Okay, Thermy...
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <thermopyle@tds.net>
To: <ffml@anifics.com>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 3:38 PM
Subject: [FFML] Re: [Fanfic][Ranma/SM] Relatively Absent: Chapter 9

From: "Andrew Norris" <setsuna@anifics.com>
Date: 2004/05/28 Fri PM 07:23:20 GMT
To: <thermopyle@tds.net>,  <ffml@anifics.com>
Subject: Re: [FFML] Re: [Fanfic][Ranma/SM] Relatively Absent: Chapter 9

*shrugs* Might as well.
<SNIP>

Yup.  And so is Ranma.  As long as that's kept clear, and the Emporer

is

just trying to make use of him, that's fine, but if this steps anywhere

near

the Emporer having unselfish motivations, the story will take an even

deeper

step into character glorification.

*snort* Wait til Chapter 10.  Nuff said. Then if you're paying attetion,

the

Emperor's reason becomes rock soild.  It's purely self intrest on his

part.

Here's a question for you.  How many _active_ and _loyal_ ninja clans

does

the Emperor have?

Dunno.  I wasn't under the impression that the Emporer was a real power in

Japan to begin with.  Maybe he doesn't have any ninja clans, or maybe
they're everywhere, supressing the news!

Oh, he's not, but... he _still_ has some... when he chooses to use it.  It's
all in the timing, and what you say and do.

So far, Ranma in this story has not been worth anybody's time--yet

everybody acts like he's something special, Eiko included.  The whole
extended family thing, and them running around wanting vengeance for

poor

Ranma-chan, is pushing it.

First: Eiko _treats_ him as speical becasue _HE_ is.
He was the _ONLY_ person on EARTH that qualiifed by it's guidelines to
become the New Guardian.  Nuff said there.
It's been 2 FREAKING days.  Give it time.

Okay, that's part of the problem right there.  I have trouble believing

Ranma, let alone the Ranma in THIS story, is uniquely qualified for the
position.  It hasn't been clearly established that he IS worthy of such a
thing.  All we have is Eiko's word for it, and Eiko's word ain't worth shit.

Oh, so a object of immesne power and age's word is worth shit.  Then,
please, tell me why in hell should we trust Usagi, or _anyone_?
*snort*  Why in the hades are you reading then?  If you're not even
bothering to accept the premises of the story, why are you reading?

The story barely works in that aspect, if it works, and only because

they're "family" is it at all acceptable.  Even then, the idea of such a
number of >relatives being solidly supportive without having even met

Ranma

before this whole thing started is hard to believe; watching Ranma isn't
something >that would inspire faith in his great personality or

deservedness

of a better life.

Watching Ranma for a year? Seeing the stunts that everyone pulls?  Yes,
Ranma's no saint.  But... look at everyone _else_, before you start

saying.

...already addressed this in the message to Nightelf.

And I can't wait for him to get the 2x4 out, for you.

Ranma is no better than anybody else in the cast, even though he's

being

treated much better.  If even somebody like the Emporer starts fawning

over

how terrible Ranma's life has been and assigning blame to >everybody who

has

"mistreated" Ranma, well, the suspension of disbelief on this >aspect of

the

story, which is a major one, is already hanging by a >thread;  th!

 at would cut the thread and toss the story's believability into the

ranks

of fics by Imortis.  Yeah, Gosunkugi, rape that redhead!  Get revenge,

Akane!  Go, go, go!

NIghtelf said all that needed to be said here.

If you say so...

Oh, I don't. I'll let Nightelf do his own talking mind you.

This story would be a lot easier to accept if people took Ranma with a

bit

less faith.  It has been stated in response to this chapter that Gaijin

has

changed the genre from the originally intended comedy.  Fine, whatever,

but

so far I haven't seen anything to indicate that Ranma's actions have

been

taken seriously; he's done some bad stuff.  To address one aspect of the
manga that is coming up, some kind of "handling" of the Amazons; Ranma

swam

to China and probably entered the country illegaly, stole Shampoo's

food,

and got Shampoo stuck having to either kill or marry Ranma or face being
punished in some way by Amazon law.  Ranma also later assaulted Shampoo

with

the intent of "making her like him again" which looks pretty damn bad.
There are other examples of Ranma acting in less than an ideal manner,

and

supposedly his relatives were there to watch it all, yet they aren't

wary of

him in the slightest.  Everybody acts like he is just a victim, which is

not

the case, and !

 it makes the comparative bashing of the other characters (whose

transgressions ARE being addressed) stand out even more.

Humm.  1 case of unprovoked assault, petty theft _outside_ Japan.
*snort*
VS. attempted murder (most), blackmail and pornography, and gods only

knows

how many cases of assault.
*snort* Sheayh, RIGHT.  Compared to the rest of the wrecking crew _he_

IS.

Also, look at his father.  EOS.

Where the hell does the VS. come in?  In a story that takes seriously the

"crimes" of the people in Nerima, a normal scale would be used, not a
comparitive one!

*snort* Japan? Normal, right.  We're talking a land that had cops trying to
_shame_ bikers into behaving.  Okay. Fine.
And, who said the Emperor was sparing him out of _kindness_.

It's a ridiculous idea, but hey, no more so than the way some of the

other

characters are being treated.  It has been stated that the actual INTENT

of

this fic is not to bash some characters and glorify others, but it does
anyway, and unless there's a bit more equality introduced later on, it's
going to continue despite the author's intentions.

*shrugs* If you say so.  Y'know, I wonder what story you read, casue to

me,

you're way off base.

Yeah, well, I wonder the same thing about you.  ^_^

Humm... mabye it's becasue A. I know enough of the plot and plans, and next
chapters to _write_ side stories for Mark?
B. mabye because I'm also wondering why in hell are you still reading?

BTW: at least one of the Cousins WAS atentding the same school,

undercover.

Harukichi has been stated as examining the Tendo compound up close.

Mabye they had boom mikes?  Ever think of that.

...no, didn't occur to me.  I'm wondering why you brought it up, actually.

How is it significant to anything, anything at all, that is being discussed
here?

Becasue if you hear what is said, intent and other factors can come into
play.  But, *shrugs* I see that's clearly beyound your sight.  *shrugs*

Andrew

Thermo!

Andrew
*who's about to get _really_ pissed.*



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