Now, *that* is a piece of logic I just *have* to comment on.  Because
Akane hits Ranma, she will beat her children.  I don't think I've heard
such a blatent, unfounded stab at a character, simply because of dislike
toward that character. I've seen Ranma get the crap kicked out of him,
just to put him in his place... how, praytell, you put an animated
character "in his place" is beyond me... but hey, that's fanfiction.
I've seen Ryouga get Akane, because damnit someone feels sorry for the
poor boy and wants him to get what he wants!  Fine and dandy.  But
this... this isn't a fanfic... this is just a useless posting to drive a
knife into a disliked character. I mean, *what* would make a person
think because she hits Ranma (out of love I might add), she would hurt
her own children?!  It's just such an antithesis of common sense that I
just could not help but say something.  That, and it's seven o' clock in
the morning.  I'm not trying to get into a character debate here, but I
felt compelled to defend the motherly instinct.  If the post was meant
as a joke, then the delivery was so absolutely poor... anyway, I
happened to have voted Akane as best mother.  While Kasumi is a great
mother... that's all she is.  By the base definition of the manga/anime,
Kasumi is the flattest character anyone could ask for.  Akane I believe
would have an incredible motherly defense instinct (ie. she wouldn't
hurt her children, but woe betide anyone who did), and would be well set
to support them in the modern world (ie. she's going to school, and
theoretically graduating from college at a future date).  This is also
why I initially voted her Smartest... before I realized Nabiki was
eligable (Ukyou is smart, and I've nothin' but love for her... but... I
dunno, call it a hard decision and let it rest).  Okay, this is starting
to sound too much like a character debate now... so, in all fairness if
anyone wants to reply to this mail, please send it here.  And if, God
forbid, you want multiple persons in on it, then make good use of the CC
line of your E-mail, and not fanfic.com.  It's busy enough as it is, and
eighy percent of the people out there don't give two cents (and I may be
*way* overestimating... I'm just assuming an anime fanfiction forum
would be generally interested, if not just in passing, in a character
debate... I know I like 'em).  Before you blast me for anything said in
this mail, please note I rarely, if ever, post anything of an
opinionated nature, and this is a fanfic list and I should, if all goes
as planned, have posted Chapter 5 of my fic, Another Life (I sit and
watch countless shameless plugs get posted to this sucker every week...
well, it's my turn!).  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd better make good on
the previous statement, or I really will be in trouble.
Thanks for listening, if you did (ie. if you're reading this right now).
PMasters (who will now mothball the soapbox for another year)
P.S.  I do not want this to be seen as a flame against Pandomine... as I
said earlier, it may have been intended as nothing more than a joke (and
my brain is currently incapable of processing humor).  He's entitled to
his opinion... I'm just stating mine as well.  His post just happened to
be the catalyst for my sudden urge to defend Akane (how does one defend
an animated character?).  

"I'm only holding back the rain.  So many raindrops, so many pains.  I
want to find my train someday.  As seasons go past the station." - Tokyo
Babylon OVA 1
/ E-mail at:  PhilMasters@webtv.net /
Web page pending use of a computer!
"...has anyone ever used something alive for a coat of arms?" - The
Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea (Mishima Yukio, 1965) / 
"You see, what you call a cat, we use as armor." - Rune (El-Hazard,
1994)