all the Pilot scenes and started shipping them for two reasons: one, Kara kicks ass and is my kinda girl, and Lee is just … well, hot and could get under her skin (See my criteria above). The two of them together were sexy, passionate, there was angst and UST and the fluttery feeling in my stomach; basically, all the things I love about shipping so, voila! I do have a lot of issues with Lee in general (I'm 100% a Kara girl), but that's a whole other discussion. As far as shipping is concerned, for me personally, there really was no other couple but K/L to ship.

I guess I became a shipper when about 10-12 years ago, I came across a website where post graduate students published “continuations” to Pride & Prejudice, exploring Lizzy & Darcy post marriage. There were also quite a few "what if" type of stories there and I absolutely loved them. I didn't realize my interest (okay, obsession), was called "shipping" until years later, when I discovered fan fiction in general, found the fanfiction.net site and just couldn’t stop reading the P&P fic. North & South was my next ship and I felt the same way about Thornton & Margaret that I felt about Lizzy & Darcy. I still didn’t really think of my obsession as a “ship,” well, because the couples were already together, so there was no angst. But I still got the flutters and that was enough for me. It wasn’t until my guilty pleasure, Grey’s Anatomy, introduced Owen Hunt’s character (the yummeh Kevin McKidd) as a love interest for Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), yet another totally badass character, that I became a full-fledged shipper. That’s when I went down the rabbit hole of LJ ☺

Comments

[thegreenkitty.livejournal.com]

I didn't even know the definition of "shipping" until K/L. It's all their fault and I love them for it. I suppose I did have other ships prior to K/L, but it wasn't as angsty (or obsessive) a pastime. (Ahem, I never got together with ~30 kickass women and a few men to discuss the brilliance of our ship until K/L.)

And Kara girls FTW!! (Although I gotta say I love me some Lee too.)

Will post more once I've actually slept...it's 6:30am here and you peeps write too much good fic...I will never catch up but I continue to try.

(BTW, great job so far with the DPP, babe! <3 )

[ninjamonkey73.livejournal.com]

My reasons are pretty in line with nazkey. First, I'm in it for a kick-ass female character I want to root for. Then there's that flutter in the stomach (it gets me every time when Kara pretty much lunges for Lee in Scar - you take what you want, girl!). And, oh, the banter! I'm a sucker for couples that tease each other or hate each other in a way we the audience can all see is really just repressed sexual tension.

I can't put my finger on what specifically appeals to me about it, beyond the above reasons. I've 'shipped in general since I was little. We were an NBC soaps house growing up and I remember storylines that apparently date to when I was 6. I checked some show dates at Wikipedia and it looks like my first 'ship of note might have been Hawkeye and Hotlips on M*A*S*H, followed by Bo and Hope on Days of Our Lives, and David and Maddy on Moonlighting. Oo! And Fallon and Jeff on Dynasty! Rita and Chris on Silk Stalkings, Mulder and Scully on X-Files, Cass and Frankie on Another World... Um, er, *deep breath*. Yeah, I 'shipped.

My first write-fanfic-and-talk-about-it-on-the-internet 'ship was Janeway and Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager. Something about Captain Janeway (and Kate Mulgrew's performance) really resonated with my post-college self. She was strong, in charge, and so damn lonely. A lot of what I wrote for her focused on how she wouldn't let herself be friends with her crew, and how being the highest ranking officer in the Quadrant and top representative of Starfleet for every new race wore her down. She had nowhere to take time off, no one to talk to that didn't ultimately report to her. *sigh*

But then there was Kara. When Lee turned up in the brig in the mini, I was already a Kara fangirl. Then there was the unspoken something between them and the vague and intriguing backstory that got hinted at... And they bantered. Um, yeah. And if I wasn't already on board, the handshake-that-never-ends in the "I thought you were dead" scene clinched it for me. I came to the LJ fandom looking for the fanfic I knew would already be here and the rest is history.

I only follow one other 'ship (half-heartedly) on LJ right now- Castle/Beckett (Nathan Fillion FTW!), but I ship House/Cuddy in my heart (and just don't want to see what fans do to the medicine and my favorite curmudgeon).

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

I feel all confused when I try to write this. Maybe it's the passion about shipping or the hopeless romantic in me, I don't know. I do know that I also love the flutter of excitement when my two characters flirt and get oh-so-close to getting together, only to be dashed apart by circumstance or their own baggage. I love the moments when I think OMG THIS IS IT!!! and then it doesn't happen. And then there are the briefest of indicators that it might - the lingering gazes, the fingers touching, the concern over the safety of the other. THE WORRY - will it work out? When will it happen? Will they be okay? Will they be together in the end? OMG. Please! Please! Please!

It's like begging, really. Hoping beyond hope that my two characters will live happily ever after. I need that. I need to immerse myself in the possibility of love and passion and that remarkable connection that we get to see on the screen.

Kara and Lee embody all of that for me and more. Their romance is FRAKKING EPIC and keeps me wanting more and more and more until I can't even understand that urge in my belly because it's overwhelming sometimes. I need to ship them because I can't do anything else. They've inspired so much in me that I cannot let them go. Eeeeeeeeeee!

(My very first ship was probably Jo and Fredrick in Little Women when I was a tween. I love them still.)

[arascophi.livejournal.com]

I can ship. I first shipped (geek alert) on Aragorn/Arwen, and occasionally Aragorn/Eowyn back in Lord of the Rings. I've also shipped with a couple of the Mag Seven characters back in the day. (Remember that TV show?)

Unfortunately, I am not a L/K shipper. I love Kara despite having been dead set against the new BSG for the longest time. (My first "crush" was Dirk Benedict as Starbuck, so..... yeah....I got hung up on the whole "Starbuck is a GIRL??!!?? WTF?????" thing.

You see, I am a jealous fantasy-dream-guy person. I HATE Dee, (she should have been with Billy, dammit) I like Kara, because I am able to pair her with Sam, so that leaves Lee all to me. Mine, mine, mine, I'm not sharing! Nah-nah-nah-nah-boo-boo!

So, anyway, to get to the point; while I respect all of your points, and can see and admire the validity of them, none of it matters in my world because Kara loves Sam, and Lee is mine, lol.
;p

I'm just here for teh pretty. :D

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Hee. There is lots of pretty Lee here. *swoons*

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

I guess I ship because I like the romantic excitement and potential. I never really thought much about why. I just do. It’s happy escapism.

I don’t really, really ship very often because my criteria is kind of crazy. I have to be attracted to both the character and the actor of both sides of the couple, starting with him. There must be good writing. I like a certain amount of angst. I’m usually disappointed when my OTP gets together. Because of all this I am the queen of “almost ships”. Usually I vastly prefer the male half of the couple, Buffy/Angle and Spike and Olivia/Peter or the writers ruin it somehow Scully/Mulder or the show just plain starts to suck Veronica/Logan.

So why the pilots specifically? Hot, hot, good writing and I knew before the end of the first season that the likelihood of them getting together onscreen was slim to none. Kara and Lee were pretty much destined to be mine.

I’m pretty sure my first ship was Apollo and Sheba from the original BSG. Oh and Leia and Han.

[ninjamonkey73.livejournal.com]

How did I forget Leia and Han?! I miss young Harrison Ford. Now he looks like somebody's Grandpa... 8'D

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

Ah, young Harrison Ford. He probably is somebody's grandfather now.

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, "shipping" is a pretty new thing to me too, but I guess I've kinda been doing it, just didn't realize what it was that I was doing. Gotta tell ya though, being part of this comm and fandom has gotten me doing things I would NEVER have done. Like participate online on a daily basis, or attempt to write fic!

Kara girls RULE!!!! I knew there was more than one reason I liked you ;-)

(Thanks for the compliment bb and thanks for commenting. I admit, I was a bit nervous Sunday night, but I'm having fun with it now. *mwah*)

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

1. Why do you ship?

Life (fictional and real) is just more interesting when there's love. I've always loved romance and romantic stories and (sob) happy endings. When I was a teenager I gobbled up YA novels and then moved on to adult romance novels. I shipped Anne and Gilbert (Anne of Green Gables) and Tom and Polly (An Old-Fashioned Girl) and probably even before that in the kiddy books I read too. On TV, watching my Nickelodeon shows, I shipped Brad/Ted (Hey Dude--Brad was a girl), Clarissa/Sam (Clarissa explains it all). When I grew up I worked for a magazine that covered romance novels. I'm a little bit in love with love. (Libras often are.)

2. What is it about shipping that appeals to you/is fulfilling?

The anticipation of it all. The connection. The ways people discover they are interested or aligned or destined. The whole soulmatey/found my other half kind of thing.

3. Do you have personal criteria for shipping, i.e., what particular character traits draw you to ship them?

I enjoy me some long-nurtured pining. Usually this is only on one side of a pairing--but when it's both sides (and I do kind of think it is for K/L even though Kara doesn't OPENLY pine) that's usually what makes it epic. I admit to enjoying bad-timing/missed chances, years-long romances (draws out that anticipation). I like backstories, esp. complicated ones. But I also like when the couple are friends, esp. best friends, first.

4. (Since this is a Pilots comm), why do you ship K/L specifically? What is it about THEM in particular that fits your answer to the three questions above?

Because they are everything to each other. Their relationship is so incredibly complicated: rivals, lovers, friends, coworkers, family. I love that they can go from passionate arguing to laughing really hard together. They have chemistry and an amazing synchronicity in everything they do. (They kind of even screw up in unison, albeit in different ways).

5. How did you become a shipper? 6. What was your first ship?

Kind of answered above but I didn't know it had it's own fancy nickname "Shipping" till I entered LJ/fandomland. I have always shipped. I always look for the potential to ship. ;)

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

And, oh, the banter! I'm a sucker for couples that tease each other or hate each other in a way we the audience can all see is really just repressed sexual tension. I forgot all about the banter! Yes, the banter and the "oh I hate you" that really means "I want to frak you" Yes. This. I'm adding it to my list :-)

OMG, Bo & Hope! David & Maddy! (well, before the writers REALLY screwed them up) Janeway & Chakotay! (we've talked about them. &hearts).

You know I realized something else today too, reading through everyone's response ... I don't go in to a show looking for a ship. It has to happen organically for me, I guess. There are a lot of shows out there with "shippy" characters, which I just can't seem to ship. Lost is a perfect example. I didn't really "ship" anyone until Sawyer & Juliet. That's when it clicked for me.

Thanks for sharing bb!

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

REALLY? You shipped Jo with the old German guy?! I am shocked! Hee. I didn't think anyone shipped them except LMA.

[koolaidmom11.livejournal.com]

1. Why do you ship?

well, i wasn't aware that's what i was doing. After i watched BSG, i was sent a "BSG recovery kit" from a friend of my daughters. It included both videos and fanfic. I started reading them and the more i read and watched, the more i got into the entire thing. Then i started lurking around and it was a bit intriguing so i followed up by answering the friends poll thing. At first, i couldn't even figure out what a "ship" was.

2. What is it about shipping that appeals to you/is fulfilling?

I'm a fantasizer. Always have been. At 16 i started reading romance novels and have always loved that type of thing. I guess i sort of miss the yearning of the beginning of a relationship ... that little flutter in your stomach. Shipping has that.


3. Do you have personal criteria for shipping, i.e., what particular character traits draw you to ship them?

I have to like the characters for their strength, weaknesses, something has to appeal to me. They have to be seriously good looking or i don't care. There has to be a connection that you can actually feel.

4. (Since this is a Pilots comm), why do you ship K/L specifically? What is it about THEM in particular that fits your answer to the three questions above?

I love Kara/Lee because they push each other's buttons. It's never easy but i feel they belong together. There are times in the series where i hate them both and i despise them for their weakness in not being able to overcome their frakked up emotions but still, i heart them. I'd also take Lee in a heartbeat and if he shows up at my door, i'm naked in about 2 seconds.


5. How did you become a shipper?

You guys sucked me in. I used to have a life before this. Thanks so much for that.

6. What was your first ship?

Other than my romance novels, i would have to say Michael and Nikita on Le Femme Nikita. I loved, loved, loved them. Their chemistry was the bomb. K. I'm done

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

Ah the anticipation! Yeah, that's what brings the flutters for me too.

I need to immerse myself in the possibility of love and passion and that remarkable connection that we get to see on the screen. THIS. I guess that's why I ship characters who have already gotten together by the end of the arc. I know that sounds weird, but I just love to explore the connection more. What happens after "they lived happily ever after" is also a favorite, along with "what ifs" (which we've talked about)

Ah shipping! What a roller coaster ride it is!

Thanks for commenting bb! &hearts you

[koolaidmom11.livejournal.com]

You are aware that you are on a Lee/Kara shipping site aren't you? Because right this minute, there are people standing in line to "metaphorically" beat the shit out of you.

Just a little FYI

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

An LOTR fan! I'm a huge Ringer too, though I have to say that I never shipped Aragorn with anyone. As much as I love Viggo, I didn't ship his character with either Eowyn or Arwyn. If I HAD to pick a ship there it would be Faramir/Eowyn, but again, that's only if I had to.

Thanks for participating in the discussion.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I want to know what's in the recovery kit. :)

Also...mlsky wrote a great La Femme Kara crossover, starts here Part one (http://mlsky.livejournal.com/81266.html)

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

I knew before the end of the first season that the likelihood of them getting together onscreen was slim to none. Yeah, me too. I mean, when I first watched the series, it was something that I just knew so it was just there in the background for me. So sad for our Pilots. *sniff*

Thanks for commenting hon!

PS Haven't forgotten about you. Expect an email later today/tonight :-)

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

The recovery kit is awesome! It's a lot of what I would consider "canon for fanon."

Oh and thanks for the new fic *bookmarks* Love misky's stuff. Yay!

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

The anticipation of it all. The connection. The ways people discover they are interested or aligned or destined. THIS. Yes, THAT'S what gives me the flutters and what I love about shipping. It doesn't even matter how many times I see a particular scene. I'll still get the same feeling in the pit of my stomach and I'm a goner!

I really like "bad-timing/missed chances" too. I'm a huge fan of the "what if." One little word said at a different time, one little gesture, and the whole game is changed. Love it.

Thanks for commenting bb! &hearts

[nazkey.livejournal.com]

I guess i sort of miss the yearning of the beginning of a relationship ... that little flutter in your stomach. Shipping has that. This is why we're besties.

I might have to quote every single one of your responses there and keep saying "this is why we're besties," but I won't cuz well, that would be boring and we're not boring.

I'll go get snarky with you someplace else now.. Thanks for commenting on my posts. I know it takes a big chunk out of your, er, busy (???) day. &hearts you, you nut.

[koolaidmom11.livejournal.com]

Thanks, i will check that out. The recovery kit has many, many stories and stuff in it. I can email it to you although i'm sure you know all the stuff already.

[ninety6tears.livejournal.com]

1. Why do you ship? Oh, I don't know. It just happens.
2. What is it about shipping that appeals to you/is fulfilling? Honestly, I mostly find it frustrating, but it's not like I can stop. But I do like the feeling of connecting with other people who just get a ship like I do; it might seem silly for it to mean so much, but the type of relationships that really captivate you can sometimes say a lot about who you are.
3. Do you have personal criteria for shipping, i.e., what particular character traits draw you to ship them? I tend to ship all over the place, but I generally get the most bored with pairings involving people who are too much alike (YAWN). That may occasionally mean that I get the most invested in the type of couples who in real life couldn't have pretty practical relationships, but I don't give a damn. I ship people together who are way more than just potential lovers, who have a fine little dance between who they are as individuals and who they are with each other (or in the case of less canon-friendly couples, relationships that have a lot of potential to be).
4. (Since this is a Pilots comm), why do you ship K/L specifically? What is it about THEM in particular that fits your answer to the three questions above? It seems like I fall the hardest for the ships that start out as this glimmer of opportunity where I'm not sure if they'll ever take it there or not, and to this day I love to remember that I was never sure at the outset if Kara and Lee were ever even going to kiss. And they're definitely doing something right with writing a relationship if something in me was perking up whenever Kara and Lee had a scene together long before the point when I thought I really wanted that to happen.
5. How did you become a shipper? It was probably Harry Potter fandom, even when I wasn't really involved in it, that first made me realize that shipping is basically a sport, and everyone has a team, and you can root for whoever you want no matter how ridiculous it might seem. Before then there were a lot of couples I definitely wanted together, but it wasn't until I got into fandom on the internet that I got into the acceptance of non-canon ships and the (occasionally) fun near-competitiveness of it all.
6. What was your first ship? I think I have to say Max/Liz from Roswell. I have a feeling if I went back and rewatched the show I wouldn't care for them as much now, LOL.

[koolaidmom11.livejournal.com]

Ya know, it sounded a little, let's just say SARCASTIC there. Just because my job is entitled "just being me" and the description is "doing jack shit all day" doesn't mean i deserve any grief for it. As a matter of fact, you have way, way too much energy to do this job well. It takes an incredible amount of self esteem to do NOTHING ALL DAY and actually BRAG about it.

K...i'm done

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of a sucker for tragedy.

No worries. I had a wacko busy weekend that I'm just recovering from. Agh, the beginning of school. I'll be around all day today.