shipper

From a clipping of relationshipper. Relationshipper emerged in early online fandom of the television series The X-Files as a term for fans who supported the possibility of a Mulder/Scully romance. It was shortened to r'shipper, then 'shipper, and finally shipper. By surface analysis, ship (“to create a fictional romantic relationship”) + -er.

surf

For creative fans and committed 'shippers^([sic]), fanfiction continues the interaction — the dialogue, the conversation, the story […]

2013, Jennifer K. Stuller, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, page 42:

(fandom slang) A person who supports a romantic or sexual relationship between fictional characters or real people.


Rocketshipper

From rocket + shipper (after the characters' team, Team Rocket, and punningly on rocketship).

Those of you who have read my fanfics will know that I am a Rocketshipper.

2000 January 13, Blue-Jackal and her box-o-Skywarp [username], “Jessie and James, an item?”, in alt.fan.team-rocket (Usenet):

All the Rocketshippers love to talk about evidence in favor of Jessie/James being in love and such.

2000 February 7, BBD127 [username], “Rocketshipping... negative evidence?”, in alt.fan.team-rocket (Usenet):

You realize, of course, that this thread would probably get us lynched by the large Rocketshipper population on the net.

2001 January 15, Bodger [username], “Re: Gay couple in Godzilla vs. Megalon”, in rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (Usenet):

(fandom slang) A shipper of Jessie and James, characters in the animated version of Pokémon.


snogger

They're nearly as pathetic as those snoggers (sad, deluded morons who believe DD and GA should be together!).

2001 July 12, Caffeine Cal, “Re: *Nasty* Doggett-Haters Website :(”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

It's a bit sad when snoggers write in to the IMDB to pass on the false information that DD has "filed for divorce" from TL: […]

2002 August 27, pam, “Re: Doggett to come back to Fox”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

While I'm not a snogger (don't look at me like that!), I do think, from what little I know of them, that David and Gillian had a kind of working relationship that in some weird cosmic way must have reflected what we saw on the screen between them.

2005 June 17, Robert Cook, “Re: Speaking of "Lost"”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(X-Files fandom slang, derogatory) A fan who believed Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny were romantically involved or shipped them together.


noromo

Being a hard-core "noromo" (parlance for "no romancer," someone who believes the show's UST, or unresolved sexual tension, is the key to its vitality), I have also flamed "shippers" ("relationshippers," those who want Mulder and Scully to get it on in the film) with now embarrassing vituperations, such as, "Why don't you just go get the lame job you're destined for at the state budget office?"

1998 June 22, John Cloud, “Cinema: An X-Phile Confesses”, in Time:

There had always been a separation between the noromos and the shippers, but at the start of the eighth season, another significant division was born.

2002, Tom Kessenich, EXaminations: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6-9 of The X-Files, Featuring the Reviews of Unbound I, Trafford Publishing (2002), page 5

Once it became generally accepted that Mulder and Scully were romantically involved off screen, the noromos stopped watching in disgust, while the shippers lamented not being allowed to witness the transition in the relationship.

2002, Elizabeth Weinbloom, "'THE X-FILES'; A Botched Romance" (letter to the editor), The New York Times, 2 June 2002

(X-Files fandom slang) A person who opposes the idea of a romantic relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.


Team Jacob

Of course, there are those two camps I mentioned earlier in this chapter: Team Edward and Team Jacob. Over time, Team Jacob has grown to the point where a lot of fans prefer Jacob to Edward.

2009, Lois H. Gresh, The Twilight Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series, St Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 89:

However, Team Jacob members on the Anglophone boards were even more emphatic in their dismissal of Edward, and several posters argued that his behavior was abusive.

2010, Inger-Lise Kalviknes Bore, Rebecca Williams, “Transnational Twilighters: A Twilight Fan Community in Norway”, in Melissa A. Click, Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, editors, Bitten by Twilight: Youth Culture, Media, & the Vampire Franchise, Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, page 200:

Team Jacob argues that Jacob's warmth, support, and wolfy exuberance should have won Bella away from her vampire swain.

2010, Liv Spencer, Love Bites: The Unofficial Saga of Twilight, ECW Press, →ISBN, page 192:

(fandom slang) The faction of Twilight fandom which prefers Bella Swan in a romantic relationship with Jacob Black.


Team Edward

However, the continued conflict between Team Jacob and Team Edward shows that the series is sufficiently open to allow for the shipping of both Bella/Edward and Bella/Jacob.

2010, Inger-Lise Kalviknes Bore, Rebecca Williams, “Transnational Twilighters: A Twilight Fan Community in Norway”, in Melissa A. Click, Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, editors, Bitten by Twilight: Youth Culture, Media, & the Vampire Franchise, Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, page 202:

To Team Edward, the canon pairing with the stoic, troubled, immortal 17-year-old is unquestionable.

Although the tension between Team Edward and Team Jacob fans is usually expressed in playful banter, there is the possibility that this group conflict will erupt into hostility.

2011, Melissa Burkley, “Prejudice in Twilight”, in E. David Klonsky, Alexis Black, editors, The Psychology of Twilight, BenBella Books, →ISBN, page 72:

(fandom slang) The faction of Twilight fandom which prefers Bella Swan in a romantic relationship with Edward Cullen.


J/Cer

They are both in a script-like style I am a committed J/Cer, so I do include romantic developments.

1996 September 19, CWilson980, “Voy Alternate Basics J/C pt 1”, in alt.startrek.creative (Usenet):

The story I'm referring to was identified as a vignette and it was very sad, well at least it was sad for a J/Cer such as I.

1998 April 12, Di, “Help finding a Story”, in alt.startrek.creative (Usenet):

A lovely 'what if' that all ardent J/Cers would love to see.

2001 March 23, Kattz, “VOY Feedback Vote #3 by CyberMum”, in alt.startrek.creative (Usenet):

A fan who ships the Star Trek characters Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay.


Reylo

When Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out, the fandom found itself dividing across one really hard, bright line: the Reylos and the anti-Reylos.

2017 December 15, Ani Bundel, “More Than The Force Connects Kylo Ren & Rey In 'The Last Jedi' & It's Intense”, in Elite Daily:

And with the Reylos, rose the Anti-Reylos who argued that the ship was indicative of racism and perpetuated abusive relationship tropes.

2020, Victoria Song, "How Fandom Destroyed and Protected Me", Gizmodo Australia, 3 February 2021

She goes onto state that Reylos experienced harassment over the death of Kylo Ren, as well as inherently political harassment that included sexist and racist taunts.

2020, Alexandria P. Sutherland, "Star Wars, Parasocial Relationships and Breakups, and The Force...of Fandom", thesis submitted to the University of Tennessee, pages 29-30

(fandom slang) A shipper of Rey and Kylo Ren.


Johnlocker

As much as I dislike shipping people in real life, CumberBrealey/Beneloo/Cumberloo are my OTP.
(Come at me, Johnlockers!)

2014, "Hades", "On Benedict Cumberbatch", The Nerdwriter, February 2014, page 9

Since the Johnlockers won't call out others within their own ship, I will.

2018, Daneel, quoted in Katie Wilson, "Red Pillers, Sad Puppies, and Gamergaters: The State of Male Privilege in Internet Fan Communities", in A Companion to Media Fandom and Fan Studies (ed. Paul Booth), page 434

As a microcosmos, TJLCers and Johnlockers demonstrate that queer viewers can weaponize consumer culture to challenge essentialist stereotypes that still restrict what is socially expected and encouraged of individuals based on their biological gender, sexual preference, and mental health status.

2018, Diana W. Anselmo, "Gender and Queer Fan Labor on Tumblr: The Cast of BBC's Sherlock", Feminist Media Studies, Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 2018, page 96

(fandom slang) A shipper of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from the television series Sherlock.


multishipper

From multi- + shipper or multiship + -er.

He describes himself as a multishipper and proudly reblogged a post calling him the Captain of the Ichabbie ship.

2014, Angela Fazekas, "Queer And Unusual Space: White Supremacy In Slash Fanfiction", thesis submitted to Queen's University, page 120

In between confessionals, the JunexNick fandom operates as most multishipper (fans who ship a variety of couples all at once) fan pages do on Tumblr; […]

2018 March, Kristen J. Warner, “JunexNick: The Quietest Ship in the Handmaid Fandom”, in Communication Culture & Critique, volume 11, number 1, pages 199–200:

Ruby advises any new fans to find the multishipper spaces within the fandom. “There you can ship whoever you want. You don’t have to be in shipper wars or anything like that.”

2019, Lauren Rouse, "The fan fiction reading guide: the use of multimedia and comments as close reading tools", thesis submitted to DePaul University, page 48

(fandom slang) A person who ships multiple pairings within the same fandom, especially ones featuring the same character.


semi-shipper

I'd say you're probably a semi-shipper, like me. The idea idea of a romantic relationship is exciting, but...the X-Files is just as important.

1997 February 6, Denise A. Agnew, “Re: shippers, part 2”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

I'm a semi-shipper as I think that a kiss is the farthest they should go. (But it should at least be a passionate kiss!!!)

1997 August 11, Bob Prole, “Re: X-Files Romance”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

As a "semi-shipper" from early on, I wasn't too fond of "3" which IMO apparently existed merely to give DD some romantic screen time.)

1998 June 26, Lib...@my-dejanews.com, “Re: Am I dreaming? Did they broadcast "HOME" tonight on FX?”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(fandom slang) A person who partially supports a ship.


anti-shipper

From anti- + shipper (“one who supports a romantic or sexual relationship between characters”).

prefix

MSR ahead! anti-shippers, this ain't your cuppa tea! Plenty of UST!

1997 March 11, Ann Vermillion, “"Forbidden Fruit" by Anne Vermillion, re: Exit to Eden challenge”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

These "shippers," Internet fan-slang for fans who want central characters to have a relationship ("shippers" is short for "relationshippers"), carried on fan-site wars with the "anti-shippers," fans who thought Daria had more integrity as a single girl.

2003, Carol Stabile, Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture, page 189:

However, present within our data were examples of when Bughead shippers would hijack the #Antibughead tag, antagonizing anti-shippers and asserting dominance within the Riverdale fandom on Tumblr.

2021, Emily Burkhardt, Verity Trott, Whitney Monaghan, “'#Bughead Is Endgame': Civic Meaning-Making inRiverdale Anti-Fandom andShipping Practices on Tumblr”, in Television & New Media:

(fandom slang) One who opposes a specific ship or shipping in general.

Yourshipisfine articulates the position many Jessica/Kilgrave shipper take when arguing with anti-shippers over the problematic nature of shipping Jessica and Kilgrave together: “yeah, we know it’s fucked up and wrong, that’s one of the main reasons why we ship it” when arguing with anti-shippers over the problematic nature of shipping Jessica and Kilgrave together.

2016, Elizabeth Orson, "Exploring Abusive Shipping In The Jessica Jones Fandom", Focus Media Journal, Volume 37 (2016-2017), page 76

Furthermore, antis are angry at the pedophilic undertones in a relationship between Kylo and Rey and the large about of abuse and rape/non-con based fics in the ship. This makes tumblr and the internet at large a tumultuous place for any Reylo shipper. Yet, Jessika has found her niche on the website and rarely, if ever, deals with anti-shippers.

2019, Lauren Rouse, "The fan fiction reading guide: the use of multimedia and comments as close reading tools", thesis submitted to DePaul University, page 96

Anti-shippers tend to have the opinion that problematic art on the internet will be consumed by people too young to have the critical thinking skills to distinguish what is okay in real life versus in fiction, so it is best either not created at all or created in private.

2021, Victor Larsen, "'It Makes Me, A Minor, Uncomfortable': Media and Morality In Anti-Shippers' Policing of Online Fandom", thesis submitted to Ghent University, page 43

(fandom slang) One who objects to ships or shipping deemed offensive, e.g. due to incest, age differences, abusive elements, or power gaps (treating the other partner badly because they have less authority).


non-shipper

The non-shippers are those fans who are opposed to Ham and Mac having a relationship.

1999 June, Darcy Rice, “An Advocate of Perfection”, in Orange Coast Magazine, page 38:

In these terms, Ten/Rose has a highly privileged position among Doctor Who pairings, and it seems that this position exactly engenders a powerful resistance to it among non-shippers.

2013, Leora Hadas, “Resisting the romance: ‘Shipping’ and the discourse of genre uniqueness in Doctor Who fandom”, in European Journal of Cultural Studies, volume 16, number 3, page 337:

Given that the final season of The West Wing itself officially sanctioned the relationship, non-shippers could no longer rely upon the ambiguity of producers' statements as 'evidence' to verify that the romance existed only in the minds of shippers.

2015, Rebecca Williams, Post-Object Fandom: Television, Identity and Self-narrative, page 108:

(fandom slang) One who does not create any ships or does not support a particular ship.


Jater

The Jaters and Skaters started out like any other shipper groups, but as the seasons have progressed, so has the intensity level of the group members.

2008, Jon Lachonis, Amy J. Johnston, Lost Ate My Life: The Inside Story of a Fandom Like No Other, unnumbered page:

For five years, spanning a few hookups and many breakups, there was no answer – until the show made up its mind for the 'Jaters.'

2010, Robert Dougherty, Lost: It Only Ends Once: An Unofficial Last Look, page 240:

I am a complete Jater, but I can't deny Kate and Sawyer's connection.

2012, Erin Leslie, Lost After Lost, page 15:

(fandom slang) A shipper of Jack and Kate from the television series Lost.


Skater

The episode turned out to be the last hurrah for 'Skaters' as Kate finally gave up on Sawyer due to his Juliet-mourning.

2010, Robert Dougherty, Lost: It Only Ends Once: An Unofficial Last Look, page 241:

Sawyer asks Kate if she's ready to get wet. Skaters cheer loudly.

2010, Nikki Stafford, Finding Lost, Season Six, unnumbered page:

(fandom slang) A shipper of Sawyer and Kate from the television series Lost.


pro-shipper

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-pro-shipper.wav

From pro- + shipper (“one who supports a romantic or sexual relationship between characters”). Some posit that the second sense originated as a blend of problematic + shipper.

I think this whole thing is a semantic misunderstanding.. the anti-shippers and the pro-shippers are putting entirely different meanings into the phrase 'in love'.

1996 July 9, Chris Byler, “Re: 'PUSHER was a 'Shipper!! *gak*!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

For all you pro-shippers and anti-shippers keep posting and debating. Someone is watching you.

1997 April 25, Terry Luck, “Re: 'SHIPPERS SUCK!!!!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

As a pro-shipper, I think it's gonna be a long season. Will spring ever get here?

1997 November 24, Susan J. Daniell, “Re: Shippy parts lead into MOVIE!!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(fandom slang) One who supports a specific ship or shipping in general.


anti-relationshipper

I realize the subject of the nature of M&S's relationship is a sore point around here, but I've never written about it before, and was invited to share my two cents. I'd like to propose that in addition to relationshippers and anti-relationshippers, there is a third faction of viewers, such as myself, who for lack of a better word I'll call "fence-sitters."

1996 June 24, Deb Mikels, “Never say never”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

I would probably be classed as an anti-relationshipper myself, because my advice would be to close out the Tease and have them settle down to a deep, abiding, nonsexual love.

1996 November 6, Lee Burwasser, “Re: Are shippers dumb?”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

I am a fervent and proud anti-relationshipper. No non-platonic relationship whatsoever, and I'm happy.

1998 April 2, Sean Carroll, “Re: RELATIONSHIPPER OR FRIENDSHIPPER?????”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):


relationshipper

From relationship + -er. Emerged in early online fandom of the television series The X-Files as a term for fans who supported the possibility of a Mulder/Scully romance. First attested on alt.tv.x-files in January 1996, but it was seemingly already in use by then.

I don’t care what the relationshippers say, it’s just so OBVIOUS to try to get the two of them together and the X-Files has never been obvious.

1996, Paul Mitchell, The Duchovny Files: The Truth Is In Here, page 190:

There were the relationshippers whose focus was on Mulder and Scully’s relationship, or the MSR as it was called (with a possible emphasis on romance).

2002, Tom Kessenich, EXaminations: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6-9 of The X-files, page 4:

In media fan lingo, the idea of an OTP—the One True Pairing, a fan's absolute favorite fictional couple—can be tossed around rather casually. In terms of my history as a relationshipper, Willow and Oz will always be mine, but the real OTP in my fan identity is Buffy and me.

2012, Lily Rothman, “'I'd Very Still': Anthropology of a Lapsed Fan”, in Joss Whedon: The Complete Companion, page 134:


Barbie shipper

Presumably from the likening of shipping characters to playing with Barbie dolls.

Normally, I don't respond to your kind of bullshit or the other mindless Barbie shipper/Duchovbot bullshit I've had to endure, but I couldn't let this pass.

2001 July 10, Lizabeth V. Karaganis, “Re: Where to go in the 9th season?”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

CC's gamble to have 'Mulder the Absent Center' may have appeased a few barbie shipper types but it also drove off a lot of the fanbase as well.

2002 January 22, Medie, “Re: RP & last seacon”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

There was a big deal about SCULLY'S CHASTITY = DEVOTION TO MULDER during the heyday of the Shipper versus Noromo wars. That "Barbie Shippers" faction of XF fandom is currently cloistering itself somewhere in really dreadful, schmoopy fanfic where no other character threatens the purity of their "deep, abiding luv".

2005 June 25, campylobacter, “Re: Never Again question”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(X-Files fandom slang, derogatory, dated) One who ships Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from the The X-Files.


anti-Reylo

When Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out, the fandom found itself dividing across one really hard, bright line: the Reylos and the anti-Reylos.

2017 December 15, Ani Bundel, “More Than The Force Connects Kylo Ren & Rey In 'The Last Jedi' & It's Intense”, in Elite Daily:

Anti-Reylos read the pairing's on-screen encounters as rape, and they point out the age difference and potential familial relationship.

2018, Kristina Busse, “Afterword: Fannish Affect and Its Aftermath”, in Rebecca Williams, editor, Everybody Hurts: Transitions, Endings, and Resurrections in Fan Cultures, page 217:

This also means that there are significant clashes between Reylo shippers and anti-Reylos.

2019, Lauren Rouse, "The fan fiction reading guide: the use of multimedia and comments as close reading tools", thesis submitted to DePaul University, page 96

(fandom slang) An opponent of the ship of Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars (Reylo).


anti-anti

they’re not “anti antis” or “pro-shippers”, they’re enablers. enablers of grooming, abuse, sexualization of children, fetishization of rape, incest, abuse, paedophilia and dehumanizing, sexualizing and fetishizing the LGBT community, especially mlm.

2021, anonymous, quoted in Victor Larsen, "'It Makes Me, A Minor, Uncomfortable': Media and Morality In Anti-Shippers' Policing of Online Fandom", thesis submitted to Ghent University, page 47

Just so those "anti-anti" types who claim to be the real allies know, as a minor I have always felt so, so wary around you. You remind me so much of creepy people, especially men, who I have met IRL, and your attitude toward my objections about the work you produce (especially stuff involving adults and children and noncon) is flippant, disrespectful, and just plain shitty.

2022, anonymous, quoted in Angela Marie Fazekas, "Creative Becomings: Explicit Fanfiction, Reinventing Adolescence, and Queer Relationality", thesis submitted to the University of Toronto, page 106

In response to this, pro-ship and anti-anti groups largely emphasize that it is up to individuals to curate their fandom experiences and avoid content they dislike, not censor depictions of it.

2023, Samantha Aburime, “Hate narratives, conditioned language and networked harassment: A new breed of anti-shipper and anti-fan - antis”, in Journal of Fandom Studies, volume 10, numbers 2-3:


comshipper

Blend of complicated + shipper, or complex + shipper.

comshippers sometimes scare me more than proshippers

2023 May 19, Legs (@Pavryklvr), Twitter:

Comshippers ALWAYS use that excuse, as if it’s valid “at least I can tell fiction and reality is different!!”

“I don’t condone it IRL” is such a brain-dead defense proshippers/comshippers use, and I’m sick of hearing it.

2023 August 1, L0GIC (@123L0gic), Twitter:

(fandom slang) One who supports a ship with elements deemed morally complex or problematic, such as abuse, incest, or a power gap.


pro-shitter

pro-shitters after saying blatantly transphobic and ableist bullshit to "le epically own the antis trolololol" /nbh

Pro-shitters will be like “listen to Chinese people and try to see things from a Chinese cultural perspective for once!! 🤬” when it comes to defending incest, but not when a character is blatantly lesbian-coded.

2023 July 27, Adrian A. Stone, anonymous quotee, The Antagonistic Anatomy of Anti-shippers: A Thematic Analysis (master's thesis), New York, N.Y.: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, archived from the original on 2024-04-21:

(fandom slang, derogatory, vulgar) A pro-shipper (“one who supports a ship or shipping deemed problematic”).