Does MLP make you wish the world/you could be more (physically) affectionate?

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Honestly I've never really been one to big physically, but part of that I guess is engrained in societal teachings. It's like how I've been raised to think that a man crying is automatically weak, but I've learned the opposite is true.

 

Likewise I do wish physical interaction as such was more of a reality. Granted some things can be a bit too personally, but a friendly hug for whatever reason shouldn't be seen as a bad thing.

[Adorkable 2,737]

I mean, I don't want everyone I meet to walk up and hug me, just think of all the germs, lol. But I certainly wouldn't mind hugging the guy next to me in the movie theater when the hero saves the day, if that makes sense. The nuzzling part sounded cute, so I think I would be okay with that.

[RarityFan01 2,444]

I love the physical affection (especially hugs) and wish more people where the same.

 

When we watch MLP, we are most likely seeing Equestria through rose-tinted glasses. (Except for realists who will say that everything we and/or know is everything that happens in Equestria and that Equestria is a fictional universe...) 

 

Disclaimer: I know Equestria isn't a real place. Having a strong imagination and venturing out of reality doesn't mean one can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. I wish people would understand that.

 

Anyways... 

 

If Equestria was a real place, what we see in MLP would only be a small fraction of what we see. Maybe most ponies actually hate physical affection, but we see that a lot of ponies love it because that is what we are seeing. We do see enough bad stuff to know that Equestria isn't perfect, but we aren't seeing all of the bad stuff. MLP is still a kid's show, so of course they won't include a lot of bad things. 

 

Maybe Equestria doesn't have the same freedoms we may have.

 

These are possibilities, and some of them are most likely true. 

 

1. No Freedom of Speech: You cannot talk ill of any Princess nor Equestria. You cannot say certain words nor phrases. You cannot speak out against anything. etc.
2. Slavery is Legal: If anypony wishes, they could have slaves. (May be true based on how you view slavery. The fact that sheep are sentient may make Applejack a slave owner to some while others would not see non-equine as equivalents and not view the sheep as Applejack's slaves.)
3. No Trial: If anypony does something wrong, they are thrown into prison or banished. 
4. Non-ponies do not have equal rights: Anyone who is not a pony, even if they are sentient and can speak, may still be seen as other animals and lack the same rights as ponies. (This one, from watching the show, is true.) 
5. It is illegal to not sing along to songs with your town included: If you don't want to join in on Smile Smile Smile, either stay in door and hide, or you will be arrested. (This one is crazy, but it could be true for all we know.) 

If Equestria was real, maybe fans of My Little Human would wish they lived in our world thinking our world is nice and a utopia and their world is terrible. 

 

 

 

 

[darkwingmare 1,321]

Well, another show I really like is Steven Universe. Steven(the main character) is a great role model for both kids, adults and elders. He's simply amazing. So I'd say he makes that cartoon much more affectionate than it would have been without him.

 

However, I do agree that watching cartoons makes me feel more affectionate. Though, in the country I live in, you can hug basically anyone on the street and they would hug you back without much hesitation. At least 85% or more would hug back, we are very affectionate, polite and considerate 'cause most of us were raised that way, it's what we think is right.

 

However, the world could definitely use more affection.

[Commissar Alexer 763]

Ask yourself that question: Would you really like be hugged by nearly everyone?

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

I could imagine it happening a lot more among this community when it convenes in real life. It conveys a sense of trust only friends and family with deep emotional relationships would have. It seems we have the right kinds of personalities in this fandom for that.

 

It's very much like that at conventions. Hugs abound. Every BronyCon and at BABScon this year I hugged a lot of people. Feels good and it's something I wish people were more comfortable with in daily life, although I recognize some people still wouldn't be comfortable with it and it's not appropriate in all situations, but the world or at least the US could stand to have a bit more peace and affection as part of people's daily lives.

[TheJLeeTeam 914]

Yes I wish this world was a lot less harsh.

[Steve Piranha 29,425]

Not really, I it makes me wish the world was more kind in general. In fact, I think we are less affectionate because of it

[Chrysa 28]

I'm torn. On the one hand I do feel a slight twinge of longing when I see the group hugs and such during the show. On the other hand, I'm not a touchy feely person at all and I've found the whole malarky quite tedious.

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

I agree with Zygen. Seeing the show makes want to have close friends like that. But I don't, so I feel lonely... I'm pretty introverted as well, so that doesn't help. That's actually why I joined the forum; I just want to make friends. It (sort of) works... But still... Getting really close friendships in RL is hard. I say hello to pretty much anyone I meet on the streets, and they all just stare at me as if I'm going to mug them or something. It's annoying. I wish people (including me) are more trusting. Plus, in the show, there are close to no jerks. Maybe one or two, but not many. My entire class is composed out of jerks... ;_;

Where I live, you're more or less expected to greet people you pass by, especially if you know them. 

 

I used to think that bronies could emulate the atmosphere of friendship that is seen in the show but that just set me up for disappointment. Well, the thing is, we may see people around here as "bronies" but what we often don't see is all the baggage that each of us carry from our respective awful experiences IRL. Head on over to the Life Advice section to get an idea. In being hypnotized with the magic of friendship we forget that we are made up of individuals from all backgrounds be they cultural, spiritual or ideological (the things you can see on an online message board) and not many people seem to expect this, let alone be prepared to deal with it. Head on over to the Debate Pit to get an idea... Oh and let's not even begin to ask ourselves about the occurrence of bronies with some or other emotional or mental disorder including but not limited to depression, social anxiety, autism, etc.

 

Let's face it, we could try ourselves but even we who desire such a social reality would have a difficult time pulling it off because we simply aren't prepared to be among such a diverse lot of individuals. Even people with good intentions can rub other people the wrong way and mistrust can result. Soon enough we end up being more or less just like the rest.

[baltosaa 86]

I wished this world could be a better place with or without MLP FIM.

 

it needs halp :C

 

 

*Edit*

 Oh yeah, you said "Physycally affectionate"....

 

Uh, well no. XD Affectionate, sure I guess, with the right amount. But being physical....maybe not XD

 

 

People with Asperger's be like.

*not meaning to stereotype or generalise haha*
I think I'm good with the amount of physical contact I have to deal with right now, thank you. xD
Although I wish I was a little more comfortable with it. It's not like I don't like physical affection, it's just that it's overwhelming at times, I guess. So that'd be a big old nope for me.

 

 

 

^Also yes. All of my yes. XD

Edited May 1, 2015 by baltosaa

[Justin_Case001 4,892]

I posted in here quite awhile back, but I'd like to revisit this topic, as I've been thinking a lot more about it lately.

 

I long for more physical affection in my life, such that it tears me apart on a daily basis, as I said. We're social beings by evolution after all, and for most, touch is a necessary part of a overall health and well-being. Sometimes a little can go a long way. Just a touch on the shoulder, a pat on the back, or a handshake can help tremendously. However, ironically, there's this annoying waiter at a Mexican restaurant in my town who has a habit of setting his hands on the customers' shoulders in a friendly manner. I hate it and tell him politely to stop. Yes, I want physical affection....from friends. That doesn't mean I want strangers putting their hands on me. Anyway, touch is a healthy part of life, and I am so deprived of it that I rely purely on my imagination for all physical affection, and it's straining and draining.

 

From Crash

 

"It's the sense of touch. Any real city...you walk...y'know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In LA [or substitute anywhere you wish. In my case, I'd just say Earth], nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something."

 

I want to feel....something. Anything. Sometimes I can understand why extremely depressed people hurt themselves. And that phenomenon is true in the animal kingdom as well. Sometimes feeling nothing becomes unbearable.

 

But what I want to talk about most today is how we lose something precious as we grow up. Kids tend to be more physical, I think. Whether it's hugging their parents, or rough housing or what have you. As we grow up, for most of us, such things just don't feel right anymore. I'm not physical with my family. I don't hug my parents, and I don't really want to. It just doesn't feel right. It's awkward now. "Rough housing" isn't an option either, and seems downright silly and embarrassing as an adult. Unless you have kids, that is. Parents get to relive that, because they get to play with their kids. Rough house with them, give them piggy back rides, pick them up, etc. For the single adult, such connection is forever out of reach. If I had a mate, it would all be okay, of course. It's not even unusual to see a guy giving his girlfriend a piggy back ride. But what's a guy to do, with only platonic friends? Physical affection or contact of any kind has always been awkward between my friends and I. Many forms of harmless physical affection are deemed ridiculous for adults to do, males in particular, which is an unfair double standard, of course. Specifically, I wish that we could retain some of the carefree, uninhibited physical affection and connection many of us have when we're kids, and not have it seem so awkward as adults. I feel like, as an adult, I'm expected to maintain a certain level of mature professionalism, even in private, and refrain from healthy expressions of affection. The ponies have group hugs, act silly sometimes, roll around, jump on each other, nudge and pat each other, nuzzle each other, all kinds of things. Healthy things. I feel like these things are social mores for adults, even among friends. And I don't know what the solution is. If my friends suddenly said they wanted to try being physically affectionate, it wouldn't be some instant fix-all. It would be incredibly awkward, and I don't feel like it would work. I don't know, I guess some people do have lots of that kind of casual physical contact, and it's not weird. Just depends you are, and who you're surrounded by. But I am certainly completely deprived.

 

I was even thinking about different types of contact sports--like wrestling, tackle football, even boxing and martial arts--and wondering if such activities have some subconsious basis in our human need for physical contact. Maybe it's a stretch, but perhaps many guys, under the guise ( ) of violence, are actually subconsiously fulfilling that need for contact. They're not hugging or nuzzling, so society doesn't mind or make fun. Perhaps that hypothesis is a bit out there, but I think there may be a lot of truth to it.

 

I want my relationships to be like FIM so much. Why must I want it so much? Why must I be human and cursed with an imagination capable of painting images of a world so much more inviting than mine?

Edited November 16, 2015 by Justin_Case001

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Yes yes i do Rarity is so lovely 

[Nintenboy195 384]

For me, yeah. And I'd also much rather be in Equestria than earth...