Little Miss Mary-Sue

Between Chloe and Flurry Heart, I’ve become officially annoyed with the term “Mary-Sue”. The term has been used so many times (often incorrectly) that it’s now lost its meaning. Nowadays, whenever I hear someone use “Mary-Sue” unironically, I find it hard to take them seriously, because the impression I get is this:

“I don’t like this character, but I can’t articulate why, so I’m just gonna use this term.”

It also seems that people like to label a character that has ANY kind of talent or abnormality as a “Mary-Sue,” which is just ridiculous, and this “Mary-Sue” witch hunt makes aspiring writers afraid to create characters that are special.

Long story short, don’t expect to hear me to use “Mary-Sue” in a serious context from now on. I’m gonna be distancing myself from it. I’m going to try and be more articulate with what I dislike about a character instead of dropping a term that’s long since lost its actual meaning.

Comments

[Lon35hadow]

On that, I agree with you. Seriously, the way the fandoms use it is nowhere near what it means.

[MagicKnight55]

I agree with you there.

Turns out if a character can do things and say words, it runs the risk of being a Mary-Sue, even more so if it has *GASP!*
...
an important role in the story!
(dun, dun, DUUUUUNNN!!!)
"What? They can do that?
I heard it's part of an underground resistance movement!"

[Darkhanos]

Dude, you ain't lying. These days, a character just had to be shipped with a major character to be considered as such.

[Grey Wolf]

I agree with everything you said. Whenever I read or hear 'Mary Sue', I start rolling my eyes, and that's the best scenario, because if I'm really upset from that term or not in the mood, a lot worse things can happen

Seriously, on the first post of the teaser on EQD, there were immediately people calling the new baby 'Princess Mary Sue' I felt like I wanted to throw my PC screen out the window

[Jedi Wolf]

Agreed

[LightningSword]

I'm so glad you brought this up. This really does make new authors scared to try. It's just one of many tactics older users use to antagonize less experienced users here.

[Lupus]

i.giphy.com/5xtDarmwsuR9sDRObyU.gif

Honestly, this whole drama over Heart got tiresome real quick

[Daedalus Aegle]

I think "Mary Sue" is Cockney rhyming slang for "more jaded than you".