Nightmare Moons Kingdom a Kingdom of peace and Harmony?...not really

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

There seems to be a debate going on lately ever since the season 5 finale, about the alternative timeline with Nightmare Moon as ruler of Equestria. So many people seem to think that Nightmare moon seems to be a far better ruler then Celestia and i just ask myself "...where did you get that from?"

 

What we see in this alternative timeline, is just the mere illusion of peace and freedom. The only reason why her servants are loyal to her, is through fear and not through genuine likeness to her. The safety and peace come to the price of kindness and mercy. I have no doubt that she would kill anybody who would oppose her, or even merely think differently of her and even if it's her own subjects. This is not safety and freedom.

 

Celestia is strong because she values life and because chaos and order have a balance to create harmony. Chaos and order are necessary for a kingdom.

 

What do you think? Do you still think Nightmare Moons rule would be better?

[Artimis Whooves 1,577]

No, I don't think nightmare moon would have been a better ruler than celestia.

1. She wanted eternal night, Wouldn't all the plants on that side of the world die without sunlight?
2. like you said her control is from fear, not love.
3. I forgot what this reason was supposed to be.

So yea, I don't think she'd be a very good ruler...

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

It really depends on what exactly you're looking for in a leader. Nightmare Moon could never come up with an explanation for how she could keep Equestria alive under eternal night, but I highly assume that she could have created a magical solution that would have enabled the world to thrive.

 

Nightmare Moon was definitely a tyrant, but she did create an orderly and structured society with the promise of protection and life in exchange for servitude. Her fearless demeanor demonstrates that she can deliver on that promise, even though the ponies are much more aggressive and xenophobic under her rule. In the other case, Celestia didn't defeat anyone on her own since the show began, but she did create the right conditions that allowed Twilight and company to step up to bat for Equestria.

 

Fear and the threat of collapse or violence is a great motivator. From the look of Nightmare Moon's Equestria, it seemed like a highly regimented and militarized society, in which case upkeep is important and the rank and file have to carry out orders. However, command and control comes at the sacrifice of individuality and freedom, which creates an inner conflict, and may also create complacency and selfishness at the top which would make them the opposite of receptive to the ideas and issues of others.

 

Arguably, the Mane 6 have engaged in a bit of command and control in and of themselves by forcing complete personality changes by way of the Elements of Harmony and such, but on the other hand, display an inordinate amount of kindness and compassion in how they forgive rather than punish.

 

Nightmare Moon's society was harmonious, but only by force. It may have been in a state of peace with Celestia gone, but it had an appetite for war and took pride in its victory. The real question this poses is if you'd rather have a tyrannical dictator who was more willing to expend her resources to protect you or if you'd rather have a gentler ruler who is highly fallible as a protector, but guarantees your rights and is fair and just. You'd have to give up one to get the other.

Edited February 15, 2016 by Wind Chaser

[Castle Bleck 19,440]

IMO, it looked more like just pragmatic order than anything else.

 

And even then, it may have only been a matter of time before all the cold, starvation, etc. finally kicked in.

Edited February 15, 2016 by A.V.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

I don't think Nightmare Moon was a better ruler, however I do think that alternate timeline did debunk one of the biggest reasons against her rule.

 

None of the plants died. 

 

Seriously go back and look, the flora is fine despite it being eternal night. 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

While I do think that nightmare Moon was more of a tyrannical force, I have to give her some credit to the fact that she didn't seem unjustly at least. She wasn't outright murdering anyone and apparently things still worked as they should even under eternal night. Which means that she doesn't have the intention of ruining everything, she just wanted to rule over everything. Depending on how one looks at that, it might not be too bad, but not better than Celestia, only because I am pretty sure you can live your life as you please with her. I think with nightmare, you have to pretty much swear absolute loyalty to her or suffer the consequences. That is where she loses points for me. 

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

It really depends on what exactly you're looking for in a leader. Nightmare Moon could never come up with an explanation for how she could keep Equestria alive under eternal night, but I highly assume that she could have created a magical solution that would have enabled the world to thrive.

 

Nightmare Moon was definitely a tyrant, but she did create an orderly and structured society with the promise of protection and life in exchange for servitude. Her fearless demeanor demonstrates that she can deliver on that promise, even though the ponies are much more aggressive and xenophobic under her rule. In the other case, Celestia didn't defeat anyone on her own since the show began, but she did create the right conditions that allowed Twilight and company to step up to bat for Equestria.

 

Fear and the threat of collapse or violence is a great motivator. From the look of Nightmare Moon's Equestria, it seemed like a highly regimented and militarized society, in which case upkeep is important and the rank and file have to carry out orders. However, command and control comes at the sacrifice of individuality and freedom, which creates an inner conflict, and may also create complacency and selfishness at the top which would make them the opposite of receptive to the ideas and issues of others.

 

Arguably, the Mane 6 have engaged in a bit of command and control in and of themselves by forcing complete personality changes by way of the Elements of Harmony and such, but on the other hand, display an inordinate amount of kindness and compassion in how they forgive rather than punish.

 

Nightmare Moon's society was harmonious, but only by force. It may have been in a state of peace with Celestia gone, but it had an appetite for war and took pride in its victory. The real question this poses is if you'd rather have a tyrannical dictator who was more willing to expend her resources to protect you or if you'd rather have a gentler ruler who is highly fallible as a protector, but guarantees your rights and is fair and just. You'd have to give up one to get the other.

 

I would rather live in a crumbling society with a pathetic leader, then giving me a leader that presents me with the illusion that everything is good and Nightmare moon is certainly the latter one.

 

Peace and order are not freedom to me. Freedom for me is the option of choosing between good and evil, to choose between friends and enemies and most importantly, Ketchup and Mayonaise.

 

So no, Nightmare moons reign wouldn't be an option for me.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,335]

Nightmare Moon ruled with an iron hoof. How do we know how many ponies died before her "peace" was realized?

[Silver Stream. 708]

There is no set "fact" for who is the better ruler. Everyone's preference is different from the other. 

 

I personally see Nightmare Moon as a better ruler but NOT my CHOICE of being my ruler because I'm aware in HOW she rules. She rules with fear and force. Simply put, she's a Tyrant. 

 

 

Celestia is a better ruler in ways Nightmare is not: kindness, morality and humility. She isn't tyrannical, but she is executed in ways one can fairly say are "incompetent" 

 

 

Regardless, it's not that big of a deal (to me at least). If many are saying they think Nightmare is a better ruler, it's only because of their unique perspective on the matter. 

 

Not all tyrants are competent rulers....and not all kind and fair rulers are incompetent. But in this case, the show gave it that sort of vibe. 

Edited February 15, 2016 by Silver Stream.

[Megas 28,090]

tbf, we didn't see what much of her rule was like. All we really saw was her castle and the fact that plant-life still exists, but there's a good she was basically Stalin in terms of rule

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

Being a viable ruler does not equal being a GOOD ruler.

For example, China is a stable nation which is militarily powerful and run in an orderly fashion. But would most anyone in the west view it as a PREFERABLE place to live compared to here? I don't think so!

So I think of it in that way, she was most likely running a military dictatorship which was orderly and had her soldiers loyal to her, but most definitely NOT a good nation as it was probably repressive and suffocating to those that did not give absolute obedience to her will.

[Number62 1,267]

I can't say I'm surprised about some number of viewers believing this considering the poor presentation of Celestia throughout the entire show.

Edited February 15, 2016 by Number107