Pony Facts/Confessions: Rainbow Dash

[Victoria and Co. 782]

 

Gesundheit.

 

Words. I wub 'em.

[Simcity11100 772]

[NavelColt 22,880]

Last numerous posts:

 

 

*trollface*

 

--

 

Something else about Dashie. Well when she was FIRST introduced it didn't show her competitive side much. I thought she'd be a practical, laid-back jokster. But she turned out to be very athletic and competitive, too.

[Champion RD92 8,658]

Confession: I am in love with Dashie.

 

 

That is all.

 

Me too!!!!!

[spas-ticShotty 3,584]

I think RD's voice is sorta annoying

[Abstract 832]

"SUCK IT UP FLUTTERSHY!... I mean..."

 

Best RD moment ever.

[Champion RD92 8,658]

All this hate towards Rainbow Dash makes me very sad...there shouldn't be a hate thread like this...

[FairyDust 0]

Rainbow Dash is my least favorite character. Shes too cocky for my liking.

[NavelColt 22,880]

All this hate towards Rainbow Dash makes me very sad...there shouldn't be a hate thread like this...

 

Go make threads for the other 5 characters 8P Even the playing field, good sir.

[My little pwny 1,392]

I thought RD was a dude at first too. At first I was indifferent to her, and then it turned into a little bit of a dislike. However, over time, RD began to grow on me.

[MatrixChicken 879]

To all the RD haters... *UN-BROHOOF!*

 

Imma change the OP title again. Make it less... Hatey.

[Pickin Stone 28]

I gotta honestly say, I find tomboys very attracitve. (not necesarily that way you sick minded little ponnies) I never once thought RD was a dude, I automatically saw her as this awesome tough chick with a bit of a sweet side... somewhere But she isn't for everyone and I respect that. I just ask that you mind the insults and remember "Everypony is special in their own special way"

[Comet Tail 808]

Rainbow Dash is my least favorite character. Shes too cocky for my liking.

 

I gotta honestly say, I find tomboys very attracitve. (not necesarily that way you sick minded little ponnies) I never once thought RD was a dude, I automatically saw her as this awesome tough chick with a bit of a sweet side... somewhere But she isn't for everyone and I respect that. I just ask that you mind the insults and remember "Everypony is special in their own special way"

 

Everyone thinks she's really tough, but to me, it looks like she's quiet the opposite and somewhat compensating for an actual lack of more deep self-assuredness. A perfect example is this:

 

 

 

 

Rarity pretty much says it here:

at 4:52-5:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGKqZrUroLE

 

RD puts on a show of confidence and bravado, but really she had stage fright. She pretty much lives for praise, because she lacks inner praise and self-esteem, so to compensate for that need, she needs external praise very badly. Hence her going overboard in "Mare Do Well", and constant work at being the best, and dreams of joining the Wonderbolts. She's trying to prove to the world she's something worth praising; she's trying to prove to herself she's something worth praising.

 

ADDED: I really started to dislike her around "May the Best Pet Win", almost hate, but she soon redeemed herself and more in "Read and Weep". Her mix of athleticism yet her egg-headedness made her more lovable than ever before.

 

She really becomes herself more when she reads. She puts on a tomboy show to be all tough, but in her room, by herself, she hugs the book and exclaims; "so awesome!", so I feel very confident in saying she certainly has a strong feminine side, in addition to something of a tomboy attitude.

[Onxyia 10]

Also thought she was a guy :S . She is still one of my favorite characters but she is a bit cocky. I can't say much tho because I'm only half way through the first season :3

[Comet Tail 808]

I used to not be able to stand her at all just like Rarity. Her voice cracks are still somewhat annoying though.

 

WHAT!?

 

Listen to: "they'll shower us with diamonds"

 

 

It's not annoying - it's adorably awesome!

 

Well, honestly, shes my least favorite. She can be mean sometimes.

 

RAINBOW DASH FACT: Did you know Rainbow Dash used to be girly? She loved to dress in style... But one day, Rainbow dash went with her friends ToolaRoola and StarSong to see what she thought would be a beautiful ballet. But it was really Toolaroolas suprise...It was the wonderbolts! Something struck her that day, and she cut her long hair and became a tomboy!

 

 

 

 

Then, we had this...

 

She got mean for a bit near the beginning of season 2, but she lost that with "read and weep", and became nicer again. I would still dislike her if she was the same way that she was early in season 2, but since the change in "read and weep", she's cool again.

 

 

Fun fact/observation:

Rainbow Dash and Applejack seem to be more true to eachother's element of harmony than their own, which are respectably, loyalty and honesty.

 

Dash pretty much speaks her mind without restraint while AJ wants to never disappoint, she even has a reputation as the most dependable pony in all of ponyville.

 

As a matter of fact, I think Dash would receive more love if she was dubbed the spirit of honesty because at least then her snarky comments would've been justified by the powers of the great cosmos.

 

Oh well, 'tis what it is.

 

I'd have to disagree on the first part, although you're right about people would like her better, I still think she's loyalty and AJ is honesty. After all, part of honesty is being reliable and trustworthy, and AJ is so much so she near killed herself with exhaustion in "Applebuck season", all because she wanted to live up to her word. And as for "The Last Roundup"; she couldn't bear the fact that she hadn't been honest - she hadn't lived up to what everyone expected of her.

 

And on top of that, RD hides her feelings in a sort of dishonest way, going with what I posted earlier. She totally kept it a secret that she had stage fright, and I think I've seen her be much more dishonest than that other times in the series, too.

 

Why does everypony hate me?

 

[image snipped]

 

[Haven Celestii 9,385]

It's not annoying - it's adorably awesome!

 

Her singing voice is amazing, only one problem though....DAT VOICE CRACK!

Lol, hey, at least she has grown on me and doesn't get a big "Shut up" every time she talks, like Rarity does.

[Homura Akemi 974]

Used to be my favorite. First FiM pony I ever saw.

 

I wish I could mimic her voice spot on for va purposes.

[Abaddon 95]

At first I disliked RD, but as the show went on she slowly grew on me, and by the time I started re-watching MLP I really began to like dashie, she truly is a deep character who loves her friends, loves her abilities and at times realizes she is vulnerable. Plus, who doesn't love a great sonic rainboom!!!

 

 

And what's up with all the dashie hate, she is truly amazing!! As are all the mane six!

[Jeporauta 22]

She is a bit snarky... But I like that. I may not think she is the way she should be, but she's fun to watch. Kinda like, say, Tony Stark. xD

 

You just made me like her more. It's funny that i liked her a bit less after the end of season 2. Yet RD is usually the type of character i love most. these are some of the traits that make an interesting character: Little arrogant, self confident, knows that is good at something and isn't afraid to say it all that, but still reliable and good.

 

Everyone thinks she's really tough, but to me, it looks like she's quiet the opposite and somewhat compensating for an actual lack of more deep self-assuredness. A perfect example is this

I don't really believe that. It doesn't seem like thats a trait buried deep inside her. That is the only time she acts that way. If she truly was like that they would have shown more of that side of her. That was the one case where the stress got the best of her(happens to the best of us).

 

RD was trying to do a sonic rainboon which she has only done once in her life and that was long ago. She trained hard for it, but just didn't manage do it in her training. She's supposed to do something impossibly hard. It's one of the biggest moments of her life and she isn't fully prepared for it. The crowd doesn't help either. That is an overwhelming amount of stress.

 

RD going overboard on "Mare Do Well" doesn't seem like it's because of fear, but more likely her competitiveness(it's shown in the show on several occasions that she's very competitive).

 

As a very competitive person i know that she's not acting up out of fear of being ridiculed or overshadowed.

When you know you are good at something but you lose, you instantly want to beat them because you know/believe that you can do better. If you keep losing like that there's a small annoyance in your head that keeps building up if you lose more. The need to beat the other one gets stronger. It's not because you are afraid to show that you are worse, but it's because you believe you are better and want the victory for the sake of victory. In the end if you just can't win you must admit defeat, but at least you did you everything to not give up.

 

You never had that feeling of healthy "rage" when you were doing bad at something and playfully though to yourself: "This is not going to do, i will destroy you"? That rush motivates you instantly to do much better.

 

Long post so please bear with my dyslexia.

Edited June 18, 2012 by Jeporauta

[Comet Tail 808]

You just made me like her more. It's funny that i liked her a bit less after the end of season 2. Yet RD is usually the type of character i love most. these are some of the traits that make an interesting character: Little arrogant, self confident, knows that is good at something and isn't afraid to say it all that, but still reliable and good.

 

 

 

I don't really believe that. It doesn't seem like thats a trait buried deep inside her. That is the only time she acts that way. If she truly was like that they would have shown more of that side of her. That was the one case where the stress got the best of her(happens to the best of us).

 

RD was trying to do a sonic rainboon which she has only done once in her life and that was long ago. She trained hard for it, but just didn't manage do it in her training. She's supposed to do something impossibly hard. It's one of the biggest moments of her life and she isn't fully prepared for it. The crowd doesn't help either. That is an overwhelming amount of stress.

 

RD going overboard on "Mare Do Well" doesn't seem like it's because of fear, but more likely her competitiveness(it's shown in the show on several occasions that she's very competitive).

 

As a very competitive person i know that she's not acting up out of fear of being ridiculed or overshadowed.

When you know you are good at something but you lose, you instantly want to beat them because you know/believe that you can do better. If you keep losing like that there's a small annoyance in your head that keeps building up if you lose more. The need to beat the other one gets stronger. It's not because you are afraid to show that you are worse, but it's because you believe you are better and want the victory for the sake of victory. In the end if you just can't win you must admit defeat, but at least you did you everything to not give up.

 

You never had that feeling of healthy "rage" when you were doing bad at something and playfully though to yourself: "This is not going to do, i will destroy you"? That rush motivates you instantly to do much better.

 

Long post so please bear with my dyslexia.

 

Oh, I've certainly felt that before, and it happens because of an urge to win, and because you're investing yourself into it; you're partly defining yourself based off of how well you do. It's sort of "proving to yourself" that you're great.

 

In reality, the more healthy thing is to not base your self esteem off of how you do, but when you do, you want to be the best at everything, and that's how RD is. It's not a thought-out, conscious process, it's subtle, fruedian psychology, you're not even entirely aware of it; all you're really aware of is an urge to win.

 

But, when you lose, you begin to feel it, you feel horrible because you've based your self esteem off of the praise and victory, but once again, it's not entirely conscious, mostly you just feel horrible. Look at Rainbow Dash when she finally lost to Mare Do Well.

 

 

I have to push, though, that a lot of psychological workings aren't entirely conscious. Many, if not most, are unconscious. All we're really keenly aware of is our thinking, or neocortial mind. Emotions are stimulated by the limbic system, which is entirely separate, yet it drives the processes of the neocortial.

 

The result, is that many of these things just surface as feelings.

 

RD doesn't consciously think that she'll base her self esteem off of how well she does, it's just something that just naturally happens. She never even thinks to question it, she isn't even really fully aware of it.

 

It's like if something strange happens, and you feel confused. Do you question why you feel confused? No, it just happens, and you try to make sense of the situation instead of wondering why you feel that way.

Edited June 18, 2012 by EASA - Matt

[Jeporauta 22]

Oh, I've certainly felt that before, and it happens because of an urge to win, and because you're investing yourself into it; you're partly defining yourself based off of how well you do. It's sort of "proving to yourself" that you're great.

 

In reality, the more healthy thing is to not base your self esteem off of how you do, but when you do, you want to be the best at everything, and that's how RD is. It's not a thought-out, conscious process, it's subtle, fruedian psychology, you're not even entirely aware of it; all you're really aware of is an urge to win.

 

But, when you lose, you begin to feel it, you feel horrible because you've based your self esteem off of the praise and victory, but once again, it's not entirely conscious, mostly you just feel horrible. Look at Rainbow Dash when she finally lost to Mare Do Well.

 

 

I have to push, though, that a lot of psychological workings aren't entirely conscious. Many, if not most, are unconscious. All we're really keenly aware of is our thinking, or neocortial mind. Emotions are stimulated by the limbic system, which is entirely separate, yet it drives the processes of the neocortial.

 

The result, is that many of these things just surface as feelings.

 

RD doesn't consciously think that she'll base her self esteem off of how well she does, it's just something that just naturally happens. She never even thinks to question it, she isn't even really fully aware of it.

 

It's like if something strange happens, and you feel confused. Do you question why you feel confused? No, it just happens, and you try to make sense of the situation instead of wondering why you feel that way.

 

Freud has been pretty much discredited for lack of actual evidence.

 

Rainbow dash has failed more than once, but the only time she showed her fearful side was when she was extremely stressed.

She didn't show low self-esteem when she failed to kick the dragon in dragonshy, nor did she really show it when she lost the race against her pets to be. What she does show is competitiveness. Competitive nature doesn't come out exclusively from low self-esteem.

 

When I'm competitive i don't feel bad for losing. I feel bad because i know that i could have done better. If i still get that perfect performance out of myself and still lose then i don't feel the same way. But the thing is that if you lose enough you won't be able to go for your to performance. That's more because your current losing streak is putting you down than a low self-esteem deep down.

[Comet Tail 808]

Freud has been pretty much discredited for lack of actual evidence.

 

Rainbow dash has failed more than once, but the only time she showed her fearful side was when she was extremely stressed.

She didn't show low self-esteem when she failed to kick the dragon in dragonshy, nor did she really show it when she lost the race against her pets to be. What she does show is competitiveness. Competitive nature doesn't come out exclusively from low self-esteem.

There were more pressing things at the time in Dragonshy... There wasn't really time to show it, or even for her to think it in any way. In about 10 seconds flat she was semi-conscious against a rock after a dragon attack.

 

As for the pets, the avalanche created somewhat unusual circumstances, so it wasn't really a fair competition...

 

As for Freud, I have yet to see such a thing. I'm no expert, I've only been told that that kind of symbolic and subconscious psychology is Freudian. And what dabbling I have in that field, a single class, the professor was quiet keen on making the point that Freud was a great psychologist (He was really upset that he thought people in his classes demonized Freud as perverted).

 

And I may be no expert, but I do know it's a very "soft" field, so it would be near impossible to convince me there's a real consensus that agrees with what you said about him being discredited.

 

Furthermore, as for what I was referring to, subconscious psychology, I'm pretty sure there's very little doubt over that.

 

When I'm competitive i don't feel bad for losing. I feel bad because i know that i could have done better. If i still get that perfect performance out of myself and still lose then i don't feel the same way. But the thing is that if you lose enough you won't be able to go for your to performance. That's more because your current losing streak is putting you down than a low self-esteem deep down.

 

But why does a losing streak put you down? Because you feel like you've failed, and will just continue to fail. That is, pretty much, what low self-esteem is. You see yourself as a loser.

 

Frustration is a bit different. Frustration will lead you to keep trying, it's a more aggressive type of anger, but once that burns out, it, too, will lead to that "losing streak" effect I just described.

 

EDIT:

Dragonshy video. Take a look at 18:00.

Edited June 19, 2012 by EASA - Matt

[murkyx 904]

I originally thought from all the reaction pictures that Rainbow Dash not only was a boy, but was going to be the main protagonist of the show, not as athletic, and a bit more insecure with herself.

 

I was proven wrong of course, and I still like her nonetheless as much as everypony else.

[agigantorllama 258]

I don't really like Rainbow Dash for two reasons.

 

Her personality (Mostly). I like how there's a tomboy in the six, but I don't like the way she acts. She HAS to win.

 

Second, she's annoyingly overrated. I don't mind people liking one pony in particular, but she's TOO loved for what she does and how she acts..

 

I'm not saying I HATE Rainbow, I just don't like her that much.

[Jeporauta 22]

But why does a losing streak put you down? Because you feel like you've failed, and will just continue to fail. That is, pretty much, what low self-esteem is. You see yourself as a loser. There are other ways of coping with failure.

 

Frustration is a bit different. Frustration will lead you to keep trying, it's a more aggressive type of anger, but once that burns out, it, too, will lead to that "losing streak" effect I just described.

 

EDIT:

Dragonshy video. Take a look at 18:00.

 

There might be a bit of confusion about what i meant with a losing streak. I'm talking about a situation where you lose a lot in a short time.

 

The down feeling you get is from losing your "flow". It's a momentary hindrance that will go away if you let it. Low self-esteem is a much bigger issue than losing your peak performance from a losing streak. Sure it's something that can develop into something worse, or it might not.The feeling that you failed does not automatically mean that you see yourself as a loser. People with low self-esteem might see themselves as losers.

 

There are other ways to cope with losing and failing. When i lose a competition i don't normally feel bad afterwards. There has to be consequences that i really don't want to see happening that might make me feel bad about losing. Losing the competition itself isn't enough to put me down. A long term losing streak on the other hand just tells me that something about my "game" is not right. That makes me seek out the problem and see if i can do anything about it.

 

 

Back to Rainbow Dash

 

Now that i think back Rainbow Does actually does show more of traits needing to put appearances. I was too caught up in that one episode to really think or remember some of the others. I'm still not completely convinced that the problem runs that deep.

 

She also shows many traits that are uncommon for a person with huge self-esteem issues. She has an overall happy and energetic attitude. Athleticism and sports are really up there in helping you build up that self-confidence.

 

Now stress really magnifies our personality.

What normally doesn't seem to be much of a bother to Rainbow becomes a huge issue when under stress. That is also apparent in the daring do episode. Where the fear of being found out becomes stressful and feeds her "bad traits"