Inferior races in Equestria?

[Phoenix Flair 332]

Does anyone else think there's something a bit... off about how the ponies treat similar races of animals?  I mean, they were nice enough to the buffalo, and the one Zebra we've seen, but what about the cows, who, for some reason, aren't allowed into Ponyville, or the sheep that Apple Bloom and Applejack locked up?  And what about the pigs?  Why do ponies keep pigs if they're vegetarians?

 

You guys, maybe it's like straight-up Hunger Games in Equestria, and the ponies are like the capitol keeping the other races of animals enslaved and segregated somewhere.

 

Or maybe I'm reading too far into this.

 

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

[Fractured 2,684]

Does anyone else think there's something a bit... off about how the ponies treat similar races of animals?  I mean, they were nice enough to the buffalo, and the one Zebra we've seen, but what about the cows, who, for some reason, aren't allowed into Ponyville, or the sheep that Apple Bloom and Applejack locked up?  And what about the pigs?  Why do ponies keep pigs if they're vegetarians?

 

You guys, maybe it's like straight-up Hunger Games in Equestria, and the ponies are like the capitol keeping the other races of animals enslaved and segregated somewhere.

 

Or maybe I'm reading too far into this.

 

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

They sell deer off at pet auctions. Apparently, it ain't nothing but a 'thang in Equestria.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Shimmer5000

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

What do you mean, the cows aren't allowed into Ponyville?

Daisy Joe coming to Sugarcube Corner to get some cookies. (A Friend in Deed)

 

We've never seen the pigs talk... although the sheep have:

(Sisterhooves Social)

 

The pigs help them dig for truffles, eat the leftovers, and they are taken to competitions:

There is only confusion on that point because there was once a ham sandwich in one of the episodes.

 

The farm animals are there to provide jokes, end of story. Trying to build a theory that explains all of their interactions is not very useful. Basically, you are overthinking it, although of course, it's fun to speculate.

[Simon 4,557]

This thread appears to be discussing the show itself, so it has been moved to Show Discussion.  The General Discussion area is meant for topics not directly related to My Little Pony.

[Arctic Night 884]

This has been disturbing me for a long time. The Equestrians seem to have an odd concept of civil liberty.

 

But yes, this is "reading too far into it."I know it's a children's television show, but I just can't help myself.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Wellll....I could say all non-unicorns are inferior races

Why are unicorns > every other race? 

This'n right hurr

 

 

Fabulosityoverrulesallyourargumentisinvalid

[Silverhoof 2,844]

Every now and then I get evil thoughts. Ponies are mere analogies for humans. Ponies = humans.

That could mean ponies are omnivores and EAT the lesser races.

 

Sheep are smaller than ponies so they are kept locked up and fed until shearing time or eating time.

Cattle are bigger than ponies, so they are duped into thinking ponies are friends. BUT. Cattle are not allowed to be educated . Further they are segregated from pony society until they are lured into butcher shops for cookies.

 

Hasbro keeps us from ever seeing the burger and hot dog stands all over Equestria, its a conspiracy.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Silverhoof

[Darker 1,351]

Because in FiM they portray the ponies to be more humanistic, having more human-like expressions, allowing them to be over-the-top and also having the almost exact same casual routine we have.

 

Which leads other species to be portrayed as what can I only describe as slaves. Having them to do your work  and serve you is basically being slaves.

 

Though this should not be discussed. This is a children's show what we are talking about, and it's meant for 8 years old little girls. This show is about some marshmallow multi-colored ponies befriending each other and fighting some dudes in the most generic and clichéd ways possible.

 

So, details like that are the kind of thing children ignore. And I'm pretty sure they do.

[Jennabun 1,579]

That could mean ponies are omnivores and EAT the lesser races.

Nah, the ponies' vegetarianism has been specifically referenced a few times.

 

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I am in total confusion about the status of different species in Equestria. I don't know where the line is between what species are considered "animals" and what species are considered "people" (or, in other words, personifications in the same way ponies are).

 

Ponies are like people. I assume so are buffalo, cows, zebras, monkeys, goats, griffons, sheep, dragons, [some?] dogs, and donkeys because we've seen them capable of speech and higher-level thinking... but rabbits, pigs, chickens, cats, deer, alligators, etc. aren't? Why? Where is the distinction? How is it decided which animals are treated with a human-level of respect and which ones aren't?

 

And actually, I'm getting even more confused as I sit here and think about it. 

 

Because even though the ponies' pets (owls, alligators, dogs, cats, turtles, bunnies) are not capable of speech, they do seem to be capable of some form of higher-level thinking. They are able to make decisions and think complex thoughts like humans can. They can communicate specific messages to the ponies (for example, Angel seems to communicate to Fluttershy using motions, kind of like sign-language). Several of them seem to have well-rounded personalities. So why are they "pets" and not just their own species? Why are the treated as dependent on the ponies when I'm 90% sure they could live independently?

 

Oh, but even if we determine what animals are "human-like" by whether or not they speak, it still doesn't make sense. Because if speech is the determining factor, why does it seem like animals who can't speak (like birds and squirrels) get more freedoms than animals like sheep, who have been shown as capable of speech?

 

I doooooon't get iiiiiiiit.

[Cwanky 17,584]

Does anyone else think there's something a bit... off about how the ponies treat similar races of animals?  I mean, they were nice enough to the buffalo, and the one Zebra we've seen, but what about the cows, who, for some reason, aren't allowed into Ponyville, or the sheep that Apple Bloom and Applejack locked up?  And what about the pigs?  Why do ponies keep pigs if they're vegetarians?

 

You guys, maybe it's like straight-up Hunger Games in Equestria, and the ponies are like the capitol keeping the other races of animals enslaved and segregated somewhere.

 

Or maybe I'm reading too far into this.

 

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Not at all. Its always interesting to delve into some of the deeper mysteries that bother us.

 

From my understanding, it seems that all the sapient races in Equestria appear to have equal rights and suffrage to the equines, despite the prejudice they may often encounter. The cows it seems have some contract with the pony farmers to live in the stables and are provided with food. True, they are at times herded and gated in, but this may just be a self imposed measure on their part since they seem to have trouble controlling themselves when they stampede. As seen with Daisyjo and other cows, they otherwise have free acess to the town, public transportation via the train, and on a few occassions have been seen walking on their own. The sheep, at least I hope, seem to operate on a similar basis. Since the pigs, at least up until now, haven't shown any advanced abilities to communicate or socialize, its safe to say their are intellectually inferior.

 

I do however question the sapience of some of the species like the goats:

 

 

They oddly never showed any ability to talk and are rather passive, yet competent enough to operate machinery and interact with the ponies, and civilized enough to wear ties. It makes me question the wisdom of Iron Will's management of his human staff hiring department.

[sweetolebob18 728]

IRL, racism is wrong because all races seem fairly equal in the smarts department (although, you can piss off some folks by pointing out most serial killers are heterosexual white males & almost all are men)

 

But, are the races equal in EQ?  Or, are some species just smarter than others?