Views 
Faith is a slut?
Misconception: 
This is an easy accusation to make because the producers/writers were a little 'at sea' with Faith before running with the 'dark slayer' arc. Revelations sees Faith naming no more than three boyfriends. No way 'sluttish' for a 16 year old. By the time she ditched "Kenny: drummer!" she figured she was a 'loser magnet' and decided to go by the policy of "Get some, get gone." Homecoming has her suggesting to Buffy to 'use' a couple of guys to get over being dumped by Scott But does that make Faith a slut? Or is she merely a young girl who, having never been loved in any way, just really doesn't know how to love? Also, 'clothes maketh the man' or Slayer in this instance. What many see as 'slut' type clothing can merely be written off as a 'poor' girl's idea of sexy. Later, after the character has been given more background, we can assume one of two things. Faith has either seen girls who are 'into' bondage or she has been used by guys and (Consequences) either seen or, even more horrific, experienced sexual abuse herself. It all relates to her background, which having been re-written, makes it hard to pinpoint.
Reality: 
By the time we get to Bad Girls, Faith has de-flowered Xander (in The Zeppo) and despite literally showing him the door, seems to like him! She asks Buffy just how she (Buffy) 'likes' Xander. Really, what she's doing is asking Buffy if it's okay to see him. In my mind, that's not the pattern of a 'slut'. Also, although this could easily be re-buffed by a simple 'they didn't show it', we never saw Faith with anyone.
When the Mayor gives Faith her new apartment, he makes a point of saying how he dislikes her 'old place' and that there are "a lot of immoral liaisons going on there" to which (a heart-melting moment) Faith replies "Yeah and a lot of screwing too."
By the time we get to Enemies it seems Faith has taken a liking to Angel. Certainly, it seems that Faith is jealous (a running theme for both slayers throughout the whole Buffy/Faith relationship) of Buffy and Angel's love for each other. Again, hardly sluttish.
That whole episode had many talking about just why Buffy is so upset at the end. Did Angel have to 'be' with Faith to fool her 100%? But we'll get to that when we come to the episode.
The Bad One?
Misconception: 
This is so easy for Buffy fans who dislike Faith. She's bad and that's that! She's guilty of manslaughter (in 'human' law) at least, then goes on to murder with malice of forethought (the Professor in Graduation Day, Part 1) with seemingly no remorse. She took off whenever she liked, leaving Buffy to patrol or deal with the 'threat of the week', and of course, she hooked up with the Mayor, perhaps not knowing immediately that he was evil but she certainly didn't run when she found out he was! She tried to kill Angel and Xander and, one suspects, would probably have killed Willow if the Mayor hadn't interrupted them. She physically maimed countless others. Tortured Wesley (although I can't blame her for that!) and left Cordelia well and truly bruised. So, she's bad.
Reality:
To many astounded Buffy fans we Faith fans can stick by our guns that she was never bad. Simply put: Faith has been let down one too many times (Revelations) and was/is a frightened 16/17-year-old who could only see jail in her future. 
She did feel remorse for Alan's death. Faith went back to the scene praying perhaps that the body wouldn't be there, that it never happened. The body was there and she was more than sorry. Street smarts kicked in along with a huge dose of denial and we all know what happened. Faith first wipes the whole thing, but thanks to the efforts of everyone she's forced to confront the death.
Then, further thanks to Wesley and the thought of being judged guilty by the Council, she runs to the Mayor - the one person in her mind that can prevent jail. Finding solace with the amiamible (if evil) man. She may be street-smart, but she's still impressionable and furthermore, she's still seeking love and validation. She honestly believes she gets these from the Mayor, who does have genuine feelings for her. However, you can witness in Choices that it's not beyond Mayor Richard Wilkins III to resort to scaring Faith too. "Let's just say replacing Mr. Trick was chore enough." He chides, when Faith cracks a joke about "helping a buddy to move a sofa". Faith backs down with the jokes and calls him "sir". Making Willow's point later in the episode all the more poignant when Faith replies to Willow's charge that she 'has no-one' with "I've got him." Faith is not bad nor evil, but she believes she is. The only person (she thinks) that likes her, is planning on becoming a demon! Faith's violence is borne out of mass confusion, deep hurt and jealousy. She 'acts' bad because she believes it is the only role she can play. Indeed, she believes it's her destiny and why fight it? She's mentally talked herself into it. Also, as I've pointed out, Faith is so young when all this is happening. A 16 year old who is very alone. No Watcher and certainly no friends to help her. Frankly, I'm a little amazed she's in jail! The death of Alan Finch was at most an accident. Everything after that, Faith's sanity (in both literal and legal terms) can be called into question.
Stupid?
Misconception: Faith is clueless. Gwendolyn Post called it right. A Chain is only as strong as it's weakest link; So, who did she chose as the weakest link and who did she pause-mid-power spree to call an idiot? Faith.
Faith can also be seen as reckless and she doesn't always go by the book.
She's corrected by Oz re: 'Horsing around' (Beauty and The Beasts) and doesn't listen to Buffy's advice. "1-2-3 is not a plan! It's
Sesame Street!", Buffy chides. She doesn't know 'big' words or who the Spartans were.
Reality: The same thing could be leveled at Buffy. This is one of the cruelest accusations leveled at Faith. She's not stupid! Faith is reactionary. Gwendolyn Post chose Faith, not because of her lack-of-intellect but because she was the Slayer that needed the Watcher and Post needed a 'way in'. As to Faith mistaking what Oz meant — it all depends on where you come from. Faith comes from a background where 'horsing around' would mean 'having sex'. As to Buffy's charge of "1-2-3 is not a plan". She's right — it's not. But what Buffy should've known by now, as Faith told her from the get-go, is that she 'loves slaying' She's energized by it, she goes by instinct. Much like The First Slayer. Slaying is a total adrenaline rush for Faith, and later in the episode Bad Girls, Buffy feels it too! The reckless abandon. The focus, freedom and — the fun. It's clear Faith has a blast when slaying. As to 'the Spartans' and any knowledge of that kind, Faith is from a background where her mother preferred alcohol to her daughter and schooling was low on the priority list. She tells everyone with no shame or embarrassment that she dropped out of school, so really it's a moot point. Plus, added to all that, when it comes to the crunch — Faith has all the knowledge she needs. She's eluded and escaped the Council's 'Wet Works' team (assassins) twice.
Want-Take-Have
"Want-Take-Have" is Faith's mantra. And there's really no point in getting specific here. Faith clearly tells Buffy this in Bad Girls and Buffy "gets it". This whole thing boils down to the fact that this is a grey area. According to Faith in Revelations, one of the reasons she dumped a boyfriend is because he was a kleptomaniac. So, she clearly has a line of what is 'acceptable' regarding theft. But again, it's a grey line.
Most likely an 'oops' moment in the BtVS camp regarding writing continuity — or Faith merely takes what she needs weapons-wise. However, so does Buffy! Giles didn't have a rocket launcher in his arsenal, Xander and Cordy stole it from the army as instructed by Buffy. Buffy is always calling on Xander's experience as "soldier guy" and just where did they get all the explosives for blowing up the school?
Faith's point was accurate. If a Slayer needs a weapon and has come out without said weapons (ie: Bad Girls), is she supposed to ignore the immediate threat and go back to her Watcher? Doubtful. This is really one for the legal eagle fans to hash out. I'd be stunned though if any Slayer was held accountable for 'taking' weapons.
