I can't stand the term Mary Sue either, for much the same reasons as you listed. I always think of it as a term describing a character, whether it is male or female, who is solely there as an author self-insert. Sure, there are examples of this in both fanon and canon, but most of the predominantly female characters that are referred to nowadays as "Mary Sue" hardly meet that criteria. It's just become a term used by people to justify their dislike of someone without explaining the real reasons why, and it annoys the hell out of me.
But that's society, I guess. Wy should we have to explain the problem we have with a character, when it is just so much easier to throw the term "Mary Sue" about, even when there is no real grounds for that term's use. *shakes head*
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Date: 2009-09-13 03:47 am (UTC)But that's society, I guess. Wy should we have to explain the problem we have with a character, when it is just so much easier to throw the term "Mary Sue" about, even when there is no real grounds for that term's use. *shakes head*