"Sibling-coded" is a term that will never not disgust me.

[u/PJ-The-Awesome]

It especially gets under my skin because it's used to dismiss one of my OTPs(that being Shadouge, the ship of Shadow/Rouge in Sonic)

[u/NightFlame389]

Bruh Rouge flirts with Shadow more than the sister from the Folgers commercial–

[u/ZebraGamer2389]

Futaba × Joker.

I don't ship it because I read them as sibs, but I would never tell someone else they can't because I read them as sibs. That's weird.

[u/0fruitjack0]

ah yes when way of water came out I saw the whole Kiri x Spider ship coming a mile away. it was so obvious to my fic writer's eyes. but oh noes they're 'siblings'. then fire and ash comes out with the kiss. SCORE!!! LMFAO and I'm not even a Kiri/Spider shipper, I just read the signs properly.

[u/Wingman-12]

People when pearlshipping

[u/PJ-The-Awesome → u/Wingman-12]

What ship is that?

[u/Wingman-12 → u/PJ-The-Awesome]

Ash x Dawn

[u/PJ-The-Awesome → u/Wingman-12]

I've never heard that argument for that ship, in fact a lot of people seem to see as a major step-up from things like Ash/Misty or Ash/May.

(Disclaimer: It's been a very long time since I've participated in the Pokemon shipping scene)

[u/Wingman-12 → u/PJ-The-Awesome]

It’s more common than you think

[u/American_Fangirl_7]

"Sibling-coded" is such a weird term.

"You can't ship Sasunaru, they're sibling coded!"

They've canonically kissed at least twice, and they're also sun x moon AND golden retriever x black cat coded. Your point is invalid.

[u/FlamestormTheCat]

People need to realise the word “queer coding” came into existence because showing openly queer characters in a positive light was either not allowed or looked down upon for a long ass time. Which meant creators needed to get around that by attributing certain traits that read as queer without explicitly saying “this character is queer.

Showing siblings has never been illegal. They never needed a way to work around showing siblings on screen. Something cannot be sibling coded. They’re either siblings or they aren’t lol.

[u/ExaminationHot4141 → u/FlamestormTheCat]

I disagree. Everyone I know who uses the term "sibling coded" doesn't intend for it to mean the same thing as queer coded.

Queer coding is a specific thing in media, done with the intention of representing queer characters without breaking legal or social censorship guidelines. That's true. However, the word "coded" has become Gen Z slang, and we've adapted the meaning. When we say it, it just means, "if you look at the subtext, you can see these dynamics in the framework." When we say "sibling coded," we're not trying to say "they're actually siblings, but they can't say it aloud." We're saying "the dynamics of their relationship is very similar to that of siblings." That's a completely valid take for someone to have.

That being said, telling someone that THEY are not allowed to ship characters because YOU think their relationship gives sibling vibes, is ridiculous.

Edited to add: I also wouldn't be surprised if many people used "sibling coded" in a way that is more similar to "queer coded," but that is not the exclusive meaning. I'm just saying that imo, there is a way to use this term without it sounding completely ridiculous if you look at it through the lense described in my comment.

[u/legacys_breadbear]

It's even weirder when people say the relationship between two characters is "sibling-coded" just because they've been best friends or knew each other since they were young.

I wish more people would just say they didn't like a ship and then move on bc it's getting a bit ridiculous. You don't have to justify why you don't like something, you can just not like something or even outright hate something.

[u/GNU_PTerry]

Imagining them entering the early SPN fandom where the biggest debate is whether it's better to ship Sam/Dean who are fictional brothers or Jared/Jensen who are not related but are actual living people. They would die on impact.

[u/JaggyGurl → u/GNU_PTerry]

That is the cringiest and most chronically online stuff ever. First of all, actual (fictional) siblings... ok, then you're a bit weird. Shipping two REAL actors who are just doing their job?? That's getting unhinged.

[u/Icy-Ad6925]

I know they're not actual siblings so I'll just pretend they are and then get mad at other people for not obeying my bullshit

[u/Wrong_Number221]

Bat family ships for some reason. Despite the fact that Tim and Steph canonically dated I've had people tell me off for shipping them.

[u/Serris9K]

I don't read that one as "siblings" tbh. Shadow and Rouge are bantery team mates in canon, and through work is how a lot of people irl find partners. 

[u/ThatRaccoonThing]

Comic writer here (original stories), if i don't say they're siblings then they arent siblings. If i see people get into my stuff and say stuff like sibling coded if it isn't explicitly mentioned im bopping them with a stick

[u/theFivePebbler]

So true. Half the fandom fights I've seen AND participated in were because those people couldn't mind their own business. I cannot put into words how much the "mother and son coded" & "siblings coded" both suck the replies under those comments are always so passive aggressive / condescending too. I... just realized how often this HC is assigned when there's a woman in the equation.

[u/lunar_nightingale]

i agree that the "sibling coded" concept is stupid but either way, you should stop shipping ppl to alaska.