Why is it that people like to pair rivals together?

[Invisible-chan]

I just have to add, I sort of see myself as Crystal and the guy I like looks like Silver. I'm also kind of his rival. (He's a higher chair than me) That somewhat adds to my love of rival pairings I guess. redface >//////<  

[xAppleLily]

I'm not reall sure but i think it's because since they're rivals they have to admire something about them and want to work harder at it so i guess if they get past the fact they want to win against the other person they actually might show affection for each other deep down .. i don't know sweatdrop  

[akikoXkee]

You know that kid who always picks on that girl on the playground? She cries about it and, later on, the boy admits he likes her? That's why.

 

[hdc169]

im not exactly sure, i think people believe that the rivals look past eachothers differences and fall into one of those love/hate ships. Atleast thts how i see it ninja

mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen  

[hdc169]

xAppleLily

I'm not reall sure but i think it's because since they're rivals they have to admire something about them and want to work harder at it so i guess if they get past the fact they want to win against the other person they actually might show affection for each other deep down .. i don't know sweatdrop

really good assumption, kinda sums it up ninja

mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen mrgreen  

[The Silent Paladin]

Maybe people wanna turn their heated rivalry for heated passion... wink  

[Zanui]

Well, most of the time (especially in the case of the Pokemon games), the rivals are generally pretty friendly toward each other anyway. Even when they aren't, they usually end up (grudgingly) respecting one another after some character development happens.

Of course, other aspects can be argued as well, such as fans seeing one of the rivals acting mean toward the other in order to "hide their feelings," and the always fun hatesex. xD As for why people like hatesex is a different argument, but you get the idea.

 

[[Ren The Ryoko]]

It helps that normally Rivals are foils of each other, adding to the "complimentary differences? idea.