IS making derpy less derpy actually insulting the disabled?

[derpy4ever 48]

I don't know about anybody else, but when I heard derpy being derpy was controversial I was shocked. I am both physically and learning impaired myself. If derpy was meant to represent the disabled then she should be over-derped rather than un-derped. Underp-ing him is basically saying the disabled are nto woth putting on TV which I take offensively.

 

Plus derpy is an inspiration and hero to me as she is so persistent despite her ditzy doo behaivor. She tries so hard to be helpful and I commend her for that. So for me it is long live  the Derpster!

[Mothra 540]

This was a big argument during the time she was changed for the first time, and people are always going to have their own opinions. Like you said, having her less like someone is disabled in someway goes against her entire character and who she's supposed to represent, and I personally think that there shouldn't have been any complaints against her in the first place, seeing as she's meant to represent mentally disabled people, then why is scootaloo allowed to represent physically disabled people? And tanks for the memories allowed to be an allegory for death?

 

Yeah, in short, I agree with you, and am glad she was changed back to being at least slightly derpy rather than the complete unnecessary censorship that was the derpy in the last roundup

[DND 2,354]

Most of what you know of Derpy is fanon. The little bits we have are some of what the fanon has represented of her, but most certainly not all. I think if they canonically announced her mentally disabled instead of the obvious bad eyesight and toned that aspect down enough to Derpy being nonexistent afterwards like in the Last Roundup, it would most likely be from a generally offensive characterization, not because of the fact she's impaired.

Edited August 22, 2015 by IncognitoKiwoy

[Silver Letter 1,830]

 

 

Underp-ing him is basically saying the disabled are nto woth putting on TV which I take offensively.

That's political correctness. They couldn't care less who they offend ironically.

[Concerned Bystander 2,901]

1. If you don't have any disabled characters in a program people will complain about the lack of diversity.

 

2. If you have a disabled character that has limitations caused by their condition then people complain that you're mocking the disabled.

 

3. Apparently all disabled characters on TV have to be courageous, tough, intelligent, go-getters who are not limited by their disability.  Which then raises the question of why go out of your way to make a character disabled at all.

 

4. return to 1. and repeat as necessary.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

They un-derped her because a few people complained and everyone gets so offended these days that Hasbro didn't want the bad publicity so they gave in and changed our perfect little derpy.

[EquestriaGuy 1,074]

I screamed about it back then, and I'll say it again now. The answer to the OP is yes. It implies that her original nature is somehow offensive and should be hidden away. There's nothing wrong with having crossed eyes, or a silly voice, or being clumsy. They aren't indicative of anything. The only people labeling her as retarded were the one trying to get her removed. That label only existed in their minds, and yet they still had the gall to demonize all of her fans. We saw her as a goodhearted, clumsy, fun, golden haired pegasus, while their hate filled minds couldn't see past her physical attributes. Worst yet they attacked Amy Keating Rogers, who wrote the episode, has a disabled son, and saw absolutely nothing in Derpy that could be construed as offensive. Shame on them.

 

 

With that being said, I do very much like this new voice. Her return in Slice of Life was glorious and validating. I just wish it never had to come to this.

[Princess Lona 381]

I always thought that the "offense" came from a misunderstanding about her name. I never thought Derpy had a disability, I just thought she was clumsy. But the people who got mad thought that the word "derpy" was supposed to be a slang term for "mentally disabled", so her name coupled with her behaviour is what bothered them. The stupidest part is that "derpy" never meant disabled. It has always been a term to describe generally clumsy and sometimes annoying behaviour, whether the person exhibiting that behaviour is disabled or not.

[derpy4ever 48]

I always thought that the "offense" came from a misunderstanding about her name. I never thought Derpy had a disability, I just thought she was clumsy. But the people who got mad thought that the word "derpy" was supposed to be a slang term for "mentally disabled", so her name coupled with her behaviour is what bothered them. The stupidest part is that "derpy" never meant disabled. It has always been a term to describe generally clumsy and sometimes annoying behaviour, whether the person exhibiting that behaviour is disabled or not.

 

Actually , I never thought of her as disabled until I learned about the controversy then heard rumour it was made canon. I'm just speaking as though she represents the disabled because that's what people have used her as. Personally I'd rather have slurs used gainst me than to have people try to "spare my feelings" with words like special or otherly abled, euphimisms tick me off like nothing else. (ironic considering they were made to "protect" people like me)

[Conred 274]

She was never meant  be mentally disabled. Just clumsy blonde stereotype of an "airhead" (thus why she have bubbles as a cutie mark). If anything blonde pegasisters should be offended rather than mentaly disabled.

[cider float 2,535]

Stop beating on a dead horse.

[1111 1,284]

She isn't even disabled having a condition doesn't make you disabled unless its to a point where is dose, she has a job and a house all by her self wow how disabled. 

[AlbaTross 1,581]

Well, apparently BronyCAN Derpy is good at videogames. In all due honesty, when I heard about the Derpy controversy, even though it was well after the fact, I couldn't believe the stupidity of those who complained, and I still feel the same way. I also object to the more recent rebranding of Derpy as Muffins. By the way, no one at BronyCAN called her Muffins. Ironically, all of this controversy just made Derpy really popular. Fans took notice of her before, but after the controversy, she just became even more popular.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,283]

I never thought of Derpy as disabled, aside from her visual acuity problems. In her first voiced appearance, I thought she sounded childlike and adorable. She didn't sound developmentally challenged to me. I think of her as being a bit different, unafraid to march to the beat of her own drummer. 

[SixShooterOutlaw 237]

I honestly think that it is way more offensive to make her less derpy, it's basically saying that it's wrong to have someone like that on tv!  

There was never anything in there that was making fun of the disabled.

[Black Sabbath 2,484]

If derpy was meant to represent the disabled then she should be over-derped rather than un-derped. Underp-ing him is basically saying the disabled are nto woth putting on TV which I take offensively.

Yes, Derpy did such a great job of representing the mentally challenged in that episode.* She broke stuff, was stupid, annoyed Rainbow Dash and did nothing else in the entire episode.

 

*I'm being sarcastic.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Yamet

[Shanks 10,811]

Yes, it was. Granted Derpy was never confirmed to be one way or another but we do know that she is clumsy, has vision problems and has a somewhat child like personality which people read way way too much into resulting in the voice/scene change in The Last Roundup.The good news however is that she did get another speaking role in Slice of Life and she seemed very much herself to me in her voice, mannerisms and personality which may open the door to more of her and not just in the background in the future. Since that episode much of my initial rage from Derpygate has dissipated, I am still pissed that so many like to try to speak for people without actually bothering to listen to them but Derpy getting another speaking role and it being quite good is a huge step in the right direction.

[derpy4ever 48]

Yes, Derpy did such a great job of representing the mentally challenged in that episode.* She broke stuff, was stupid, annoyed Rainbow Dash and did nothing else in the entire episode.

 

*I'm being sarcastic.

 

Actually being disabled myself, this is exactly what I want to see, because it is how I often am myself. Showing someone trying hard and derping it up isn't making fun, it is showing the reality of what being disabled is like. I am in a sports organization for the disabled with people who are nearly exactly like Derpy. Characters like Derpy who show the truth of the matter are much more relatable and thus inspirational beacuse we can see ourselves in them. This is why the disabled should decide what is offensive to them not people "speaking" on their behalf. Personally I think it is ridiculous how overprotected my people are against reality, it isn't helping anyone with anything. On the other hand, I love a good laugh at my expense due to my disabilities because it helps releive the tension of living with it. So even if it was poking fun I would still support Derpy because laughing at myself actually helps.

Edited August 25, 2015 by derpy4ever