Kraznor

It isn't a great story really, but I had a dream that at least acknowledged ponies this past week. Long story short, there was a library with a dedicated Pony section (this library was also open very late), and I was quite pleased with this discovery.

Definitely, been baking more since I started watching the show (have everything I need for cupcakes/muffins now) and kind of get excited about apples now whereas I was growing quite weary of them in years past. Also, the moon has renewed significance, which is silly but I still marvel at it from time to time (what with the tale of poor Luna and everything). The attitudes of the Mane6 are kind of on my mind a lot as well, especially Pinkie Pie's incredibly optimistic and cheerful demeanor. Been trying to be more outgoing as a result.

First of all, homophobia is a product of ignorance, not an inherent thing. I was very homophobic maybe five or six years ago, but over the course of my time at university I realized how foolish I was being and re-evaluated my position. So forcing homophobes to contend with things they consider "queer" and showing them their fears are unjustified is totally fine by me. The overzealous shoving of ponies into people's faces is a bit more complicated. If you are sharing ponies with people to assert how masculine you are, etc., that IS fairly hypocritical as that post says as it shows you desperately want validation regarding your love of ponies, you aren't truly comfortable with your love of MLP. I've actually thought about this myself. Am I buying McDonald's toys because I actually want the toys or is it more I want to do something very odd in the eyes of society in hopes of provoking them? It was kind of combination of both I've decided, but I was glad I could pick up the remaining three I needed at a Brony meet-up than going up to the counter at McDonald's again. Wearing pony shirts though, I still do that and I don't feel it is being hypocritical as I truly believe the show to be fantastic and wish for any and all opportunities to talk about it with other people. I don't harass people online regarding the show though, just try to talk about it respectfully. The values within the show are likely shared by many of the people who criticize it, just the way those lessons are being administered bothers them for some problem. That isn't something we need to cure, you can still engage with that person on many of the same topics, they just will have come to the conclusions via some other means. There is more but...this is getting long and ramble-y.

I told them about it within maybe a week of getting into it and they've been really supportive about the whole thing so far. Watched four or five episodes with them (still haven't gotten to what I would consider the point where the series really starts tackling deeper subject matter, but some good stuff has resulted already). Tell them about the meet-ups, some of the music and videos and stuff. So yeah, very supportive and enthusiastic parents in relation to all this. They don't watch the show on their own, but they are fine with me being really invested in it.

I really don't think so, seems out of step with how they were presented. The episode in which we see them, I quickly got the sense they were very puritanical and old-fashioned in a lot of respects, dedicated to a life of hard work more or less for the sake of it, because that's what good ponies do. I like to think Pinkie's discovery of the joys of life and her outgoing attitude really had a positive impact on her family (following that party she threw) and led to them encouraging her to move to the big city so she could be a true social butterfly, something their rural roots wouldn't allow. They still get along and love hearing about Pinkie's friends and the various goings-on in Ponyville, but that kind of fast-paced lifestyle would just overwhelm them so they are content staying where they are.

"Eeyup" and "Okie Dokie Lokie" are innocuous enough to slip in there now and then. Haven't really done much "20% Cooler" or "THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING." in real life yet. Not opposed to the idea, but would likely require some explanation.

Wait, February 2011? I voted February but, that is referring to last month. Been just over a month for me, been a fun ride thus far.

I think I'm several of the types listed but I went with "Artistic" as that is nice and vague. Is filmmaking art? Rapping? Painting? Podcasting? How do it know, it's up to you.

I can try to aid in this cause, though I don't enjoy using jargon associated with any one school of thought so I shall express my thoughts as I please. What exactly would you want to know? How I'm interacting with the show? Links between the messages in the show and everyday reality? The potential applications of the relationship dynamics and dilemmas in the show to the society I live in? Something else entirely? I'm up for musing about ponies, just give me a topic.

Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day is the app, it's kind of an interactive storybook. It details the history of the Grand Galloping Gala a bit, but they went over a lot of the same material in the "Hearth's Warming Eve" episode, so it does not have much to offer now. Official app though, so another way to pitch a couple dollars at the show. I didn't get much use out of it but I don't regret my purchase.

Eeyup, have three shirts thus far. Rainbow Dash, DJ-Pon3 and one with Pinkie beatboxing while Fluttershy holds a boombox (quite fancy that one, references a YouTube video featuring my favorite Reggie Watts song). I'm wearing the latter as I type this, currently at the University. Been considering looking into bumper stickers as well, want to flaunt this business whenever possible.

I guess I agree with the Mane6 age range of 18-25 or thereabouts, but I think the CMC are a tad older than has been suggested, maybe 12-14, simply because the dilemma they are facing of trying to find some direction in life seems a bit outside the concerns of any 7-9 year-old I've ever met. I certainly didn't give much thought to my vocation when I was in Grades 2 or 3, but approaching Jr. High that started to become a much greater worry. I also feel the dynamic between Sweetie Belle and Rarity better reflects that age gap than a twenty-something and a young child.

I found it pretty disturbing actually, as it advocates retreating from society in favor of escaping into fantasy, which is incredibly unhealthy. It had a very negative view of the world (Celestia calls it "cruel" at some point), which seems profoundly ironic given that this is the reality in which MLP exists and we are clearly engaging with it and are inspired by it, so this world can't be THAT bad. It is on us now to take the lessons from the show (and elsewhere, no sense getting too narrow in the sources of inspiration you draw from) and make THIS world (the real world) a better place. That is what MLP means to me and this story neglects that entirely in favor of an impossible fantasy that can never be. So I did find it sad in a way, but for very different reasons. The author and those who are finding it so compelling seem to be missing a part of the show I very much value.

Yeah, guess I just missed that detail. Assumed she was just an avid reader and book collector or something.

Sorry if this is too long and disorganized, but I posted some gut reactions on my Tumblr and just want to share them here too. - Opening “I’d like to be a tree” follow-up gag was amazing - Really glad they are further developing the backgrounds of the characters. That little bit of taunting at flight camp brought back some unpleasant track meet memories. - The dynamic between Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash is a nice one. Known each other a long time but very different personalities. Nice to see Rainbow Dash being genuinely compassionate here and there, wanting Fluttershy to succeed but recognizing that she was being a bit forceful in her pleading. Basically, thumbs up for character development. - The notion that ponies watch educational films brings great joy to me AND establishes Pony cinema in the canon. - I did enjoy the “Steroid Pony”, though I feel they maybe dropped that gag one too many times over the course of the episode. Still, bet we’ll be seeing him in some memes and such. - Derpy was totally there. Was celebrating post-Tornado. - Ah yes, the idea of a Pegasi-driven Tornado was cool. Great, fantastical spectacle. - Twilight Sparkle getting to drop some Pony-science in there. So yeah, really liked this week’s episode. Only three of the Mane6 involved, but that seemed natural. Oh, so the official town library is Twilight’s house? That kind of threw me for a loop. Is she basically a student in residence?

Posted some quick thoughts on my Tumblr, I'll just share them here as well. EDIT: Actually, don't want to drop a bunch of spoilers in a "speculation" thread. I'll post these thoughts elsewhere. Hope I didn't spoil the show for anypony.

Got over my self-consciousness thing about it and have 5 of the 8 so far. Missing Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Cheerilee though, so need to get back out there. Also, who is Lily Blossom? Has she been in any episode ever?