Sceethe 704 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 (edited) Basically agreeing with everyone else here, there's nothing to be offended by. I would be honored to be compared to Applejack. As for her voice, it does take some getting used to for some (for example my partner hated it when he first heard it), but I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I think her accent is especially thick just to give her a unique voice, because all of the ponies have very unique voices. It's part of what makes them so memorable. As for this, I am quite honestly shocked!! I may think it would be silly to be offended by AJ or RD, but Fluttershy is just downright nonsense! I myself am very introverted and have anxiety like Fluttershy does, and seeing her depicted in such a surprisingly realistic light was a saving grace for me, it made me feel like for once the media was treating me like a real person. Perhaps there are introverts who don't like that Fluttershy also has anxiety because they think it supports the strereotype that all introverts are frightened by social situations. Hmmm.... just to be clear, i hope you do know that i meant this sarcastically^^ Edited January 7, 2015 by Sceethe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wind Chaser 4,768 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 (edited) Someone really should change the title of this topic. It fallaciously characterizes a group by the reaction of one, and is potentially inflammatory. As for Applejack offending Southerners, well, I've seen more reason for Native Americans to be offended by the buffalo (true story, by the way), blacks to be offended by Zecora (which I haven't seen yet), and males to be offended by Snips and Snails than for Applejack to be offensive to Southerners. Although her voice may come off as an over-the-top Reba McEntire impression and she herself may be the visual manifestation of many well-worn country and Western tropes, she represents some of the very admirable qualities of "simple country folk": family orientation, skill and work ethic, honesty, and that practical nature of enjoying simpler satisfactions in life, loving her position while never desiring more than she needs. Applejack also is the manifestation of an interesting trend in cartoons. Usually cartoons with ensemble casts have one character that embodies a specific regional symbol or archetype. Thanks to the popularity of Westerns in popular culture it is usually a character with a Southern accent and skills normally associated with cowboys. Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob is one example. There have been more but I'd rather save the list. Edited January 7, 2015 by Wind Chaser 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Letter 1,832 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 There is nothing worth being offended over that Applejack represents. Who can be offended by honesty? 1 Silver Letter!!! Silver Letter's MLP collection Have: 946 https://data.mlpmerch.com/checklist/180/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 So southerners are offended by a depiction of a hardworking, honest, dependable, and very family orientated pony. Ok then. 3 My peep is against bullying.... Are you? http://mlpforums.com/topic/117034-suggestion-anti-bullying-campaign/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discordian 6,015 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 It's hilarious how a character can't just be a certain type of person anymore. They're always playing to a stereotype or a trope or something. As if they were designed to be that way rather than it being coincidence. Stereotypes don't exist if there wasn't some truth to them either. Some people think that if you aren't offended by something that you just don't care enough. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elegron 168 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 i have nothing to say that hasnt been said already, but i too am from texas and take no offence from it. applejack has less of a southern accent than the stereotype anyway. Act before you have the presence of mind to second-guess yourself. Then you rarely miss an opportunity. Fallout Equestria OC: Elegron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosmicHooves 2,705 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 (edited) How is Applejack offensive in any way? My guess is that people just find her stereotypical. She works on a farm. She has a southern accent. She wears a cowboy hat. But let me ask you this. Are all the things I have just mentioned bad in any way? Of course not. Now if Apple Jack was racist I could understand why your friend would be offended. But there's no negativity on Apple Jack's character. I swear, people get offended so easily now a days by the littlest of things. Edited January 7, 2015 by Emerald Starlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Cedar 1,408 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 The only thing I could possibly see as being stereotypical is her accent. Otherwise, she's a wonderful character exemplifying good values of family devotion and hard work. 2 Roleplaying OC: Red Cedar - Cast Character: Applejack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eloquence 2,076 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 just to be clear, i hope you do know that i meant this sarcastically^^ I didn't give it too much thought, though even if it was said as a joke there are probably people who feel that way. Laws of probability and all that. As for Applejack offending Southerners, well, I've seen more reason for Native Americans to be offended by the buffalo (true story, by the way), blacks to be offended by Zecora (which I haven't seen yet), and males to be offended by Snips and Snails than for Applejack to be offensive to Southerners. Now these ones I've heard people say before. I don't personally think any of them hold any real weight, but you could probably make a better argument for any of them than you could for AJ. Personally (and do take my opinion with a grain of salt, as I do not fall into any of the categories in question here), I think all of them could appear negative on the surface until one takes into account the context of their existence. I could go into detail, but this thread isn't really about any of these examples, so I'll save my thoughts My Equestrian Empire Characters Fluttershy - Eloquence - Chamomile - Ginseng - Lovestruck Ask Me Questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discordian 6,015 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 The only thing I could possibly see as being stereotypical is her accent. Otherwise, she's a wonderful character exemplifying good values of family devotion and hard work. On the note of her accent, it's not like she's the only one. Her entire family has that accent to some degree. Including the ones who aren't farmers. This isn't really stereotyping so much as it is character building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayzer 1,418 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I'm so sorry but I'm getting really tired of all those things. One can barely even give his opinion nowadays without somebody getting all offended over it! And this was not even an opinion, it is a character from a kids show. Do you think the makers had any intention at all to make southerners sound rediculous when they created her? No she's just a character after all. If people would be able to accept the fact that freedom of speech, and giving your own opinion about everything might mean that somebody else could have a less than positive opinion regarding you there would be a lot less violence. And things like what happened in Paris today would not have to happen. Aaamazing signature made by the awesome Nectar! Thank you so much bud! My OC page of NightStrike other oc Itiri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSP (Dizzy) 201 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 (edited) I think that Applejack isn't really meant to be a representation of southerners, but at the same time she shows off some of the south's best characteristics. She's honest, hard-working, and determined. Those are many positive attributes I would attribute to the south, though not exclusively. Edited January 7, 2015 by PSP Love you<3 I have a proudly unorthodox LP channel, which focuses on game design analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 So... They were offended because... Applejack is honest, dependable, devoted to family, hard-working, and... Wears a hat? xD Southerners could learn a thing or six from Applejack. 2 "It uses the faculty of what you call imagination. But that does not mean making things up. It is a form of seeing." - from "The Amber Spyglass" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSP (Dizzy) 201 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 So... They were offended because... Applejack is honest, dependable, devoted to family, hard-working, and... Wears a hat? xD Southerners could learn a thing or six from Applejack. Now now, I know many southerners who are hard working and devoted. One could say they often put family above all else. Texas isn't the unforgiving and harsh place it used to be, either. Love you<3 I have a proudly unorthodox LP channel, which focuses on game design analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 Now now, I know many southerners who are hard working and devoted. One could say they often put family above all else. Texas isn't the unforgiving and harsh place it used to be, either. I was merely citing AJ's virtues in order to invalidate the alleged offense taken by southerners. Though I could also rattle off all the things that are wrong with southerners, but I digress. xD "It uses the faculty of what you call imagination. But that does not mean making things up. It is a form of seeing." - from "The Amber Spyglass" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSP (Dizzy) 201 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I was merely citing AJ's virtues in order to invalidate the alleged offense taken by southerners. Though I could also rattle off all the things that are wrong with southerners, but I digress. xD I think there are some things about AJ that could be taken as offensive, but I think portraying characters with flaws is important, and she's generally shown as a strong pony. There are things wrong with folks no matter where they live, and there are actually some very friendly and open cities in Texas. 2 Love you<3 I have a proudly unorthodox LP channel, which focuses on game design analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuteycindyhoney 13,320 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 Hmmm, southerners are angry because through Applejack, they are depicted as hard working, extremely honest, dependable, and kind, caring friends? I don't get it! 3 Thank you Sparklefan1234!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I think there are some things about AJ that could be taken as offensive, but I think portraying characters with flaws is important, and she's generally shown as a strong pony. There are things wrong with folks no matter where they live, and there are actually some very friendly and open cities in Texas. Agreed: Important and comparatively more realistic and interesting. I certainly can't argue with that. xD Southerners do, however, seem to generally be at odds with me on certain issues. That I think ought not be issues at all. < _< But again, I digress. "It uses the faculty of what you call imagination. But that does not mean making things up. It is a form of seeing." - from "The Amber Spyglass" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSP (Dizzy) 201 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 Agreed: Important and comparatively more realistic and interesting. I certainly can't argue with that. xD Southerners do, however, seem to generally be at odds with me on certain issues. That I think ought not be issues at all. < _< But again, I digress. I could agree that some southerners are behind on rather problematic issues, but the south as a whole is slowly becoming far more inclusive. 2 Love you<3 I have a proudly unorthodox LP channel, which focuses on game design analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I could agree that some southerners are behind on rather problematic issues, but the south as a whole is slowly becoming far more inclusive. I do hope so. And if that is indeed the case... ...It's possible that AJ is at least partially responsible. "It uses the faculty of what you call imagination. But that does not mean making things up. It is a form of seeing." - from "The Amber Spyglass" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSP (Dizzy) 201 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I do hope so. And if that is indeed the case... ...It's possible that AJ is at least partially responsible. I doubt that, but we can believe that for the sake of the Rule of Fun. 1 Love you<3 I have a proudly unorthodox LP channel, which focuses on game design analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 Hey @@Pony.inc, just so you know, I have tweaked the title of your thread to turn the statement into a question. When introducing a topic based on subjectivity, it is often better asked as a question rather than presented as a definitive statement (which conveys only one perspective). Many thanks and please continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny Shimmer 259 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 (edited) Well I live in Missouri so I might not count but I love the country. AJ isn't my favorite but she is similar to others I know that have no idea what MLP is so she can't be offensive. Edited January 7, 2015 by RainbowDarth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neutral 1,185 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 I can see that it may offended some southerners but everyone has their flaws and AJ is shown as a good pony and Is loyal and hardworking. if you are offended by AJ I suggest that you look a little deeper to her or just don't watch the show. Credit to Rainbowdash72 for sig credit to Ivory for the amazing avatar credit to couleur for the wallpaper if your in hell keep going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZRD WZRD 1,929 January 7, 2015 Share January 7, 2015 So it's offensive to make a character that actually has real world parallels? Got it, thanks PC SJW America.... ....oh wait Check out my channel for awesome video reviews and analysis! https://www.youtube.com/c/LZRDWZRD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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