“Shipping”, supporting or encouraging the idea that a romantic relationship exists between two people, might seem like fun, says Sritana, 13, from Sreenidhi International School, but it is far from harmless and we should stop doing it.
What is it that makes us want boys and girls to be more than just friends?
Why is it that when I’m talking to a boy, I hear people calling “Awww, so in love!”? This, by the way, is an example of “shipping”, an expression taken from the word “relationship”.
It is prom season now and everyone is trying to find someone to go with.
Gen Z are so aware as a generation, so conscious of each other’s feelings, yet they struggle with accepting the fact that maybe boys and girls can be just friends, without having an ulterior motive.
Sometimes people want friendships, not romantic relationships.
I understand that shipping is funny, but doing it makes people uncomfortable with other genders, and can actually be harassment, which is defined in the dictionary as “aggressive pressure or intimidation”.
These people are peer pressured to ask others to go out with them. Firstly, this can ruin potential or current friendships. Secondly, the person asked out may believe the one doing the asking has different, deeper feelings for them than those they actually have.
Imagine the heartbreak when you find out it was a lie.
A group of friends begged me to ask someone out. Are you kidding? Maybe if the guy told me to approach they had feelings for me, I would have thought about it, but when people are aware that neither me nor that person have feelings for each other, then I think the idea is absolutely disgusting.
Sometimes people ask others to go out with them as friends. And sometimes people hug each other. Does it not occur to everyone that people have friendships that are not romantic?
I used to ship too, but I realised it was wrong, and stopped.
In defence of shipping, people will say: “Maybe they like each other, we’re helping.”
But even if two individuals do like each other, it is not your job to push. If something is going to happen, it will happen. Friendship should not be risked just for someone else’s entertainment.
And everyone knows how exhausting it can be: the only way to prevent the talk and the stories is to
avoid certain people. You look at each other for two seconds, and suddenly you risk being described as “the couple of the year”.
Shipping is rude and unfair. It is a form of discrimination; discrimination against friendships.
It is not a game, and it is not funny.
Let’s put an end to shipping!
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