Ashton

This. And really, Discord's characterization in the show is so utterly contrary to being that sort of character. He loved being bad! He wasn't driven by angst or revenge upon Celestia, he was driven by chaotic whimsy.

This. Exactly why I like discord, he's a villian, he knows it, and he's just having the time of his life (and it should be pointe dout, he never did anything that truely hurt anyone, really outside of the reversal of the mane 6 it was all just one practical joke after another with him)

Though because of that I can see the Discopie (Discord and Pinky Pie) shipping actually working with only minor tweaks to his character (namely his powers being scaled back) since both of them love utter chaos.

Hasbro doesn't really consider adults, no matter how numerous, as more than a fringe audience. I know this because I was at MLP fair both times when it was at Hasbro headquarters, and things to that effect were said. Internet fads come and go. The phenomenon of little girls being brought up to be interested in the confluence of things pink, brushable, and horses is a much more reliable bet. The fact that designer ponies and the pony blanks were released by Hasbro itself a few years ago was a HUGE deal, and people still thought it wasn't enough.

It'll be a third party that gets licenses that would be making those higher-end toys aimed at adults. Not Hasbro (Hasbro, in fact is the primary holder of the rights to the Star Wars toys, since they bought Kenner a long time ago, but Star wars has a much longer history of being more of a broad appeal than My Little Pony has. Especially since it was made to be a family movie and wasn't specifically aimed at children within a certain age range in its inception. Most of the truly kickass and clever Star Wars stuff isn't made with any kind of Hasbro/Kenner involvement). So maybe you should all talk to those companies like Funko and convince THEM that on-model ponies would be a big selling point. After all, those 3rd party companies approach the rightsholder to ASK for the license to make things for the most part, because they think they can make money selling a product outside of the scope of the official line.

Oh don't get me wrong - I'm not suggesting hasbro go whole-hog on this right now! But to release something that gives a clear message "we know about the bronies and see them as a potential market" and then, should they continue FiM past S3 and the bronies don't suddenly vanish (though at this point I think we've passed that point unless hasbro does something insanely stupid like killing off several mane characters) then I would expect to see more options. Some of us feel like hasbro is either ignoring or actively thumbing it's nose at us saying "we dont want adult viewers" (I do apologize for my poorly researched comment about Lauren Faust, I thought she was 'demoted' from exec producer to consulting producer by Hasbro, not by her own choice)

Though I do point out that it would not be a major 'risk' to change their current toy like to better coincide with the series (i.e. make the designs match) which would both show their acknowledgement of us and enlarge their market (I don't know about anyone else but one reason I've not bought a couple of the toys I saw is that it would take quite a bit of work to make it show-accurate)

On a related note, most of the greatest inventions were accidents, not planned. Hasbro should look at this properly: it is a risky venture, but if they win they will have a rather beefy cash-cow, and if they play it conservatively and lose, they will still likely be able to recoup all losses.

You can rest assured that a Hasbro will happily accept any money so long as its green. Why would hasbro kill a profitable franchise? Because adults are buying their stuff? It makes no sense. There's no risk of MLP ever becoming a franchise solely for adults. Even if we outnumbered the child audience, the show got us watching to begin with doing what it's doing right now.

There's zero evidence at all that Faust was removed from anything. She says she quit of her own volition, and moreover, insists that her relationship with Hasbro was very good.

"No profit is better than somone else making profit"

A more common saying: "Profit is profit." The people running Hasbro just want to get rich, like most everybody else. They're not going to harm their own profit just to spite us. It's not in their best interests.

Hasbro doesn't have it in for us, they just feel that they can make more money selling episodes than giving them away.

Honestly, my comment was only partially about them taking down the archive... It's about the fact that Hasbro is well aware of how a specific series can reach many audeinces and be a cash cow (i.e. Star Wars - which they have numerous lisences to produce "adult toys" (NOT THAT KIND!!!) such as the ForceFX light sabers @ $100+ each and are selling well) However they dont offer us ANYTHING merch-wise... Think for a moment about the series and can you honestly say there is NO chacter/place/etc you'd like a high-quality model of? (in my case Dash performing her Sonic Rainboom and also Twilight+Spike in the baloon) No video games outside kiddy games (possibly a couple shovelware wii style game, cant find the info anymore) But I can see lots of options for a serious game from racing (3-D Pegasus racing) to a platformer, to an RPG (just look around at all the Final Fantasy image mods) I honestly can think of other 'non-kiddy' merchandise but at the moment I'm too distracted...

Well that one run on was intended.

1. Never planned on making myself anything but a pony. In fact, I already had an intro story going on not involving the Mane 6. Although the city I would call home would be Steedland (after the closest big city I actually do call home).

2. Same here. In fact the only fics I have read have been Doctor Whooves. That's one of the reasons I decided to get a Mac. Garage Band built in.

1. As long as it's written as an OC Pony story, and the pony doesnt use your name or such, then you'll avoid a lot of stigma from self-instertion (I always feel dirty saying that... >.<).

2. I admit to reading mostly Rainbow Dash fanfics ("a day with the wonderbolts" "skittles" "muffins" "a dashed reputation" "my little Dashie") though I did love "A future worth saving" which is a mane-6 story (but sadly is incomplete and close to 2 months since last update) I'm avoiding the Dr Whooves untill later since I'm not caught up on Dr Who and dont want spoilers (I am just waiting for somone to make a 'Jack Harkness' pony, that will make my day! lol) You lucky son of a... gun... I wish I could afford a Mac *is sick of windows getting viruses, and sick of Linux not runing 2/3 of software* oh well, one day... and I meant software like Audacity (waveforem editor), though if your going to do a lot of VA, you might want to look at Adobe Soundbooth (I think it's called that) and if you do animation, Adobe After Effects.

Mu issue with the iTunes episodes is it forces you to use the iTunes app each time, therefore tying you to the application. I am hoping for full season DVD/Blue-Ray sets for each season; that I will be more than happy to purchase.

oh sweet celestia, do not get me started on my hatred of Apple's DRM. I loved my iTouch, I loved my iPad, but ultimately because of iTunes/DRM I'm now using an Asus eeePad and an HTC EVO 4G... (and honestly other than the keyboard/USB I'd rather have my iPad back, far superior device --- but I cant live with iTunes anymore) I understand apple's stance, but there are less destructive ways to impliment DRM... (not to mention all me non-DRM music I've ripped from CDs or gotten off amazon or w/e NEVER shows up with the right artist/title/etc in iTunes and over 15 years I've gotten a LOT of music...)

Ashton:

1. Yeahh, that's why I brought it up. And no need to apologize for the bias. Most of those stories DO suck, which is why I don't want to work hard to try and write something that will end up sucking from the get go. I guess I just need to remind myself that the stories can't revolve around me and that the Internet doesn't care much for my pony or my fantasies of going through a gateway to Equestria, turning into a pony and living my life as the hero who helps save the world from all these great evils that keep happening and dealing with being the "outsider" and having all the chaos be because of me while I spend my nights in Twilight's library, which she offered out of the kindness of her heart and then we finally begin to realize what everyone else knew all along: we were meant for each other.....probably said too much.

2. Don't worry, I have no intention on doing super GrimDark, overly gory fics. I probably won't do too much shipping fics either, unless some really good ones grab my attention, and that all depends on how much help I can get with voice actors (actresses, mainly). I got the idea from hearing about Family by NTSTS, the one about Braeburn and Bic Macintosh. I figured I could do an audio version of that since I had no problems doing those two voices. As for the narrator, I was thinking something with as little accent as possible, that way it isn't grating to listen to. Kind of like NPR, but doesn't put you to sleep.

Oh geeze, that hurt my brain. periods are your friends! (lol I cant say much I've written massive runons too but... yeah...)

1. Chop it up, make it different stories. Dont make yourself a human, if you MUST self-insert, make youreslf a pony from Fillydephia, Manehatten, the distant future/past whatever. You can make it subtle enough that people dont realize it's a self-insertion and think it's just an OC story, that will kill the stigma.

2. Not familiar with Family (saw the story on ED but didnt read it yet - honesly at this point I've not read but a dozen or so fics) I miss NPR, they stopped broadcasting in my area around 5 years ago... but I'd suggest you look into audio editing software and try to fake the voices yourself. I've done 5 different projects over the years and had everyone from complete strangers to my then-fiance say they'll help me and never lift a finger. If you'd like some suggestions I had a really good program I used a while back I can try to dig up. (also I've noticed if you speak quietly it's easier to hit Pinky's pitch, then you just amplify the sound --- using this I can do a near-perfect fluttershy, a very good pinky, and a recognizable applejack (though it's clearly off in AJ's case so...YMMV))

1. I warn you right now, I'm NOT a fan of self-insesrtion fics. If you want to have that background character over there be you, that's fine, but not the hero (and dont feel bad, we've ALL done them, some of us many, many, many times... often with very low success rates). So I appologize for being biased. But other than that, you have some good ideas, I'd like to see an outline, and I for one would be more than glad to critique and give advice each step of the way. (I'd like to think others would, but if you look below us I have 3 story ideas already posted that are being ignored, so...) anyway, flesh it out and post a more detailed plot! Lets see what you've got!

2. I'm very mixed on the topic. I've seen some I loved and a lot that I hated... really depends on the story and your specific style and accent (not that an accent is bad, but I couldnt handle 4 hours of deep-south alabama, for instance --- but as a voice for AJ that would work well!) I just beg you to do us all a favor and DO NOT RECORD CUPCAKES!!!!

The video itself is 1920x1080, which IS 16:9. The black bars were a rendering issue with Vegas Pro that I had. My newer videos won't have them though. If you have any requests for clips or songs, just PM me and I can upload them!

I figured it was a bug, the actual video wasnt fitting any aspect ratio I know of, and I've seen a 1080p video of that episode. In that case, the *only* issue was a touch of aliasing and that was because I was specifially looking for flaws, most would never notice it.

Thanks I appreciate it, though so far I've gotten all the episodes, the fun part comes later if I ever get my animation program working and have to hunt down sound bytes...

Yes, the memories part does hold true, but the story says that when she leaves, it is more than eight years after the show ended. So, the ending is a bit contradictory, because it implies that Equestria is real, even though the show ended. So nothing can really be said here, until the author makes a comment on it.

A full blown sequel wouldn't work, but if it was maybe like...two pages of information after she left, then the story would have more of an ending. I'm not complaining, but I wouldn't complain IF he did this, either. Still, the ending, paired with the song I posted, makes for a truly emotional ending. Do you know of any songs that fit it better? if you do, PLEASE do post it. ALSO be sure to pay attention to the lyrics, too. In the song I posted, even the lyrics connect with the story.

The author is invoking the time-honored "alternate reality" theory. In short EVERYTHING is real in an alternate reality... but they dont usually sync up right 1 day = 1 year is actually quite simple, some require a complex algebrayic equasion to calculate and some (mostly extreme hard-science-fiction) rely on non-ecludian mathematics! Perhaps I am just too used to seeing this and have become Jaded, but that really stuck me as quite normal and logical, but then I was a member of the Sonic fandom during it's heyday when every other story was about reality-hopping, not to mention a huge fan of the now-dead tv series "Sliders" so...)

Basically the show is portraying events that took place in an alternate reality and we were lucky enough to guess about. Just like how Jeules Verne wrote about so many scientific wonders that have come true. unlikely, but as with Verne, completely possible.

Youtube isn't exactly "low quality" by any means. The videos on Youtube go up to 1080p, at 128kb/sec bitrate with sound. Most of the episodes on Youtube DO have watermarks, but so does television. So for most, it's really the same. Let me show you a video I uploaded to Youtube. I used Sony Vegas Pro to correct it, sharpen, saturate, and such. It looks amazing. In fact, it's Blu-ray quality.

Make sure to watch it in 1080p.

So that's my point, Youtube isn't necessarily VERY BAD quality.

Very nice, though there is a little aliasing at the end on the spires, and it's not standard 16:9 (my monitor is 16:9/1080p and I had black bars on top/bottom) but the latter might be Youtube's own formatting issues.

I keep forgeting Youtube went HD, most of it's life it's been 280p or at best 480p so it's easy to forget they now go upto 1080p (of course this is only agreeing that Hasbro should kill youtube too so...)

(*makes note of how well video is done and curses not learning After Effects*)

I can agree with this completely.

Although the author DID never say that Dashie's memories were erased. I've found many "sequels" to it that all conclude the story. The way the author wrote it, it feels as though it isn't supposed to be concluded though. Your point was VERY correct about the world being painted in "greys and browns." The story is also very good, because it doesn't necessarily have a BAD OR good ending. It's how you interpret it. I don't want to sound too dramatic, but this story truly HAS changed my look on life. The fact that the story also didn't make us feel as though we're in the Equestria universe also kept us tied to reality. He didn't make it seem unnreal, or fake. The fact that Dashie learned she is from a cartoon, and that it is acknowledged AS a cartoon kept us down to earth, so to speak. there weren't any impossible moments, stunts, action, or anything, so it all felt real. Except of Dashie and the rest of the ponies, of course. The photo album is what really got me though. He looked at his family, and what he had, before they passed. Then turning the page, and being reminded that Dashie is gone too. It's really sad, but very emotional in a neutral way. I'm not quite sure HOW to describe it.

I can't say I have any complaints about the story, but I would have liked to see maybe a few weeks after her leaving. Like, how does he live his life? Does he move back, set up her room exactly how it was before hoping she would come back, or what? I think that would have been good too, but maybe he's considering a sequel?

And yes, there was a LOT of detail between the lines that a lot of people missed. It's very difficult NOT to get emotional at the end. But for those who did, they must have not fully read the story.

Everything from the details of where he lives, to his house, and everything gets you REALLY in to it. I suppose the people that just skim it really don't get as connected, which is probably why they weren't as emotional at the end. The first person view also REALLY helps the story, as it helps you see it all through his eyes. Her attitude in the story was perfect, too. She is sweeter, and nicer, as you said. But also kept that little bit of attitude that can be seen in the show. Which only shows up once or twice. Like when she flew up to her room and slammed the door after she found out she was from a cartoon.

Also, your point of her being "dead" so to speak is the only inaccuracy in your post. If you read the end, it is not said if her memories are gone, or not. It must be somewhat torture for him to have the memories of her, too. Since Celestia saved them before leaving.

Yes, but...

(I have to laugh that everything being said is in spoiler tags)

As somone far wiser that I, once said "We are the product of our memories" if they are removed or changed, we are no longer who we are.

Lets assume for a moment that Dashie's memories are not gone. That they now live alongside the 'canon' memories of Rainbow Dash.

Dashies memories will lead to a more level-headed, calmer, kinder, and softer Rainbow Dash, so Rainbow Dash is no longer the same person she was

Rainbow Dash's memories will lead to a more agressive, more abrasive, and angrier Dashie, so Dashie is no longer the same person she was.

Now, I don't think this would be a bad thing. I think RD could take some calming down and her kind side being let out a little more, but my point remains that the mare with the two sets of memories is neither Dash nor Dashie, so in effect Dashie is dead.

Good eye! I didn't realize he looked at his "old life" that died, then his "Dashie life" that died! I tell you, this guy put more thought into this short-story than so many authors put into entire novels! I cant believe he's just some random hack, I think he has to be at the least some form of English major or more likely professional writer to have compiled SO MUCH into this one story literary-wise.

I think your right, the story was meant to end with "draw your own conclusion" and for that same reason, I sadly doubt there will be a sequil. I agree I'd like to know what happened to the man, but it's irrelevant to the story being told (much as I dislike that) Honestly, I also think that any sequil would only cheapen the original, much like most movie sequels do to their originals.

My own opinion, and what I was expecting, was actually a longer, more drawn-out ending. I personally expected Dashie to be with the man upto the point he died, and then after he passed, for her to go back to equestria, having been his 'guardian angel' I am so very glad that the author did NOT take the "our protaganist is insane" rout that for an instant it appeared when Dashie vanished and there was no trace of her to be found. For a moment I thought he had been completely mad and imagined her.

I read the story multiple times, and I believe I've figured it out as to why it is so touching.

Spoiler alert! Don't open unless you've read the story!

I think it's because Rainbow Dash, as portrayed in the show, is very rebellious, yet loyal at the same time. The rebellion makes us feel as though she is a normal teenager. (Like us)

Yes, she seems to keep the young child personality at the same time, because she doesn't interact with others. Because the story is so long, you can get attached to the characters very easily. The thought of her leaving lingers in your mind throughout the story, but you never know until the end. Her leaving after finding out she is from a cartoon makes you even more connected to them, as you can almost FEEL their emotions. Even through everything in the story, they're still happy, and do not hate each other. So when they DO come to get her, you feel as though your own daughter is leaving you. Or how you would if your daughter did leave. The story also makes you think about your life, and your family. Do you regret anything? Because you'd better hope you don't, because one day they will all be gone.

Your quite right

I think part of the reason is that it basically begins telling us how it will end, so we're anticipating it.

However, There was a LOT written in between the lines you only see if you look for. Ex: it was written in 1st person, which makes the narrator part of the story, as opposed the 3rd person where it's some dissembodied floating mind that is observing everything independantly, thus it removed a degree of seperation. Also another subtle touch was the whole world was painted in greys and browns - except Dashie, which makes us draw in to her and draw other conclusions as well.

Her attatude made her more likeable in the story. Not that I hate Rainbow Dash in the series, but in the story she was much sweeter and less agressive, less abrasive, and easier to relate to.

Part of what hurt so bad, for me, was the thought that the man would NEVER see Dashie again, and he had to go back to life as if she had never existed. All he had were fading memories (and the 1 photo album) but Dashie was essentially dead. From the flip side too, Because RD had to return home, Twilight/Celestia had to overwrite all of Dashie's memories with those of the original Rainbow Dash, so again, we have "Dashie" dieing completely.

There was a LOT writen subtly into the story, anyone who did not take the time to really look at the details and style, should take a second look. Even if your not a fan of the story, the Author put a LOT more in there than most people notice at first.

After all, it IS illegal. I simply watch it on Youtube,

You do realize your being a hypocrit, right? youtube is just as illegal as the other sites, it's just so low-quality most people ignore it and just chase down the HD sources.

The only episode I didn't like at all was 'Mare Do Well.' Usually I don't mind Rainbow Dash's cocky antics, but she just annoyed the hell out of me in that episode. Other than that, other episodes are either decent or great, respectively.

The fandom has essentially sent that episode into Exiled From Canon, because dash was VERY off-character there, and the anachronism was out of control. Not to mention the whole plot was simply rediclous, even for MLP where a large chunk of logic gets thrown out the window each episode. (Dont get me wrong, I LOVE the series but I have to admit it has some major logic flaws)

I'm gonna say the same thing I said on ED:

Ashton said...

You gotta laugh a little at how all distrobution systems see "Our Country vs Not Our Country" (Dont think iTunes/USA is the only one, BBC is limited live streams to UK now and sure there are others)

Personally, I think this is a stupid move as there are so many bronies outside the USA who have no legal means of watching it. Once again a company is unintentionally saying "I only want american fans"

Also, keep in mind, we are not little girls (well AFAIK, some of you may be but certainly not most) so hasbro doesnt give two s***s about us. Even if we are buying merchandise we are not the target so they ignore us. Hasbro does NOT want MLP to become an "all ages" franchise, and chances are good they will KILL it upon end of S3 to ensure adults stop watching it (they already removed Faust from the project to slow it down!) Remember "No profit is better than somone else making profit"

Anyway... the TLDR version:

You cant stop piracy, every dig around more and you'll still find ponies, but this is the first sign that Hasbro has it in for us, get ready for the storm.

I just read that story last night. I must say it's one of the most powerful I've ever read, all night I would randomly see scenes play out and tears would fill my eyes. It really, honestly, was like I had been there, experiencing the same thing as the author. There were a few times when something didnt sit right and jolted me out, but overall it really, really, touched me deeply... I cant say I've ever read a fanfic that did that, and honestly I cant think of any professional books that have either...

I saw ponies invade the net, I had a few forum-friends who mentioned them and told me Id like the series, but I never paid them any attention and wrote it off as a "30 minute commerical"

Then, I stumbled on their entry on TV Tropes and my interest was raised, but it took a little more proding from my closest friends.

Finally I watched it, the first 5-7 minutes I was just sitting there saying 'its just a kids show, but it's a decent one, not as preachy as I was afraid of' and then I almost gaged and turned it off when AJ said "we Sho' do like makin' new friends" I thought the preaching had began, but Twilight's horrified reaction and the puns that followed kept be watching, less enthusiastic...

...Then I met Rainbow Dash...

At that point I couldnt turn it off, and when 'Winter Wrap Up' came around I considered myself a full Brony! (And to this day, even with the events of May the Best Pet Win and Mare Do Well, Rainbow Dash has always been my favorite Pony with Twilight being #2.)

Tv Tropes has the answer to everything!

Of course! Always look there or Wikipedia lol

I know what you mean. And you're a hopeless romantic too huh? Are you considered a hopeless romantic if you're too scared to try for a romance? That would probably be me.

I was too scared, then I failed multiple times, now I've given up. All romance in my lifes comes from movies/books/games/FFs.

I love the term "shipping" because it lends itself so well for puns.

That is hilariously true.

I'm almost certain there are more young kids that watch it then adults. On TV, anyway. If Bronies were the majority of viewers, then there'd be a lot more merchandise aimed at us, and they'd be realeasing DVDs in Seasons, ETC.

I'm questioning that. We are a rather large demographic and really we have NOTHING (most of the Tshirt sites are 'fan made') In fact until recently I'm not sure Hasbro even admitted we exist - I think they were trying to keep MLP as a "little kids only" franchise. But with the update on their website, they're finally offically acknowledging us and I think we may see a few things now and then... (you'd think they would see this has the potential with so many demographics to be the next "Star Wars" as far as merchandising goes!)

I'm toying with a concept for a story and was wondering how many times it's been done so far (I don't want to just be the latest in a string of 'copy cat' stories even if I came up with my idea independently)

In Short: One of twilight's spells misfires and turns back time --- for Rainbow Dash. Dash find herself a filly again and has to cope until Twilight finds a reversal spell. But, it's not "coping" for Dash, she doesn't remember ever being an adult and the others decide for now the best thing is to treat her like a normal filly "just in case" twilight cant reverse it.

As a filly, Dash meets and befriends the CMC, which is rather awkward for Scootaloo, and also develops a crush on Pip.

When twilight finally does find a cure, Dash is forced to decide between staying a filly and being friends with the CMC (and more with Pip) or whether to 'grow up' and rejoin the Mane 6 and be 'more than friends' with... someone else...

I'm not sure if I've read any fics between two of the mane 6 that I liked. Usually, they feel forced, or they're "I SUDDENLY HAVE LOVED YOU ALL ALONG" stories, which tend to feel forced.

This. Unless your shipping Twilight or Spike or Luna, honestly everyone already knows everyone.

One of the reasons I see most Dash+Wonderbolts shipping (practically the only kind I personally write) work is simply because she doesnt really know them, and in-canon only has met them twice both for short periods.

I mean, I'm a hopeless romantic and I love a good story, but over all it's kinda hard to know somone for probably 5-10 years and all of a sudden love them (discounting life-changing experiances, I mean if X risks their life to save Y and almost dies, then Y might feel a little differently about X...)

I just now remembered that since my mom's computer died, all my fanfic WIPs are gone. I had more than one for other fandoms, but my most prized one was a MLP fanfic I was typing in the theme of Nightmare Night. It was the best work I had done literature-wise in years, and I can't get it back. I would re-type it, but it just wouldn't be the same if I couldn't get the words exactly right. All that effort for nothing...all because of a glitchy computer. *said in a Davy Jones-esque way* Damn you, Hewlett...PACKAAAARD!!!

If the HDD itself isnt damaged you can recover them. You just need an "External HDD case" so you can access the drive over USB.

GoogleDocs is your friend.

I'm a fan of DropBox myself, though I'm playing with Ubuntu One too... There's also Skydrive (MS)

And those are just the ones I know of off the top of my head...

TBH, I don't trust cloud-storage for a whole lot of things. I have a terabyte HD I use for most of my files.

Never use cloud as primary storage, but always use it as a backup for things you REALLY dont want to lose (and some, like Dropbox not only let you back up, but sync them across numerous PCs/smartphones/etc)

I understand how you feel, OP, this site is a little slow on verious topics, but I'm sure there are some you'll find interesting if you look, the forum is over half non-RP (which is the whole reason I joined, honestly I doubt I'll do much RP here lol)

If nothing else head over to ED and read some FFs, that's what I do when I have nothing better to be doing ^_^

I actually first dismissed this as silly, then I remembered that Equestria is a world where you dig 10 random holes and at least 1 will be filled with Gems...

This would also explain why he can make a living in the desert where there is very little to do...

...though what kind of treasure is there in the desert? I know there's gold/Silver in some places but it's not been addressed how valuable these are/arent and how rare they are/arent (after all gemstones seem to be something like $25/1lbs bag --- just enough to keep a lot of people from frivolousness adding hundreds of them to everything they own)

I'm still fairly confused as to what shipping is. As far as I know, it seems to be putting two characters together as a couple, and I've sort of seen it as just a sexual thing, or something "cloppers" do. I'm guessing that's not quite a fair view on it.

"Shipping" is short for "Relationshiping" and it simply means putting two characters into a relationship. While technically it can be friendship, usually it is romantic (yiff doesnt always enter into it, it can be just two characters turning red and getting all quiet around each other while giveing sideways glances and smiling)

Better explanation, as always, here:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Shipping