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So I've been thinking about 'shipping. 

In every Fangirl's life this happens now and again - this particular train of thought happened while hanging the clothes on the line, you know pairing socks and all. Anyhow I'm not a particularly big 'shipper, a fact that drives xanya insane, I mean I'm not anti-'shipper - I love my LoVe, Spuffy, Bangel, whatever you call Max/Alec and the rest of the ridiculas couple names. A lot of what I read, what I icon, what episodes I rewatch center around the involvement of a 'ship. So I'm not an Anti-'Shipper, but I'm not a Dedicated, One and Only 'Shipper either. Rather I'm a 'Shipper Whore. I don't discriminate on who I 'ship, I have no trouble whatsoever faithfully 'shipping Logan/Veronica, Lamb/Veronica, Weevil/Veronica, Lily/Veronica and Duncan/Veronica at the same time, I read both Angel/Buffy and Spike/Buffy happily,  some days I even prefer a Max/Logan over a Max/Alec. When I start a new fandom there is little I don't read - when I started Buffy I set myself a goal of going through EVERY BtVS fanfic page on FF.net (my god, my eyes BURN in remembrance) and I read nearly every pairing imaginable. I love 'Shipping - I'm just not very faithful  

BUT then again - while I read fic obsessively, and most of it has some kind of 'ship in it, most of it even centers around a couple and their relationship, in some fandoms I don't particularly need a 'ship  - in fact in some fandoms I avoid fic with a central relationship in it, it spoils my enjoyment of the show  - Supernatural, House, Firefly, Dead Like Me, M*A*S*H are just some examples. Also I (mostly) don't read fics that are just there for a quick couple fix, (except for PWP but their the exception to every rule), I don't read Fluff, at all. It bores me.    

So to sum that long winded statement up:

I'm a 'Shipper Whore who doesn't particularly enjoy 'shipping but can't get enough of it anyway. Most of the time.

Is this unusual? Am I a unique snowflake?

What I'm wondering is:

What makes you prefer a certain couple to another in a fandom? How do you choose your 'ships? In everyone of your fandoms is there something, a character trait, a certain reaction, that will make you look at the couple with interest? Do you always go for the same type of couple? The forever kind, the destructive kind, the love/hate kind, the obsessive kind. What makes you like what you like?

And another thing - what moment do you become a 'shipper? What makes you think 'That's it, that's the one I want to continue/work/happen?'.

Is it from the moment characters first interact on screen? or does it come gradually? Do you go into a fandom knowing which couple you want to 'ship?

And in relation to Fandom and 'Shipping:

Do you sometimes like a couple not from canon content but from fanon and fandom content influence (i.e fanfiction, icons, RPGs)? Can a Good Fic sway you? Does this make you enjoy the show, and the onscreen characters, more? How much does fandom influence your choices? Does PEER PRESSURE mean EVERYTHING in fandom?

PEOPLE! I'm in need of answers! I KNOW I'm being greedy and asking too many questions - but I'm curious. Whatcha think? TELL ME!