There are so many new slang terms pertaining to dating and relationships, it’s a wonder that anyone understands them all!
You may be aware of what it means to “ghost” someone, as well as “fishing” and other dating slang, but “ship a couple” might be a new one for you.
It may sound ridiculous, because how can you “ship” a couple?
When many people hear the term “ship,” they automatically think about shipping a package, but this type of “shipping” is completely different when it pertains to relationships.
Here is a complete overview of what it means to ship a couple so you can better understand what this phrase means in the world of dating.
To ship a couple is a current slang term that means to set a couple up on a date with the hope of helping them to fall in love.
For instance, a group of friends may feel that a guy and girl in their group would make a great couple, even if the two haven’t shown any interest in each other. So, they opt to “ship” the couple and hopefully encourage them to eventually fall for each other and become official.
Shipping can be fun, but it can also be a nuisance, depending on the specific circumstances.
The term “shipping a couple” actually began in the mid-90s after a fan of a particular TV show believed that two of the main characters would make an excellent couple.
This particular fan, who was referred to as a “relationshipper” said that she believed that Scully and Mulder from The X-files should date and fall in love.
Over the years, the term “relationshipper” has evolved and been abbreviated several times, which is how it ended up being referred to as a “shipper.”
Here is an overview of eight facts about couple shipping so you’ll know all you need to about this new term.
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Were you aware that shipping most often involves actors and actresses from TV shows?
This term didn’t end with The X-files.
In fact, for almost every popular TV show since there have been suggestions about which duos should be “shipped” together.
Some other popular duos that were shipped together were Fran and Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny and Carrie and Mr. Big from Sex in the City, among numerous others.
There are special websites that are dedicated to shipping couples together on TV shows where fans can cast votes, voice opinions, and more.
It’s often a lot of fun for those involved in these relationship games because if main characters from a TV show are shipped together, it’s not like it’s real life.
Many fans also become obsessed with their favorite celebrities’ real-life relationships.
Just like there are special websites for fans of TV couples, there are also special websites for celebrities and their real-life relationships.
Fans are able to view photos and stories about their favorite celebrities’ relationships, submit comments, suggestions, and more.
For many fans, not a day passes without them visiting and participating in these websites – sometimes several times a day.
Were you aware that shipping in real life can be annoying for some people?
Shippers who enjoy shipping together real-life couples as opposed to celebrities on their favorite TV shows can sometimes be relentless.
For every effort to ship a couple together that fails, diehard shippers seem to always have another person in mind.
This can sometimes become very annoying, especially if a person that a shipper is always trying to pair up with another person simply isn’t interested.
There have been instances in which shipping a couple has been successful – and that’s great –but for some people, success doesn’t happen often enough.
Did you know that some people consider shipping to be meddling?
While shippers thrive off creating the perfect couples among friends and co-workers, many people consider shipping to be quite meddling.
If you have a friend or co-worker who is constantly trying to set you up with the perfect guy or girl and you would like the “shipper” to stop, you may need to speak up because many shippers feel they’re merely trying to be helpful.
You might want to be gentle when you confront the shipper, however, because many self-made relationship creators take shipping seriously and they feel it’s their duty to pair people up.
Because of this fact, many are sensitive and might get their feelings hurt if any of their “subjects” object to their antics.
Were you aware that many shippers don’t have successful relationships themselves?
Research has been conducted on people who enjoy shipping couples, and the results were astounding.
A large percentage of individuals who love setting others up on “suitable” dates have been unsuccessful in the love department in their own personal lives.
This leads many to believe that these relationship “experts” are attempting to live vicariously through others since they believe they are unable to find true love themselves.
Did you know that some shippers want to see others happy like they are?
On the other hand, some self-made matchmakers are involved in happy and fulfilling relationships and they want others to experience the same happiness.
These matchmakers feel that they’re experts when it comes to dating and relationships since, despite the fact that it’s so difficult to find Mr. or Miss Right, they did.
This is why more people trust the opinions of people who are in successful relationships themselves, as opposed to those who have always had disastrous relationships.
Were you aware that many shippers are hopeless romantics?
Despite the fact that others may become irritated with chronic shippers, many people who enjoy matching people together are simply hopeless romantics who enjoy seeing others happy.
Of course, not all of their choices will end up being matches made in heaven, but most matchmakers have good intentions.
Were you aware that many shippers have unique ways to ship couples?
Shippers often realize that they must get creative when it comes to pairing people up together because prospective couples may object to being put on the spot when it comes to being set up.
One popular way that shippers get couples together is by throwing a party and inviting the people that they’re trying to get together.
Then, once they’re at the party together, the matchmaker will introduce the two without blatantly saying that they’re trying to hook them up.
This is sometimes a very successful way to at least get two people talking, and after that, it’s up to the prospective couple to determine if there’s any chemistry or not.
The sky is the limit when it comes to the creative ways that shippers use to match couples together.
Some are downright sneaky, but many successful relationships have started as a result of being shipped together.
A sneaky way to ship a couple is to tell someone that another person has a crush on them.
They will then encourage the person to text or call the person who supposedly has a crush, which can sometimes initiate dating between the two.
These are usually relationship games played among teens, as adults don’t usually participate in such childish and deceptive games.
Did you know that there are professional “shippers” who make a living getting couples together?
A simple Google search will reveal numerous professional matchmaking companies that are essentially professional “shippers” that get paid to match couples together.
The big difference here, however, is that those who seek out the services of companies like these are hoping to find a match for themself.
This is quite different than the other shippers discussed in this article because if there is a “shipper” among friends who simply wants to hook people up, the prospective couples aren’t necessarily looking for someone to date.
As you can see, shipping a couple together is a slang term that many people use for setting up two people with the hopes of helping them become a couple.
While these supposed relationship experts are often relentless and will make multiple attempts at shipping the perfect couple together, obviously not all their attempts are successful.
If you ever encounter a shipper and you’ve been trying to find your special someone without success, perhaps the shipper can help you. You never know unless you give it a try.
