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Getting along with a possibly passive-aggressive coworker because of different political beliefs [closed]

Everyone in the office, including the girl, was shipping me and that guy because we have similar tastes in movies, we code in the same platform, we are both reserved in our dealings with others, and he speaks more often to me than to them;

I am familiar with the online colloquial usage of "shipping" (thanks tumblr) as it pertains to online "fandoms", fan communities of a particular fictional work. In this context, it means to have an affinity for a (usually romantic) relationship between two characters which may or may not exist in the narrative.

But in this real-life example, I'm having trouble understanding what the author meant to impart:

  • Is it implied that the female author is perceived as having a romantic interest in her coworker, because of their shared interests?

  • Does it only suggest that the other people in the office superimpose a friendship between them where one doesn't really exist -- in that way, they are fictionally "shipping" them?

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  • urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ship
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 22:49
  • This is new to me, but romance is not the best assumption. More like saying you're twins.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 22:50
  • @Yosef Baskin: I've not heard it before either, but in the cited context it seems quite natural to understand it as a "reduced" version of the "verbified" noun relationship.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 22:55
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    Please include the research you've done. UD has a relevant definition, but perhaps you can find a more authoritative source.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Mar 8, 2017 at 23:12

2 Answers 2

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Does it only suggest that the other people in the office superimpose a friendship between them where one doesn't really exist -- in that way, they are fictionally "shipping" them?

Yep! Because it originates in fiction, it's mostly used for a relationship that doesn't exist yet.

Here is an example that explicitly discusses the real-life creation of fictional romances:

Real-life shipping can be great. My friends and I joke about how we should go on one of those old people single cruises and ship people ... and match them up.

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'Shipping' has now become a jargon among the 'twitterati' community for 'relashionshipping' rather than shipping a parcel.

Read from Business Insider India:

"If you see someone on Twitter or Tumblr discussing "shipping," don't assume they're talking about mailing a package. The term has taken on new life thanks to people, predominantly teens, using the word to discuss ideal relationships between fictional characters, celebrities, and even their own friend."

"Shipping originated in the world of fandoms, which are groups of hardcore fans of movies, books, and television shows. According to the ridiculousy comprehensive fandom slang guides of the internet, the word derives from "relationshipper," typically shortened to just "shipper." Relationshippers are people who care deeply about the romantic relationships between their favorite characters - and sometimes, celebrities or even the people in their own lives".

"So instead of saying, "Romeo and Juliet are a perfect couple," a Shakespeare-loving shipper would say, "I ship Romeo and Juliet."

"Shipper (-ness) = Short form of "Relationshipper" -- refers to someone who supports the idea of two specific characters being involved in a romantic or sexual relationship. May or may not be the fans' OTP. When the pairing of choice is homosexual, the proponent may also be said to be a "slasher" instead".

More Fandom Terms are here.

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