>show sux because it won't conform to me 

Okay, then. 

You can't be serious...Every show is like this. You're taking things waaay too personally...

The show also promotes a dictatorship, technically

You're really asking for quite a lot if you expect a children's show made by a United States based company to espouse the virtues of wealth redistribution. This is a show that tries to be inoffensive and shies away from controversy. Take the whole Derpy kerfuffle as an example.

In order to enjoy this show and probably most media, you're just going to have to accept that the politics of the time and place of where something was made are going to seep in and flavor it.

There's actually a whole school of literary analysis coincidentally enough called Marxist literary criticism that concerns itself with the idea that an author's political beliefs, social norms and values can't really be divorced from the works they create no matter how hard they may try to remain neutral.

I enjoy the works of HP Lovecraft despite the fact that he was racist as all fuck, because I understand and accept that he was a privileged white dude from the 1920s.

Similarly I'm a vegetarian. Pretty much everything I watch disagrees with my views on that subject as meat eating is the norm. (Though oddly enough FiM doesn't disagree with me on that particular subject.) I have to sit through lots of scenes where I'm a little grossed out because people are eating animal flesh like it's no big deal. That's just something I have to accept.

And hey, politically FiM is pretty far from Atlas Shrugged, so I suppose that's gotta count for something. Ehh?

Wealth distribution isn't very fair in 99% of the world, dude. HUGE overreaction. 

As I said, it's not that it's showing something I don't like, it's that it's depicting it in a positive light

>show sux because it won't conform to me 

 

Okay, then. 

I'm not saying the show sucks, I'm saying I won't continue watching because a moral it preaches clashes with me severely. I never watched this show for laughs or action, but for story, and when a story offends, I stop watching.

The show also promotes a dictatorship, technically

 

You're really asking for quite a lot if you expect a children's show made by a United States based company to espouse the virtues of wealth redistribution. This is a show that tries to be inoffensive and shies away from controversy. Take the whole Derpy kerfuffle as an example.

 

In order to enjoy this show and probably most media, you're just going to have to accept that the politics of the time and place of where something was made are going to seep in and flavor it.

 

There's actually a whole school of literary analysis coincidentally enough called Marxist literary criticism that concerns itself with the idea that an author's political beliefs, social norms and values can't really be divorced from the works they create no matter how hard they may try to remain neutral.

 

I enjoy the works of HP Lovecraft despite the fact that he was racist as all fuck, because I understand and accept that he was a privileged white dude from the 1920s.

 

Similarly I'm a vegetarian. Pretty much everything I watch disagrees with my views on that subject as meat eating is the norm. (Though oddly enough FiM doesn't disagree with me on that particular subject.) I have to sit through lots of scenes where I'm a little grossed out because people are eating animal flesh like it's no big deal. That's just something I have to accept.

 

And hey, politically FiM is pretty far from Atlas Shrugged, so I suppose that's gotta count for something. Ehh?

Actually I wouldn't expect the show to support a communist viewpoint, because of the insane hatred communism gets. Nor do I expect an author to avoid inserting their moral views into their writing. I'm saying that when the author is supporting a serious moral vewpoint that I disagree with, that it ruins the story for me, as I lose the ability to empathize with it. And empathizing is extremely important in fiction.

Let me put it into a different perspective, if a show was promoting negative stereotypes of women, or minorities, would you still watch it?

Let me put it into a different perspective, if a show was promoting negative stereotypes of women, or minorities, would you still watch it?

If it was a show from like 40 years ago, I would be able to appreciate it as I know it's probably only going to stray so far from what were the norms of it's time.

If it was a show being made now, I'd have more of a problem with it because societal norms have changed so it doesn't have that excuse to fall back on.

If it was a show from like 40 years ago, I would be able to appreciate it as I know it's probably only going to stray so far from what were the norms of it's time.

 

If it was a show being made now, I'd have more of a problem with it because societal norms have changed so it doesn't have that excuse to fall back on.

I'd imagine that, either way, it'd seriously bother you. 

You can't be serious...Every show is like this. You're taking things waaay too personally...

Don't know if every show is like this, I sure hope not. And I don't see how I'm taking things too personally. The writers are supporting a viewpoint I see as deplorable and it destroys in my ability to empathize with the story, thus causing me to stop watching. I'm pretty sure this is a normal response. Either way, I see it as a perfectly valid reason to quit being a fan.

Sir Wulfington shivers in terror as he realizes that equal outcomes simply don't happen in Ponyville. They don't happen in real life either. Are you going to give up on life because of that?

Look, I'm a cultural traditionalist. I don't like multiculturalism, feminism or gay marriage. And it is annoying when people in this fandom attack traditionalism. But I can still be friends with you anyways because friendship isn't always about shared values. It's about caring for another's well being because they have value as a person.

It's depressing that you'd stop enjoying a work of art that helped you, for such an insubstantial reason.

Sir Wulfington shivers in terror as he realizes that equal outcomes simply don't happen in Ponyville. They don't happen in real life either. Are you going to give up on life because of that?

 

Look, I'm a cultural traditionalist. I don't like multiculturalism, feminism or gay marriage. And it is annoying when people in this fandom attack traditionalism. But I can still be friends with you anyways because friendship isn't always about shared values. It's about caring for another's well being because they have value as a person.

 

It's depressing that you'd stop enjoying a work of art that helped you, for such an insubstantial reason.

This isn't about a conflict of oppossing interests, it's a serious moral issue, and the show picked the side I'm strongly opposed to. And again, I don't care that they're depicting the existence of a wealth gap, it could create good drama. My problem is that they aren't making conflict out of it, it's an elephant in the room but nobody pays it any attention. Nobody cares. I can't stand that in fiction.

It's like having a villain that's going around killing people, and the heroes are aware, but are just like "ah whatever, still on for brunch tommorow gary?", and here I am just thinking "hey guys, you wanna like, deal with that, or at the very least show some indication that you give a flying fuck?"

It's not what you depict in your story, but HOW.

It's called Friendship Is Magic, not "The Class Struggle Is Magic". Good riddance.

It's called Friendship Is Magic, not "The Class Struggle Is Magic". Good riddance.

Or they could've just not written equestria as a capitalistic society if mentioning politics is a no-no. But I see where the writers (well, the writers that chose this) stand on the issue, which is to say the wrong side. Or they can't write communism as a-ok because they're afraid of anti-communists getting all pissy over it.

You know, I have a really hard time believing that the kind and loving Celestia approves of capitalism.

What are you bloody well talking about? MLP never chose a side in any of this, hell we don't even understand their currency! Sure, some ponies are less fortunate, but this show hasn't depicted poverty as a joke, or wealth as a be-all, end-all. 

I really do think that you are overreacting, because as I said previously they didn't take a stance they just basically said "it's a thing" and left it at that. I think you pushing the show away is a result of your own insecurity on the topic, and that's truly sad (not as in pathetic, rather literal sadness). I think you should reconsider your thoughts, but if you don't, I wish you well.

Or they could've just not written equestria as a capitalistic society if mentioning politics is a no-no. But I see where the writers (well, the writers that chose this) stand on the issue, which is to say the wrong side. Or they can't write communism as a-ok because they're afraid of anti-communists getting all pissy over it.

 

You know, I have a really hard time believing that the kind and loving Celestia approves of capitalism.

This comment is just you being anti-capitalist, which is ironic, because you imply the invalidity of anti-communism in the same paragraph. You know what I am? Neither, because both have advantages and drawbacks. EVEN PRO-COMMUNISTS/PRO-CAPITALISTS KNOW THIS, C'MON MAN!!!! 

Or they could've just not written equestria as a capitalistic society if mentioning politics is a no-no. But I see where the writers (well, the writers that chose this) stand on the issue, which is to say the wrong side. Or they can't write communism as a-ok because they're afraid of anti-communists getting all pissy over it.

 

You know, I have a really hard time believing that the kind and loving Celestia approves of capitalism.

Of course "anti-communists" would get all pissy. Communism is a really unpopular ideology. There was this whole thing called the 20th Century and the Cold War and all that.

Plus it's a show whose primary reason for existence is to sell horse dolls with brushable hair. Why would Hasbro want to make a show that maligns the very system that allows them to exist?

Look, Friedrich Hayek basically won the 20th Century. Communism is incredibly far from what anyone could consider mainstream. You're just going to have to come to terms with the fact that communism in this day and age is a fringe ideology so you're going to have trouble finding media that supports it, especially from a really mainstream show like this.

The show still has other really good messages in it that are actually somewhat daring for what it is, such as it's feminist angle. If you can look past this particular "cultural artifact" it's a sweet show about ponies with a great "be excellent to each other" message.

What are you bloody well talking about? MLP never chose a side in any of this, hell we don't even understand their currency! Sure, some ponies are less fortunate, but this show hasn't depicted poverty as a joke, or wealth as a be-all, end-all. 

 

I really do think that you are overreacting, because as I said previously they didn't take a stance they just basically said "it's a thing" and left it at that. I think you pushing the show away is a result of your own insecurity on the topic, and that's truly sad (not as in pathetic, rather literal sadness). I think you should reconsider your thoughts, but if you don't, I wish you well.

It's not that they're showing it as a joke, but that they're showing the system they have as perfectly acceptable, that some ponies are allowed to become highly wealthy while others can go broke.

Of course "anti-communists" would get all pissy. Communism is a really unpopular ideology. There was this whole thing called the 20th Century and the Cold War and all that.

 

Plus it's a show whose primary reason for existence is to sell horse dolls with brushable hair. Why would Hasbro want to make a show that maligns the very system that allows them to exist?

 

Look, Friedrich Hayek basically won the 20th Century. Communism is incredibly far from what anyone could consider mainstream. You're just going to have to come to terms with the fact that communism in this day and age is a fringe ideology so you're going to have trouble finding media that supports it, especially from a really mainstream show like this.

 

The show still has other really good messages in it that are actually somewhat daring for what it is, such as it's feminist angle. If you can look past this particular "cultural artifact" it's a sweet show about ponies with a great "be excellent to each other" message.

I get that, I would be amazed if they showed a communist-type system in a positive light, because of the idiotic backlash the show would get. The only reason communism is hated is both from people who know about the countries where that system has failed horribly and the self-centered bastards who just want to get rich and don't care about fairness, or other anyone and anything but themselves in general, because communism would crush their dreams to be on top of the classes.

Unfortunately, so many people want to be rich so there's a large amount of opposition to a system that makes sure the wealth is distributed as equally as possible. I'm also not expecting to find a show that has my own ideals on this topic, tho I'd like to.

It's not that they're showing it as a joke, but that they're showing the system they have as perfectly acceptable, that some ponies are allowed to become highly wealthy while others can go broke.

But you aren't getting the point. The backlash that communism gets is exactly the same as the backlash you're giving capitalism. I'm basically saying your radical views are actually blinding you from the fact that you're being hypocritical. You're basically saying:

"I think that communism is great, and I don't understand why it gets demonized. I mean no kind, thoughtful person would support such a travesty as capitalism!"

Do you see the problem here?

But you aren't getting the point. The backlash that communism gets is exactly the same as the backlash you're giving capitalism. I'm basically saying your radical views are actually blinding you from the fact that you're being hypocritical. You're basically saying:

 

"I think that communism is great, and I don't understand why it gets demonized. No kind, thoughtful person would support such a travesty as capitalism!"

 

Do you see the problem here?

No, I get why communism is hated, tho I believe a majority of the hatred is from people who don't want to give up their overly-luxurious lifestyles or dreams of attaining that kind of lifestyle. Which is why they support capitalism, a system that will inevitably crash and burn. Capitalism is bad because it supports the selfish, and selfishness goes against the well-being of our race. We're pack animals, if we all just looked out for ourselves we wouldn't do so well in the long run. A society that gets along with each other is a stronger one.

Also, I forgot that there are people who don't support either side and only think communism is good in theory, but think it's doomed to failure so they won't support it in reality. The people who don't like the ideal are the ones who are self-centered. Because it's a system about making sure the wealth is distributed fairly, and to not like that would mean that you would desire to have large amounts of money to yourself. That or you believe that it would remove "incentive" to do certain jobs, well I have a solution but it may or may not be practical in real life.

However, this is a fictional species, they act like people, yes, but they're not human. The majority of them are both not greedy and intelligent enough to know that a system where a minority can hoard almost all the countries currency to themselves is one doomed to failure, and thus support a communistic ideal.

Anyway, be it a story about humans or some fictional species, I just refuse to give it my time if it portrays a capitalistic society in anything other than a negative light, and if that means I'll never find a story that fits my viewpoint, than whatever. 

Wow.  HUGE overreaction, dude.  I mean, I get your viewpoint, but seriously, I think you're waaaaay overanalyzing a harmless cartoon and way overreacting.  I'm not saying you're wrong about the evidence you've presented, just that you could overlook this stuff and enjoy the good points of the show.  You're obviously very smart, but you don't need to analyze a cartoon to this level and take it so seriously.  I mean, I noticed some of the same things, in fact.  Like your example about the Apple family possibly going bankrupt in Cider Squeezy.  But I just laugh about it.  I don't let it destroy the show for me.  You ruined the show for yourself, and that's your choice.

Wow.  HUGE overreaction, dude.  I mean, I get your viewpoint, but seriously, I think you're waaaaay overanalyzing a harmless cartoon and way overreacting.  I'm not saying you're wrong about the evidence you've presented, just that you could overlook this stuff and enjoy the good points of the show.  You're obviously very smart, but you don't need to analyze a cartoon to this level and take it so seriously.  I mean, I noticed some of the same things, in fact.  Like your example about the Apple family possibly going bankrupt in Cider Squeezy.  But I just laugh about it.  I don't let it destroy the show for me.  You ruined the show for yourself, and that's your choice.

I'm someone who takes the story part of a show, movie, or whatever, very seriously. I judge it as a work of art, so I pay attention to flaws in the craftsmanship (aka, plot holes). If any of these flaws have an important impact on the plot, it causes the entire thing to fall apart, and I label it as a bad story.

At the same time, when a fictional tale is supporting a moral viewpoint I vehemently oppose (you can tell whether or not the author supports something on a moral basis, in how they write the story, how the characters we're meant to support react to these things), it will also ruin it for me, because my ability to sympathize with the story will be destroyed. If I can't sympathize, I can't care about the plot anymore.

I'm not one to watch shows for entertainment alone, the story is what holds everything together, gives meaning to what goes on. Without that, it's nothing.

So no, while I did really enjoy the show up until this realization, I just can't continue to like it knowing that it supports a morally bankrupt system, that it's characters (including my favorite, Rarity), approve of this, approve of something that I believe, no, I KNOW is evil. It'd be like eating a delicious steak and mashed potato dinner that a bird flew over and took an aerial dump on right smack in the center. Sure, I could eat around it, but is that really a good idea? And I can't just clean it off, because the entire meal is permanently tainted. It would be best to just throw in the trash.