Nicholas Leifker <nightelf@thekeep.org> wrote:

The flaw in your reasoning is very simple.  You are using your own, HIGHLY
BIASED opinions of Ranma 1/2 (your description of them, not mine) to color
your arguments, and as a result you're stifling the creativity of the
writers of theis ML.  

Oh, please. Saying that I don't like something doesn't prevent anyone
from continuing to do it if they want to. People can (and often do)
ignore what I say.

People will interpret the characters and their motives in different ways.
I see a man who would rather give up his eldest daughter's childhood than
help her out one iota with the housework.  You see someone who would take
up cooking.  This difference of opinion is natural; this is normal.  And
yet, you have attacked the characterization of others on the basis that it
is different from your own.  Moreover, you react to my own pointing of this
out is by saying that this is your own interpretation of Ranma, and that as
such it is worthy of respect.

Now when did I say that anyone had to respect me, hm?

This is your hypocricy.

My position on characterizations is perfectly simple:

- Other writers are allowed to use whatever characterizations they wish.
I am allowed not to like their characterizations, and to suggest that
they change them. They are allowed to ignore me if they wish.

- I am allowed to use whatever characterizations I wish. Readers are
allowed not to like my characterizations, and to suggest that I change
them. I am allowed to ignore them, if I'm not convinced by whatever
argument they give.

Terrible double-standard, no?

Sir, it is a noble gesture to say that you would like the characters to
remain true to Takahashi.  However, there is only one person who is capable
of staying true to the characterizations of Ranma 1/2, and she's writing
Inu-Yasha now.   (And no, it's not Krista!  ^_^  )  Truth to tell, I know
of several people who would have disagreed with your stories IN GENERAL on
the basis that 'serious' Ranma fanfiction is going away from what Takahashi
intended.  

That's their right; I happen to disagree, but I don't think I'd flame
someone for expressing such an opinion.

Fanfiction thrives on the fact that we take the roads that Takahashi
DIDN'T.  It lives on diversity and fresh, innovative ideas on the
characters.  These are the roads you walk, and the roads that you seek to
close to others with your slander.  

Now when did I slander anyone? I think you need to calm down a bit here.

I will be honest: I showed no joy in attacking your characterization.  Even
as late as this Sunday, I railed against such behavior.  However, this was
the only way to show the error of your ways.  I showed you what we would
have seen if you had been given the work as a reader to critique.

And did I say you didn't have a right to argue with my
characterizations? Nope. I only said that I wasn't convinced. What I
don't appreciate are personal insults, though.

As for Shampoo's characterization, I have one bit of evidence from manga
supporting me.  She *did* attack Ranma and Akane's last attempt at the
wedding.  In this case, it is another judgment call: Would Shampoo consider
the fact that Cologne is dying more imprtant than stopping Ranma and
Akane's wedding, or not?  What would be so important that Shampoo would
give up her happiness just so that Ranma hears the last words of an old
woman?  If it were "Great-grandmother has been kidnapped by bird-creatures
and needs your help!", then it would be more understandable.  However, all
we see is that Cologne's dying; no reason for the situation is given.  In
this case, I'm inclined to believe that Shampoo would stop the wedding, if
for nothing else than to try to make it that Cologne's wishes for her and
Ranma to be together eventually can come to fruition.  Of course, you are
allowed to use your own interpretation... provided you do not chastise
others for theirs.

Nope. Wrong. I'm afraid that's not how it works. It's a little thing
called "the right to one's own opinion." Each of us is allowed to write
as we wish. Each of us is allowed to comment on each other's writing as
we wish.


Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics