Ryoga P Hibiki wrote:
<SNIP>
Faulty cause and effect.
Simple, Akane hits Ranma allot when she gets angry with him. Therefore,
she must be a sadist. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most people
hit things when they become angry. Takahashi samma has never given any
good reason to believe Akane is a sadist.
<SNIP>
Talking about common mistakes, one subject that irritates me when it
comes to characterization is that just because the great Takahashi did not
say the character does not think a certain way doesn't mean he/she actually
isn't. While the Ranma 1/2 author did not say Akane is a sadist she also
did not say that that she isn't a sadist. A normal person while angry may
say bang on a table or hit a wall but IMO will not hit constantly on another
person. I am not saying that Akane is a sadist but there is nothing wrong
with insinuating that she is one in a fanfic as a way of explaining her behavior.
One good example is "The Bitter End" by the Zen master. As much as the
Akane-lovers hate it not once did the characters act OOC. Zen's reasoning
of Akane's behavior is that she has some psycho-anger stuff. The trick in
characterization is "do not contradict" any behavior that has been displayed
by a character unless you have a very good reason. If Ranma calls Akane
an "uncute tomboy" in her face in a fanfic you better have a good reason if
she doesn't blow up in anger.