I'm a guy, btw, but I've supported shippings before. But I wonder, what if shipping isn't real? What if it is just what us fans believe in and it's actually not real at all?

I don't care about the shipping side of things but it is needed in some series for the interest of getting fans as well as sales and money from people who like shippings, official or otherwise

SERIOUSLY?????? So all those "hints" were done on purpose?

Most likely some were meant to be there while some are just human imagination hoping for there to be hints. you'll be amazed what they could do just to get more money.

Think about it this way, Company A adds a few barely noticeable shipping hints for Characters A and B. If Fan A likes said characters as a shipping, they will buy merchandise for Series A for where Characters A and B are from. This would mean that Company A gets profit. Now Company B see's whats going on and does a similar thing... with the industry anything is possible

I see. You're a genius. You shall be rewarded with two props. One for comment and other for answer XD.

I really don't think what I said deserves a prop let alone 2, only used a somewhat logical example of why there is shipping hints in anime

I'll keep them anyway though

I just like giving props for small reasons. I don't know, that's just me.

ok then, I still don't feel right getting them from this though.

Of course i love shippings!
Poor Ash doesn't even show any interest but still we ship him cause we love his character.
And also i need to add that i don't watch Pokemon only for shippings.
Shipping hints often appear in the show.Mostly the series goes with the story,the journey and all about Pokemon!

Well I wouldn't say it's a waste of time. Even though mostly likely they're not going to happen, people still see that these shippings can happen. It also helps people use their tallents, like drawing fanart or writing stories for thoughs shippings.

Do I think they are a waste of time? No. Supporting shippings can be really fun and as pumpkinqueen said, it helps people use their talents.

For example, I feel like i have become a much stronger writer from writing pokemon shipping fanfiction and posting it on fanfiction.net. That way, I use a shipping I like, make a story I enjoy out of it, and still get critisim so I can become even better.

And do I think they only exist in fandom? It really depends. If you ask me if I think shippings from the anime only exist in fandom, I would probably say yes. Unless the characters are married, the shipping will most likely never become reality. Therefor, it exists in fandom.

But if you asked me if shippings from the manga only exist in fandom, I would say no. I used to think a pokemon shipping could never become canon, but then Sapphire confessed that she likes Ruby. Technically they are still not a couple, but a confession still means alot, and is something you would never get in the anime.

I support two, but the others are crap, and it's getting out of hand. (The two I support are Pokeshipping and Contestshipping)

i agree wit wat every1 has said...shipping in pokemon will almost never happen otherwise they wud have done at least 1 by now...nd sum ppl use shippings to write stories which sum ppl r really gud at...they found sumthing they like nd wrote about it...shippings is perfectly fine it gives u sumthing to think about...that being said...wat i do find a waste of time is the shipping fanwars! i can understand that u like a certain shipping nd u want to support it but that doesnt mean u can go nd disrespect the other shippings! most seem to 4get that pokemon is a KIDS show!!! they make it that no shippings will happen...just bcuz theres characters u dnt like 2gether doesnt u have to hate everything about that shipping...also if u must hate a shipping actually give reasons y u hate it!! i mean it really annoys me that almost every1 i know that hates a certain never actually has a gud behind other than saying "they look stupid 2gether!" or "i hate this character!" pokemon is a kids show meaning shippings mite not ever happen but we can ship characters as long as can learn to respect each other opinions!

I guess I kinda agree with all of you on that. Except for CoolNana. Sorry, I dislike Pokeshipping and Contestshipping on so many levels. I don't know, that's just me.

I don't think it's a waste of time,people have a right to believe and like what they want,I mean don't go for it personally,but still everyone has different opinions on things,and I agree it does help people's creativeness show when they make stories about it and things like that,so no it's not all that bad^^

Pearlshipping is the best for my life!

Well, the word shipping gets on my nerves. I don't have a problem with it, they can get REALLY disgusting! I have seen Gary x Professer Oak, Misty x Loreli, and other pathetic crap.