So...just what the hell is a Mary Sue, anyway?
You know, I thought I had some idea what that term meant.
Now...well. Based on a recent discussion in which I found myself involved, a Mary Sue is:
1) A god-mode character who serves as a transparent author avatar.
2) Any transparent author avatar, god-mode or otherwise.
3) Any god-mode character, transparent author avatar or otherwise.
4) A character who does something you don't like.
5) A character created by someone whom you don't like.
6) A character you don't like.
If that sounded familiar, it's because it was paraphrased from an old rant by Monte Cook on the subject of "munchkins." The issue here is the same: If you use it for...well, pretty much definition #6, it loses its meaning altogether. (And as for how people tend to conflate all of the above meanings...not going there.)
Now...well. Based on a recent discussion in which I found myself involved, a Mary Sue is:
1) A god-mode character who serves as a transparent author avatar.
2) Any transparent author avatar, god-mode or otherwise.
3) Any god-mode character, transparent author avatar or otherwise.
4) A character who does something you don't like.
5) A character created by someone whom you don't like.
6) A character you don't like.
If that sounded familiar, it's because it was paraphrased from an old rant by Monte Cook on the subject of "munchkins." The issue here is the same: If you use it for...well, pretty much definition #6, it loses its meaning altogether. (And as for how people tend to conflate all of the above meanings...not going there.)