How would the ponies react to petting?

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

Here's what I mean. You stumble across a portal of some kind and land in Equestria, but unlike in the EQ movies, you retain your human form. None of the inhabitants know who or what you are, but from your behavior, they can tell you're pleased to see them. They don't consider you as a threat, and they're eager to learn more about you and where you're from.

Naturally, your first instinct would be to talk to them. And because of your past experiences with animals on Earth, you have an overwhelming urge to pet them. And by that, I mean the works: to stroke, tickle, cuddle and kiss them like they're your precious little babies. But being that ponies are the dominant species in this world, and they care for their own animals the way we do ours, how do you think they would take it? Would they feel uncomfortable? Offended? Or would they think of it as some weird kind of massage therapy?

And while we're on the subject, who would you want to pet the most?

Edited November 17, 2014 by Lord-Pomegranate

[Malinter 3,064]

i'm pretty sure they've petted each other in the show, usually as a sign of reassurance.  

[Not_active 732]

No matter what, it would be cute as hell.

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

i'm pretty sure they've petted each other in the show, usually as a sign of reassurance.  

 

Okay then, I elaborated a bit more in the OP. We tend to treat most animals like newborn infants. If the ponies ever petted each other, it wouldn't be under the same context. Being that they are intelligent adults with the same verbal communication as ours, they may or may not take kindly to it. 

[User0815 264]

Hell, I know I would pet a one of them!!

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

Petting main sixes will be a suicide

 

Rarity - Will complain and demand apologise 

Pinkie Pie - She will keep on annoying you asking questions about petting

Fluttershy - Scream, tell friends, and chaos comes to you

Rainbow Dash - Tackles or Drop you from 50000 meters

Applejack - Kick you 

Twilight - Will use magic to hurt you/ study about petting and keep on asking questions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some ponies will like it and some ponies won't... It will be cute as hell if you pet ponies. I will never pet male ponies. 

Edited November 17, 2014 by BronyAssassin

[Lord Bradley 1,319]

Thanks to the hundreds upon hundreds of fan fiction I've read, I'd say if a human pets them, they will most likely release a moan of pleasure or something. N-no, not in that way...

[VitalSpark 1,830]

Rarity - Will complain and demand apologise 

 

Only if you mess up her mane style. Stick strictly to her back and under her chin, and she'll be fine.

I think the main deciding factor is whether I could speak the same language as them. Obviously on the TV, they speak English, or Spanish, or French, or Japanese, or Rumanian, or whatever, but I assume that this is just a translation for our benefit of whatever language is actually spoken in Equestria.

 

If you could speak the same language, and actually ask them first if they'd want a cuddle or whatever, I think most of them would be up for it if you caught them in a good mood, at a time they weren't busy.

[Justin_Case001 4,907]

And by that, I mean the works: to stroke, tickle, cuddle and kiss them like they're your precious little babies.

Damn, dude, sounds good to me!

 

Seriously, though; hmm.  Nearly every mammal on earth likes to be petted/cuddled.  I sure as hell do.  (Or rather, would if I had someone in my life to do that.)  But the thing of it is, when it comes to humans, we don't tend to pet or cuddle random people we just met, or even friends, typically.  Such actions are deemed intimate and reserved for romantic partners in most cases.  Since animals don't have that construct, they don't care.  It just feels good and that's that.  Since the ponies are the dominant species, perhaps they'd react the same way a random human would if you just walked up and stroked their head.  But of course, the ponies are not nearly cold and skeptical because they don't live in a world where everyone is a potential identify thief or Ebola carrier.  So maybe they would be more trusting and open to a little friendly physical affection.  Of course, if you lived there and became close friends with them, then I'm sure they'd be fine with it.

 

Talking about this is making me depressed again because I wish I had someone to pet and be petted by. 

[Larkybird~ 734]

I don't think they'd mind, as long as you didn't pet too hard, didn't mess up their manes, didn't touch them in certain spots and didn't listen to them when they told you to stop.

[Shadowking58 1,137]

Only if you mess up her mane style. Stick strictly to her back and under her chin, and she'll be fine.

I think the main deciding factor is whether I could speak the same language as them. Obviously on the TV, they speak English, or Spanish, or French, or Japanese, or Rumanian, or whatever, but I assume that this is just a translation for our benefit of whatever language is actually spoken in Equestria.

 

If you could speak the same language, and actually ask them first if they'd want a cuddle or whatever, I think most of them would be up for it if you caught them in a good mood, at a time they weren't busy.

English is probably the native language of Equestria, considering that is the first language the show was ever made in.

[chirox the pony 1,336]

All I know is that Rarity would likely yell at you for ruining her mane, I don't know how the rest of the mane six would react.

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

Only if you mess up her mane style. Stick strictly to her back and under her chin, and she'll be fine.

I think the main deciding factor is whether I could speak the same language as them. Obviously on the TV, they speak English, or Spanish, or French, or Japanese, or Rumanian, or whatever, but I assume that this is just a translation for our benefit of whatever language is actually spoken in Equestria.

 

If you could speak the same language, and actually ask them first if they'd want a cuddle or whatever, I think most of them would be up for it if you caught them in a good mood, at a time they weren't busy.

Whatever language they speak, Twilight didn't seem to have problems adapting to the way humans spoke in EQ. She only had to work around a subtle difference like "anybody" as opposed to "anypony".

 

But even if they technically did speak a different language than us, Equestria would more than likely provide magic for unicorns to work around those barriers. I think a translation spell that allowed every word spoken from you to be heard in their native language, exactly as you meant it, isn't too big a stretch. 

 

Still, it wouldn't necessarily address the cultural differences between your own world and theirs. They know nothing about humans, so they wouldn't understand why you'd want to pet them like you would any other animal. For all we know, it could be like an insult to them.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

English is probably the native language of Equestria, considering that is the first language the show was ever made in.

 

The English language is heavily steeped in English history. It's a twisted fusion of Germanic (thanks to the invasion of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in the 5th century) and Romance languages (the Norman invasion 600 years later). It also has a heavy influence from Celtic (thanks Welsh people!), old Norse (thanks Vikings!), Latin, Greek, and Arabic (thanks scholars!). And more than a handful of loan words from various African and Indian languages, including Hindi (thanks Empire!).

 

I can't see English evolving as a spoken language without that very specific set of circumstances.

 

Rather I think whatever language is spoken in Equestria is represented as English by the very talented cartoonists who provide dramatisations of key events from Equestrian history for our viewing pleasure. (Yes, I am aware.) This is similar to, say, Tolkien's work where the majority of speech is written in English but he was always clear that he was just using English to represent the language "really" spoken in Middle-Earth.

 

Similarly, with his play Julius Caesar, Shakespeare wasn't really trying to suggest they all spoke English in ancient Rome.

Whatever language they speak, Twilight didn't seem to have problems adapting to the way humans spoke in EQ. She only had to work around a subtle difference like "anybody" as opposed to "anypony".

 

I'm assuming that whatever factor that changed her body from pony to human also affected the speech centres of her brain.

 

But even if they technically did speak a different language than us, Equestria would more than likely provide magic for unicorns to work around those barriers. I think a translation spell that allowed every word spoken from you to be heard in their native language, exactly as you meant it, isn't too big a stretch. 

 

This is roughly the device used by the writers of Doctor Who.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Vital Spark

[Denim&Venöm 19,388]

I don't think they'd react adversely to it. They would see it as a friendly gesture. At worst they might be taken aback by it but they would know you didn't mean any harm by it.  

[Kel_Grym 1,917]

They would file sexual harassment...

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

Given that humans and ponies speak the same languages, they'd likely hold us to the same standard of conduct. That said, they'd be weirded out if someone just walked up to them and started petting them like what would happen IRL. It just comes off as strange if not down-right suspicious. That is unless they see humans as pets that could talk.

 

Though I do have to wonder what people would think about being a pony's pet in Equestria...

[Kapitan zur See Hans (Daz) 883]

Despite being different species entirely it seems the ponies of Equestria share a lot of are cultural norms, they are very human like and would be smart enough to figure out what a gesture like that would mean. It might be seen as strange, but much of our tendencies are the same such as the facial expressions which they could read, overall I think they might be a bit creeped out at first until they realize what it is you are doing.

[Cirrus. 1,090]

LOL this is kind of funny since they're pretty much like people, so imagine going up to a person you barely know and try to pat them on the back or something. It probably wont go too well.

 

On a side note-I'm guessing that they are the size of very large dogs and Celestia is the size of a large Doe.

 

Pinkie: will probably go along with it and like it- not much seems to phase her.

 

Rarity: "Well I never! YOU OAF!" (trots away annoyed with her chin up and eyes closed)

 

Applejack: "Um, yeah. I don't think so partner." Gives a glare and then kicks you good if you're dumb enough to continue.

 

Fluttershy: She would see humans as a creature and probably be extremely happy- She didn't seem to have a problem with the manticore picking her up and licking her. She only seems shy around ponies/griffons/etc.

 

Dash: "Try that again- I DARE you" (Giving an angry glare) You do and get your hand chomped before she starts to take off.

 

Twilight: "Um, ok." (she gets that shrunken iris surprised look and uses her magic to teleport you about 10 feet away)

 

Celestia: Has a creeped-out/worried look while you're petting/examining her mane trying to figure out what the hell it is. There's also a chance that a second later you'll find yourself on the moon.

 

If they know you they might be more tolerant

Edited November 19, 2014 by steve88

[Pon3 76]

they would find it weird but get used to it

[ShintX 180]

It depends on the pony. But i'm sure they won't mind

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

^ That looks more like a playful noogie to me.

[Celli 4,339]

They'd probably be a little weirded out by the fact that some hairless ape is touching them.

[Rainboom Dash 1,056]

Confused at first, but then appreciate it.

[Shadowed Watcher 183]

Ahem, excuse me while I get into character... "What the FUCK are you.... stroking? me for you disgusting two-legged freak of nature!". Of course this would not happen, as I would have a chat with Twilight beforehand and she could warn the others of the uhh... two-legged freak of nature walking around... "petting" the citizens of ponyville. It would be fine, as long as I gave Twilight the heads up on my petting intentions beforehand.