SHIP: What is Shipping? (was Of Love and War (More))

[dfrankis at dial.pipex.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 21104

Penny wrote:
> Hi everyone --
> 
> Amy Z wrote:
> 
> > BTW, I do identify with Hermione and I would choose Harry over 
Ron in 
> > a heartbeat, yet I'm still an R/Her.  That's because my shipping 
> > (in this instance) isn't about what I want to see but what I 
think JKR 
> > is going to do.
> 
> Amy isn't the only one to say recently, "I'm R/H because that's 
where I
> see the canon going."  Can someone explain this philosophy to me?  
Am I
> reading "I might possibly *prefer* another pairing other than R/H, 
but I
> don't see it ever happening so I'll just favor R/H by default"?  I 
admit
> to not understanding this position too well.  
> Penny

When I joined this list, (mid-April) and read the VFAQ, I realised 
that considerable energy had been expended for and against various 
shipping positions (BTW, is Ship a purely HP term?) and thought, how 
is there a contest, it's obviously Ron and Hermione?  Some time 
later, looking at the archives, I realised, d'oh, that people were 
talking about what they'd *prefer* to see, either in future canon, or 
post-canon, in fanfic.  My personal reaction to that is, why should 
anyone care about that?  But if they do want to care, that's fine.  I 
don't intend to get involved.

However, it is of great interest to me, and On-Topic as I understand 
it (is that OT for short?) to consider:

a) what are the characters' feelings for each other at any stage in 
the story

b) where this is leading in future canon

I think these are different from preferences, but someone who has an 
answer to one of these questions might still be fairly regarded as 
a 'shipper'.  I also think that they have historically (ie in the 
last few months!) been termed as 'no-shippers'.  Hence the confusion.

I have fairly firm views (they have been modified by posts of H/H 
shippers, (Mission Statement by Ebony) BTW) about the former, see 
below.

I would like to have views about the latter, but don't.

My initial R/H position, in the sense that I felt there was a 
developing attachment between Ron and Hermione, has changed in that I 
now think that what Hermione really feels is covered by a very old-
fashioned bit of maidenly modesty.  Krum flatters her but does not 
touch the core of her being: she will be very proper toward him.  As 
Amy Z says in the comments I now realise I've snipped, there is 
no 'tension' in her dealing with Harry .  Nearly all of her behaviour 
towards Ron is most easily explained as injured pride and righteous 
anger at his appalling behaviour; all of it could be explained that 
way but one or two bits I feel on balance indicate feelings for Ron - 
but it's all pretty inconclusive.

All JKR's comments in chats etc that I've come across (see how he 
cunningly avoids the lengthy hunt for chapter and verse) are mostly 
testament to her talent for ambiguity.  They are not inconsistent 
with the above, IMO.

Ginny demands a separate, possibly lengthy post.  I hear the groans.  
Suffice to say that when Ron tells her brutally to 'go away' near the 
beginning of PoA, the brutality seems to me to be JKR's in shoving 
her off the stage effectively for at least two books (why didn't she 
put her in the hospital scene at the end of GOF? I don't know).

If I say any more you can call me Narcissa,

David, deeply impressed by the standard of debate here.