Why Starlight Glimmer and villain reform is genius (a criminal justice view)

[Simon 4,557]

 

 

Lionel Tate

Actually just read this case for my Juvenile Justice class about a week ago. I think the big frustration is that while the courts permit a mens rea defense for cases like this since the imitation that's happening takes out the intent from the crime, but where the observational learning causes genuine aggressive tendencies there's really no route for the defense.

 

 

 

Someone is itching to pop on here and make a point about how sometimes violence witnessed at a young age can actually become a catalyst for wanting to avoid it as an adult.

Yeah I could agree with that even from my own life experiences. Won't go into too much detail on that front, but needless to say the aggressiveness I experienced in my youth very much inspired me to be the opposite way.

 

 

 

Contrast is noticed. While this isn't going to change opinions outright, a few kids will dwell in the mind a bit longer if reflected on.

 

Definitely. And I think the other part of it is that for the vast majority of kids watching the show, they won't grow up to be a judge figuring out punishments for a murderer, they're figuring out whether to be a forgiving human being and that's an excellent lesson to teach people. Yes - rehabilitative approaches don't always work out, but a strictly retributive approach in criminal justice or in a day to day life is rarely a winning strategy. Influencing people to actually consider the consequences and benefits of all the potential ways to respond to a persons negative actions is a hell of a lot better lesson to give kids in their media than punishment for the sake of punishment.

[Jeric 46,854]

Someone is itching to pop on here and make a point about how sometimes violence witnessed at a young age can actually become a catalyst for wanting to avoid it as an adult. I'll beat him to the punch by saying that is also a slight flaw in the Bobo experiment. 

 

 

 

You stole my thunder!

 

So yeah, I that is my main bone to pick with behavioral learning. To be fair ... I think the severity of what a person experienced in childhood ... plus other positive influences may be one reason why kids who witness or experience abuse may have a strong desire to not repeat it. For example, you grow up in a household with a parent who is emotionally abusive. You have a family member who is the opposite ... or even see an idyllic life elsewhere (in reality or in fiction) ... it could be enough to negate the effects. 

 

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I could have just said this from across the room. 

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

You make good points, but this is about art and literature, not real world instances. Sure, filling prisons would be the easiest yet most damaging thing to do to a person.

 

I can get into a whole thing about minor drug offenders(getting caught with a bag of weed or just drinking in public) getting thrown in jail and then they come out worse thanks to prison gangs and what not, but I won't. Mostly due to my connection.

 

Anyways, reforming in a kids show is common and better for the shows appearance. I mean, Steven Universe actually does this kinda better than My little pony.

 

Starlight Glimmer had intentions to hurt and harm Equestria and a princess. Seeing as how Twilight is a noble now, Starlight would actually be put to death. Sure the princess can pardon her. The ponies, twilight's other friends, and her fan boys would pass their own judgement on her.

 

Also, it doesn't make sense for all these villains to just say, ok I did wrong and as a result I want forgiveness but you can hate me forever if you want.

 

And in my own findings as a student of Criminology, Discord still presents a clear and present threat to Equestria on the fact that he's the God of chaos and chaos can never be good nor bad. Like, how easy was it for him to say whatever and join Tirek?

 

Also, why wouldn't Celestia try to reform Luna? From

What I know, they fought and Celestia had no choice but to banish her. Yet, Celestia is fine with all these villains; who threatened Equestria and its ponies, running around with little to no supervision.

 

Sure, taking a less intimidating route and using cognative therapy to reform and readjust the villains to civil life is nice; in kids shows AND done with maybe one or two lesser villains would make more sense.

 

Starlight, Sunset, Discord, Tirek, and Sombra were all threats to the mane 6 and Equestria when first introduced.

 

Think about it: if they didn't present a clear and present danger to the world they wouldn't be villians. They'd be Snips and Snails.

 

While throwing them in the dungeon when they want to reform would make sense(at least in the real world) it would help. Letting them roam free isn't a good idea either since they would be in danger from ponies who hate them...plus they could easliy change if they wanted to.

 

Also, if you keep reforming characters the show is gonna get old.

 

"Oh look, Leedle Leedle is a Pegasi trying to destroy cloudsdale and the weather forever. Oh wait, they were just miffed cause they didn't get in the wonder bolts academy or something. Watch Rainbow Dash Or Fluttershy reform them."

 

Yeah, the show gets old because it becomes predictable. I even already knew Starlight was gonna be reformed just because she was in the two parter.