Recently there was some discussion
about shipping in the Outlander fandom and how it has been “vilified.” That
conversation got people talking, which I think is a good thing. As long as it isn’t completely one-sided, or
slightly misrepresented, which it was. There is such a schism in our
fandom. And it lies in the hands of only a very small group of fans. So who
makes up the Outlander fandom?
First, there are those of us old
enough to have read Outlander when it came out. We’ve been fans for over 25
years. We’ve read every book in the series at least once, if not multiple
times. There are those who have no interest in the books and simply enjoy
watching the show. We can be found on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, LiveJournal, and
CompuServe. You name it, we are out there talking about our love of all things
Outlander!
Within these groups are people who are
shippers, super-shippers, non-shippers, have no idea what a shipper is, know
what they are but don’t care, are truthers, or are on social media simply to
see all and hear all they can about Outlander.
As my title suggests, I’m here to
discuss two groups especially: shippers vs. non-shippers.
People often ask, “What is wrong with
shipping?” The simple answer is “Absolutely Nothing!!” Regular ol’ shippers who
find Sam and Cait’s interactions adorable and think “Aren’t they adorable
together?! I *heart* them!” - and that is
as far as it goes - are fine. Maybe these people are a majority of the
fandom, I don’t know. Because let’s face it - I think that on the face value of
those interactions, we could all be shippers! Sam and Cait are adorable in those interviews and games and panels! I would even
go so far as to say that it is impossible
not to have a big smile on your face and feel a little better after watching
them interact together.
Here’s a truth for you regular
shippers: If you think that the group of people on Tumblr/Twitter who strive to
show the truth of the S/C ship[1]
hate you, you are completely wrong. Shipping can be harmless and the majority
of you stick to that fun, harmless shipping.
However, there is a separate group of
shippers, the super-shippers, who are
not harmless or fun. (A super-shipper takes shipping above and beyond the realm
of harmless shipping. Everything is scrutinized to help keep the ship alive,
and it is imperative that S/C are a couple.) These super-shippers (“SSers”)
will stop at nothing to defend their ship. (I will not post any screencaps
here, as the SSers complained endlessly about non-shippers-truthers (NSTs)
doing this to them.[2]
However, if you have any questions or disbelieve anything I say, you need to go
through the SSers’ blogs on Tumbr. Take a good, long look and you will find it
all there in black and white.
These “harmless” SSers are bullies.
They will bully anyone who dares to say the ship does not exist. This includes
not only us mere “mortals”, but the cast and crew of Outlander: Nell (she said that
Sam was in Thailand instead of Costa Rica with Cait for NYE like the SSers
wanted everyone to believe), the Thai guy, Amy, Terry, Diana, Sam’s ex-gf, Cait’s
bf, the Outlandercastblog for simply discussing shipping in the fandom, three
of the drivers, and Sam himself (their self-professed Captain of the ship). They
attack with the ferocity of starving piranhas until we are stripped bare, the
only thing left our bones to clean their fang-like teeth with.
I hate bullies. I was bullied for a
brief time in elementary school and it left a foul taste in my mouth. Sadly
this group of people also bully and mock people who do nothing to usurp the
shipping. People they feel answer too many of the cast’s/crew’s tweets or are
always the first to answer (which they screencap to show their viewers). They
get ruthlessly mocked. People who send
gifts to the cast/crew. Mocked. (Nevermind that they do the same themselves.
The hypocrisy on the ship knows no bounds.) The SSers claim to be full of “light,
love, hugs and positivity,” but their words and actions prove otherwise. If
someone sends a question to them on their blog, they are answered in the rudest
ways possible and then blocked.
I also hate liars. And a bigger group
of liars about the non-existent ship I have not seen. They are full of untruthiness. But do not
take my word for it. Go through the SSers’ blogs and see for yourself how full
of love they are for anyone not on their ship, or who speaks against the ship.
Next, the two SSers (and let us be
honest here. These women were NOT regular shippers. They were of the SS class.)
who engaged in Saturday’s conversation complained that the shippers are called “tinhatters.”
This is only a half-truth. Regular shippers are never referred to as this. (In
fact, regular shippers are not discussed negatively on any NST blog.) It is the
super-shippers who are discussed to prove their lies wrong and to showcase
their bully ways. And this is why:
http://fanlore.org/wiki/Tinhat:
Derived
from the stereotype of conspiracy
theorists and other paranoid people wearing tinfoil hats to protect
themselves from telepathic, microwave or radio transmissions by aliens, the
government, or both[1]: a fannish tinhat
is a person who believes that their favorite celebrities are really a couple,
forced by The Powers That Be to keep their relationship a secret. A lot of
tinhat theories are based on fantasies of closeted celebrities (mainly actors)
unable to be open about their relationship in their profession, although
tinhatting of opposite-sex pairings does occur (and predates the term itself).
The term can refer to the stylish accessory or, by metonymy, to the fan who
wears it.
The term can also be used to
refer to any fans who deliberately ignore parts of a canon they dislike in
order to continue enjoying the media, for example bad writing, questionable
relationship choices, etc.
(Emphasis added)
The SSers love to use this excuse. “Sam
and Cait would come out and show their love for each other but the PTB are
keeping them from doing so.” So every
minute detail of every photo and video is scrutinized for their supposed love.
Sam and Cait both hanging onto a pair
of antlers after a night of drinking? That’s now known as the “antler finger
porn” photo.
Sam and Cait throw “secret” kisses at
each other.
Sam and Cait leave little “breadcumbs”
showing their love that only the SSers can detect and find.
Sam and Cait are always on the verge
of “the big reveal” (which, of course, never happens. Oh, wait! Unless you
count all those videos and interviews they did where the unequivocally stated, “We
are just friends. We are not a couple.”)
That was indeed a big reveal!
But again the SSers spin truth into
fiction and state that “something was off” with them. (Yes, it was. They were
pissed they had to state publically that they weren’t a couple!)
This is only a teeny-tiny part of what
the SSers do to “deliberately ignore parts of the canon they dislike in order
to continue enjoying the media” and the ship. They have stalked Sam, Cait, their
friends and loved ones. They have threatened their loved ones. Gone to Sam’s
dad’s grave. Mined SM to a degree that they know every friend or family member
and follow them whenever they can. And
that is the tip of the iceberg.
All this is why shipping is harmless
fun, but super-shipping is not. But please, do not take my word for it. Go read their blogs on Tumblr for
yourself! Make your own decisions about how full of light and love and truth
they are.
[1]
Disclosure: I am a part of this group. I simply consider myself a “Non-Shipper”.
[2]
NSTs screencap to show that the SSers have indeed said what we are saying they said.
As opposed to the SSers who make up lies and post them as truth without any
truth to back up their lies. It’s actually a bit of a safeguard to have a screencap,
super-shippers. If the NSTs represent something that you feel you did not mean,
then you can use the very same screencap we blog to disprove what we say.