To be honest, I agree with many of the points except that I didn't initially make the connection to hazing. The only thing that really bothered me is the revelation that the Wonderbolts use their derogatory, incompetence-implying nicknames in public. That may amount to hazing to some, but I see it as an issue for practical reasons. This sort of culture could lower their ability to function as a team unit and lower public perceptions of them as well.

Rainbow Dash could have used the "Rainbow Crash" name as a badge of honor in a way, because of the fact that it was used before by the bullies in flight school. She overcame it once and she'll overcome it again. The episode doesn't take full advantage of that and the ending doesn't really do it justice. Overall, the episode has one of those solidarity type of endings and it doesn't really feel like it belongs.

To be honest, I agree with many of the points except that I didn't initially make the connection to hazing. The only thing that really bothered me is the revelation that the Wonderbolts use their derogatory, incompetence-implying nicknames in public. That may amount to hazing to some, but I see it as an issue for practical reasons. This sort of culture could lower their ability to function as a team unit and lower public perceptions of them as well.

 

Rainbow Dash could have used the "Rainbow Crash" name as a badge of honor in a way, because of the fact that it was used before by the bullies in flight school. She overcame it once and she'll overcome it again. The episode doesn't take full advantage of that and the ending doesn't really do it justice. Overall, the episode has one of those solidarity type of endings and it doesn't really feel like it belongs.

It's hazing because they treat the incompetence-laden insults as good, traditional fun when this type of abuse is found in many fraternities, and school bodies and governments have been trying to ban it. You make a great point about their practicality; I'm saying the implications run deeper.

That wasn't traditional collegiate or newbie hazing. An already established and well documented relationship centered around mutual respect creates an different dynamic than one would find as a new recruit in most other scenarios. So this falls under friendly ribbing that is often witnessed between friends and close colleagues.

Because of this previously established relationship, the blame shifts to Dash herself. You see, if a friend or well known colleague calls you something that offends you, you have a responsibility to communicate that feeling as the respondent. When this was finally done during the resolution, and Dash explained voiced her motivation ... her opinion changed when she realized that the genesis of the 'Crash' nickname was closer to a term of endearment.

Sort of like when the wife calls me 'dork'

That wasn't traditional collegiate or newbie hazing. An already established and well documented relationship centered around mutual respect creates an different dynamic than one would find as a new recruit in most other scenarios. So this falls under friendly ribbing that is often witnessed between friends and close colleagues.

 

Because of this previously established relationship, the blame shifts to Dash herself.

This is 100% the WB's fault here. Just because they themselves didn't see anything wrong with it doesn't mean it's okay to practice this. They hazed Rainbow Dash because she crashed into a trash can, and they thought it was okay to call a newbie such. Rainbow Dash didn't tell them because she thought doing so would worsen the matters. Hazing is abuse, and it's a big problem in so many fraternities, including the military.

Sort of like when the wife calls me 'dork'

Apples and oranges. You and your wife know it's all in good fun. Dash just got acquainted with them and knows very little about their literal culture. Even if she did know about it or found out other nicknames were more insulting than hers, it doesn't mean she should immediately take it in stride. Not everyone has to like or tolerate a piece of culture they find destructive.

I've come to interpret the title of 'Newbie Dash' as a description for the writer's ability to portray Rainbow. I've read fanfics that were more consistent, had better dialogue and showed the characters in a better light than this episode.

This could(and should) have been so much better.

Fun Fact: The military has, in the past couple of years, fully outlawed any hazing. If hazing is reported and found to be pretty problematic, it comes with a full separation from the military for the person involved administering the hazing.

like i said in a previos post, its hard to see anything you like go through "torment", you all have great points and as with the other post on "28 pranks later"...

if they learn to follow up on what they did, not just make up new "scenarios" that the ponies have to go through...

one of my favorate episodes is the one (i forget the title) where discore set up the foreknowlage and then the final solution for twilight to overcome the enemy. in that episode, DISCORE was the hero... my point is they used previos episodes to eluminate more of a story... and as ("any"?) fan could say, "we love the puzzles! we love the complexity!

I agree, Dark Qiviut; Newbie Dash's moral was just horrible.

Why? I also think the moral in question was justifying bad behavior (in this case: bullying and hazing).