Does RD have self-esteem issues?

[Nightfall Veilwing 1,151]

I've seen Daring Done a couple days ago, and the ancient Egyptian atmosphere is what sold me to see this episode. I've been into Egyptology for years, and I still am! 

But as I watched the first half, RD acted rather odd, even for her. We all know that RD is a huge fan of the Daring Do book series, but the way she responded to hearing about AK's retirement announcement, she just didn't seem like herself. RD sounded more like she's worried that AK wasn't gonna write the Daring Do books anymore and not for AK herself. Even Pinkie pointed this out.

Is it just the books RD likes, or is there more to this?

My theory is that RD has self-esteem and confidence issues, as well as a lot of self-doubt, even though she's act like a narcissist and believe's she's all that and a bag of chips in front of others, but this is just mask she wears so others won't see her as weak. Where do the Daring Do books come in? Simple: RD sees herself as Daring Do, or, to be more specific, Daring Do is the image of what RD wants to be, but she lacks those qualities due to her own lack of confidence in herself. And that's why she reads the books: they're a coping mechanism and a way she can boost her ego and confidence in herself. When RD gets wind of AK retiring from writing the books, she panics like she's losing a loved one or part of herself. Knowing that the books will be discontinued, RD won't be able to get the confidence and ego boosts she relies on now.

But hat's just my take on it, anyways.

So, what do you think?

[Shonty 7]

I think RD has trouble finding the thrills she needs. She's an adrenaline junky, I think. She's accomplished so much and it takes a rare situation to really test her resolve/courage. Plus it's hard to enjoy risky situations when her friends and all of Equestria are in trouble. I think she just didn't want to lose that. Re-reading the books wouldn't give the same thrill as she knows what's going to happen. That's my two cents

[StormBlaze 992]

I agree with OP, having to live this way myself. Rainbow is brash, loud and obnoxious because of low self esteem. Its a great way to make yourself feel better around others and just hide the fact that you are nervous, scared or have issues like anxiety. Having your personal hero give up against hecklers is not a good thing to witness. Especially if you push yourself to be like your hero. Its kinda like when you see someone you admire leave somthing like twitter because of trolls and cyber bullies, they gave up and dont have the will or patience to stand up and move on. So yeah I would imagine that Dash has such issues.

[Adderbane 121]

I doubt RD has what you would typically consider low self-esteem issues.  Rather, due to a number of factors, particularly her parents, I think she has difficulty knowing whether or not any given accomplishment has actual value.  Thus, she pushes herself to accumulate vast numbers of awards and achievements because she doesn't really know how much is enough.  In her mind, she's not sure whether praise is genuine or not, so she figures if she gets enough, some of it will at least be real.

Her concern over Daring Do I feel is adequately explained by her being an avid fan of the series, and having a personal stake in its success (since she figured prominently in at least one).

[Jeric 46,866]

I think Rainbow has a general fear of failure, but I don't think her confidence is compensating for low self-esteem. Specific scenarios can give her a blow to how she sees herself like anyone else ... like Testing 1,2,3. In general it isn't something that is that consistent to say it's a character trait with her. 

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

@Millennium Shadow

As this is relating to a character from the show this discussion has been moved to Show Discussion.\

Thanks.

[bluseymoe 258]

That's kind of the thing that makes her compelling in a way. I wish they would expand on that more.

[Nightfall Veilwing 1,151]

  On 2017-09-26 at 6:24 PM, Jeric said:

I think Rainbow has a general fear of failure...

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Who doesn't? 

Edited September 26, 2017 by Millennium Shadow

[Jeric 46,866]

  On 2017-09-26 at 10:06 PM, Millennium Shadow said:

Who doesn't? 

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General fear of failure? I know I only had specific fears about failure personally, but in general I am fine with not achieving my intended results. Failure is how people grow. Trial and error is how I improve. I'm cool with fucking up. 

 

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

Rainbow is kinda odd, some times she can seem perfectly confident and in others she can seem like she doesn't think shes as good as she says she is/actually is,but overall, no. I don't think that she has self esteem issues, maybe fear of letting others down. 

[Thrond 3,263]

I think Rainbow has her fair share of insecurities, but I don't think she has low self-esteem in general, and I certainly don't think she reads Daring Do to compensate. Her boasting is definitely linked to her insecurity, though, which is actually something I found "Newbie Dash" to be very perceptive about. But Rainbow isn't any more insecure than any of her friends, if you ask me. 

[sweetolebob18 728]

IMO, the first 3-4 seasons she had some real self confidence issues. That's why she was always boasting.  You're really good, you don't HAVE to tell other people how good  you are, they tell you.  Last few seasons, she's had some solid achievements & she doesn't brag nearly so much.

[Mint Chaser 1,425]

Just shows how much she's grown up really

[heavens-champion 1,905]

  On 2017-09-26 at 6:24 PM, Jeric said:

I think Rainbow has a general fear of failure, but I don't think her confidence is compensating for low self-esteem. Specific scenarios can give her a blow to how she sees herself like anyone else ... like Testing 1,2,3. In general it isn't something that is that consistent to say it's a character trait with her. 

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Testing 1, 2, 3 is one thing. Sonic Rainboom is another. Evidence:

 

[Jeric 46,866]

  On 2017-09-27 at 4:22 PM, heavens-champion said:

Testing 1, 2, 3 is one thing. Sonic Rainboom is another. Evidence:

 

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Yeah, that is one of the two reasons I hate Sonic Rainboom. It actually ended my original attempt at watching the show back in 2011. Didn't pick it back up until three years later. 

[Nightfall Veilwing 1,151]

  On 2017-09-26 at 10:12 PM, Jeric said:

General fear of failure? I know I only had specific fears about failure personally, but in general I am fine with not achieving my intended results. Failure is how people grow. Trial and error is how I improve. I'm cool with fucking up. 

 

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In general, we hate failure. When we fail at something, it makes us feel weak and less likely to succeed and survive. Therefore, the fear and avoidance of failure is a defense mechanism.

[Jeric 46,866]

  On 2017-09-27 at 5:02 PM, Millennium Shadow said:

In general, we hate failure. When we fail at something, it makes us feel weak and less likely to succeed and survive. Therefore, the fear and avoidance of failure is a defense mechanism.

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I'm familiar with the psychology and neurology. That last line is usually the tendency people have to self-sabotage or refuse to take on challenges based on a frame of reference. I don't do that.

I'm not normal people though. I'm actually well known for easily tackling scary ass shit with relative ease while peers and colleagues nope out or come up with excuses why things won't work. 

[Nightfall Veilwing 1,151]

  On 2017-09-27 at 5:32 PM, Jeric said:

I'm not normal people though. I'm actually well known for easily tackling scary ass shit with relative ease while peers and colleagues nope out or come up with excuses why things won't work. 

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What do you mean, you're not normal? There's no such thing as "being normal."

The concept of "being normal" is just something Society has made up so we can be easier for it to control. It's also used to shame us for our natural behaviors, desires, and instincts.

Clearly, Society is scared of us, and will do anything to control us for it's own benefits.

[Jeric 46,866]

  On 2017-09-27 at 7:13 PM, Millennium Shadow said:

What do you mean, you're not normal? There's no such thing as "being normal."

The concept of "being normal" is just something Society has made up so we can be easier for it to control. It's also used to shame us for our natural behaviors, desires, and instincts.

Clearly, Society is scared of us, and will do anything to control us for it's own benefits.

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Excuse me for my use of colloquial language, I fear I may have offended your sensibilities. Or perhaps you didn't understand the context of the vernacular use of normal. Either way, what I meant to say is that I tend to not fall into some measured cognitive and behavioral traits and stimuli responses that impact the majority of studied individuals. 

If normal did not suffice, perhaps I will suggest that I am an statistical outlier. 

Anyway, I still stand firm that Rainbow Dash is not particularly dominated by a fear of failure of low self-esteem. It seems to be very situational for her.  In the absence of anything that would make her particularly unique among the others (as Thrond pointed out succinctly), I find myself committed to that viewpoint. 

 

Though this was a phenomenal discussion. 

 

[Nightfall Veilwing 1,151]

  On 2017-09-27 at 7:30 PM, Jeric said:

Excuse me for my use of colloquial language, I fear I may have offended your sensibilities.

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I'm sorry.