To quote a fine comment from Danmaku-Brotha that I'd read on one SanCon article:-
Danmaku-Brotha said:
Moe is not simply based upon the way that something looks or behaves, nor dose it have to exclusively tie it self down to the same standard that something is cute. The Japanese slang term moe (literally meaning budding) refers to the characteristics of something that is growing, developing, evolving or just basically a diamond in the rough. Moe is also interpreted as a burning passionate sensation branched off from the term "moeru" (burning). When applied towards anime, manga, video games (or really just any form of entertainment) moe is a emotionally positive reaction towards observing the dynamics of a character, relationship, or situation in the the way it reflects upon the viewers key feelings to evoke upon a change within themselves through inspiration or to maintain there own self worth. It really is just a exuberant, sincere and honest feeling as well as a form of appreciation, affection, and admiration towards a character that they are emotionally moved by. There is no style or genre that best represents moe since it is a sensation and is subjective to whatever someones moe feeling happens to be. What I have noticed is how the term moe has been modified as some sort of convenient "catch all" word basically referring to anything cute, loli, ecchi, slice of life, slapstick or even sometimes porn, even the terms hentai (weird person) and otaku (maniac) are grossly misinterpreted when carried over to different cultures.
Moe as a fad or as a trend in Japan is mainly due to whatever generates the most moe feeling within that time or era of what becomes most relative towards what people feel more in need of reflecting off of the current climate or environment that they are situated within. Its whatever is felt as moe that becomes popular over time and not actually moe the feeling it self, since what it is that encompasses the literal meaning that the more recent slang term moe is structured upon has always existed through out entertainment. One more thing I've noticed is that whats rarely taken into account within many English speaking fandom communities are the Japanese sensibilities vs. Non Japanese sensibilities and cultural differences in what become least or most appealing towards demographics. Just because something is popular in Japan it doesn't have to hold to the same standards that apply towards whats popular in your own culture. Say, for example, what the Japanese fans think is moe or interesting doesn't have to mean that the Americans fans would have to find it the same as well because even Americans can have there own "moe sense" that is entirely alien to the Japanese. Sometimes I fell its almost as if some people just want to imitate the Japanese in what they say and do (even I'm using too much Japanese slang...lol) but I suppose it can be more interesting to go along with the flow from the influence of things that are foreign. In the end moe is only a feeling that is based upon personal preference and whatever it is that works for someone won't necessarily work with someone else.
Some might agree, some others might not of the comment above. Regardless, it's a fine way of putting one's perspective of how the world views moe. It's akin to how people perceive other people's culture in terms of moral, social and economic acceptance (in comparison to the former's).
"Not all moe are created equal". Perhaps moe of other forms outside Japan are called different names so as to not be confused with the moe from Japan.
What does it have to do with the SanCon challenge, you might ask? Well, it's just a thought I had about how diverse the moeness of each SanCon challenge could potentially be considering different users from different places of different niche. But since this is Sankaku Complex, I suppose we are all on the same wavelength regarding which moe we have the greatest affinity towards, that is of Japan's.
...Enough of my babbling. Let's get back to the challenge! Moe FTW! \>w</
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