Tsunderes: sick of them yet?

[Pandadice]

It has always been my understanding that moe inspired a desire to want to protect the character who had moe characteristics.

yeah, isn't that the common definition? the only way i really understand the whole "need to protect" sentiment is for like, characters that you watch and you get that heartwarming sensation of seeing something beautiful. thes the only way the "need to protect" definition has ever made sense to me.

I certainly never considered sexual attraction to be a requirement for moe. I mean, something like Lucky Star is full of different (modern) moe archetypes but who would ever get a boner from watching Lucky Star..?

exactly, thats how i see it.. if the character gets you off, then they clearly aren't moe.

I think it's just a combination of the design and personality of a character that make it moe. If you find that design extremely pleasant and interesting, it's moe for you.

well yeah it's all about personal preference :\.

but see the thing is moe is applied to these little girls, and people see that adn mistake it for being the same as loliconism. which then leads others to say "well, your moe is lolicon, my moe is knee socks or pigtails or glasses or large chests", and moe becomes synonymous with fetish :\