I'm going to post this and leave the subject, since -apparently- everyone
else on this list disagrees with me and doesn't see Shampoo as a stupid,
overagressive, violent woman and -does- see her as the ideal to get Ranma.

(Pulls out megaphone, turns it up to maximum, puts it in between his mouth
and Redneck's ear and screams into the microphone end)

*I* *NEVER* *SAID* *THAT*!!!

(Puts 'phone away)

I am not saying that Shamps is an _ideal_ candidate. There's no such thing.
Akane is the most likely to marry, because dispite all their tiffs, Ranma
and Akane love each other. Granted, they're going to need major marriage
counceling, but they would be happier together than with anyone else (as
far as we know).

All I'm saying is that she's a VIABLE candidate, that she shouldn't be
counted out in the competition. She has no fatal flaws in her character,
but she's not perfect. Neither is Akane, Ukyou, and certainly not Kodachi.
Should Akane suffer some sort of misfortune or elope with Ryouga or such,
Shamps has a third of a chance at getting Ranma.

So please do not put words in my mouth.

We are given to understand that he studied on his own.

You just shot down your own argument.  He was therefore allowed to study
on his own or not is unimportant, he was allowed.

Misworded. He was allowed to study and possess knowledge of martial arts.
Whether he studied it on her own or not is unimportant, he was allowed to
possess the knowledge.

And?

It's POWER, Redneck! No matter how he aquired it, Mousse would be in
serious danger if he possessed his knowledge in the society you describe.
If the Amazons are oppressive as you say, then males would not be allowed
to wield this kind of power, and Mousse would likely be put to death. If a
male with power is allowed, then other males might get similar ideas and
train as well. Then they have a revolution to throw off their female
oppressors, burn their jockstraps, and suddenly the Amazons aren't
matriarchal anymore. Your Amazon society _depends_ on no tribesman ever
having that much power.

This would also mean that Ranma would not be a danger, and Shampoo would
not be allowed to marry him. Kill him, yes. But such a powerful male is
dangerous to that form of matriarchal society. In fact, she might be
honorbound to kill Ranma (rather than marry him), or have a death-mark put
on her own head for allowing a male that can beat an Amazon to live.

If the Amazons are as oppressive as you say, then should Mousse ever
encounter another Amazon, he is in seriously deep shit.

I don't recall this, and based on her later, more infamous behavior, I don't
buy into it as being anything other than coincidence. Especially since in
Japan you sit to table on your knees.

I do recall this and what more infamous behavior?

Running Ranma down, glomping him at any opportunity, etc.

And what does this have to do with the Amazons being an oppressive
matriarchal society? Seems to me that this is just Shampoo's basic lack of
restraint when it comes to showing affection.

More like a male is expected to obey orders and not cause trouble, but is
otherwise allowed free will. Of course, this has gone so far into
speculation now (mea culpa) that anyone's guess has equal credence. Based on
the VERY little we have seen of Amazon culture in the manga, however, I
would describe the Amazon culture as a balance of power; the women are in
charge, but there are cases (the I-defeat-you-you-marry-me clause in
particular) in which they hold a check to the woman's power.

Hai, but not overly oppressive. Ranma going on glory missions, being the
fighter that he was raised to be, ect. would at worst be frowned upon and
discouraged. This behavior would still, however, be allowed. (After all,
this is the question that started this argument.)

Just to throw my final two yen into this mix, the way that the Amazons
behave suggests that women do have seniority, but not absolute control.

Oh, by the way, two things.  One, do we really know Mousse is from the
tribe?  I know he's known Shampoo since they were 3 but is there anything
better than this?  Cologne did once say "Being from China yourself..."
which implies that Mousse comes from China but not the village.

Since Mousse abides by Amazon law, I'd say it's a good bet he's from the
village.

Examples, please. Justify your claim.

Two, what are these meneal tasks that Mousse is preforming, outside of
fanfics?  I don't even consider working for his stay a meneal task.

Let's see, as I recall Mousse does all the cleaning around the Nekohanten.
Don't get much more menial than cleaning.

It has to be done. Are all the janitors in the world being oppressed?

Sure, Mousse gets the grunge work, but is this a cultural bias, or does
Cologne just have an axe to grind for him? Face it, the guy is annoying. I
wouldn't be too impressed by his attitude toward one of my decendants
either, and _I_ would give him those meneal tasks.

Also, Cologne doesn't have to give him a job in the first place, and
certainly doesn't have to let him keep it. Considering how he harrasses a
certain customer and a certain staffmember, damages the restraunt
structurally and reputatably, and generally has a bad attitude, she's
perfectly justified to fire him on the spot. He is staying at the
Nekohanten, and Cologne would be within her rights to demand payment for
room and board. It seems that working in the Nekohanten is payment enough.
Overall, he comes out ahead.


                           ---------------------
##   ## ##   ## #######  ##   ##  AKA Tom Jefferys, Time Lord for Hire
##   ##  #   #   ##   ## ### ###    "Have TARDIS; Will Travel."
## # ##   ###    #####   ## # ##  Weilder of ANVIL and SPAM! Breaker of
### ###    #     ##  ##  ##   ##  <wyrm@mail.utexas.edu>         Rules!
##   ##   ###   ###   ## ##   ##    <JEFFERYSTR@rascal.guilford.edu>
Spring of Drowned Cannon-Fodder "You'd better find a cure quick!"
Darwin was wrong: Man is still an ape!