spoiler Why was Fluttershy so optamistic about the town?

[Cwanky 17,590]

This is not a put down on Fluttershy, but lest we forget, Fluttershy was the same person who openly welcomed and trusted Discord, even as he sought in a not so discreet manner to undermine her while maintaining a facade of friendship and cooperation.

 

She's also the same person that allowed the breezies to exploit her hospitality and allowed them to take advantage of her. There are plenty other examples but....

 

All that aside, its not as if the village Starlight Glimmer ran was trying to scare away visitors and potential converts. Quite the opposite. They tried their very best to be nice, or pretend, to lure in unsuspecting visitors and "convert" them to their lifestyle. Part of Fluttershy'sn nature is that she's trusting of others, naive to a fault, so its understandable that she would fall for their ruse and propaganda more easily than the others. Plus since Fluttershy's the element of kindness, its just as likely that she also misread their behavior as true kindness.

Edited April 9, 2015 by Cwanky

[Stellafera 3,836]

Honestly, I think this was a bit of flanderization on Fluttershy's part. I know she's the Element of Kindness, but this just bordered on insanity. Of course, she could just have been trying to convince herself that everything was normal because she dislikes conflict and it would be in line with her character to want an ideal town even though she knew it wasn't...

 

For me, though, I think her element was exaggerated too much.

 

Really? To a lesser extent, I know I'd be the designated double agent like Fluttershy in this situation. It's not that I'd like all the creepy smiles, but... they seem so happy... and um... maybe we shouldn't mess with them... and, uh... it's just that you guys are just being so hostile to all these nice people...

 

I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE

 

Fluttershy is even more conflict avoidant than I am, and Seasons 4 and 5 have had her confidence grow enough that she's willing to be firm about it. The ponies tried to be welcoming to her, and she hates to have to hurt the feelings of nice people (even for the greater good). It's a bit of weakness on her part, really, since it's more important to give people their souls back than make them not mad at you, but that's a perfectly valid character flaw.

Edited April 10, 2015 by Stellafera

[KatonRyu 1,033]

 

Really? To a lesser extent, I know I'd be the designated double agent like Fluttershy in this situation. It's not that I'd like all the creepy smiles, but... they seem so happy... and um... maybe we shouldn't mess with them... and, uh... it's just that you guys are just being so hostile to all these nice people...

 

I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE

 

Fluttershy is even more conflict avoidant than I am, and Seasons 4 and 5 have had her confidence grow enough that she's willing to be firm about it. The ponies tried to be welcoming to her, and she hates to have to hurt the feelings of nice people (even for the greater good). It's a bit of weakness on her part, really, since it's more important to give people their souls back than make them not mad at you, but that's a perfectly valid character flaw.

 

 

Hmm, when you put it like that it does sound more like a valid flaw. Still, for her to not acknowledge even to her friends that something weird is going on...but then, as you said, she is very conflict avoidant so I guess not mentioning it suits her.

[Stellafera 3,836]

Hmm, when you put it like that it does sound more like a valid flaw. Still, for her to not acknowledge even to her friends that something weird is going on...but then, as you said, she is very conflict avoidant so I guess not mentioning it suits her.

 

Her friends were already acknowledging that in spades, though. From her perspective, they were essentially going full witchunt mode on this town. She was the only one who really gave them benefit of the doubt as I see it.

[KatonRyu 1,033]

Her friends were already acknowledging that in spades, though. From her perspective, they were essentially going full witchunt mode on this town. She was the only one who really gave them benefit of the doubt as I see it.

 

That's true. I guess it was in character for her to act like she did. It's just so far removed from my own feelings that it felt strange. I have to admit that Fluttershy is the pony I connect with the least (although I don't dislike her, let that be clear), so I guess that caused my reaction.