Why do people think the CMC's original/individual talents are still there?

[ggg-2 3,553]

People seem to think the CMC's original individual talents are still there. I beg to differ. Not only have they not shown any signs of it, every time the show centers on them nowadays, it's "help a pony get their cutie mark" this and "help a pony get their cutie mark" that. Yeah, how about letting ponies figure it out on their own, like they're supposed to? At least before, they did different things to break the monotony. It was almost (keyword "almost") always to get their cutie marks, sure, but different each time. In a way, they seem almost MORE one note than they were.

[Jeric 46,851]

Well ... call them talents or tastes ... they were displayed in Season 6 and were not subtly done either. I mean, they were prominently shown in On You Marks. Looking at the Mane Six, each has displayed talents outside of their cutie mark, so it isn't that big of a stretch that Sweetie Belle would still be shown to have a predilection for singing, right?

 

It's all about destiny and their purpose. 

[Thrond 3,263]

People usually have more than one passion/talent, and there's only been, what, two CMC episodes since they got their marks? Think you're being a bit hasty here.

[trademark2 485]

I was actually just about to make a thread about this very topic. I was going to ask the opposite. To my mind, the cutie marks they got are obviously supposed to be temporary, and they will get changed to actual talent cutie marks(or at least modified) in the future. The reason is that it doesn't make much sense for them all to have the same cutie mark when their talents are all different, and also that cutie marks ussually have to do with the talent of the pony in question, and these are kind of generic. I think they will get new marks at some point in season 7 or in season 8. Their talents are still there, scootaloo is riding scooters, sweetie belle is being gentle and creative with rarity, and apple blossom is a crafts-pony. I definitely think the generic mark they got is going to get upgraded.

 

The reason for doing it this way is that now they don't have to break up the cutie mark crusaders by having them get their cutie marks one at a time. Wouldn't it have lessened the impact if it was one at a time instead of in that really cool episode with like 7 new songs? Now they all have temporary cutie marks but if one of them gets upgraded the others still won't feel sad because they at least have a generic mark. It makes a great ongoing storyling, and it even makes sense also in light of the fact that they are the only ponies we have seen get a cutie mark, so we don't really know how its done or if there are multiple stages of it.

Edited November 29, 2016 by trademark2

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

Outside of the show's usual musical numbers, have we really seen Fluttershy's love of singing since season 4? I can't think of any instances where that was really brought up. Does that mean Fluttershy no longer has that particular talent of being a good singer? No, that's not really how that works.

 

 Of course the CMC still have their individual talents, we've only had a few episodes since they got their marks, so it's not like we've had a ton of time to see them since then. 

 

Also, "Cart before the Ponies" whether you like that episode or not, was a CMC episode that had nothing to do with getting another pony their mark, so saying that's all their episodes are about now is kind of false.

 

 

 

I was actually just about to make a thread about this very topic. I was going to ask the opposite. To my mind, the cutie marks they got are obviously supposed to be temporary, and they will get changed to actual talent cutie marks(or at least modified) in the future. The reason is that it doesn't make much sense for them all to have the same cutie mark when their talents are all different, and also that cutie marks ussually have to do with the talent of the pony in question, and these are kind of generic.

 

 

I doubt this. The talent they have is helping other ponies find their cutie marks. That's the path they chose, what they want to do with their life, and they chose it together, as a group. We've never seen a mark change, and I doubt we will, not to mention that'd completely destroy what the CMC have decided to do together.

 

 Yes, it's definitely a unique case, but the marks do still have unique individual elements in them. Sweetie's has a music note, Apple Bloom's has an Apple, Scoots has that wing thing.

Edited November 29, 2016 by BasementGlimmer

[trademark2 485]

Outside of the show's usual musical numbers, have we really seen Fluttershy's love of singing since season 4? I can't think of any instances where that was really brought up. Does that mean Fluttershy no longer has that particular talent of being a good singer? No, that's not really how that works.

 

 Of course the CMC still have their individual talents, we've only had a few episodes since they got their marks, so it's not like we've had a ton of time to see them since then. 

 

Also, "Cart before the Ponies" whether you like that episode or not, was a CMC episode that had nothing to do with getting another pony their mark, so saying that's all their episodes are about now is kind of false.

 

 

 

 

 

I doubt this. The talent they have is helping other ponies find their cutie marks. That's the path they chose, what they want to do with their life, and they chose it together, as a group. We've never seen a mark change, and I doubt we will, not to mention that'd completely destroy what the CMC have decided to do together.

 

 Yes, it's definitely a unique case, but the marks do still have unique individual elements in them. Sweetie's has a music note, Apple Bloom's has an Apple, Scoots has that wing thing.

How would it destroy it? They can still help people, but it doesn't make sense for that to be their main talent, when they obviously have other talents that have been hinted at all show long. We have never seen a cutie mark change, but thats ignoring the fact that weve never seen a pony get a cutie mark at all. and actually, we did see cutie marks have been changed in at least one episode, the finale of season 3!

 

Think about the storyline potential. "I am unhappy with my life, but I can't seem to change because my cutie mark says i can only do this. Woe is me!" and THEN... songs, and then BANG the cutie mark changes, and the moral of the story is that you don't have to stick with the status quo, and your life can change. Think about it, doesn't it make sense? it will probably be a similiar cutie mark to show that they can do what they are doing now as well as the new talent; like, instead of an apple inside a shield it will be a beaker inside of a shield. 

Edited November 29, 2016 by trademark2

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

 

 

How would it destroy it? They can still help people, but it doesn't make sense for that to be their main talent, when they obviously have other talents that have been hinted at all show long.

 

They decided, together, that they would rather work as a team to help other ponies get their marks. They considered that even more important and worthwhile than getting their own marks, that realization is what triggered their marks to appear. It was more than just them finding a talent, it was them deciding on something they wanted to work towards. Them finding a purpose.

 

 They have other talents too though, ponies can have more talents than just what their cutie mark says. Other than just being a member of the CMC and helping others find their marks, Apple Bloom is also good at both building and potion making. Which one of those should her mark change to then?

 

 

 

We have never seen a cutie mark change, but thats ignoring the fact that weve never seen a pony get a cutie mark at all.

 

 

Except we have? Other than just the CMC getting their marks in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", we've also seen flashbacks showing each of the Mane Six receiving theirs in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", saw Sunburst get his near the end of "The Cutie Re-mark", saw Tender Taps get his in "On your marks". We've seen it plenty of times.

 

 

 

And actually cutie marks have been changed in at least one episode, the finale of season 3!

 

True, but that was a magical change caused by Starswirl's spell, and that seriously messed up the mane 5, since it also changed their "True selves" and made them miserable believing their purpose in life was something it wasn't. 

[trademark2 485]

edited my post hope you saw it. What I mean when i say we never saw a pony recieve a cutie mark is aside from the CMC, because we obviously saw them, and i don't count flashbacks, but that's not really important. Although we have never seen a cutie mark change before, but we don't know that they can't change. and infact we saw that they can, even though it was the result of a spell. Why do you assume the cutie marks have always stayed the same on every pony in equestria? Sure they did for the Mane 6 and a few side characters, but that's a small sample size. And all of those ponies obviously have the correct cutie mark and have no need of a change. I think that for every pony in equestria to be perfectly matched with their cutie mark means they can change. And every pony being perfectly matched with their cutie mark except for the CMC is just too much coincidence. its something like "one of these things is not like the other". 

Edited November 29, 2016 by trademark2

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

 

 

Think about the storyline potential. "I am unhappy with my life, but I can't seem to change because my cutie mark says i can only do this. Woe is me!" and THEN... songs, and then BANG the cutie mark changes, and the moral of the story is that you don't have to stick with the status quo, and your life can change. Think about it, doesn't it make sense?

 

In a way, haven't we already seen this? With Twilight. She originally gained her mark for magic, and that's what she devoted her life to. But since she's moved to Ponyville her goals in life have changed, her studies switched to Friendship, and she even became the Princess of it. Yet her mark remains the same, despite her change in the direction of her life. Guess you could argue that's not quite the same, since she's still studying a form of magic, but "Friendship Magic" is different than the kind she originally got her mark for still.

 

 

 

it will probably be a similiar cutie mark to show that they can do what they are doing now as well as the new talent; like, instead of an apple inside a shield it will be a beaker inside of a shield. 

 

What would this really change then? If this happened, then that means Apple Bloom's "Special talent" is still being a CMC, just that her other unique talent is potion making...But we already know she's good at potion making, and that she likes doing it. That's not the "Purpose" she's chosen, but that wouldn't stop her from doing it. She doesn't need a cutie mark change to keep making potions and being good at it.

 

 

 

What I mean when i say we never saw a pony recieve a cutie mark is aside from the CMC, because we obviously saw them.

 

 

Still incorrect, as I pointed out in my last post. We've seen the Mane Six, Tender Taps, and Sunburst get theirs.

 

 

 

But why do you assume the cutie marks have always stayed the same on every pony in equestria? Sure they did for the Mane 6 and countess coloratura, but thats a small sample size. 

 

 None of the ponies we've ever seen have had their marks changed except by magical means of some kind. We've seen Flashbacks with not just those characters, but also Big Mac and Granny Smith having the same marks too, there's no real reason to think they can change naturally. I'll give you that it's theoretically possible, but if it was, I'd imagine it'd still have to be under very special circumstances.

[trademark2 485]

 

What would this really change then? If this happened, then that means Apple Bloom's "Special talent" is still being a CMC, just that her other unique talent is potion making...But we already know she's good at potion making, and that she likes doing it. That's not the "Purpose" she's chosen, but that wouldn't stop her from doing it. She doesn't need a cutie mark change to keep making potions and being good at it.

 

well I think it would be a substantial change because right now some people are upset(and i would be upset too if i didn't think this was temporary) that the CMC got generic cutie marks instead of ones showcasing the talents that had been hinted at for multiple seasons, and is what make each of them a unique pony. The perfect cutie marks for them would be something that shows they are cutie mark crusaders(the shield) but also shows these talents. 

Edited November 29, 2016 by trademark2

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

 

 

The perfect cutie marks for them would be something that shows they are cutie mark crusaders(the shield) but also shows these talents.

 

 

They already do that. Sweetie's has a music note in a star on her shield, symbolizing her singing talent, Scootaloo has a lightning bolt in a little pegasus wing, probably symbolizing her dare devil nature and love of speed and tricks, and Apple Bloom has an Apple, which just like the rest of her family we've seen, signifies her connection with the apple family.

[ggg-2 3,553]

 

 

They already do that. Sweetie's has a music note in a star on her shield, symbolizing her singing talent, Scootaloo has a lightning bolt in a little pegasus wing, probably symbolizing her dare devil nature and love of speed and tricks, and Apple Bloom has an Apple, which just like the rest of her family we've seen, signifies her connection with the apple family.

 

 

True, but those details are a bit too "Blink-and-You-Miss-It"

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

 

 

True, but those details are a bit too "Blink-and-You-Miss-It"

 

Not really? They always have the marks on them now, anyone who takes even a few moments to examine the marks is going to see it. Pretty sure we saw close-ups and huge images of the marks at points during "Crusaders of the Lost mark" too. If somebody misses that, it's kind of their own fault.

[trademark2 485]

True, but those details are a bit too "Blink-and-You-Miss-It"

I agree with this. The marks don't really show uniqueness right now, apple blossoms is completely generic

Edited November 29, 2016 by trademark2

[cmarston1 5,959]

Because people can have multiple talents.

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

What does their cutie mark(s) have to do with their overall abilities and skill sets? Of course their original abilities are still there.. if you can sing and suddenly decide to become a firefighter it does not mean you can't sing anymore.

 

For example, Rarity's gemstones reflect her ability to easily find said gemstones. However, she is a talented seamstress and fashion designer, a singer for a musical group, a business pony, a damn good detective, and pretty handy with building a box car among other things. She is not a one trick pony (no pun intended)

 

My point is who cares what is on their flank? It symbolizes their bond of friendship and togetherness and one of the things they have chosen to do with their lives. They can still sing, crochet, dance, scoot, bungee jump, build and make apples to their hearts content. Their cutie mark is a symbol of something they are talented in and something they are good at.... it does not mean it is the only thing they are good at or can do.

 

Also by all information no one gets temporary marks, so they are permanent. If they did something like change them, the writers would have to do a whole lot of back pedaling to explain themselves.

[Baykush 328]

Because they are? You can decide you want to be a doctor and still be talented at playing guitar or cooking, and in the same way the CMC can decide their destiny is to help other ponies with their special talents and still do whatever they like to do on their own. They show as much interest in their original talents now as they've shown through the whole show.

[trademark2 485]

 

Also by all information no one gets temporary marks, so they are permanent. If they did something like change them, the writers would have to do a whole lot of back pedaling to explain themselves.

?? they have never been said to be permanent at any time during the show.

 

if you see 10 houses that are blue in a town, it doesn't mean all the houses in the town are blue. same with cutie marks and ponies

Edited November 30, 2016 by trademark2

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

?? they have never been said to be permanent at any time during the show.

 

if you see 10 houses that are blue in a town, it doesn't mean all the houses in the town are blue. same with cutie marks and ponies

 

Actually it has in a roundabout way. Considering every pony has gotten their cutie mark as a filly or foal (that we have seen) and still has them to this day I would say they are permanent. Also in the Cutie Map premier, when the villagers get their marks back, they do not have to go grab them or capture them, the marks just returned to each individual pony...  to me that says they are bound to them, even if removed by a spell. Several times in the show they have been altered or removed, but it is only through magic, and after the spell is broken they always have returned to the way they were.

 

Unless you have anything to show otherwise thinking anything different is just inventing your own canon.

 

By all available information currently given in available sources, they appear to be permanent.

[trademark2 485]

Actually it has in a roundabout way. Considering every pony has gotten their cutie mark as a filly or foal (that we have seen) and still has them to this day I would say they are permanent. Also in the Cutie Map premier, when the villagers get their marks back, they do not have to go grab them or capture them, the marks just returned to each individual pony...  to me that says they are bound to them, even if removed by a spell. Several times in the show they have been altered or removed, but it is only through magic, and after the spell is broken they always have returned to the way they were.

 

Unless you have anything to show otherwise thinking anything different is just inventing your own canon.

 

By all available information currently given in available sources, they appear to be permanent.

 

Well, its true that most things associated with a person or pony are ussually static. if you have red fur, and you share off your fur, it will grow back red again. If someone magically takes your ability to play an instrument, restoration magic will of course restore the same talent, because its restoration magic. But talents and affinities can change over time without magic.

 

Right now the show hasn't reflected that in any way. It just puts ponies into boxes. Like others have been saying, cutie marks aren't exclusive, but they should reflect the main talent a pony has. If they develop their individual talents more than 'helping ponies find cutie marks' its perfectly plausible. It's not so farfetched and infact might be a good message to send. 

 

For example, if i have a job as a newspaper pony, and a job at a bakery, and my cutie mark is in newspaper delivery, all well and good. But if I then ascend the ranks and become the master of the bakery, and from there I advance to head the bakers guild in the entire town, it would not make sense for me to still have a cutie mark in newspaper delivery. 

Edited November 30, 2016 by trademark2

[Holiday Agnaktor 1,436]

The whole problem with cutiemarks is that they are weird.

They are pretty much a prediction of your future. If your cutiemark is a cupcake, it means you will be doing cupcake related things for the rest of your life, pretty much.

 

In this case, the CMC got their special cutiemark-helpdesk cutiemarks, which shows that that is their job. They do that thing. They can be good at things, be talented at them and all, but their primary destiny thing will be the cutiemark-helpdesk. 'Cuz that is what their cutiemark is telling them. (Hah, references.)

[trademark2 485]

The whole problem with cutiemarks is that they are weird.

They are pretty much a prediction of your future. If your cutiemark is a cupcake, it means you will be doing cupcake related things for the rest of your life, pretty much.

 

In this case, the CMC got their special cutiemark-helpdesk cutiemarks, which shows that that is their job. They do that thing. They can be good at things, be talented at them and all, but their primary destiny thing will be the cutiemark-helpdesk. 'Cuz that is what their cutiemark is telling them. (Hah, references.)

Yea this is it exactly. What if they didn't want to do that their whole lives. The show never has addressed a situation like that, and it should

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

Right now the show hasn't reflected that in any way. It just puts ponies into boxes. Like others have been saying, cutie marks aren't exclusive, but they should reflect the main talent a pony has. If they develop their individual talents more than 'helping ponies find cutie marks' its perfectly plausible. It's not so farfetched and infact might be a good message to send. For example, if i have a job as a newspaper pony, and a job at a bakery, and my cutie mark is in newspaper delivery, all well and good. But if I then ascend the ranks and become the master of the bakery, and from there I advance to head the bakers guild in the entire town, it would not make sense for me to still have a cutie mark in newspaper delivery.

 

 

You cutie mark does not have anything to do with your job or working environment necessarily. It has everything to do with who you are and what your passion or special abilities might be or relate to. It can be any number of things. If your cutie mark was a newspaper, I would imagine it is because for some reason you either love working for the paper, or have some special skill that makes you perfect for working with it. You can still become a world class baker If you enjoy doing that as well or do something totally different with your life... that would not change the fact you either had a passion for the newspaper or some special skill related to it in some way. Cutie marks HAVE BEEN called a mark of ones destiny, but I would imagine you can ignore them if you like and pursue another dream.

 

 

Also, they can be confusing such is the case with Troubleshoes who totally misunderstood his and what it meant.. if indeed it meant anything at all. If you really look at all the different characters and their marks, you will see a lot of them that really don't say anything about what they do, but just define an ability or a trait or something else entirely. Going with my original example, Rarity's crystals symbolize her special skill.... but has nothing to do with her abilities and her career in fashion, nor in her element of generosity. She could have just become a gem finder and made a ton of money doing that.

 

 

Cutie marks and everything about them is another form of magic... they are tied to you in a way that is really hard to define without using the words supernatural or possibly divine in some way. In a manner of speaking, you have them before you get them, since they ONLY appear once you find your true calling or your true passion or some skill or trait that defines you as an individual. Sure it is possible that they are not predefined, but going back to the CMC's and considering all the things they tried, and the things they enjoyed and were actually good at, it is very telling that their marks only unlocked when they discovered what it was they truly wanted to do with their lives and what truly made them the most happy. Which was being together and helping others.

 

 

I think all three of them will pursue other things throughout their lives and they will probably be very good at them, but that will not change the bond they have with each other and their desires to help others. After all, their Cutie marks don't really symbolize anything except their bond of friendship... there is nothing there that says "Cutie marks only", so I can easily see them moving up from helping with cutie mark problems into helping ponies with any sort of problems they may have anywhere with anything. They are honestly almost limitless with what they can do.

 

 

The fact is, they are still wide open with what they can and can't do, and anyone saying they can't now or they have abandoned their old skills and abilities is only inventing that limitation for some bizarre canon. They have as much potential for what they want to do in life as they did when they were blank flanks.

 

 

 

The whole problem with cutiemarks is that they are weird. They are pretty much a prediction of your future. If your cutiemark is a cupcake, it means you will be doing cupcake related things for the rest of your life, pretty much. In this case, the CMC got their special cutiemark-helpdesk cutiemarks, which shows that that is their job. They do that thing. They can be good at things, be talented at them and all, but their primary destiny thing will be the cutiemark-helpdesk. 'Cuz that is what their cutiemark is telling them. (Hah, references.)

 

Please define how their cutie marks only say they can deal with cutie mark problems. They are some shields with an apple, a lightning bolt and a music note. There is nothing there that says "we only do cutie marks now and forever and it is our job so woe is us." Their special ability is helping others, period. Whether that is cutie marks now as fillies, or solving some great problem effecting the entire town as mares someday. They are also still free to pursue whatever interests and skills they so desire. But I guess helping others is a pretty crummy desire and skill when you can just settle for being a carpenter, scooter racer or an acapella singer.

 

All you are doing is inventing your own limitations to put upon them. Because it would be so much better if they had been given normal marks that defined them as only able to do one measly task the way everybody seems dead set against, and yet is bitching for all at the same time.

 

As for your cupcake reference, no it doesn't. It could mean you like making baked goods OR that you have a sweet personality despite being a hot air balloon operator or something. Unless of course you want to say that Fluttershy should only be chasing butterflies and Cheerilee should only be picking flowers or something.

[trademark2 485]

You cutie mark does not have anything to do with your job or working environment necessarily. It has everything to do with who you are and what your passion or special abilities might be or relate to. It can be any number of things. If your cutie mark was a newspaper, I would imagine it is because for some reason you either love working for the paper, or have some special skill that makes you perfect for working with it. You can still become a world class baker If you enjoy doing that as well or do something totally different with your life... that would not change the fact you either had a passion for the newspaper or some special skill related to it in some way. Cutie marks HAVE BEEN called a mark of ones destiny, but I would imagine you can ignore them if you like and pursue another dream.

 

 

Also, they can be confusing such is the case with Troubleshoes who totally misunderstood his and what it meant.. if indeed it meant anything at all. If you really look at all the different characters and their marks, you will see a lot of them that really don't say anything about what they do, but just define an ability or a trait or something else entirely. Going with my original example, Rarity's crystals symbolize her special skill.... but has nothing to do with her abilities and her career in fashion, nor in her element of generosity. She could have just become a gem finder and made a ton of money doing that.

 

 

Cutie marks and everything about them is another form of magic... they are tied to you in a way that is really hard to define without using the words supernatural or possibly divine in some way. In a manner of speaking, you have them before you get them, since they ONLY appear once you find your true calling or your true passion or some skill or trait that defines you as an individual. Sure it is possible that they are not predefined, but going back to the CMC's and considering all the things they tried, and the things they enjoyed and were actually good at, it is very telling that their marks only unlocked when they discovered what it was they truly wanted to do with their lives and what truly made them the most happy. Which was being together and helping others.

 

 

I think all three of them will pursue other things throughout their lives and they will probably be very good at them, but that will not change the bond they have with each other and their desires to help others. After all, their Cutie marks don't really symbolize anything except their bond of friendship... there is nothing there that says "Cutie marks only", so I can easily see them moving up from helping with cutie mark problems into helping ponies with any sort of problems they may have anywhere with anything. They are honestly almost limitless with what they can do.

 

 

The fact is, they are still wide open with what they can and can't do, and anyone saying they can't now or they have abandoned their old skills and abilities is only inventing that limitation for some bizarre canon. They have as much potential for what they want to do in life as they did when they were blank flanks.

 

 

 

 

Please define how their cutie marks only say they can deal with cutie mark problems. They are some shields with an apple, a lightning bolt and a music note. There is nothing there that says "we only do cutie marks now and forever and it is our job so woe is us." Their special ability is helping others, period. Whether that is cutie marks now as fillies, or solving some great problem effecting the entire town as mares someday. They are also still free to pursue whatever interests and skills they so desire. But I guess helping others is a pretty crummy desire and skill when you can just settle for being a carpenter, scooter racer or an acapella singer.

 

All you are doing is inventing your own limitations to put upon them. Because it would be so much better if they had been given normal marks that defined them as only able to do one measly task the way everybody seems dead set against, and yet is bitching for all at the same time.

 

As for your cupcake reference, no it doesn't. It could mean you like making baked goods OR that you have a sweet personality despite being a hot air balloon operator or something. Unless of course you want to say that Fluttershy should only be chasing butterflies and Cheerilee should only be picking flowers or something.

 

You are right in saying that ponies can do other things than what their cutie marks do, but we have never seen a pony with a generic cutie mark be really really good at anything. so that either means that if you don't have a specialized cutie mark you are destined for a life of mediocrity, or that WHEN you become truly great your cutie mark can change, and I prefer to think its the latter, although either theory is arguably plausible. if the mark is a symbol of the personality then it should not change though, i grant you that. 

 

'helping others' isn't really a skill. its like someone saying "im good at living". what is living, and what is helping others. You help others by doing specific tasks for them, and the specific task is what the cutie mark is usually in. 

 

I understand that we view cutie marks a lot differently, and I think it could be handled one of two ways. 1. We could have cutie marks change to reflect new skills and interests, like I have been thinking, or 2. The show could go the route and have ponies showcasing specialized talents that fall outside of their cutie marks(for example the master baker with a newspaper cutie mark instead of bread. that might be a little TOO much dissonance but you get the idea). Neither one has really been happening and I think this is something they should address in season 7 or 8. 

 

Personally I still like the change idea better, because if they get too far outside of the cutie mark, then whats the point of having the cutie mark in the first place?

Edited November 30, 2016 by trademark2

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

'helping others' isn't really a skill though. its like someone saying "im good at living". what is living, and what is helping others. You help others by doing specific tasks for them, and the specific task is what the cutie mark is usually in.

 

Of course it is a skill. We have entire groups of people who train and go to school to do it. There are many ways to help people from doing tasks, to listening to counseling to guiding, my point is everyone is pointing at Cutie marks and limiting them to just that... but that is just them doing what they know at the moment. They are little fillies.. which equals what in human years... 10 maybe? I dunno... but they are helping with cutie marks the most at the moment because it is something they went though and struggled with, and and have a clear understanding of in many regards. They are not ready for jobs, or careers or life paths... they still have a lot of world left yet to explore.  That being said, as they get older, I am sure some of that will go away as they expand their understanding of the world, and all the problems ponies go through within it. I would imagine there are actually ponies with real problems just like people here on Earth, We get posts about it quite often, but the fact is Hasbro won't do episodes on serious issues that they feel may be uncomfortable for what is their intended audience... however, I would imagine they are there since we DO on occasion get little hints about it.

 

I imagine they will take their skills out into the world and help all sorts of ponies (and anyone else honestly) that needs them. They may or may not do this together as a group, but I just see the desire to help others find their purpose and happiness to be a driving force for them both united and as individuals. It is very possible Sweetie Belle will get more heavily into singing or art, Scootaloo may end up flying someday and following in RD's hoofsteps or forging her own way in some extreme sport or another, and to be honest, I just think Apple Bloom will want to continue on the farm with her family. As it stands this exact moment, their cutie marks can follow all of these things perfectly, while still uniting them as best friends, and also allow them to continue helping anyone who needs their help whenever and wherever it is needed. In my opinion, they gave them the best possible solution for cutie marks and a current goal, since the marks unite them as friends, acknowledge who they are as individuals and yet still leave it open for them to discover new things that will continue to help define who and what they want to be.

 

And yes, we see generic marked ponies do fantastic things all the time. (Of course this depends upon what you classify as generic) Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Twilight all have what can be called generic marks by some (personally I like them). Then you have characters like Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, Cheerilee, Shining Armor and Derpy (who has not done anything fantastic except charm an entire legion of fans with her adorableness). Compared to them I find the CMCs far less generic overall. But that is just an opinion.