pro-shipper meaning (derogatory): definition

pro-shipper

adj

Etymology From pro- + shipper (“a seaman; mariner; skipper.”)

Law Derogatory, Sometimes Supportive of maritime transport, especially as opposed to railway transport.

Perhaps an even more important point is the disclosure of the Commission's anti-railway pro-shipper point of view.1909 May 16, “Looking For Trouble”, in Charles Ransom Miller, editor, The New York Times, volume 58, number 18470, New York: The New York Times Company, page 8:
Thorne and the other radical pro-shipper men, it is believed, however, might oppose the proposition on the theory that the Federal Commission, as now constituted, has too tender a regard for the railroads.1915 December 25, The Traffic Service News Bureau, “The Congressional Inquiry”, in The Traffic World, volume 16, number 26, IHS Maritime & Trade, page 1334:

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In fact, the decisions of the Commission during this period were so notoriously pro-shipper that railroad owners were very much concerned, —it looked like confiscation.1931 December 26, E. A. Jack, “Bureaucracy’s Increasing Power Threatens Private Ownership”, in Samuel O. Dunn, editor, Railway Age, volume 91, number 26, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, page 977:
Therefore, one could reasonably conclude that the policy development which transpired from the 1983 CTC preliminary report to the 1984 CTC Final Report, and then to the draft legislation, followed the increasingly pro-shipper tendency.1989, Richard Lande, Railway law and the National Transportation Act, Toronto: Butterworths, →ISBN, page 10:

pro-shipper

noun

Etymology From pro- + shipper (“one who supports a romantic or sexual relationship between characters”). Some posit that the second sense originated as a blend of problematic + ship.

Lifestyle Slang One who supports a specific ship or shipping in general.

I think this whole thing is a semantic misunderstanding.. the anti-shippers and the pro-shippers are putting entirely different meanings into the phrase 'in love'.1996 July 9, Chris Byler, “Re: 'PUSHER was a 'Shipper!! *gak*!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):
For all you pro-shippers and anti-shippers keep posting and debating. Someone is watching you.1997 April 25, Terry Luck, “Re: 'SHIPPERS SUCK!!!!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

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As a pro-shipper, I think it's gonna be a long season. Will spring ever get here?1997 November 24, Susan J. Daniell, “Re: Shippy parts lead into MOVIE!!”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

Lifestyle Slang One who supports a ship or shipping deemed problematic (e.g., due to incest, age differences, abusive dynamics, etc.), and/or believes in the freedom to create and consume fanworks with such elements.

Near-synonym: anti-anti
Things, let’s say, escalated very quickly, with pro-shippers and anti-shippers going at each other over all sorts of nonsense that was obviously a bit hard to follow.2020, Jessica Mason, "Hannibal’s Bryan Fuller Is Done With Your Anti-Ship BS", The Mary Sue, 13 October 2020

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Pro-shippers argued back that depiction was not endorsement, especially if creators tagged their works with the applicable warnings, such as “abuse” or “emotional blackmail”.2021, Victor Larsen, "'It Makes Me, A Minor, Uncomfortable': Media and Morality In Anti-Shippers' Policing of Online Fandom", thesis submitted to Ghent University, page 16
What is seen by pro-shippers as simply the desire for everyone to be able to write, draw, and publish what they want, even if it offends or “squicks,” is viewed by anti-shippers as unforgivably harmful.2021, Allegra Rosenberg, "'Writing To Cope': Anti-Shipping Rhetoric in Media Fandom", paper presented at the Electronic Literature Organization 2021: Platform (Post?) Pandemic conference, page 7

Related terms: ship and let ship