On Wed, 30 Apr 1997, Webdragon wrote:

Now, Ranma, through his own stupidity and thoughtlessness,
got himself engaged to Shampoo.  

        What would YOU do if someone attacked the person you had
feelings for?

In this circumstance I would do anything but knock her out.
He knows the laws are crazy already, he was just plain stupid to KO her.
He may not have expected to have her try to marry him but he did expect to
have her after him.  It's an unfortunate circumstance for Ranma but his
own lack of care got him into it.  He could have run off with Akane, or
just blocked Shampoo from Akane, or given Shampoo a bogus story, or
changed himself and lead her off, or... shall I go on?

When it comes down to it I see none of the engagements as truly valid.
When Ranma chooses one openly then that one is valid, none of the others.

Wade