Tail Spinner’s Report On “Shipping”
By Tail Spinner, Spinner of Tales
Dear Princess Celestia,
I like ships.
No, not the seafaring kind. I like “romantic ships”, “shipping” certain characters with one another. It started for me a couple of months ago, when I created an account on a fanfiction site. During those months, I’ve learned a whole lot about the value of the different ships, and why I should accept them all.
You see, in the beginning, I didn’t like a lot of ships. I thought Rarity was a uptight jerk, so any story with her went straight out the window. Pinkie Pie was… Pinkie Pie, so that excluded her. Twilight was uninteresting for me, so I didn’t read about her. The only couple I accepted was Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They were the only two ponies who belonged together, at least to me.
But over time, I adapted (like any good pony would). I begrudgingly read a RariShy story, and found, to my amazement, that it wasn’t bad. I read a PinkieShy story, and enjoyed it as well. I learned to like Twilight Sparkle, too.
I even read… Hay, this part’s awkward. I even read about you and Luna. Yeah, I know, incest. Ick, right? Well… please don’t execute me for saying this, but… not really. You and Luna, Twilight and Shining, it’s all just romance to me.
Now, I know this is a letter about tolerance. Being a princess and all, you don’t have to, y’know… clop to stories about your sister. But I wouldn’t be serving the point of this letter if I said that it would be okay to look down upon those who do enjoy it. It’s part of the fandom.
There’s also foalcon. You probably know what that is, being an expert in Equestrian law and all. The pairing of little colts or fillies. Yes, it’s illegal in reality and all, but this is literature we’re talking about. I think, if we’re all to learn a lesson here about friendship and tolerance, it’s that everypony has their own preferences when it comes to romance.
It’s all one fandom that all of us belong to. There are those of us who clop to Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor. There are those of us who clop to you and Luna. But we’re all one group. Even if you don’t like a particular pairing, you should never hate on someone for enjoying it.
A good story is a good story, regardless of the content. I’ll read just about anything. Straight, gay, fillyfooler, foalcon. What matters is how well it’s written (at least to me).
I suppose, if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this letter, princess, it’s this. Respect other’s opinions. Even if you find incest disgusting, there are those who do not. And y’know what? These are all fictional stories about equine mammals. Nopony has any business telling someone that their interest is wrong, when all these stories are are ways for everypony to get away from life, to just enjoy themselves. Yes, some ponies may say that foalcon is immoral. But that’s their choice, and who are we to judge?
So the next time you see somepony bashing on another for their interests, remind them to look in their victim’s shoes. Everypony has wants and desires, and we should respect that.
Your Loyal Subject,
Tail Spinner, Spinner of Tales
