Emotional manipulation can be a very effective persuasion technique,
especially when backed up by superior writing ability. But, before
buying into it, one should always check one's facts.

Case in point:

Butuan500@aol.com wrote:

[Ranma, married to Akane, is reminiscing about Ukyo]

He felt at ease around her, and she had never got angry with him on a 
daily basis like Akane did.

She never *interacted* with him on a daily basis like Akane did. And to
talk about Akane as if she were constantly angry with Ranma is a gross
exaggeration. Maybe that's the case in some fanfics, but in the manga
there are plenty of chapters where they get along OK.

She understood him, respected him, and 
accepted him the way he was.

She clearly didn't understand him very well when Happosai had made him
powerless and she expected him to just give up martial arts and settle
down with her. Not to mention that she neither respected nor accepted
his preference for Akane over her. Is taking someone to a
love-destroying cave *your* idea of respect? Sure isn't mine.

He could tell her all his deepest 
secrets,

Please cite any instance in the manga where he did this.

trust her with his life,

Please cite any instance in the manga where he did this.

and know that she would stand 
behind him no matter what the consequences were.

Please cite any instance in the manga where she did this. (Bombing his
wedding doesn't seem like standing behind him to me.)

  She was his best friend.

I challenge anyone to cite (by private mail, please) any evidence from
the manga that supports the idea that Ukyo was Ranma's best friend. I've
given this challenge several times, and no one has ever been able to
answer it.


Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics