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Post by ZamKenobi on Jul 17, 2008 12:36:16 GMT -5
Ruined it? No. It might have ruined it for some people, but believe it or not, it is possible to enjoy shipping and not get into ship wars. So honestly, I think if you try hard enough to avoid it, ship wars are not that big of a deal. If you stay in your specific shipping community and not bother the others, and then come to the general board to talk about general tings about the show, then you're not going to get into fights with other shippers. Then, there's also that it's possible to debate shipping in a civilized way, though I can't really see anymore what the point of debating shipping is. The only thing I can think of is me not liking a ship for a certain reason and someone trying to refute that (or vice versa), but in the end no one's going to change their minds. It will be the same as it was in the beginning, though I guess there is a little gain in that you have a little more insight into opposing views.
Overall, my point is that it only ruins the fandom for people who let it ruin it for them. Honestly, I haven't seen that many ship wars because I do what I listed in the above paragraph. I talk with people who ship the same thing I do and generally avoid shipping debates or places where I've heard that there is vicious ship bashing. Actually I'm beginning to think the ship wars thing is blown out of proportion. Ship bashing in ATLA is no more or less than any other fandom. In fact, it's probably even less considering its Internet fanbase isn't as large as ones like Naruto. I actually have seen A LOT of major ship bashing in that fandom, but there people don't make such a big deal about it because they've accepted it as part of the Internet and move on.
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Post by AvatarAbby on Jul 17, 2008 15:34:03 GMT -5
I personally don't think so. I love shipping; in any show that has romance, shipping is a big part of the likability factor for me, and I think it's fun to talk about why you think so-and-so should get together, why so-and-so won't get together etc., but in a calm and respectable manner.
Here's what I think: Shipping strengthens the fandom, but ship wars weaken it.
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Post by firenationkuzon on Jul 18, 2008 2:28:26 GMT -5
I personally don't think so. I love shipping; in any show that has romance, shipping is a big part of the likability factor for me, and I think it's fun to talk about why you think so-and-so should get together, why so-and-so won't get together etc., but in a calm and respectable manner. Here's what I think: Shipping strengthens the fandom, but ship wars weaken it. I totally agree. For me, shipping is just another way to really get into the show (Even tho I know it won't happen, I am still a Zutarian, always a Zutarian!). It's a lot of fun to talk about ships with friends and everything, as long as it doesn't become a heated argument. More along the lines of, it would be cool if such and such got together with blah blah. Hehe, I remember back when I was showing one of my friends season 1, she suddenly ran up to me one day and asked me, "Wait, do Zuko and Katara get together eventually??" And I didn't say anything... hehe it can definitely be a fun way to get into the show.
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vaporparadox
Aang
Tyzula - psychopath pwnage + kick a-s spaz = OTP
Posts: 66
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Post by vaporparadox on Jul 18, 2008 4:07:51 GMT -5
Ruined it? No. It might have ruined it for some people, but believe it or not, it is possible to enjoy shipping and not get into ship wars. So honestly, I think if you try hard enough to avoid it, ship wars are not that big of a deal. If you stay in your specific shipping community and not bother the others, and then come to the general board to talk about general tings about the show, then you're not going to get into fights with other shippers. Then, there's also that it's possible to debate shipping in a civilized way, though I can't really see anymore what the point of debating shipping is. The only thing I can think of is me not liking a ship for a certain reason and someone trying to refute that (or vice versa), but in the end no one's going to change their minds. It will be the same as it was in the beginning, though I guess there is a little gain in that you have a little more insight into opposing views. I couldn't have said it any better myself. I think shipping gets out of hand when people start going out of their way to debate shippers. Basically, when they stir things up because they can't just play along nicely with their fellow shippers. A perfect example is the Kataang vs. Zutara 'shipping war'. See, it's fine when Kataangers and Zutarians interact with each other and talk about other things besides which ship is better. They can even profess their love for the ship they favor. But when those two shipping communities start debating on which guy is right for Katara, things are bound to get heated. And that can lead to some nasty personal insults. So, why even bother debating? Really. There are so many other things in this community to discuss: Theories, episodes, favorite characters, Avatar news, etc. Do we really need to fight over who's right for Katara? Or which girl's going to end up with Sokka? I'm a multi-shipper, and yes, I have disliked certain ships in the past that I like now. And I have squealed over moments in canon that seem shippy. And I have imagined who is right for who. And yes, it does make me happy. But why should I ruin someone else's fun just because they have a different opinion than my own? After all, there's just so much more to like and theorize about the Avatar world other than ships.
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Post by boomeraangsquad on Jul 18, 2008 0:00:22 GMT -5
Shipping = No Shipping Wars = Yes
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Post by deana on Jul 19, 2008 17:46:18 GMT -5
Not for me because the battlelines were already drawn before I joined the fandom, so I guess it was already a wreck when I came. Which means that it is what I know so it is not a wreck, I guess . . . ? Wow, that makes no sense.
Anyway, shipping has introduced me to some great people and some awful people. The friends I have gained I don't intend to lose.
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Reka
Zhao
Also known as 1JennyFan
Posts: 841
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Post by Reka on Jul 20, 2008 3:21:17 GMT -5
Yes, but it has built itself back up. Sozin's comet brought the community back together. I used to hate Zutara, but then found that it wasn't that bad! I used to like Sukka, and these episodes brought me back to "Day of Black Sun", when I first started shipping them. This episode has something for all shippers to enjoy.
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LiveInThaskyE
The Avatars
The Honorary Zutarian
Black God
Posts: 12,182
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Post by LiveInThaskyE on Jul 20, 2008 23:33:31 GMT -5
In my opinion yes it has. After being in the capslock_zutara chat for the Finale and seeing and reading all of their reactions after it was all over, I just felt...disgusted by it. It was just sad to me seeing people I had admired just go nuts and b!tch and moan and cry. I felt I was in some mentally challenged soap opera, I mean dang, its just a TV SHOW. I can appreciate your commitment to the ship but don't let the ending ruin your opinion of the show.
I tried to explain that point to them, and most said that the Maiko kiss and subsequent Kataang kiss which was beautiful by the way didn't affect them as much as I had thought, but afterwards they went completely crazy, comparable to Azula's meltdown. The whole fiasco just made me sad for those people, I really wish they will eventually accept it and move on.
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fuego
Pabu
Four Nation Health Care
Posts: 3,430
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Post by fuego on Jul 22, 2008 3:17:09 GMT -5
funny...that there a shipping for two of my favourte people: Sokka & Azula, but as ship...It didn't really affect me...of course the weren't ever going to meet as a couple in anyway...just in those minor moments like in "The Day of Black Sun Part 2: The Eclipse"
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Post by irishgal on Aug 10, 2008 8:35:36 GMT -5
To be brutally honest.....I am going to have to say yes, but in a way, it's the shipper's fault.
If you think about it, the main point of the show was not to see Aang get Katara, or Zuko get Katara. And I think many people seemed to think that was the point. Before the finale I heard people say "If -insert name of ship here- doesn't happen, I'm going to boycott Avatar!" Which I found totally stupid, and bratty! How immature are you, that you don't get your way, you whine about it. I'm a Zutara shipper, but am I upset it didn't happen, well yeah, but I love Avatar more then Zutara! In the end, I'm a Avatard first, and a shipper second!
As well the stupid shipping fights seemed to have torn the community apart. There seemed to be two camps at all times, and you either had to be in one or the other. It was annoying to see comments with people basically bashing us! Even now that the show is over, the fighting isn't stopping! I've a Tokka artist on DA get yelled at for still doing Tokka art!
Shipping was fun, but idiots ruined it! (Hope that makes sense I did only wake up a half hour ago)
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Post by mahatista on Aug 10, 2008 12:42:33 GMT -5
Shipping didn't wreck the community, the community wrecked shipping. I've never seen anything so malignant. Of course, I'm not a Harry Potter fan and I've heard that was rough but this has been a pretty singular experience. The show stunk in the third season IMO but anyone who would point that out -- giving reason after reason -- got dismissed because of shipping. How obnoxious is that? I liked the show long before I liked the ship. I would have disliked the third season regardless of whether or not Zutara happened. Some can't see past shipping and project that onto me (and many other non-shippers who agreed with me). And it's that kind of attitude that ruins a community. Labeling people and dismissing their opinions because they don't agree with yours or the demigod creators is how fandoms break down. That was well in evidence with this one. @live: Why be disgusted by people's behavior when it's in their own house? Just leave. It's not like they would have followed you.
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