Why are there no polygamy ships?

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

People like to debate over which pony's better suited for which pony, but why not satisfy everyone by having ships between multiple ponies? Why can't that be a thing in Equestria when it's a custom for certain countries in our own world? Hell, even roosters mate with multiple hens on our farms.

 

If ships can be lesbian-focused most of the time, then it wouldn't matter if Rarity had to be shared between Twilight, Luna and Octavia since none of it is canon anyway. After all, it's a show that spreads peace and happiness, and when you think about it, there's no reason for ponies to compete and get hostile with each other because a pony they liked was seen by another pony.

[Clod 8,294]

Polygamy is frowned upon in most first-world countries so most would not think about it or would not like it.

[Nylon 158]

Because ships like ChyssieShiny is bad enough, it doesn't need anything else thrown into the hideous mix.

[Kaneki 1,073]

Yeah, just the stigma about polygamy and how most people frown upon it is probably why. Plus, it's kind of a crime (Warren Jeffs, for example)....

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

Well, there are fanfictions on Polygamy, and there's definitely artwork of it too...Most of it's probably clop though.

 

 Since those exist, it stands to reason that some people probably do actually ship that stuff, but polygamy isn't super popular and is kind of looked down upon, so they probably stay fairly quiet about it.

Edited December 1, 2016 by BasementGlimmer

[Kaneki 1,073]

Well, there are fanfictions on Polygamy, and there's definitely artwork of it too...Most of it's probably clop though.

 

 Since those exist, it stands to reason that some people probably do actually ship that stuff, but polygamy isn't super popular and is kind of looked down upon, so they probably stay fairly quiet about it.

 

Yeah, people seem to think there needs to be clop/suggestive pictures of everything. There really doesn't need to be.

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

 

 

Yeah, people seem to think there needs to be clop/suggestive pictures of everything. There really doesn't need to be.

 

Some people like it though, there doesn't really need to be anything, but if people want it, it's going to get made.

 

 I don't have a problem with it, as long as it's kept in "Clop appropriate" places, so people who don't want to see it don't run into it by accident.

[Vlazamal 338]

It's immoral, therefore it is isolated. Even this fandom looks down upon it (which is quite hard to be looked down upon by THIS fandom).

[Widdershins 9,959]

   Well now, to answer MiLord PomPom's question, we must delve first into its components. Why do we ship, eh? Well, two reasons, the brighter side being we want our loved characters to be happy, and if that means some deliciously awkward rom-com situations along the way, then all the funnier for us, eh? On the second, and darker side, it is pretty much the same reason why every bookstore has three rows clogged with cheesy romance shlok novels. Because sex sells. Its an easy thing to attempt & gain an audience with.

 

   The argument that it simply isn't something that is considered appropriate is a silly notion at best. Anyone who's spent far too much time being bored on the internents late at night can tell you, such social norms & expectations do not limit such freedom of expression. Or to put it simpler, Rule 34! Or whichever number it is, that may be the genderswitching one, I can't keep up with you young'uns!

 

  No, sadly to say, the much easier solution is that it just is too difficult to work out. Well, short of just throwing three ponies into a pile and ordering them to make out, heavens know that's done! That just requires three (or more) ponies to both have their individual personalities well exemplified and each of them to involve themselves to equal, relatable extents in the relationship the story/picture would show. As human culture now stands, its just not a part of common consciousness to accept that three involved people in a relationship could result in anything less then some dramatic, soap-opera-ish love triangle or that each could equally love each other. The concept of a ship boils down to "I really like this one character!...and to a somewhat lesser extent that one too! Maybe if they were put together they could both show enough love that it'd make me feel happier!"

  I for one, just don't think the mortal mind can any more accept that a three-way relationship would make all those involved anywhere as happy as the conventional heterosexual relationship. Most are barely still wrapping the idea 'round of a same-sex relationship. We ain't havin' the FreeLove of the seventies anymore, eh what?

 

  Not like it can't be, or hasn't been done of course. Just requires an awful lot of specialized care to be done, that the few examples aren't widely acknowledged.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Polygamy is rare enough in the real world, and polygamy ships are not really done in any fandom that I'm aware of.

 

Having said that, considering the ratio of mares to stallions is about twenty to one, I'm kind of surprised there isn't more. Big Macintosh should be beating them off with a stick.

[SanityNotIncluded 335]

To add to what's already been said, polygamy is so rare that it's unlikely to leap to most peoples' minds when they think of relationships. So, beyond the fact that polygamy is frowned upon, most people just wouldn't think to do it in the first place.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

There are duos of ponies in this show like the Spa Twins, Flitter and Cloudchaser, Lyra and Bon-Bon etc. Polygamy is unlawful, which is why you very rarely see it...

[DANUTERCISD 204]

Because having an open relationship isn't really encouraged

[EmeraldStar04 250]

I like multiships. I'd love to see them all get married at the end.

[DANUTERCISD 204]

tbh i don't really like ships. They make me cringe.

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

It's immoral, therefore it is isolated. Even this fandom looks down upon it (which is quite hard to be looked down upon by THIS fandom).

 

The way it's practiced is immoral. Historically, it wasn't until the catholic church picked it up that it started being adopted by countries that suppressed women's rights. While it may not be favored by the general public, bronies should know good and well that sexism doesn't exist in Equestria. Plus, since the subject is mostly concerned with ponies in lesbian relationships, there's no room to treat anyone like property, and providing for fillies is out of the question. It's only a matter of fidelity, which shouldn't be a problem if all parties came into it wanting to be equally affectionate with one another.

Edited December 2, 2016 by Lord-Pomegranate

[\/ 651]

I feel like this topic could end up sprouting a discussion about the morality and legality of polygamy. Someone should create a thread about it.

[Vlazamal 338]

The way it's practiced is immoral. Historically, it wasn't until the catholic church picked it up that it started being adopted by countries that suppressed women's rights.

 

Clarify. Your use of the indirect object pronoun prohibits me from understanding your statement.

[Merrypaws 71]

 That just requires three (or more) ponies to both have their individual personalities well exemplified and each of them to involve themselves to equal, relatable extents in the relationship the story/picture would show.

 

[...]

 

Not like it can't be, or hasn't been done of course. Just requires an awful lot of specialized care to be done, that the few examples aren't widely acknowledged.

 

Ee-yup, I see a lot of working wisdom in this answer. I've dabbled in writing myself, and sometimes it's special kind of torture just to get two characters to interact in a realistic way while also moving towards the end result you want AND keeping them true to their own character. Let alone three.

 

It's not so much that people are against polyamory, it's just not the first idea that pops into mind because it's not common in our culture. We are taught since cradle that the ideal relationship is one where two people are completely devoted to one another, so it's no reason to be ashamed if the idea of polyamory feels strange. And of those writers that might get the idea, many might feel too intimidated to try it, because it's hard to do well.

[Storm 199]

I think it'd be interesting to see since I'm poly myself. The only ship I'd see it happening with is RDxAJxRarity though.

The only hardcore poly ship I have is in the Dangan Ronpa fandom though.

[Widdershins 9,959]

It's not so much that people are against polyamory, it's just not the first idea that pops into mind because it's not common in our culture. We are taught since cradle that the ideal relationship is one where two people are completely devoted to one another, so it's no reason to be ashamed if the idea of polyamory feels strange. And of those writers that might get the idea, many might feel too intimidated to try it, because it's hard to do well.

  Aye, I concur. It is as they say I suppose, never attribute to malice what you can blame on ignorance. Or something. It'd be a hard enough concept to grasp well enough to make a project out of, let alone conceptualize at all. And...as what tends to happen in a human mind at least, when we don't understand something it leads to fear or rash judgement. Trouble is, that's just sometimes where life leads you.

   Life can be convoluted and if you can relate those unwieldly twists & turns that a relationship can take into your writing, wouldn't it make it all that much more relateable and realistic to your audience? Say, those two spa ponies are just not used to not being apart of each others' lives. It'd be a natural progression that they would consider sharing the same stallion. But hey, this comes from the tastes in romance I've garnered that the funnest part is those awkward little rom-com misunderstandings.

  Love finds a way, or so I've been told, heh. Sometimes that which most find as unnatural or odd is really the only way things can turn. Take one of my 'sonas for example. Its essentially six separate beings melded into one. (Hee! I see you cringing! Yes, that is the chief reason I made 'em!) Its elaborate & confusing just to talk with it! Any relationship would instantly be a harem whether you wanted to or not!

   Ain't that the point to life anyhow? To be confusing!

 

 

The only hardcore poly ship I have is in the Dangan Ronpa fandom though.

   No idea at all what that show is or any of the characters are, but I am completely on board with the idea!

 

 

Having said that, considering the ratio of mares to stallions is about twenty to one, I'm kind of surprised there isn't more.

     He KINDA does have a point there guyses! There...aren't really much prospects for mares in this world, supposedly. Its no wonder there's so much same-sex-shipping in this fandom. It would be surprising if it wasn't expected for stallions to keep a small, manageable harem of sorts. Though...in that one episode of the CMC's shipping adventures there was that one throw-away line of "His girlfriend sure thinks so." that kind of seems to imply a one-on-one dealio. Too boot too, with as many times as the show reuses background models it would be hard pinning down which stallion seems to be hanging out with which mare.

 

 

 Big Macintosh should be beating them off with a stick.

Pfft! Mmph! Must resist urge to childishly snicker!!...

  Truth there though, Farmboy is certainly seen as prime stallion material. Wasn't there a comic book about him attempting to balance mares? Like, between Cheerilee, Luna and..... or maybe that was a shipfic I read once or a................

[EmeraldStar04 250]

I think it'd be interesting to see since I'm poly myself. The only ship I'd see it happening with is RDxAJxRarity though.

The only hardcore poly ship I have is in the Dangan Ronpa fandom though.

what is dangan ronpa and why am i seeing it and that Kon knockoff everywhere?

[Storm 199]

what is dangan ronpa and why am i seeing it and that Kon knockoff everywhere?

Idk what Kon is.

Dangan Ronpa is a game that's a murder mystery. It also has an anime adaptation. I highly recommend it to everyone.

[EmeraldStar04 250]

Idk what Kon is.

Dangan Ronpa is a game that's a murder mystery. It also has an anime adaptation. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Kon is the ORIGINAL child's toy that doesn't act like a child's toy.

 

I'm joking, of course. See: Jojo.

[\/ 651]

I think it's kind of hard for this to work, telling by how a lot of the time, people can make polygamous ships end up seeming possessive and not focusing enough on the individuals themselves enough.