theory in progress

[laleia]

So I think the difference between shipping an OTP and accepting a ship is that when you accept a ship, you are willing and maybe even interested in reading fanfic that features that ship (provided it is done well). When you ship an OTP, however, you are willing to read a fanfic with no real plot and no real purpose other than that OTP. (Compare to accepting a ship, where you willing to read plot-less fic of the ship, i.e. PWP, but your motivation is the porn rather than the ship.] Even if it's a short romantic drabble whose where the main character's names could be interchanged with almost any other from any other universe, shipping an OTP means you are excited just that there is fic of this ship. You will even sometimes read fanfic that is mediocre, as long as it provides you that rush from reading about your OTP.

(That's why it is possible to ship numerous OTPs -- because you're willing to read fanfic about all of them to satisfy your craving(s).)