At 08:05 AM 7/23/98 PDT, Chris Tendo wrote:

The people who try to come up with an explanation for the mallet always 
seem to forgot or not know one very important thing.

AKANE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO USES IT.

In fact, half the character in the series use it at one point or 
another; including her father and Ranma himself.  Ranma uses it almost 
as much as she does, in fact.

So saying it's a manisfestation of her ki/chi is...odd, to say the 
least, considering it's been used by people with no martial arts 
training at all (like, say, Madame St-Paul).

<shrug> It's just a sight gag, as has been stated.

What if other sight gags were also treated as real action in fanfics?  In
particular, gags like explosions, waving flags, and all the phenomena that
indicate surprise and shock.  For a really good example, see Maison Ikkoku
episode 1 when Kyoko asks Godai if he peeps on Mr. Yotsuya.


                                            dml