Because I'm bored . . . Shippy thoughts.

[eilowyn]

You people are so boring. What? Do you actually have lives outside the Buffy fandom  or something?! My f-list has kinda died down after last week's flailing and LOLz at the comics, and so I'm left with nothing to do but paint my nails and play Farmville on Facebook - not a good thing. You've left me no choice but to express thinky-thoughts that may

Comments

[shipperx]

Interesting insight.

I do think there are some fundamental differences in the way the Spuffies and Bangel's view the characters and the series. I suspect that there is indeed a preference divide over the whole free will/partnership vs destiny/soul mate tropes.

Re: Space fucking... I have lots of geeky questions. Such as, what does one do for traction in zero gravity? What happens when they're hit by radiation without an atmosphere to protect them. Do superTwuffy sunburn? Not even under unfiltered UV rays, gamma rays, and a host of other radiation? Does the lack of any pressure give them headaches? I mean, usually it would cause someone's eyes to pop out of their heads so at the very least SuperTwuffy should get a headache. ;) And then there's the whole it's absolute zero! I mean, come on, even SuperTwuffy has to feel a chill at -273 degrees. If they can't feel the cold in that, can they not feel the cold in anything? If they can't feel anything, then how good is the sex

[eilowyn]

I think Geekbrain should be consulted often and regularly for science continuity issues. Just because this is a fantasy show doesn't mean some level of plausibility isn't helpful!

[sockmonkeyhere]

ITA. Somewhere deep within the land of MYSOULISNOTFUCKINGBURNTUP!, Fred is pointing at the Twuffy space sex and laughing her ass off.

[eilowyn]

I like to imagine Cordy and Anya being with her, eating popcorn making rude comments. I think I may have a minific coming along those lines . . . Fred scientifically explaining why space fucking won't work, Anya discussing how the sex positions are really uncomfortable, and Cordelia wondering why she can't just higher power herself over to Twilight and give Angel a smack on the head.

[ms_scarletibis]

I think the major differences in analysis of the shows for the two ships come down to these two factors: characterization of the individuals vs. characterization of the relationship, and choosing to live in reality vs. choosing to continue the fantasy. This is seen in the comics, and points to why Spuffies would stil be reacting the same way if Spike were Twilight and he and Buffy were doing the space fucking: their tendency to characterize the individual above the relationship would have them calling foul at Spike's about-face from the poster boy for free will to the driving force behind "destiny," and they would still be cringing at the unreality of space fucking - the most fantastical element of the comics yet. I'm sure there would be some individuals pleased as punch to have the extremely unexpected and unusual acknowledgement of Spike and Buffy's love being destined, but the majority of Spuffies I've encountered have an extreme preference for the free wil aspect of their relationship: their dream situation would be if Buffy got

[local_max]

I agree with all of this. I wouldn't describe myself as a shipper, and I love Buffy, Spike, AND Angel (well, Angel is a bit of a different case--I love the screwed-up, blind-spot filled character), but I much prefer the idea of Buffy with Spike after the series, because, well, Buffy and Spike treat each other like adults. They have honest conversations. This is why Cordy and Angel's relationship--well, um, their friendship, more so, for me at least--seemed healthier than Buffy and Angel's as well

[eilowyn]

The way some people dismiss fan concerns about the comics as being all about shipping is really bothersome.

Thank you for saying this. It's really tiring to see brilliant posts on the boards utilizing literary analysis to back up criticism towards the comics being dismissed simply because the poster is an acknowledged S/B shipper.

[sockmonkeyhere]

It's really tiring to see brilliant posts on the boards utilizing literary analysis to back up criticism towards the comics being dismissed simply because the poster is an acknowledged S/B shipper.

*grin* I wonder what the dismissers would say about my Twuffy Sex Issue post. I'm not a Spike/Buffy shipper at all, and I just basically said "GOD, WHAT A STUPID COMIC BOOK!" XD

The way some people dismiss fan concerns about the comics as being all about shipping is really bothersome.

It truly is. I've read so many intelligent and insightful posts, in which any shipping bias has been given a believable back seat while the poster explained why he/she did not agree with the choices of the comic book writers...and it's a crime that those posters are still not being taken seriously by so many people.

[eilowyn]

*grin* I wonder what the dismissers would say about my Twuffy Sex Issue post. I'm not a Spike/Buffy shipper at all, and I just basically said "GOD, WHAT A STUPID COMIC BOOK!" XD

They'd just call you a hater and repeat their master plan for the comic book where Twuffy gets to keep their asses clean and maybe make a prophecy baby because OMG THEIR LOVE IS SANCTIONED BY THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!1

Then they'd accuse you of bias, because clearly your hiding your true Spuffyness under the front of being a Spred. YOU'RE UNDERCOVER!!!!1!

[flake_sake]

Very interesting observations! I think it's of course not the same way with all people in a shipper group, but there are tendencies and I somewhat doubt that there would have been as many Spuffy fans defending SSS (space smurf sex) as there are now Bangels.

And yes it has to do with putting the characters own agency above that of the couple. If one of them or both have to give up their personality to be in the couple, I wouldn't want it.

One of the reasons i fell in love with Spuffy is that it contains my favorite Buffy. While with Angel and Riley she tried to make herself smaller than she is, she fakes nothing for Spike and doesn't try to obfuscate her strenght.

[hazel75]

While with Angel and Riley she tried to make herself smaller than she is, she fakes nothing for Spike and doesn't try to obfuscate her strenght.

Big, fat word to this.

[slaymesoftly]

Amen!

[eilowyn]

it's of course not the same way with all people in a shipper groupI gotta admit, my test group of Bangels are a certain threesome on Buffyforums, who haven't given me any evidence to point out that they think of the individuals above the ship (other than making the emphatic statement that they're thinking of them as individuals - then say nothing to back this up and everything to prove the opposite). I've admittedly never sought out Bangel meta (other than Shipper's Manifesto, which actually made me a bit embarrassed for them), because I'm sure I view the show in an entirely different way. For me it wasn't about who Buffy was fucking - it was about Buffy growing up and moving past the illusions she made up about Angel to hide her daddy issues. I don't want to read Bangel meta because it would be all about "what daddy issues?" So, maybe there's stuff out there to prove me wrong. I've found Nina on the Buffyforums to be a pleasant exception to my analysis, so I know people are out there who ship Bangel as individuals - just the boards

[ubi4soft]

I very much like your post and I'm on the free will camp or one must grow a spine for himself before getting in a relationship.