Mane 6 being treated like heroes?

[Naught Important 434]

Do you think that the Mane 6 would be treated more like heroes rather than normal townsfolk if the other ponies saw that they possessed the powers of the Elements of Harmony?

 

I'm not even sure if the ponies of Ponyville know that the Mane 6 possess the powers of the Elements of Harmony.

 

I mean, I remember during "Putting Your Hoof Down," Fluttershy gets pushed around a lot. That probably shows that they don't know that Fluttershy contributes to the group of ponies that keep Equestria safe. It might just be me, but if I knew that certain ponies protected our land from harm I would definitely want to treat them with much more respect.

 

What do you think?

[Shanks 10,817]

Yes, they probably would which sounds like but it comes at a price. There is also the good chance that they might get the celebrity treatment meaning that they will never get any privacy anywhere they go as they will constantly be hounded by fans and the press which would especially be problematic for Fluttershy. And there will of course be ponies trying to gain influence with a little brown nosing which I am sure none of them would like especially Applejack.

[hawkflame 3,315]

I think that while it logically makes more sense for them to be treated as such, I don't think that the show itself would be better off for it.  Part of the appeal is that these ponies are able to lead normal, "relatable" lives in between all of the adventure.  They may have been highly skilled in certain areas, but all in all they were pretty much just productive citizens of Ponyville.  Making them "celebrities" of sorts would distract from all that. 

 

But then came Alicorn Twilight...

[Guest]

From what I can tell at least, they don't know. Probably best that way.

 

Although, there are a few things the Mane 6 have done that the town DOES know about that is completely separated from the Elements of Harmony. It seems like they haven't been idolized to this extent, so I'm not really sure what would happen if they knew about it or not. Hmm. A lot to think about.

 

I guess we're gonna have to see where it plays out with Alicorn Twilight and what not. Hopefully it won't bring a large scale of publicity to the mane 6, although admittedly, that would probably make for a good episode - The mane 6 trying to avoid idolization from the town?

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's weird that they haven't since the elements for celebrity culture exist in pony society. For example, in Games Ponies Play we see that some ponies do have a celebrity complex, or at least toward a Princess and her husband, and we've seen many times how Celestia is viewed, admired, and revered by her subjects. In Sweet and Elite we get a glimpse at Canterlot high society and how a pony who's different can reach the "top" in short order. Ponyville Confidential shows that the ponies enjoy gossip as long as they are not the target, but the fact that three fillies can so capture the attention of the adult population of Ponyville seems to indicate they gossip, and tabloids, aren't common in Ponyville at least. Twilight's celebrity will be dealt with and I'd have to think that Mane 5 will need to have their own celebrity examined as well.

[~StatesTheOblivious~ 1,795]

Maybe Celestia and the Equestria Secret Service (I suppose there is one) put a lot of effort in keeping it secret. That would be my headcanon. I mean, from what we can assume now, the Elements are possibly even more important than Celestia herself.

 

But seriously, would a show, dealing with "celebrities" that are known and respected everywhere not break your wiling suspension of disbelief at some point? I feel it would someway act against the show's premise...

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Everypony in Equestria should know of the mane six. Their exploits were immortalized in glass not once but twice in Princess Celestia's palace. And they had huge events to honor them as well where it should be considered possible that a large amount of Canterlot's high society types were there. Most of all, they should be aware if ponies in more remote locations were not. I disagree with the above premise. It would be impossible to keep secret unless it was only Celestia herself which knew the identities of the six that abolished Nightmare Moon. Maybe that's how it should have been done.

[Radiance64 7,059]

Everypony in Equestria should know of the mane six. Their exploits were immortalized in glass not once but twice in Princess Celestia's palace. And they had huge events to honor them as well where it should be considered possible that a large amount of Canterlot's high society types were there. Most of all, they should be aware if ponies in more remote locations were not. I disagree with the above premise. It would be impossible to keep secret unless it was only Celestia herself which knew the identities of the six that abolished Nightmare Moon. Maybe that's how it should have been done.

Yeah this. What the Mane 6 have done is actually pretty well known since you can see a lot of ponies around during the various parties/ceremonies that happen after their exploits, they would rather just be left alone then I suppose.

[Zygen 6,066]

I think not having it be ultra public is good, that means they don't have to deal with all the extra attention they'd get I think. Fluttershy would certainly dislike that I'm sure.

 

I do find it kinda odd they haven't found out yet or anything, but whatever .

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Yeah this. What the Mane 6 have done is actually pretty well known since you can see a lot of ponies around during the various parties/ceremonies that happen after their exploits, they would rather just be left alone then I suppose.

Although, some of the mane six do seek out attention such as Rarity. It should be easy for her to do so in the same place that they were honored in. In other words, Upper Crust should be burdened to know Rarity, not the other way around. Applejack and Rainbow Dash also seek some sort of fame along the series.

[hawkflame 3,315]

Then remember there's the episode where Fluttershy becomes a famous fashion model. How many people even knew who she was next episode? Maybe they just have a short term memory regarding these things. Fifteen minutes of fame? More like 15 seconds...

[Cwanky 17,755]

I actually seriously doubt it. Considering the fact that the reputations of the Mane 6 in the past have only further helped draw the attention of antagonists, revealing themselves as the Mane 6 might not get them that all out respect you'd expect from a hero. If anything it might draw more disdain and make them bigger targets.

 

We've already seen that with Trixie both times when she tried to upstage Twilight. Also in Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart, alongside Gilda,

she was just further aggravated and proceeded with Gilda to try and ruin Twilight's reputation by telling her bad advice on how to be a princess and drive her friends away from her.

 

 

Sunset Shimmer is an even more blatant example of this. 

 

Of course aside from Twilight you have other examples of this, The Flim Flam Bros trying to buy out the Apple farm, knowing full well the family's reputation in Ponyville and Equestria, Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash's rivalry, and look no further than the game inspector Ms. Harshwhinny who treats alicorn Cadence and her kingdom just as cruelly as she does anyone else.

 

If that doesn't convince you look at real life. Just because we have heroic soldiers that come home, outside the holidays, parades, and ceremonies, doesn't mean there's not gonna be some or a lot of dirt thrown at them. Same with ex presidents. Being a hero means taking up responsibility and duty, often when its not asked of you. You don't expect gratitude or praise for that type of service, 

 

Like the Mane 6, true heroes take their work in stride and live their lives on, as the rest of us do. The greatest honor you can get is that which is often neither seen nor spoken.

Edited June 16, 2013 by Cwanky

[bluseymoe 258]

I honestly don't they're anywhere near as respected as they should be.