Okay, Chris, I have another bone to pick with you about a logical
inconsistency in the plot.

Actually, it's not *your* logical inconsistency.  It's Takahashi's, one
that kinda drove me crazy all throughout Ranma 1/2.

It's that, when Ranma, Genma, Mousse, Shampoo et. al.  were cursed, why
didn't they just turn around and jump into the appropriate pool to cure
themselves?

At first, I thought it was because they didn't know which pool to jump
into.  As it turns out (in Volume 37), the Guide not only knew which
pool was which, he had a *map* of the pools - getting cured should have
been extremely simple.  

So why didn't anyone get cured?  Obviously, we wouldn't have Ranma 1/2
if they did.  It was never explained at all - we're supposed to overlook
this minor point.  Because the rest of the manga is so enjoyable, I am
willing to overlook this.

In my fanfic, I explained that not being able to get cured as being part
of the curse.  This covers this particular loophole.

You've probably guessed where I'm leading with this.  In twenty years of
living next door to Jusenkyo, Mousse and Shampoo *still* haven't cured
themselves?  How do you explain this?  Or are we supposed to do like in
the manga, and look the other way?

For those of you who think that the pools are destroyed, that is not
true.  Look again at Volume 38.  The pools are restored; they were just
flooded by the rain when Ranma went looking to get cured (along with
Ryoga, Genma, Mousse and Shampoo).  Afterwards, though, Soun is able to
get a cask of Nannichuan from the Guide.

So, again, this is not *your* logical fault, Ross.  You mentioned your
desire to keep your plots tight, however; I wonder if this point isn't
worth mentioning and explaining somewhere along the line.

The rest of it was good.  As always, I'm looking forward to the rest of
this.

-Richard

sterman@sprynet.com
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/sterman