The dangers of Cutie Marks

[Luna 831 466]

That is why they have to do what they cutie marks are and follow orders.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

So many rebuttles I love it. Alright lets go down the list and see what I can make of it.

 

Shire Pony Malinter, that animatic only helps my case since all the ponies with the same cutie mark act the same. It is rather eerie to think something like that would have so much influence on a pony

 

Silverrida, well yeah Brazen was the idea. We can hardly know about a subject unless we are willing to turn it on its head and see how it ticks. I do concede that that other factors can contribute to the breakdowns, but does this point take away from the fact that the cutie marks have clear influence on a pony?

 

Frith is Majick, The point I make with Cutie Pox is it is Active manipulation vs the Passive manipulation of a Cutie Mark. Its like the the difference beteen someone who can shoot beams from their eyes and someone who cannot STOP shooting beams from their eyes. Active vs Passive.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Buck Testa

[Silverrida 35]

I think that other factors contributing to the breakdowns does take away from the influence the cutie mark has on a pony. It seems the idea that it has a huge effect primarily concerns the breakdowns that occur when the marks are not being fulfilled. If the breakdowns are occurring for some reason other than the marks then it brings the influence of the marks into question.

 

It's not exactly possible to rule out the marks have influence. You can't prove something false after all. I just feel like we don't have enough of a reason to believe it canonically. I think it is a cool and interesting headcanon though and can easily be sold as a plausible outcome. Again, nothing points at it being false so much as I don't think there is enough to consider it true. 

 

I would be interested in fics surrounding the concept. Especially since in Equestria individuality seems to be so encouraged. What happens when the individual's will is taken away by a messed up cutie mark? Could be pretty dark and interesting!

[Concord Discord 35]

I was down with this theory for I long time before I saw this thread. Maybe as an extension to your theory, cutie marks not only determine what your occupation is, but work on a higher level by making you fill part of a complex social structure with little room for free choice. It makes sense, considering that it seems like all ponies have their place in society, and no-one is without a job. If you believe this to be true (and bearing in mind that it is only speculation), it reverses the whole idea of Equestrians' being different and special. Conformism at its finest.

I like being controversial. Good day!

 

^{Also... I have an eye, and the corner of my screen looks like a triangle... this must be the work of the ILLUMINATI}

[Abia 258]

 Cutie pox and the season three fanale showed that cutie marks do more than ramps up a talent.

I don’t think they do. Cutie pox is an illness, and reflects only a shallow interpretation of a cutie mark onto a pony. Compare it to the chickenpox: just because one itch is an illness doesn’t mean you should get vaccinated every time you feel itchy. As for the season three finale, the mane six had the option to do whatever the heck they wanted. It was only how they perceived cutie marks— they thought the marks were telling them something, that this was the only way when clearly it wasn’t, as Fluttershy was able to help the animals even while she had Pinkie Pie’s cutie mark— that gave them such limited lifestyles. Equestria’s perception of a cutie mark’s effect on destiny is the dangerous thing, but that has more to do with Equestrian society than a cutie mark itself.

 

 

Cutie pox had this effect ramped up, but just because the normal cutie marks are more subtlle about it doesnt mean they do not enforce behavior according to the talent.

 

As evidenced by “Magical Mystery Cure”, performing the actions that a cutie mark encourages— just encourages, no more than that— is not a requirement. You have the option to do other things. Cutie marks are just a decisive way to tell you that this is what you would be happiest doing. They are not wrong naturally— it was only because of Twilight and/or Celestia and/or Starswirl that the marks in MMC were wrong— which is why the mane six in MMC were so reluctant to try anything else. The idea of a cutie mark being wrong, of having a different special talent, was (and still is) unheard of. It’s almost blasphemous in a way.

 

The reason the mane six were so depressed and unwilling to move on and try new things was because they were so stuck on what the cutie marks were telling them— something that was not true. They have the physical and mental ability to do whatever they want. They didn’t because they were so focused on finding happiness in what they thought they were supposed to do.

Similarly, ponies with true-to-personality cutie marks are able to do things that the cutie mark does not specify: Twilight Sparkle studies history, Pinkie Pie bakes, Applejack competes in the rodeo, Fluttershy can model, Rainbow Dash pranks, and Rarity is one heck of a gem hunter (granted, her cutie mark has diamonds on it— but hey, making dresses isn’t diamonds!). These are things that the ponies would not enjoy having as their one true passion in life, but things that they can enjoy as hobbies. I realize that modelling is not a hobby for Fluttershy, but I thought it was a decent example of how ponies are able to do things that have absolutely no relation to their special talents.

 

 

Where is the evidence that ponies are forced by regular cutie marks to do a task they normally would do anyway?

 

I don’t understand what you’re saying here. Is a pony’s destiny set in stone? Would they definitely do something regardless of whether or not they got a cutie mark? If so, I don’t think getting the mark makes a difference, aside from eliminating the uncertainty of not knowing what one was meant to do in life.

 

 

Ponies who do what they are told to do feel good and get affirmation from those around them that they are doing the right thing. However if they are not up to par and not receiving that positive high from their cutie mark they have major withdrawl and psychological breakdowns that only get reversed wheb they are back on track.

 

That really has more to do with how Equestrians treat cutie marks than what the cutie marks are themselves. Cutie marks are a patch of fur (I guess?) on a pony’s flank that in its shape represents, often symbolically, what a pony would be most happy doing in life. They do not have any physical power, and are only sacred because of the symbolism and importance that society assigns to them. I think it’s a problem with Equestria’s emphasis on cutie marks that you have, not with the cutie marks themselves…? But I suppose you know your idea best, and I might just be misreading you.

 

 

If pinkie could not plan parties for ponies what would happen to her? We saw what happened. If fluttershy couldnt get animals to listen to her snd do what she asked what would happen to her? We already saw this happen as well.

 

They failed because they could not practice their passions— compare it to Dr. Gregory House from House M.D.*: if he does not practice medicine, he becomes somewhat depressed and suffers more pain than usual because he is giving up his passion. Or if you don’t watch House but do Futurama: in Reincarnation, when Farnsworth solves the mystery of the universe, he is forced to stop doing the science and his sadness meter reaches 100%. Literally.

The withdrawal a pony suffers from being unable to practice their special talent would happen to most any passionate, inspired human who was forced to stop doing what they loved.

 

 

It seems the cutie marks are designed to do this, perhaps they were something that was instilled in pony society and they only think that cutie marks happen naturally because so many generations have gone by?

 

That’s an interesting theory, and certainly a possible one. But there’s not really enough evidence in the show to form a solid basis for argument on the origins of a cutie mark— if I’m wrong, I’d definitely like to discuss this, but in the meantime I don’t want to make a fool of myself in doing so.  

[silvadel 1,393]

Cutie Marks become an issue when a major technological or magical advance obsoletes a pony's talent.

 

Looking at pony society, it is very likely that Celestia actually slows down progress in these cases so the jobs do not go away faster than the ponies.  Hence any invention that would make farming 20 times more effective, or obsolete vast portions of the weather crews would tend to be buried.

[SilverStarApple 849]

It's possible that the Cutie Marks give minor bonus abilities/aptitudes to the ponies at the cost affecting the mental state of the afflicted pony, like the Cursed Seals in Naruto.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Concord Discord, I was wondering when someone would make an Illuminati joke

 

Silverrida, Have you ever heard of a duel diagnosis? Its where you are identified as havinf two different problems, one usually being an addicton, and the other being psychological. Now apply this to my theory. Yes there are factors attributing to their breakdown that are not from the cutie mark, but the cutie mark in this theory would compound the problem and exasurbate the symtoms of the first issue. By adding the urgent need to fulfill their cutie mark and clouding their reason to the mix they become far worse off than they should. So again would other problems take away from the cutie mark one?

 

Cape, What does encouragement mean to you? It is the pleasent positive version of Coersion. Now if a symbol like that which knows whats best for you is encouraging you to go in a certain direction, wouldnt it use other means if you didnt follow along? Is that not what loving parents do? Lead their kids where they aught to go and royally punish rebellion from that path?

[silvadel 1,393]

This whole thread has me thinking futurama.

 

[Buck Testa 5,505]

This whole thread has me thinking futurama.

 

Its amazing how you summed up my entire point with a futurama reference. All of the brohoofs to you! Every bucking one of them lmfao

 

[Silverrida 35]

Concord Discord, I was wondering when someone would make an Illuminati joke

 

Silverrida, Have you ever heard of a duel diagnosis? Its where you are identified as havinf two different problems, one usually being an addicton, and the other being psychological. Now apply this to my theory. Yes there are factors attributing to their breakdown that are not from the cutie mark, but the cutie mark in this theory would compound the problem and exasurbate the symtoms of the first issue. By adding the urgent need to fulfill their cutie mark and clouding their reason to the mix they become far worse off than they should. So again would other problems take away from the cutie mark one?

 

 

Sorry, I misrepresented my position. It's not that your hypothesis concerning cutie marks wouldn't exacerbate the problem. It definitely would. It's that the problems you cite as evidence for your hypothesis on how the cutie marks behave can be explained by other, less extreme phenomenon. Basically, I'd need evidence outside of the mental breakdowns because as it is there is no way to show that those can be or cannot be attributed to their cutie marks, in my opinion, and if there isn't conclusive evidence I feel it is more reasonable to be skeptical about your hypothesis than accept it.

 

Regardless, it's all in good fun and I don't mean any disrespect. And I am interested  in the idea and think it's a cool headcanon. I just don't know that it is supported by canonical evidence.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Silverrida

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

Sorry, I misrepresented my position. It's not that your hypothesis concerning cutie marks wouldn't exacerbate the problem. It definitely would. It's that the problems you cite as evidence for your hypothesis on how the cutie marks behave can be explained by other, less extreme phenomenon. Basically, I'd need evidence outside of the mental breakdowns because as it is there is no way to show that those can be or cannot be attributed to their cutie marks, in my opinion, and if there isn't conclusive evidence I feel it is more reasonable to be skeptical about your hypothesis than accept it.

Regardless, it's all in good fun and I don't mean any disrespect. And I am interested in the idea and think it's a cool headcanon. I just don't know that it is supported by canonical evidence.

You kidding I am having a blast!

 

 

So you need evidence without a shadow of a doubt that a cutie mark would willingly manipulate a pony to its own ends? What if I told you a cutie mark got so fed up with a pony resisting her call that she was quite literally dragged by the horn? Overridding her control to get her to see what she was meant to do so it could finally make itself visable?

 

http://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=Rs-WYzY_0Z0

 

How is that for evidence?

[paradoxical 1,735]

I kinda identify with the breakdown ponies.  I'm an introvert (not shy introverted [think Zecora not Flutters])

 

I would like to teach as a calling, but classroom settings are right out because there's too much input.  I can't keep classroom control.

 

From the moment I realized this I've been in a difficult position.  Depression has been a constant stalker and my economic situation is only bearable because I squeeze pennies so tightly they're like copper wire a the end of the day.

 

Therefore I believe that instead of in our world where people don't realize their calling and go through the day to day motions, EVERYPONY knows their calling in Equestria due to their cutie marks. 

 

And when something prevents them from doing their callings they have extreme cartoon-influenced stress.  But, that's only something that happens due to a conflict of understanding their calling vs. ability to fulfill it. 

 

Sure, knowing you can't do your calling stinks, but not necessarily any more than not knowing it; at least you know what you want to strive for.

[Abia 258]

What does encouragement mean to you? It is the pleasent positive version of Coersion. Now if a symbol like that which knows whats best for you is encouraging you to go in a certain direction, wouldnt it use other means if you didnt follow along? Is that not what loving parents do? Lead their kids where they aught to go and royally punish rebellion from that path?

Parents do, but cutie marks aren't parents. They're cutie marks-- they can't punish ponies.

Say I wrote a story one day. A few hundred people read the story and were like, "Woah dude. That's a cool story. You should write a lot of stories." I think, My stories make people happy. This is what I was meant to do in life. So I start writing stories full time.

Okay, that's a bad analogy.

Say I'm a pony. (Or a person. It doesn't really matter, but this situation makes more sense in Equestria than our Earth.) One day, I'm mowing the lawn. Mowing the lawn is really fun for me. Suddenly, Celestia comes up to me and says, "You really like mowing the lawn. You're pretty good at it, too. I think you should stick with mowing the lawn. It looks like it makes you happy."

I value this experience because (a) a powerful goddess gave me her opinion/a powerful force gave me a cutie mark, ( this goddess/force confirmed that I would not regret going forth and continuing with my lawn mowing, and © now that I know what my special talent/purpose in life is, I don't have to worry about finding inner happiness anymore. Sort of.

Again, not a great analogy. But I could totally not mow the lawn if I wanted to. I could go be a lifeguard. The thing is, I don't want to do that. There's no reason to-- I think I'm happy mowing the lawn, and the grand forces of the universe also think I'll be happy mowing the lawn, so for the most part? I'm happy!

 

Flim and Flam, I think, make a good case for my argument. Flim and Flam have apple slices as their cutie marks. Their special talent is selling apples or making apple cider or making machines that make apple cider-- one of those things.

But they chose to go a different path. Of their own free will, they decided to invent a fake potion to cure ponies. They ignored their cutie marks in order to do... something else. Something that was, for the most part, entirely unrelated.

They likely would have been happier making and selling cider... but nothing but their own perceptions of destiny bound them to that fate.

[Solecistic Miss 20]

One thing we must remember is that a cutie mark does not appear until the pony realizes that a certain thing is their special talent.  For example, Twist (in the episode Call of the Cutie) was already great at making sweets.  She didn't get her cutie mark until she considered that it was her special talent.   One does not just get a cutie mark and become coerced to perform the tasks related to it- they got the mark because it's already something they do and love to do.  I find I also disagree with your comments relating the cutie mark as a drug to the ponies, and that it can cause a 'high' and withdrawal as well.  People get satisfaction from doing the things they love, and want to continue to do those things because they enjoy it.  It's called intrinsic motivation.  Of course, there is also extrinsic motivation (motivation outside of oneself, ie rewards or acceptance) due to the societal views of a cutie mark.  There's no doubt about that.  Because your cutie mark is supposed to represent your special talent- the thing you do better than anyone else and have a deep passion for- there are expectations on what a person does with theirs occupation-wise and such.  I think most of the ponies' breakdowns are because they are supposed to be experts at what they do (or at least on their way there).  Since these are their special talents, they expect to automatically be great at them all the time.  When it doesn't go that way, they can get defensive, aggressive, or have a personal crisis.  Pinky's upset when another party pony comes to town because she doesn't want to be one-upped, and at another time has a breakdown when she believes that her friends don't want to party with her.  Fluttershy doesn't instantly connect with the critters at the gala.  Their talents have worked for them all the time up til then, so it's understandable that they can't handle it when the one thing they excel at above all others all the time fails.    And it's a crushing blow to their self esteem to fail at your calling.  Forgive the analogy, but it's like a spoiled child getting denied what they want for the first time in their life.  They don't know how to react other than negatively, explosively even. 

 

I don't think the cutie marks have some sort of dark power over ponies, but rather that the treatment and lifestyle of those with cutie marks relies too heavily on them and  notion that their talent will always work in every circumstance.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Parents do, but cutie marks aren't parents. They're cutie marks-- they can't punish ponies.

Say I wrote a story one day. A few hundred people read the story and were like, "Woah dude. That's a cool story. You should write a lot of stories." I think, My stories make people happy. This is what I was meant to do in life. So I start writing stories full time.

Okay, that's a bad analogy.

Say I'm a pony. (Or a person. It doesn't really matter, but this situation makes more sense in Equestria than our Earth.) One day, I'm mowing the lawn. Mowing the lawn is really fun for me. Suddenly, Celestia comes up to me and says, "You really like mowing the lawn. You're pretty good at it, too. I think you should stick with mowing the lawn. It looks like it makes you happy."

I value this experience because (a) a powerful goddess gave me her opinion/a powerful force gave me a cutie mark, ( this goddess/force confirmed that I would not regret going forth and continuing with my lawn mowing, and © now that I know what my special talent/purpose in life is, I don't have to worry about finding inner happiness anymore. Sort of.

Again, not a great analogy. But I could totally not mow the lawn if I wanted to. I could go be a lifeguard. The thing is, I don't want to do that. There's no reason to-- I think I'm happy mowing the lawn, and the grand forces of the universe also think I'll be happy mowing the lawn, so for the most part? I'm happy!

 

Flim and Flam, I think, make a good case for my argument. Flim and Flam have apple slices as their cutie marks. Their special talent is selling apples or making apple cider or making machines that make apple cider-- one of those things.

But they chose to go a different path. Of their own free will, they decided to invent a fake potion to cure ponies. They ignored their cutie marks in order to do... something else. Something that was, for the most part, entirely unrelated.

They likely would have been happier making and selling cider... but nothing but their own perceptions of destiny bound them to that fate.

Nice that is a good counter arguement. However their cutie marks depict they are a pair, they go together, and to top it off, their names literally refer to dishonest buisness practices. Literally Flim flam means to swindle and fast talk. Being the scam artist team with the apple theme is etched into their very flanks.

[Abia 258]

their cutie marks depict they are a pair, they go together, and to top it off, their names literally refer to dishonest buisness practices. Literally Flim flam means to swindle and fast talk. Being the scam artist team with the apple theme is etched into their very flanks.

Shining Armor, Twilight and Photo Finish all have the star shape in their cutie marks-- does that mean that they have to go together? I don't think the brothers find it impossible to separate, I just think they're great friends as well as brothers and work well together-- and they got their cutie marks in the same thing, so why not become partners? They've definitely got great charisma with one another!

Names aren't cutie marks, though, and thus have no real effect on one's destiny. I suspect that "flim-flam" isn't a term used in Equestria-- either that, or the brothers' parents really really hated them. I'd hate to see a kid named Swindler.

[Solecistic Miss 20]

Names aren't cutie marks, though, and thus have no real effect on one's destiny. I suspect that "flim-flam" isn't a term used in Equestria-- either that, or the brothers' parents really really hated them. I'd hate to see a kid named Swindler.

That is one thing I find a little off in mlp, not that they can really help it.  Many ponies' names have a lot to do with the talent they possess or their cutie mark (obviously for marketing reasons and to make them more identifiable in the show).  At some points it's pretty predictable. Oh, your name's Luna? I just wonder what you'll end up doing. Yeah, no clue there at all.   It would make more sense if they didn't get their matching/themed name until they got a cutie mark, or if some ponies got a name change later in life to match their talent.  Eh, it would make more sense, but not necessarily a better idea/practice.  

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Shining Armor, Twilight and Photo Finish all have the star shape in their cutie marks-- does that mean that they have to go together? I don't think the brothers find it impossible to separate, I just think they're great friends as well as brothers and work well together-- and they got their cutie marks in the same thing, so why not become partners? They've definitely got great charisma with one another!

Names aren't cutie marks, though, and thus have no real effect on one's destiny. I suspect that "flim-flam" isn't a term used in Equestria-- either that, or the brothers' parents really really hated them. I'd hate to see a kid named Swindler.

Pretty sure its a symbol for magic with a camera, cause she is all about da Magicks lol. Also are you REALLY trying to say someone who was named Photo Finish was going to be in anything but fashion photography? Names have a huge part in who they are. I wouldnt be surprised if their was something behind where the names come from but that is fodder for another topic.

[Abia 258]

Pretty sure its a symbol for magic with a camera, cause she is all about da Magicks lol. Also are you REALLY trying to say someone who was named Photo Finish was going to be in anything but fashion photography? Names have a huge part in who they are. I wouldnt be surprised if their was something behind where the names come from but that is fodder for another topic.

My point was that cutie marks with similarities aren't necessarily correlating to similar talents.

The names, I feel, are not done realistically in the show, as it seems unlikely that one would coincidentally be able to guess their child's special talent and name them based upon that. It makes sense in families: the Cakes, the Apples and the Pies, namely, but other than that I just can't seriously believe that the names ponies are introduced with were given (realistically) at birth. I think it's just a flaw in the show's writing. I'm sure you could develop a theory as to how the name-talent correlation makes sense, but unfortunately it's not something I'm interested in getting into--and even if I was, it'd be, as you said, for a different topic.

I admit that you are right (and I was wrong--but let's try not to think about that ) about names having to do with who ponies become.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

I got the impression from the Cutie Pox episode that having the Cutie Pox was an exceptional circumstance. Only by having the disease would a pony be compelled to perform the talent it represented. Otherwise, a pony's cutie mark is really just an extension of their own traits and personality, brought into being when a pony realizes what they are best at. Yes, a pony will get depressed when they are unable to perform their special talent, but that's really no different than any person in our world who has hobbies that they work on outside of their job. The difference between our world and theirs is that, more often than not, a pony's talent becomes integrated with what they do in life, whereas in our world a person's greatest talent doesn't always pay the bills.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

My point was that cutie marks with similarities aren't necessarily correlating to similar talents.

The names, I feel, are not done realistically in the show, as it seems unlikely that one would coincidentally be able to guess their child's special talent and name them based upon that. It makes sense in families: the Cakes, the Apples and the Pies, namely, but other than that I just can't seriously believe that the names ponies are introduced with were given (realistically) at birth. I think it's just a flaw in the show's writing. I'm sure you could develop a theory as to how the name-talent correlation makes sense, but unfortunately it's not something I'm interested in getting into--and even if I was, it'd be, as you said, for a different topic.

I admit that you are right (and I was wrong--but let's try not to think about that ) about names having to do with who ponies become.

That is the dangers of looking TOO close into a work of fiction, sometimes their plot holes are showing and not even the craziest evidence gathering and rationalization can explain it beyond bad writing. However I do enjoy a good theoretical romp none the less

 

Hey being wrong is a good thing. Hell I WANT to be proven wrong without a shadow of a doubt, cause then what comes after is a much stronger evidence based headcanon (and I have been proven wrong before even on this site). I am pretty good at well thought out theories though, if I had one of these cutie marks it would probably be in this kind of thing.

[Silverrida 35]

You kidding I am having a blast!

 

 

So you need evidence without a shadow of a doubt that a cutie mark would willingly manipulate a pony to its own ends? What if I told you a cutie mark got so fed up with a pony resisting her call that she was quite literally dragged by the horn? Overridding her control to get her to see what she was meant to do so it could finally make itself visable?

 

http://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=Rs-WYzY_0Z0

 

How is that for evidence?

 

Ahh, but there's a big thing in there. "For its own ends." If we concede that being dragged was intrinsically linked to her cutie mark, which it seems to have been, then we are simply in the place we started I feel.

 

The mark was involved in the manipulation but it was not forced despite it appearing so in the conventional sense. The discovery that occurred as a result of whatever happened that involved the mark simply furthered what was already established as Rarity's own individual desires; to make the outfits fabulous! 

 

There is no doubt that cutie marks at least symbolize an augmentation in a pony's magical capabilities in the area that is related to their mark. Perhaps this was a case of that occurring and it was still based on what Rarity wanted more than the mark acting individually. She is better at magic that relates to finding gemstones and getting fabulous results not because the mark is defining her individuality but instead matching it. Which is what we're told the marks do in the first place.

 

 

I got the impression from the Cutie Pox episode that having the Cutie Pox was an exceptional circumstance. Only by having the disease would a pony be compelled to perform the talent it represented. Otherwise, a pony's cutie mark is really just an extension of their own traits and personality, brought into being when a pony realizes what they are best at. Yes, a pony will get depressed when they are unable to perform their special talent, but that's really no different than any person in our world who has hobbies that they work on outside of their job. The difference between our world and theirs is that, more often than not, a pony's talent becomes integrated with what they do in life, whereas in our world a person's greatest talent doesn't always pay the bills.

 

 

(Even though it definitely always should >.>)

Edited August 19, 2014 by Silverrida

[Fractured 2,684]

I doubt it's tied to the cutie mark in any significant way. For instance, look at cheerilee's:

Has nothing to do with flowers.
Trixie's:
Word of god says its a crescent moon and a wand, which could go in two different directions, neither specifically relating to her talents.
Twilight Sparkle's:
Hell is that? How would you ever derive your special talent off of something so vague?
Cutie marks are just too symbolic to be used as direct references.

[paradoxical 1,735]

Nice that is a good counter arguement. However their cutie marks depict they are a pair, they go together, and to top it off, their names literally refer to dishonest buisness practices. Literally Flim flam means to swindle and fast talk. Being the scam artist team with the apple theme is etched into their very flanks.

 

I wonder, though if cutie marks can be re-defined?

 

Flim& flam could start baking or improving cider recipes and say "Oh, this is what it means!" 

 

Kinda like Pinkie imagining (or if you prefer trying out) other jobs and trying to fit her balloon theme with those jobs.  (montage in Pinkie Pride)

 

e's:download (1).jpg Hell is that? How would you ever derive your special talent off of something so vague? Cutie marks are just too symbolic to be used as direct references.

 

Umm. . . it may be the universal sign for magic (see tree of harmony)

I got the impression from the Cutie Pox episode that having the Cutie Pox was an exceptional circumstance. Only by having the disease would a pony be compelled to perform the talent it represented. Otherwise, a pony's cutie mark is really just an extension of their own traits and personality, brought into being when a pony realizes what they are best at. Yes, a pony will get depressed when they are unable to perform their special talent, but that's really no different than any person in our world who has hobbies that they work on outside of their job. The difference between our world and theirs is that, more often than not, a pony's talent becomes integrated with what they do in life, whereas in our world a person's greatest talent doesn't always pay the bills.

 

(mostly agreement)

Actually we don't know about the pox itself.  But Apple Bloom's potion does that.  And I think it's part of the problem with forcing a cutie mark to appear, not intrinsic to cutie marks themselves.