Winter Wrap Up: Something's fishy....

[Mana Hooves 16]

Something occurred to me recently about the Winter Wrap Up event.

 

If I remember correctly, Twilight says that she's not allowed to use her magic because Ponyville was originally built by Earth ponies. Because of that, they traditionally ban magic from the wrap up.

 

BUT HOLD ON. They let Pegasi fly.

 

Last I checked, Earth ponies can't fly. Just like they can't use magic. Why outlaw one but not the other? That seems...well...a bit racist ("racist" is kind of a heavy word, but I can't think of any more appropriate word).

[Bari 7,023]

Er, well, they couldn't really change the weather with out Pegasi. I'm guessing that whenever possible, they try to focus on doing it the Earth Pony way.

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Something occurred to me recently about the Winter Wrap Up event.

 

If I remember correctly, Twilight says that she's not allowed to use her magic because Ponyville was originally built by Earth ponies. Because of that, they traditionally ban magic from the wrap up.

 

BUT HOLD ON. They let Pegasi fly.

 

Last I checked, Earth ponies can't fly. Just like they can't use magic. Why outlaw one but not the other? That seems...well...a bit racist ("racist" is kind of a heavy word, but I can't think of any more appropriate word).

 

if anything is racist is those clouds who don't like ponies that aren't pegasus >:T

 

Well a Pegasi flying is as natural as a bird flying, a pony having magical powers that come from it's horn is kinda weird.....

[Nas 2,873]

Hm...you're right.

 

 

 

Anyways, in all seriousness, it was probably because unicorn magic levels are much, MUCH more manipulatable than pegasus flight. For instance, there are those, like Twilight, who choose to live their life on learning magic, becoming more fluent in learning exclusive spells, tricks, etc., while there are others like Rarity who don't use it extensively (hence why she was on nest making duty, she can't do it without magic).

 

So yeah, unicorns CAN use magic, just not to a level like Twilight did in the early part of that episode. Because its necessary to get certain jobs done, like the pegasi HAVE to fly to get the clouds cleared. It's just that there are some parts where magic isn't needed, or is prohibited, like plowing the snow, which Twilight overdid.

[AppleShy Sparkle 312]

I believe i have at sometime/somewhere read that the only magic Pegasi have is the ability to treat clouds like solid matter, but that would would be considered passive magic.

 

The wings are just a part of their body

[Shiki 5,855]

Without the pegasi, the weather would have never changed to winter time to begin with, right? Because the pegasi literally make the snowflakes up in Cloudsdale. So, pegasi would naturally be allowed to fly, as the Earth Ponies wouldn't have had a winter to begin with without the help of the flying ability of the pegasi.

[Kalakauer 20]

The flying and moving the clouds is something the pegasi are born with. But I remember one episode where somepony said that unicorns don't always learn magic, although they have the ability to do it.

 

Also, most unicorns learn one type of magic, like Rarity and her gem-finding skills.

[Half-Note 273]

Something occurred to me recently about the Winter Wrap Up event.

 

If I remember correctly, Twilight says that she's not allowed to use her magic because Ponyville was originally built by Earth ponies. Because of that, they traditionally ban magic from the wrap up.

 

BUT HOLD ON. They let Pegasi fly.

 

Last I checked, Earth ponies can't fly. Just like they can't use magic. Why outlaw one but not the other? That seems...well...a bit racist ("racist" is kind of a heavy word, but I can't think of any more appropriate word).

 

You miss the whole point.

 

"The Earth Pony way" just means that you actually work and don't take the easy way out. A seen attribute inherent to all earth ponies. Obviously you need pegasi to use their wings to change the weather, but that does require a considerable amount of physical labor.

[Mana Hooves 16]

I'm seeing two primary counterarguments: that A) pegasi fly just like the sun shines, grass grows, and Scout hurts people, and B ) that they need the pegasi to reach the high places.

 

I'll accept argument A. If nature's going to happen, it's going to happen.

 

As for argument B: how did the original earth ponies reach high places to do that stuff in the first place? (The answer is balloons: Pinkie Pie's favorite way of going up)

 

You miss the whole point.

 

"The Earth Pony way" just means that you actually work and don't take the easy way out. A seen attribute inherent to all earth ponies. Obviously you need pegasi to use their wings to change the weather, but that does require a considerable amount of physical labor.

 

You make a good point. Perhaps I am just reading too far into it.

Edited July 24, 2012 by Mana Hooves

[FALCON PUNCH 244]

magic you could kinda do anything put pegasi can only fly so i can see why they did not let unicorns use magic + you cant really help birds if you cant fly

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Well Pegasi aren't exactly as strong or dependable (Chunky the WTF pony might be an exception though xD), they're born to be agile fliers, they're able to remove the clouds, control weather and they can do other things, by doing hard work, any unicorn can just clean things up easily.

 

By Earth Pony way, they mean not taking the easy way out xD

[Radiance64 7,053]

They need the pegasi to bring home the southern birds, clear the gloomy skies to let the sunshine in, move the clouds, and to melt the white snow, I don't think there's anyway for earth ponies to do that all themselves.

[Silverhoof 2,844]

BUT HOLD ON. They let Pegasi fly.

 

The real explanation is very simple.

 

What earth pony is gonna tell a Pegasus he or she cannot fly? I imagine the Pegasus would just laugh and fly anyways.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Most likely when Ponyville was first built and they had their first winter wrap up, the Pegasus would just fly by the town. Just clear up the sky and bring the birds back. Then in time Pegasus just started to live there.

[moneyshredderofdeath 414]

It seems likely that they follow a "stick to tradition as much as possible, but non-Earth abilities can be used when it's impossible otherwise" route. Magic is mostly used to manipulate objects ie how Twilight used her magic to try plowing snow, but moving objects around is still doable manually. It only takes more effort. Modifying the clouds however needs the power of flight to get the job done, as Earth ponies taking care of that isn't physically possible.

Edited July 26, 2012 by Salty

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

I think the central theme of the Winter Wrap Up is handling the task through physical labor. There are definitely unicorns living in Ponyville (e.g., Rarity, duh), so it can't be that the concept of magic is alien to the population. The pegasi still have to fly about, move the clouds, and direct migrations. The big problem seems to be when casting magic in large swaths is used instead of clearing up winter more or less by traditional work ethic.

 

It's still strange that "the Earth Pony way" is so dominant in the theme. Again, unicorns live in Ponyville; magic also appears to consume a good deal of energy for most unicorns. Would it not be their way of contributing to the Winter Wrap Up? If "Applebuck Season" is any indicaton, Twilight alone could have done a good portion of the work in about half the time it took most of the Earth Ponies to manually move snow, gather the animals, prepare the farmland, etc.

 

Perhaps Ponyville is a bastion of old school, midwest American conservatism: all the ponies so very nice; but don't you dare suggest radically changing everyday life with your fancy contraptions and unicorn magic.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

What about Cheerilee?

 

Is she magic because she uses a prosthesis to help most of the time? Or would it be racist to regard amputees like that?

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

What about Cheerilee?

 

Is she magic because she uses a prosthesis to help most of the time? Or would it be racist to regard amputees like that?

 

Like any other veteran of the police action in Griffon territroy, Cheerilee was given full medical benefits.

[NavelColt 22,880]

Pegasi can fly, but they still do actual physical work, like the earth ponies. They simply do their work in the sky, not on the ground. Flying =/= magic. Magic is more or less cheating in the eyes of this event, because you just sit there lazily while your horn glows and makes everything happen by itself. Truly, it's about labor, and pitching in your time and energy, to get the task done.

 

Earth Pony: It'll take all my strength, heart and soul, but I'll clear this field of snow with this plow if it kills me!

 

Pegasus Pony: It'll take all my wing power and endurance, but I'll clear these skies, and aid the birds in their coming back from the south!

 

Unicorn: I'll stand here and breathe in and out while my horn does all the work =D

Edited July 26, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[Twiliscael 3,960]

Pegasi can fly, but they still do actual physical work, like the earth ponies. They simply do their work in the sky, not on the ground. Flying =/= magic. Magic is more or less cheating in the eyes of this event, because you just sit there lazily while your horn glows and makes everything happen by itself. Truly, it's about labor, and pitching in your time and energy, to get the task done.

 

Earth Pony: It'll take all my strength, heart and soul, but I'll clear this field of snow with this plow if it kills me!

 

Pegasus Pony: It'll take all my wing power and endurance, but I'll clear these skies, and aid the birds in their coming back from the south!

 

Unicorn: I'll stand here and breathe in and

out while my horn does all the work =D

 

Exactly what I was thinking my friend. Unicorns can do their thing with hardly any effort while pegasi and earth ponies have to physically exert themselves.