Forced shipping and moral skipping?

[ManaMinori 4,149]

Everyone knows that with fandoms usually comes shipping, and plenty of it. MLP is no exception, and unfortunately the majority of ships aren't friendshipping. Looking back at “Hearts and Hooves Day” episode, Cherilee is seen looking rather annoyed that her students bring up the topic of her having a “special somepony” (and I can easily imagine the mane 6 and most, if not all background ponies, having the same reaction, since we've never seen any of them romantically interested in finding a special somepony) Cherilee goes onto explain that she's perfectly content with all her friends and students who love and care about her, and that she doesn't need a special somepony. And by the end of the episode, as a reminder to the shipping community that Brony fandom had acquired, the CMC (who had earlier gone against Cherilee's wishes of having a special somepony to begin with, and went so far as to drug their teacher and Big Mac, and force them to love each other) get told by Cherilee that “she appreciates that the CMC cares about them (her and Big Mac) and want them to be happy, but no matter how good their (shippers/ CMC) intentions might be, they should've never meddled in their relationship. That Nopony can force two ponies to be together.” And that it's up to that pony to choose who they want to be with for themselves.

 

Do you think the shippers in the MLP choose to ignore certain morals that seemed made for them, and are too quick to romantically pair up certain ponies? Was "Hearts and Hooves Day" a proper moral to take from? How do you think any romantically shipped pony (or non pony) might react upon learning of these ships and who they're being shipped with, in a show called "Friendship is magic", which continually emphasizes the importance of friendship, above all else?

[碇 シンジン 27,442]

I'm not much into shipping myself, but I don't see shipping as bad. I mean if people want to do it and are happy doing it I'm fine with that.

 

I'm not sure if I understand the shipping correctly but I think it's like love or friendship or something like that. I don't have much love or friends in my offline life and seeing things which involve those strong emotions even as pictures or fanfictions they really can fill the gap inside of me. It really feels great for me to be able to be part of those emotions and feelings that I've not had before in my life. 

 

I don't know if the morals are correct but that is how I feel about this.

 

Also

 

 

 

[Poetic Justice 170]

A = Things I want to read in fanfiction
B = Things I want to see in the show.

 

 

Just because people, like me, ship characters in fanart and fanfiction, it's very rare that it's something we actually want to see in the show.

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

Well, they don't exist. And that is the main thing that allows them to be paired up so easily and in such great numbers, as since they don't exist the morals the characters are written to hold dear may be overlooked or removed entirely in another persons work. Quite often the characters are just used as a visual representation for an idea or character archetype rather than actually having the whole character themselves involved. It is easier to use a familiar face to visually describe an archetype rather than create a new one.

 

And of course you have the idea of them using it to explore areas of the character archetype they represent that the show would not go in, or care to travel.

 

 

 

But, at the end of the day they are just 100% fictional characters, so I don't find any moral issues with what one does to a representation of them in their fan work, be it art or chris chan level self insert clopfics.

Edited October 9, 2014 by M'aiq the Liar

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I don't really see any harm in shipping characters or even people. At the end of the day, it's just thinking somebody and somebody else would make a cute couple

 

It's pretty clear that fans often don't take the show's lessons to heart, but I don't think the moral of that episode was explicitly anti-shipping. What I took away from it was that people are fully capable of being happy without a romantic partner, and you shouldn't meddle in the love lives of others without their permission. Thinking Mac and Cheerilee could be really happy together is harmless and fine, and only becomes a problem when people take the next step and get involved with things that are really none of their business.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

There is no harm in shipping the characters. Most shippers know they're ships will probably never be in the show. There is a difference between show cannon and headcannons. Most shipping is headcanon, no harm to the show itself. Sure, the writers may throw in Easter eggs of shipping (Big Mac and Cheeralie being a big example of this) but it never actually goes anywhere.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Everyone knows that with fandoms usually comes shipping, and plenty of it. MLP is no exception, and unfortunately the majority of ships aren't friendshipping. Looking back at “Hearts and Hooves Day” episode, Cherilee is seen looking rather annoyed that her students bring up the topic of her having a “special somepony” (and I can easily imagine the mane 6 and most, if not all background ponies, having the same reaction, since we've never seen any of them romantically interested in finding a special somepony) Cherilee goes onto explain that she's perfectly content with all her friends and students who love and care about her, and that she doesn't need a special somepony. And by the end of the episode, as a reminder to the shipping community that Brony fandom had acquired, the CMC (who had earlier gone against Cherilee's wishes of having a special somepony to begin with, and went so far as to drug their teacher and Big Mac, and force them to love each other) get told by Cherilee that “she appreciates that the CMC cares about them (her and Big Mac) and want them to be happy, but no matter how good their (shippers/ CMC) intentions might be, they should've never meddled in their relationship. That Nopony can force two ponies to be together.” And that it's up to that pony to choose who they want to be with for themselves.

 

Do you think the shippers in the MLP choose to ignore certain morals that seemed made for them, and are too quick to romantically pair up certain ponies? Was "Hearts and Hooves Day" a proper moral to take from? How do you think any romantically shipped pony (or non pony) might react upon learning of these ships and who they're being shipped with, in a show called "Friendship is magic", which continually emphasizes the importance of friendship, above all else?

As a long time shipper I can say there is a large portion of shippers that disregard the characters personality in favor of

"OMG they are so cute together!"

 

Unless its satirical and ridiculous I will not get into random pairings that make no sense or have way too flimsy reasoning. I have several ships in this show and my reasoning for them are all plausible and take into account the characters personalities and actions thus far. 

 

What I am saying is not every shipper disregards character like that, some are like me who are way to ridiculously into rationalizing it for our own good

 

 

Edited October 11, 2014 by Buck Testa

[Conred 274]

Surely 90% of fandom ships will never happen. But there are few that may get the spotlight. "Friendship is Magic" does not exclude romance. Love is a higher form of friendship and its also this show job to show it. And it actually did in few episodes already along with wedding.

[DormantAccount 308]

Shipping isn't immoral. I agree with what was previously said about the lesson being about it being okay to be single and not meddling in others' love lives in real life. I don't think that disregarding character personalities is necessarily bad morals just bad writing. These are fictional characters at the end of the day after all.

 

As to desire to see them in the show, I doubt we see any more romantic relationships than we already have. If this show was aimed at a teenage demographic maybe, but not this age group.

[Orablanco Account 3,708]

 

 

t's pretty clear that fans often don't take the show's lessons to heart, but I don't think the moral of that episode was explicitly anti-shipping. What I took away from it was that people are fully capable of being happy without a romantic partner, and you shouldn't meddle in the love lives of others without their permission.

 

Pretty much.

 

I think it's fun to think of that episode as a poke at shipping, but I never got the argument that the moral was an outright message to shippers to cut it out. How would that even work in that context? It isn't like shippers are able to alter the fate of fictional characters through their will and they have to be taught to use these super-powers responsibly.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

I think the moral of the episode was intended less for bronies who like pairing ponies off in fiction than it was for anyone who tries to force people into relationships for real. As it is, the show isn't going to do anything more than ship bait within the series itself, so it's not really an issue.

[emeraldink 13]

I think the moral is aimed less at shippers and more towards people like my old coworker.  She took personal offence to me not being in a relationship and insisted on trying to hook me up with every available man (and a few unavailable ones) that we worked with.  It was disturbing creepy and highly inappropriate.

 

You can't offend fictional characters because they don't exist.  So shipping them is just fine though I would caution against getting too wrapped up in your ship lest you get into arguments that could have been nice conversations.

 

Just my two bits.

[The Nth Doctor 664]

I doubt any of our favored ships would become canon since I'm pretty sure most of 'em involve two mares and that rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

 

Even if it's a relationship between two fictional cartoon ponies, because people take offense to everything.

 

 

I don't think H&H Day was Hasbro's way of telling the fandom to stop making ships, because good whatever-it-is-that-you-worship, the fandom's ships are sailing faster than ever.

[Everleaf 542]

To be honest  I do not really mind! if bronies want to ship... I guess they have the rights... I can't see any fan made ships to become canon

 

and as for the moral I would think they were referring to the ones who Indeed force people to love each other or similar not so much shipping!

[They call me Loyalty 1,957]

"Friendship is magic, which continually emphasizes the importance of friendship, above all else"

This Show does emphasize on friendship. But... above all else? It just happens to be the main theme, I think.

 

Life is about experiencing and feeling it all, for me. Friendship is one aspect from this infinite spectrum, which is equally appreciated.
There isn't a line between "reality" and "fiction" within infinity. Otherwise, it wouldn't be infinite, don't you believe?

It's not easy to get this concept, being stuck within your human body, playing inside an organic device right now... You will get this someday.


Besides, it's all about weird, or mildly weird head cannon stuff. Just kidding!

Now, from the pony standpoint. I think most of them would be probably weirded out by some of this bronies and pegasisters, fantasizing over illusive "love relationships"
 

 

Personally, don't know much about the subject. Guess I'm gonna have to try it myself.

[Zekromic 1,054]

 

I couldn't resist putting this here for the joke  . Anyway, what most said (or wrote  ), this isn't an anti-shipping, but how isn't right to force people to seek a couple and there's no shame in not wanting one. I have certain experiences with it, I met some people who where shocked that I've never had a girlfriend before, and made a drama out of it. That only made me less eager to have a girlfriend, in fact, I never lost sleep over not having a girlfriend, since I got bigger priorities right now (not to mention that most I've met are puagh  )

[RainbowTashie 379]

Everyone knows that with fandoms usually comes shipping, and plenty of it. MLP is no exception, and unfortunately the majority of ships aren't friendshipping. Looking back at “Hearts and Hooves Day” episode, Cherilee is seen looking rather annoyed that her students bring up the topic of her having a “special somepony” (and I can easily imagine the mane 6 and most, if not all background ponies, having the same reaction, since we've never seen any of them romantically interested in finding a special somepony) Cherilee goes onto explain that she's perfectly content with all her friends and students who love and care about her, and that she doesn't need a special somepony. And by the end of the episode, as a reminder to the shipping community that Brony fandom had acquired, the CMC (who had earlier gone against Cherilee's wishes of having a special somepony to begin with, and went so far as to drug their teacher and Big Mac, and force them to love each other) get told by Cherilee that “she appreciates that the CMC cares about them (her and Big Mac) and want them to be happy, but no matter how good their (shippers/ CMC) intentions might be, they should've never meddled in their relationship. That Nopony can force two ponies to be together.” And that it's up to that pony to choose who they want to be with for themselves.

 

Do you think the shippers in the MLP choose to ignore certain morals that seemed made for them, and are too quick to romantically pair up certain ponies? Was "Hearts and Hooves Day" a proper moral to take from? How do you think any romantically shipped pony (or non pony) might react upon learning of these ships and who they're being shipped with, in a show called "Friendship is magic", which continually emphasizes the importance of friendship, above all else?

Yeah this ep does cover shipping pretty well doesn't it 

[Shanks 10,817]

90% of the time this is done it is done for harmless fun, the moral of the episode was geared far more toward people who try too hard to play matchmaker in real life. Fanfics rarely ever affect the show at all so it is just a matter of fans are going to do what they are going to do.

[sweetolebob18 728]

Oh, I think for some 1/2 the fun is shipping.  I mean, look at the early years of Bones, for instance.  Booth/Temperance Will it or not?  For MLP, it is the same for fan fics (IMO, never happen in the show)

 

God knows, there is enough out there that if it bothers you, go read something else.  There is still more than you will ever be able to read.

[KatonRyu 1,036]

Shipping is an important aspect for any fandom for me. I think well written ships seem natural and don't require either party to act OOC. It's true that you shouldn't meddle in real life relationships but for fictional characters and a fictional world I don't think those rules go. I support several ships on the show and I like thinking about them and writing fanfics for them, and watching well made art of the ponies I ship.

 

How the ponies I ship would react if they found out I ship them, let me think for a moment. For their reactions I'll hold to the premise that no romantic feelings exist between any of the ponies involved.

 

AppleDash:

AJ: "Sorry sugar, I like Rainbow a lot, but not in that way."

 

RD: "Yeah, and besides I couldn't see myself being all gooey with somepony like AJ. It'd be so weird."

 

TwiDash:

Twilight: "I like her a lot, but...we're friends. I'm not attracted to her in that way."

 

RD: "Twilight's a great pony, but she's still an egghead and I'm not...Not like her, anyway. I don't think it would work well."

 

Twixie:

Twilight: "Really? Just because she has some talent with magic too? I forgave her for the things she did and I could get along with her, but I don't love her."

 

Trixie: "The Great and Powerful Trixie laughs at your silly romantic pairing!" *Cue long-winded speech about Trixie's greatness*

 

SunLight:

Twilight: *sigh* "Why do you like shipping me so much? Yes, Sunset and I studied under Princess Celestia and we have some things in common, but she's still just my friend. She means a lot to me, but like I said before, NOT IN THAT WAY."

 

Sunset: "I write friendship reports to Twilight, but that's because I like her as a friend and mentor where friendship is concerned. She's not my love interest. Haven't you noticed the attraction between her and Flash? I mean, if you really want to ship people..."

 

Me: "Yeah, let's leave him out of this..."

 

Ugh. It's hard coming up with reactions to my preferred ships and remain in character. It didn't really work out the way I planned, either. Oh well. I guess these reactions would approximate their reactions a bit, though.