All right, I knew I should have done this earlier.

I'm calling fouls on all those who were part of the "Ranma's Defense" thread.  
You know who you are.

Can we all agree to drop this thread?  This probably has appeared before on 
the ffml, and will probably degenerate into a flame war quite quickly.  If you 
want to go further, do it in private e-mail.  I will warn you that experience 
has tended to show me that usually both sides are firmly entrenched in their 
opinions, so arguing about it is a waste of time.

I have no problems with asking or answering questions about character's 
histories.  However, personal opinions about characters have been shown to 
polarize the ffml and do nothing except generate ill-will and tons of spam.

Each writer has their own interpretation of the characters.  None are more 
valid than any other, except that some may be supported by the source material 
more than another (and even then you have the effect of personal 
experience, anime vs. manga, etc.).  If you don't like another author's 
interpretation of the characters, you don't have to read their stories.  Just 
say to yourself "I don't like this.  Next story!".

I would also further caution about using source material generally not 
available to the majority of authors/readers to support your argument.  People 
interpret things differently, and there is a difference between a fact and the 
interpretations of events.  Please stick to what's available to the general 
public, if possible.  That way both sides have a common base to compare 
interpretations.

Is Ranma a jerk?  That's for the individual author to decide.  The author has 
to objectively judge characters, but must also become sympathetic to all of 
them, if he is to treat the characters fairly and with respect.  Limiting your 
opinion of the characters limits what you can do with them.

To the original poster, I would give this advice:  Write stories where Ranma 
is not the jerk that he is portrayed in the majority of stories.  That way 
beginning writers might get a more balanced view of the character rather than 
a fanfic stereotype.  Unfortunately, it is much easier to write stereotypes 
than "real" people.

JK