Moonshade's Credo

AKA The Rules

I prefer not to come across as mean.
Forgive me if this offends you, but I won't take back what I write. I don't intend to specifically attack anyone, but these are the standards to which I hold myself, and some of the reasoning behind those standards. I try to be friendly most of the time, but I've noticed that there are certain things that need to be expressed and made extremely clear in order for us to get along.

I don't swear.
Yes, I've slipped up before, on the basis that I simply didn't know that a particular word was offensive. But the minute it's pointed out to me, I make an effort to make amends and change it. I'm a stern belief in Asimov's philosophy that profanity, on top of being crude, is little more than an outlet for the idiotic who lack the brain capacity to actually act on their situation. Because cursing, by all means, is not going to fix the situation. I also accept Asimov's notion that real people do swear, and therefore it would make sense for a character to swear (otherwise he wouldn't be in character, ne?). But for the people themselves who are intelligent enough to write (and write well), foul language is completely unnecessary in real life.

I don't like sex scenes.
There is so much more to romance than just getting in somebody else's pants. Reading it makes me intensely uncomfortable, and so it goes without saying that I'm not eager to write it, either. What gets me is that most of the characters who are written as sex-craving kittens are actually very strong minded, self-assured, and live in a time period where only a hooker would sleep around before marriage. So may I ask...why? Stories exist for you to express your creativity and get a point across, but I think it rather unprofessional that people break the rules of a given universe solely to live out their fantasies.

I don't like slash/yaoi/yuri.
I think that a character's sexuality is a part of their personality, and a major part of their development as far as the author is concerned (yes, even if they didn't explicitly go out and say it.) I think that there's something rather cruel than mocking all of the author's work and effort and making their characters behave in completely unrealistic and OOC ways just to fulfill your own sexual fantasies. On that note, if an author specifically wrote that a character was gay, then it's equally wrong to try to portray them as straight. And no, I don't listen to the defense that “all characters are automatically bi.”

I tend to like alternative pairings.
And no, I don't think it a contradiction. My love for Zutara, Erik/Christine, etc, is based off the works of a few good authors. I don't like any non-cannon pairing for the heck of it. All characters have to be in character, acting plausibly, and not just lust stricken and love stricken within minutes. In order to have a good, successful and ultimately acceptable alternative pairing story, you have to work hard, you have to have talent, and you have to be creative in coming up with scenarios and situations that would allow for a romance while still keeping all parties believable. I really enjoy reading stories that have been made by hard work, talent, and creativity. Before we get around to splitting hairs, I admit that I'm not exactly a master myself. I'm still working on it, but I want to sincerely keep everyone in character while I write my own stories. Some times I fall short, but I have put forth an earnest effort.

I don't like Excessive Mary-Sues/Gary-Stus
However, I don't like the rashness to judge characters as such. Sajira's Jikan, for instance, was an Avatar-verse Shadowbender, but he had an incredible amount of depth and believability. I also think it idiotic that we are so eager to label Mary Sues that we assign the term to canon characters.
What I don't like is the stereotypical unknown-sister-of-a-cannon-character-master-of-eight-magics-and-ten-weapons-ooh-she-can-fly-everyone-is-in-love-with-her-randomly-Japanese-without-reason-saves-the-day-because-the-entire-cast-is-suddenly-uselessly-wimpy-but-gets-kidnapped-anyway kind of girl. I admittedly have written up several assassins (who, by occupation, must have a lethal proficiency with several types of weapons), beautiful characters (I am of the belief that every girl is beautiful, but sometimes needs help to make it show), characters who have had more than one deep relationship in their past (Skanky, isn't it? I mean, come on. How many people have you dated in your lifetime?) and people who speak multiple languages (I myself speak four, two of them fluently). I personally think that if a character has a plausible reason for having a certain trait or ability, then there should be no problem. (Katara, being able to bend nutrient-rich blood, should be able to speed healing, but wouldn't be able to bring people back from the brink of death. Tsune, being a Spirit, would have some kind of ability not normal for humans, namely shapeshifting).

I have minor issues with AU.
I tend to have a hard time believing that Inuyasha is a high school student. I have issues accepting that the same universal rules apply to both Danny Phantom and Avatar. There are just certain things that don't work. But some authors, being very talented, hardworking, etc, have made them work. This is a rare feat and definitely something to be proud of. Irrel's AU comics would be a mighty example of that. That said, it is fun to occasionally draw characters in modern settings and clothes.

I don't identify myself online.
I will not go to meet you. I feel we've both got more productive things to do with our time than going out of town to meet a complete stranger who may or may not be a scary old man (I have believably passed for one of these before, so don't think that it's not possible). I think you've got better things to do with your time and money than buy plane tickets to the middle of nowhere solely to converse with a fanfiction author. I don't show my picture, I don't use my real name, and I don't give out identifying information like my address, phone number, etc. The only ones who do know my given name are people whom I have spoken to in real life, whose names, addresses and phone numbers I know myself, and whom I am capable of personally mutilating if they ever try referring to me as that in a public setting. This is an issue of security, and if you feel like calling it paranoia, then be my guest. I personally have seen too many stories on the news about people who have been abducted, raped, killed, etc, for being foolish enough to disclose personal information online. Granted, a truly driven person would have little difficulty in finding out everything about me hunting me down, and getting my dagger shoved down his/her throat (I have never felt any qualms about killing in self defense, by the way). But fortunately, the skills necessary to track somebody without being given information are comparatively rare. For those who have said skills and the desire to meet me anyway, keep in mind that I am capable of killing an average adult man with at least four different weapons, have regular access to all of them, and feel perfectly justified in using them if threatened.

I think that about sums it up.
Your humble servant,
Masako Moonshade