Opposite for me; romance is everywhere in my media. I'm not looking for something WITHOUT romance, mind you, just a piece of work where the PROTAGONIST is without it. None of the books available to me seem to be able to grasp the concept a romance isn't always needed.

Or, at least where it's not a huge focus. Like Percy x Annabeth; it slowly develops on the sideline, but it's not ever a really huge focus of the story. Everywhere else I look today, romance is a huge part of the story. Meh.

Personal life wise, I'm disinterested in romance for the most part right now, so perhaps that's a contributing factor. I love a good romance done well, though, as it makes me feel all tingly..............Which goes against what I said earlier. Situation, situational. Page topper! You know what this means!

edited 19th Nov '11 8:21:09 PM by tvtropesnoob

You do realize that if you get a book based on that criteria, it's inevitably going to spend half the plot easing the protagonist out of that "phase".

Okay so I was busy most of the day and missed most of the initial reactions to new ep. Anyone wanna catch me up?

Anyway, my reactions were:

"Gawd, Fluttershy is adorable."

"Gawd, Rainbow Dash is adorable."

"Gawd, that turtle is adorable."

"This episode is good but not great. But man is it adorable."

And did that song sound familiar to anyone else?

I'd be content with that. Hell, JUST ONE film or show without romance, that's all I'm asking for. There are plenty of other types of relationships to explore. Family, Friendship, objectiphilia. Why must it ALWAYS go back to Eros?

If that happened then I'd punch something. HARD

edited 19th Nov '11 8:23:15 PM by gingerninja666

We must've been separated at birth. It's the only logical explanation.

Who cares if it sounded familiar? Fluttershy was singing it.

@Kegisak: You summed up my view of shipping pretty well. I think it's interesting if taken from a "how would these two characters interact in a romantic relationship", but the myriad "I ship Steven Magnet and Derpy Hooves because it's so RANDOM!" type ships are just annoying.

That said, I just don't think it would fit the tone of the show very well, so I'm all for leaving it out of canon.

In other works, I usually take it on a case by case basis; romantic subplots can be interesting if they're used well, to advance the story and develop the characters, but if their only included because "hey this sort of movie is supposed to have a romantic subplot", it's a waste of time.

I wanna see something that AVOIDS that little pothole. Romance isn't needed to keep living, why does no author get this?

I really liked the competition. The tortoise was a little ugly, but I loved him. You can do it, little guy!—my general reaction to him.

NINJAD EPICLY!

edited 19th Nov '11 8:23:59 PM by tvtropesnoob

I want none of romance, especially in real life. If a guy sat next to me and recited poetry, I'd shove a turtle down his mouth. Not enough to hurt the turtle, but enough to give the guy salmonella.

As for Luffy, he wouldn't know romance if Cupid hit him with a thousand arrows.

Back to ponyland, I think the song was cribbed from a musical.

@Mousa, you saying we're similar or something?

Scarily so.

Mousa and Ginger are long lost twins........and I'm Gingers teasing (in a troll way, not in a Ho Yay way) cousin.

I'ma gonna have to re-watch that song. Didn't like it at first, but I didn't like Sisterhooves Social at first either, and it became one of my favorites.

edited 19th Nov '11 8:29:04 PM by tvtropesnoob

I like romance for the most part but I agree it is often too tacked on. Some writers need to learn that just because a man and woman spend a significant amount of time together does not mean they're going to develop special attractions for each other.

I'd support romance in Pony only on two conditions:

1) Its Twilight/Pinkie

2) It's Applejack/any stallion who isn't her own brother. (I suppose Applejack/anyone at all would be good too, but it would feel weird to me if she turned out to be a lesbian. I just can't see it).

What's the song called anyway?

btw, I've yet to see a romance between two people that's made me cry

Find a Pet Song http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/May_the_Best_Pet_Win!

Actually, I'm a bit confused/worried to see the number of people here who seem to detest romance/love. As in, not just disapproving of its overuse in works, but wholesale disgust for the concept in general.

edited 19th Nov '11 8:31:26 PM by Enlong

I don't hate it at all, as I said a lot of time I really like the romance; I just really want to see a work where the main character is disinterested in romance in a story where there IS romance, just not for the protagonist, because everywhere I look if there's a guy and a girl they gotta be paired, ESPECIALLY with the protagonist. It's like there's a rule where the protagonist MUST have a GF or a BF by the time the story is over if other people have romance side-plots, there simply can't CAN'T be leaving him or her single.

edited 19th Nov '11 8:36:09 PM by tvtropesnoob

What can I say? Sour grapes and poor use in media.

Well me, I'm just not a romantic in general. but mostly I've just been soured by the omni-presense of Romance in everything I see. I just want it to GO AWAY

edited 19th Nov '11 8:34:36 PM by gingerninja666

I'm a psychotic.

Does...does that count?

It's just that people tend to suck any personality the characters had when putting romance in. And especially if they become parents. Which makes no sense, because everyone's parents tend to have personalities.

@ Ginger, where have you been all my life?

........Should we give you two some time alone?

That's also a reason for me; I can't find any story at all that leaves the MC single in a story where romance is had by other people, so the idea of seeing a serious story without the MC being paired of by the end of it is a seriously appealing concept for me.

edited 19th Nov '11 8:43:08 PM by tvtropesnoob

You never ask me that.

You bastard.

Also, here's something. I'm more a fan of pairings done in the style of "friends with benefits" (which I think would be more realistic for this show than straight up romance) and I got to thinking.

Has friends with benefits EVER been portrayed as something positive which DOESN'T eventually lead to standard romance?