Michael:
> This is not intended as a flame, so don't treat it
> like one.  You're posts seem to me to represent that
> you are a person who is very hard to impress, and it
> takes an extra ordinary effort to satisfy you.  That
> is my observation.  I know a guy like that and its
> hard for him to get enjoyment out of movies and TV
> shows because of it.

	It is very hard to impress me for anything that goes on a while.  I
buy quite a few mediocre manga for short term amusement, but something I'm
going to buy 20 or 38 volumes for better either be always enjoyable or have
good development.

> Uh, I run into them from time to time.  A majority of
> the KOTF usually come off as loud mouth, opinionated
> baka who cannot explain to you the reasons behind
> their strike views other than the same old lame
> explanation that "its not canon".  In the world of fan

	In the world of fanfic writing, being canon is everything.  If it
isn't, why do you even use the characters from that setting?

> fiction staying in canon is important "partially" to
> keep the characters in-character, but also fan fiction
> is a way to explore other avenues as well.  So lets
> say Ranma didn't get engaged to Akane at the beginning
> of the manga.  What if it was Nabiki or Kasumi, or
> what if he became involved with them somewhere in the
> story for some odd reason or another that can
> logically be explained.  I've had wierd reviews from
> KOTF grouch about this and that and I wonder if they
> even bothered to pay attention to the story which
> clearly gives reasons why this or that happened.

	It is very hard to get around the main character's love interest no
matter how much explanation you gave.  If there is a dominant love interest,
it's generally set up the said character will prevail unless you do
something like kill off major characters.

	Even if Akane wasn't engaged to Ranma 1/2, they are still attracted
to each other... at least Ranma to Akane.  The Akane to Ranma direction is
not as certain... it may be possible that Akane thinks of Ranma as merely a
good friend if they were not engaged, the same way she feels about Ryouga.

	But even then, Ranma is not romantically attracted to any other
female character beyond "Shampoo is pretty cute", so it still doesn't give
you much to work with.

> I have discovered though that Ranma+Kasumi fics are
> EXTRAORDINARILY popular.  I'm writing one and I have
> readers begging me to post updates as soon as
> possible.  Its called "A New Direction Taken" if you
> are interested.

	Maybe people like to read certain pairings, but I find it pretty
hard to justify most pairings and still say that it is related to the
original.  

Don

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