I have something to say on this recent debate about characters being
OOC in fanfics. More accurately, about the tone  which this debate is
taking.  
    I have noticed with increasing alarm that certain members of this list
are starting to take themselves too seriously. There is an significant
amount of "I'm right, you're wrong" getting thrown around lately. It seems
that the ML is being split into two camps: Those who think every fic
should be written IC and with strict accordance to the original creators
work and those who see fanfics as a way to "push the envelope," as it
were. I will come right out and say that I am in the second camp.
    I can, however, appreciate where the IC camp is coming from. I am
also not in complete agreement on certian issues with my colleagues in
the second camp.
    Regardless, it seems that every fic being posted lately prompts some
arguement about whether or not the characters would act in the fashion
dictated. I have just one thing to say about this. 
    Manga, anime and fanfic characters are NOT real. I realize that all of
the authors on this list are familiar with this fact, but it seems to have
been forgotten amidst the arguements. 
     I agree with Kun-chan that neat pairings of characters without
reasonable justification is a sign of a potentially sloppy writer, but let us
not take the works of the creator of whatever series we write about as
gospel. Let us instead pay tribute to the creator and his/her works by
creating new situations and problems for the characters. I thought that
was what fanfiction was all about.
     Do our fanfics change the original storyline in ANY way? No. Are the
creators of our favorite series even AWARE that we are writing these
fics? Probably not or else we'd all be looking at copyright infringment
suits.
     So where is the harm in changing the rules a little? Am I totally off
base here? Have I just made enemies out of those I considered my
friends?
      Maybe. But I feel that we're taking ourselves and our work a little too
seriously. Once fanfic writing stops being fun, then what's the point of
writing them, or even having the FFML in the first place?

      I thank you for your kind attention.


                                                    ---Erin L. Mills version 2.5