About OTPs – why do we ship people ?

About OTPs – why do we ship people ?

Hi everybody, Mary here.

So, lately, I've been confronted to a problem. And of course, I had to solve it.

I've always wondered why the f*ck we ship people, in the end. I mean, it doesn't concern us, right ? We are in love... with somebody else's love ??? WTF ??? Why does this exist ? How did it appear and how does it affect our modern societies ?

Well, I had to make a little Internet work to find out.

Concerning the facts : the word « slash » which basically means smut has been coined with the Kirk/Spock pairing... fanfictions written by women. The word « ship » has been coined with the arrival of The X-Files, which also created the no-romo word for people who didn't want Mulder and Scully to be in a romantic relationship. (Spoiler : they are.)

And when you think about it, fanfictions were created even before the arrival of the Internet, by the means of specialised magazines where they were published and sent to people who « subscribed » to them, or were just given at different conventions. So, it's not a new trend invented by the Y generation. Sorry, but we didn't invent everything.

But when you think about it... Most people shipping pairs, whether in the past or in the present, have a very common trait, a simple characteristic : most of them are young, and/or single. Why, you may ask ?

It's because... and I've said it in a previous post...

« Somebody's OTP very often, if not always, says A LOT about what they desire in a relationship. »

I am a firm believer that our OTPs reflect our point of view about relationships and what we're looking for in them. Let's take an example... let's say... myself. I don't specifically have OTPs but there are some ships that I ship more than others, so let's talk about them, shall we ?

1- Mulder and Scully. If you don't know already, Mulder IS an INFP, just like me, and I've always related SO WELL to his character. If I ship him and Scully so much, it's because just like him, I'm looking for a little bit of reality in a relationship. I NEED someone to remind me of the mundane and clerical tasks that I find SO boring and annoying like paying taxes, going to the groceries, doing some work instead of procrastinating. Someone to remind me facts when I'm drifting away. Basically, I need a Scully in my life.

2- The Ninth/Tenth Doctor and Rose. I mean, this is quite obvious. Just like Rose, I live in a very dull reality and I need some time. Some escape. Some adventures that no one else would see. And then, what happens ? THE DOCTOR. Miracles happening everyday. We save the world. We go to unexplored parts of the universe. We kick ass. Really, who DOESN'T want to be the Doctor's companion, even just for a while ? It must be AMAZING !!! Basically, I NEED someone like the Doctor. Someone to show me wonders, no matter how small. Someone who can remind me how utterly beautiful life is.

3- Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. Well, if you read my Hannibal reviews, you must know by now that I am a HARDCORE HANNIGRAM SHIPPER. Why, you may ask ? Becuse their relationship is so... like... they crave for the other person, right ? Their attraction is sudden, Will decides to change entirely to follow Hannibal. He decides to run away with him, to live with him. He apologises when he realises he's turned him to the police. He's inflexible about his feelings for him. Hannibal also surrenders JUST to let Will know where he is, always. Maybe I'm a Hannibal in need of a Will, in the end. *psychotic laughter echoes in the distance* Really, though. Someone's who's into me as much as I'm into them ? Being loved to the point of madness ? ALWAYS being there for the other person ? SIGN ME THE F*CK UP RIGHT NOW.

Anyways, what do YOU think about this ? Do you agree or nah ?

What's YOUR OTP and how is it related to your needs in a relationship ?

Okay, that's it for today ! I really hope that you enjoyed this post and I'll see you very soon with another one !

And as usual, our last word : KIDNEYS !