OTP

[prillalar]

I'm making with the questions today. Because I think that's the best feature of LJ: getting other people to come write smart things in my journal. It saves wear and tear on my brain, since then I don't have to be smart myself.

What is an OTP? I know what it stands for: One True Pairing. But recently I've begun to wonder if I've been using it wrong.

To me, it means "the pairing I especially like to ship". Hermione/George is one of my OTPs. Remus/Kingsley. Merry/Pippin. Daniel/Jonas. But I write other pairings and I read other pairings and if you don't ship my OTPs, I'll still be your friend.

Is an OTP more exclusive than that, the only pairing that you'll entertain for that fandom? Or can it mean a pairing that's accepted by most of the fandom, like Jack/Daniel, Harry/Draco, Gimli/Galadriel? (OK, maybe I'm the only one who ships Gimli/Galadriel.)

When you use "OTP" what do you mean? And who are your OTPs?

Be smart for me now. :)

Comments

[vonniek.livejournal.com]

I really, really dislike the term OTP. It gives me the hives, unless it is used in a totally goofy cheeseball sense, i.e. Jayne-N-Vera-4EVAH!!, etc. I know a lot of people use the term loosely for 'the pairing they prefer reading over others' and I've got no problem with the concept. Hell, I've got my pairing preferences as well. But the word has accumulated such negative connotation in the corner of the fandoms I've lurked in over the years that I am no longer able to look at it objectively. To me, OTP is inseparably tangled with the facet of fannish activity that I detest the most, i.e. the Pairing Wars. I'm sick of them. It makes me want to kick random passerbys on the shin. Plus, the phrase, "One True Pairing" is...ecch, it sounds so twee and junior high, unless you're saying it with your tongue firmly pressed against the side of your cheek. Even in the height of my X-Files obsession when I was consuming MSR fic in gallons, I used to get irritated when people expressed outrage at writers who *dare* put Mulder or Scully with anyone else but with each other. ::rolls eyes:: I mean, sure, fine, whatever. Don't read the stories if they aren't your cup of tea, but don't try to convince other people that your way is the *only* way. Oh! Now I see why it bothers me so much. The expression is laced with a kind of creepy evangelical fervor that gives me the willies, something similar to "Jesus is your only savior!"

Geez. I didn't realize I felt so strongly about the damn thing until I wrote this out. Sorry for regurgitating this all out on your LJ. After all, it's possible that my tragically short attention span simply doesn't allow me to dwell on one particular pairing long enough to develop OTPs of my own.

[prillalar]

The expression is laced with a kind of creepy evangelical fervor that gives me the willies, something similar to "Jesus is your only savior!"

That's a really good way to put it. It's not the obsession, but the way it's directed outward that's so disturbing.

And may I give you this pamphlet about the how the True Love of Merry & Pippin will save your soul?