Recently Liam Dryden posted a video concerning people “shipping” other people. Just in case you haven’t seen it, here it is:

Like Liam said, public figures are usually subjected to “shipping”. Shipping on its own is fine, great even. But it’s when you start to ship real people that you get into that weird, messy grey area. 

Personally, I think the reason real people are “shipped” isn’t just because people don’t imagine them as complex individuals, but also because they don’t really present themselves as such. 

When people make Youtube videos, they usually project a specific version of themselves. They take the best aspects of their personality and build them up a bit for the camera. For example, Charlie McDonnell is probably quieter in real life than he is on Youtube. People aren’t exactly as they portray themselves in videos. This just makes it too easy for the people watching to see them as characters, separate from real people like themselves.

Another part of this problem is the platform. When people are used to only watching the lives of characters unfold on a screen then it’s not that insane to assume that most people you watch from behind a screen are like fictional characters. So people only ship them with each other because it’s not that hard to think of them as fictional.

The simple solution to this problem is for people to remind themselves that the people they idolise on Youtube are still people, just like them. They hav, flaws, habits, insecurities and can think for themselves. But this idea seems to be lost on fangirls. If people were to stop thinking of people that are “internet famous” as untouchable gods then it would solve a hell of a lot of problems. Fangirling, mobs of insane people and this whole shipping people crap would stop. Because people don’t want to ship people. People want to ship characters. As soon as you get past the delusion that people are characters and start seeing them as the real, complex people that they are then you wont want to ship them any more.

What do you think about shipping people? Join in the conversation by sending us a message.

About a year ago, I had just started to properly recover from a period of depression – it wasn’t all that great, to be fairly honest. I was literally forcing myself not to fall back into the dark moods that would often spark my dreariness. I wanted to escape from it all and live again. And this time around, I really went all out.

At that point in time, my idea of ‘fun’ was really…well, ‘dangerous’ is probably the right word – although, I was oblivious to its risks.

I gained my confidence back and then I started to literally throw myself out there. I was messing with people almost ten years older than me and getting into sticky situations. I actually even travelled across the country for the day, with a friend and bad intentions, and no one else knew. I was really rather rebellious, but my parents never found out. I’m not entirely sure how.

I told my counsellor, at the time, about everything – she didn’t see it the same way I did. She voiced her thoughts and told me: “That’s not safe, Phoebe, you could get yourself into trouble” and “That’s quite dangerous”. I brushed her off and told her it was my way of dealing with things now and I was having fun. She told me to try and make it a “safer” kind of fun – and so, she’d ask me at my weekly sessions if I’d been having any “safe fun” lately… ha to that.

Things escalated and I found myself sneaking out at 2.a.m., getting completely hammered and losing a tonne of sleep on a regular basis. I’m not saying I’m proud of it and I’m definitely not encouraging it, but I don’t exactly regret it. It’s a teenager-type phase to go through, it’s normal, right?

Except when something goes completely awry and the worst happens. I’m not going to go into detail, but it definitely changed my mind about things – what was risky and what was relatively OK to go through with. I guess I’m lucky, really.

What I thought was ‘fun’ has now scarred me for life and I can say I’ve only ever snuck out past midnight once since then. That was to see someone who is now a big part of my life and I don’t regret that slip-up at all.

I think, what I’m trying to say here is, yeah, have fun – by all means – be a teenager. Go completely crazy from time to time, but please think about what you’re doing - because the worst does happen. I should have listened to my counsellor when she told me what I was doing wasn’t safe, but I didn’t.

I suppose the topic of ‘fun’ is meant to be a light-hearted one, but I’ve just gone and put a downer on that, I apologise. I just think it needs to be said.

So, on that note, do have fun – but be sensible. (Oh gosh, I hate to be the one who’s moralising everything  - agh!)

-Phoebe

You just said that losing your virginity was a big fucking deal and then, at the end of the article, said it wasn’t? Make up your mind.

Virginity is not a physical thing, it’s a concept that’s been thrown way out of hand. If you’re 13 and you lost your virginity because you felt it was the right time - awesome! It’s entirely up to you and it shouldn’t be anyone else’s business. Sure, tell a close friend but it doesn’t need to be discussed.

What really gets me about that article is that you think those of us that ARE young, or barely legal, are giving themselves up to feel loved? Really? Sex is supposed to be fun. Concepts like virginity ruin that. So do putting laws on when you can have sex. It’s up to the people involved, in the end. If they want it, they can have it. It’s not really for you to comment on.

Virginity is worth nothing, whether you still retain yours or not. IT IS NOT A SO-CALLED “PROBLEM”. It’s just sex, in the end. It’s a natural part of life and if you make losing your virginity a big deal, your first time is going to suck. First time sex is messy, awkward and sometimes/most times painful. You most likely won’t reach orgasm and it’s pretty much like a try-out. 99% of the time, the person you lose it to will not be present in your later life, whatever your age. Just make sure you’re comfortable with them and you’ll be fine.

However, DO NOT tell me we are giving ourselves up because we are merely ‘insecure’ - that is an insult and when you haven’t been through the experience, you can’t really come to that conclusion.

Thank you and good day.
(I’d also try posting articles that DON’T target ill feelings towards your readers and their choices, as I felt that article could have been particularly offensive.)

From Josie, 17 years old from Sussex, England

(NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:: Thanks for your submission Josie. All of our articles are written by teenagers, and we can’t exactly all have it all worked out and not be wrong sometimes. Regardless of Lorna’s intent , which I’m sure was good, her point of view doesn’t necessarily represent the view of Sarcasteen as a whole . Sarcasteen is a platform for teenagers to express their views on whatever subject they want, and whilst some of those opinions might not be solid, or consistent or 100% accurate, we believe they should have somewhere to try and work things out. We always appreciate hearing someone else’s point of view and a good ol’ discussion.)