Why does Scootaloo get knocked more than Sweetie Belle for not . . .

[A Talking Dragon 257]

. . . doing her pony race trait?

 

I'm no Scootaloo fan, but it's a little annoying how much she's dogged by many for not flying.

 

It doesn't really seem fair. Scootaloo is the only young pegasi of her age group around to serve as a norm; What others are shown are never around long enough to serve as a good second example.  Sweetie Belle has not even shown the slightest magical talent, even as she more likely had someone to help her along with this than Scootaloo. Interestingly enough, Rarity did do magic when she was little. Add to this that her less brighter classmate (Snails) has pulled off a spell (ep. 6). Actually, looking at Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Pinkie Pie, the Cakes and many other earth ponies, I'm surprised that no one has given grief to Applebloom yet for not being good with food or growing it (I mean her not even getting cupcakes right after X tries is a clear opening). So why does Scootaloo get mocked more?

 

I know some people are going to point to the chicken joke and it's influence, but I could over blow the horn flop joke from Bridle Gossip, which was made earlier, apply it to Sweetie Belle and get the same humor. Or, just apply the chicken joke to Fluttershy and, boom, now the joke works twice as well and hits both meanings.

 

Overall, there's this sense that some fans really are being hard on Scootaloo and are quick to reduce her character down to a bandwagon pun.

 

So, is there something I'm missing or is Scootaloo getting it more unfairly?

[~StatesTheOblivious~ 1,795]

I think the writers came a bit into a dead end with Scootaloo's characterization.

 

And the biggest problem is her interaction with other characters.

When did she get screentime without the other members of the CMC, but together with other characters? Exactly. Nearly never. That's why "Sleepless in Ponyville" actually was a good idea, but then comes another problem. The character she then tries to interact with is Rainbow Dash. And even if they are not exactly of the same personality, since Scootaloo admires RD as her idol, she often appears to be a second version of her.

Scootaloo is the weakest characterized, because the less interacting with other characters than her friends, member of the CMC. And this the reason why it is easy to reduce her to the chicken joke. Sadly.

 

I really hope that there will be more, differing, and most important of all, background details about her. Because now she really is not much more than a bandwagon and this is something that doesn't fit into the show's premise.

[A Talking Dragon 257]

While I agree that Scootaloo's characterization is the weakest of the CMCs, it still doesn't explain why she's attacked so much for not flying yet. She's not the only one who does this.

 

I really hope that there will be more, differing, and most important of all, background details about her. Because now she really is not much more than a bandwagon and this is something that doesn't fit into the show's premise. 

 

 

^ I know people harp on the parent thing too, but I don't need to see every mom, pop, brother, sister, or living details for every recurring character on the show.

 

However, I do get what you're saying. I want her to be more than an RD fangirl and get out of that shadow.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

While I agree that Scootaloo's characterization is the weakest of the CMCs, it still doesn't explain why she's attacked so much for not flying yet. She's not the only one who does this.  

 

I've never heard of anyone hating Scootaloo for not being able to fly. Most people want Rainbow Dash to teach her how to fly in an episode, so they can develop more of a sisterly relationship. 

 

It could also be that flying is a very odd thing in Equstria and has not been explained to well. Like how can Pound Cake, a 1 month old pegasus fly and Scootaloo who is much older then him can't. So questions just keep coming up. Like can flying be taught or can they do it with out training? 

 

 

 

So it's not really anger, it's just confusion.

Edited July 12, 2013 by pinkiefan1287

[Zygen 6,066]

I don't dislike scootaloo for being unable to fly. Infact I actually find it to be an interesting part of her charactor.

 

I suppose not having much magic experience from sweetie belle just isn't as noticeable, idk.

 

I don't knock her or any of the others for it though, I personally find it to be an interesting character flaw.

 

But i suppose its how you look at it.

[DaReaper 1,945]

Kinda hoping a seaon 4 episode will expand on all 3 of them a lil more and explain why scootaloo cant fly and why sweetie belle doesnt use magic but not gonna be holding my breath, i still see a flying practice episode coming though so who knows

[Scootalove 10,689]

I'm guessing that they notice Scootaloo's not being able to fly more than Sweetie Belle's inexperience with magic at a young age. Usually, people would notice Sweetie Belle's inexperience but I guess that they think that it is normal for a young unicorn to not be experienced in magic yet more than a young pegasus not being able to fly yet.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

Because Sweetie Belle is way to adorable to get knocked for anything.

 

Personally I haven't noticed either of them being "knocked" for it. I suppose the reason most of the attention is drawn to Scootaloo is because it effects her more. Not being able to fly also drives a wedge between her and Rainbow who is her idol since obviously Rainbow isn't limited like she is and etc., Sweetie does not have the same relationship with her sister even though she is just as limited. Yes she looks up to Rarity as a role model, but she is content to watch her sister and learn from example, Scootaloo has a much more aggressive and kinetic learning style and therefore her inability to fly causes her much more distress and that gets more reaction from any audience. 

Edited July 12, 2013 by TheSteampunkNinja (TSN)

[NavelColt 22,881]

It's been shown numerous times with Scootaloo plot-wise that she's unable to fly, as she'd tried so a few times, and then either falls, or has a little bumble bee moment before flopping. On top of that, I believe her consistent use of her scooter as compensation for her lack of flight ability is a constant reminder for the entire audience. Meanwhile, we've seen little to no scenes of Sweetie ever trying to even practice magic in comparison. What's shown more is what gets more attention, and what gets more attention gets more 'knocking'. That, and I'm sure the tomboy thing comes into play somehow with people's choices yet again. Dash gets lots of attention purely from that trait, so it's not unreasonable to say Scoots might also.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

There's been a lot of discussion about both. Personally, I like the fact that the two "Special" ponies don't use their traits, as it makes the three of them seem equal. Plus, as they are Blanks, it encourages the fact that they could become anything. I doubt they'd like it once they got what they wanted.

[Scootadress 361]

Well, I have a hypothesis.

 

I'm agreeing that Sweetie's isn't noticeable because she's a unicorn. In every bit of the episodes we seen, we never see a unicorn filly use magic other then the limited amount Twilight had before her cutiemark and Rarity's massive horn drag moment. This gets me to believe this:

 

Unicorns need their marks before they have the ability to go into further, better magic or have the ability to use their magic better. Snails, despite his cutiemark and Snips ordering, it just shows a spark, similar to the small spark Sweetie had earlier in one episode.  Snails is being pushed from this since we can't do a great reasoning over Snails. Anyway, I'm assuming here all Unicorns have magic related to their cutie marks. If this is so, that's why Cadence's magic failed to put out an adequate shield and why Shining can easily. I'm guessing its just part of growing up. I'm also saying that unicorns that are not gifted in their respected fields probably have less power towards whatever they do or have to put more of a struggle on it. Magic, in fact, needs studying no matter what, and on top, they need to be able to harness it and use to control it. Its the same if you need to bring it out.You must be taught how to bring this power out to use for your devices.

 

This can be said for pegasi naturally. Pegasi use magic to help them control weather and fly as well as stand on clouds, but if you can't get this done naturally or your wings can't do this sort of thing, that's why you can't fly. Its a magic equation of sorts.

 

You need to have the ability to use magic in 3 different forms as a pegasus: through the hooves for the ability to handle the weather, through your wings, and the ability to displace the magic within the air itself. Twilight explained how pegasi flew and sort, and I realized why suddenly Scootaloo had more attention.

 

Sweetie's is more natural, harder to master, but more natural to understand why we don't see her as picked on for her magic abilities because she just hasn't had her mark and her magic harnessed as of yet. With her mark, she'll have her spells set. (Seeing that unicorns mainly have "two" spells. (The ability to lift things and then their special related talent) Yet with Scootaloo, it just seems more obvious because of her wings, her relationship with Rainbow, and her falls. I'm guessing either she can't fly or she just hasn't learned to deal with the magic aspect of the flying. 

[Dark Horn 430]

Well, look at it this way. A unicorn's magic, with the exception of the princesses, doesn't define who they are.

 

For example, take, say, Rarity and Shining Armor's magic. It isn't really what they're about. Pegasi, with the exception of Fluttershy and maybe a few others, fly all the time. Nevertheless, I suppose you are correct to some degree, and Scootaloo shouldn't be picked on so extensively, but hey, we're getting an episode about *SPOILER ALERT* the exact same thing you're describing.

 

 

 

(Seeing that unicorns mainly have "two" spells. (The ability to lift things and then their special related talent)

 

Random reminder: Snails was able to create a light, despite it not being his special talent, whatever his talent may be.

[Buddhist Reaper 7]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the best flier in the world is her rolemodel/godess/hero but she can't even fly. I mean, if she could fly a little bit, it'd be cool, but instead she can't even do that. It's kinda sad but only if you really read into it.

[Thrashy 2,800]

Valid question, I think. Honestly, if Baby Cakes taught me anything, it's that not only can pegasi fly while they're still in diapers, but baby unicorns can cast some spells that aren't really anything to sneeze at. Granted, I don't know exactly what magic truly means to "unicorn culture" as a whole, so maybe it's elementary to them. But to me, seeing a baby unicorn use a levitation spell on herself to fly around the house like a little rapscallion is...pretty amazing, IMO.

 

But then again, I kind of like the idea of the CMC being misfits in more ways than just being blank flanks. Scoots can't fly, Sweetie isn't particularly potent magically, etc. Although I'm not quite sure which typical earth pony qualities Applebloom would lack, since most earth ponies don't seem to have any traits that truly make them stand out among unicorns and pegasi, other than perhaps being good farmers.

Edited August 1, 2013 by Lowline Thrash

[Scootadress 361]

Well, look at it this way. A unicorn's magic, with the exception of the princesses, doesn't define who they are.

 

For example, take, say, Rarity and Shining Armor's magic. It isn't really what they're about. Pegasi, with the exception of Fluttershy and maybe a few others, fly all the time. Nevertheless, I suppose you are correct to some degree, and Scootaloo shouldn't be picked on so extensively, but hey, we're getting an episode about *SPOILER ALERT* the exact same thing you're describing.

 

 

 

 

Random reminder: Snails was able to create a light, despite it not being his special talent, whatever his talent may be.

 

Well, look at it this way. A unicorn's magic, with the exception of the princesses, doesn't define who they are.

 

For example, take, say, Rarity and Shining Armor's magic. It isn't really what they're about. Pegasi, with the exception of Fluttershy and maybe a few others, fly all the time. Nevertheless, I suppose you are correct to some degree, and Scootaloo shouldn't be picked on so extensively, but hey, we're getting an episode about *SPOILER ALERT* the exact same thing you're describing.

 

 

 

 

Random reminder: Snails was able to create a light, despite it not being his special talent, whatever his talent may be.

Well, that's why I'm explaining.  Rarity and Shining Armor, both respectively, do magic in the forms that show who they are, by extension, their marks. Yet, they also have similar spells that aren't related, such as her ability to do multiple tasks at once.  With Twilight, its natural as anything else.

 

To me, magic is more important then anything, and whether it is done intentionally or naturally, its still there. With Twilight, its fully herself and she mastered the ability to use higher end magic freely, Rarity has the ability to do these tasks in which can become complex because she mastered the ability. Now with Sweetie Belle, she can't yet simply because she can't either use the special talent that she has (magic wise) or she just hasn't harnessed her power to the degree it can be released, which is why its harder for unicorns to learn how to use magic. (For Unicorns, your releasing from one point in the body and concentrating there, which is why they take longest to learn their magic.)

 

For Pegasi, this naturally was supposed to happen, they wouldn't need to learn how to use magic, its in their blood naturally when they fly.

 

For Snails, he only sparked as long as he could, and even then, took long. Then again, we have no idea how long he can last at using magic, nor do we have any idea of which this ability is used by many unicorns without any disregard. Scootaloo on the other hand, can't seem to master the abilities of magic with her own race naturally. Maybe she just needs to get taught by a pony with magic to spare? I think Twilight teaching her would be far better then somepony who can fly circles around her without trying even at her age. It also would explain how "flying" works with magic.

[GrimCW 658]

Scootaloo not flying? since when... granted she's on the ground more than even Fluttershy, but she's flown a few times, and glided others.

Usually she needs a "boost" if you will in that something scares her. But she has show she CAN fly, just that she usually doesn't.

 

In direct opposite though, RD doesn't stand on the ground much.. sure she sits on clouds a lot, but even in the EG movie when she got the wings, she stayed in the air the whole time... until her wings faded and she flopped on her face.

 

TBH given scoots has no known family so far, she actually has a lot more room for development than other the other CMC's who are half defined by their lineage.

Scootaloo is a rogue character with no real direction.

Trouble is, add direction and you kinda mess up the character in the process (like twilicorn is considered a "flub")

 

I was kind of hoping to see more of the adopted sister like thing she and RD had started in the one ep, but so far its been left empty....

Edited August 1, 2013 by GrimCW

[Onylex 2,837]

I think it has more to do with her role in the CMC. Sootaloo cant fly, Sweetie Belle is not very showing of her magic, Apple bloom doesn't seem to have a particular shine in any real talent niter. It shows that all of the CMC members including Babseed are some what seen as out cast amongst the other ponies.

 

It just seems that Scootaloo is more emphasized in not having a talent, for example when she makes attempts to fly she you always here this bee like sound and then she ends up failing at her attempts to fly. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom on the other hand aren't as emphasized, so it becomes easier for people to spot out Scootaloo.

[Dashabel 381]

To be fair, it's very similar to real life. No doubt, all the fillies and colts are different, and develop at different times; just like teenagers/pre-teens going through puberty? I find it interesting that Scootaloo be one who has yet to learn how to fly. The ones who say she has a disability, or something, is a bit harsh. It is strange, though, how it has no been hinted about Sweetie Belle's lack of magic.

Sorry for the weird reference, but that's how I see it.

Edited August 1, 2013 by Dashabel

[Argumedies 1,748]

I think in the fandom it was because of the whole scootabuse stuff that was going on.

 

The internet flunkies went nuts with it in the first two years.

 

A lot of it has disappeared sense scoots's episode in sleepless in ponyville but its still out there

 

I would like to see her character grow some moreand season 4 looks to be heading that way

[Dark Horn 430]

@@Scootadress,

 

All of which is correct. Yet might I mention that not only did a baby unicorn levitate herself around a house, dodging Pinkie Pie's attempts to catch him, but also cast an intangibility spell and walked through solid material.

 

Twilight Sparkle, when she was much older than him, had issues with turning a page in a book.

 

Either this baby unicorn is going to be the next Princess Celestia, or...

[Scootadress 361]

@@Scootadress,

 

All of which is correct. Yet might I mention that not only did a baby unicorn levitate herself around a house, dodging Pinkie Pie's attempts to catch him, but also cast an intangibility spell and walked through solid material.

 

Twilight Sparkle, when she was much older than him, had issues with turning a page in a book.

 

Either this baby unicorn is going to be the next Princess Celestia, or...

Rarity explained this actually. Babies have magical burst of magic as well as flying, so of COURSE she can use magic like that. Until they get older they can't. That's totally different from older and filly magic.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Rarity explained this actually. Babies have magical burst of magic as well as flying, so of COURSE she can use magic like that. Until they get older they can't. That's totally different from older and filly magic.

 

Thats not a 100% true. Rarity did say that baby unicorns have magic out burst that come and go, but this was never proven for pegasus. To what we know when a pegasus starts flying they well continue to fly.

 

Also according to the Crystal Heart book and volume 9 of the MLP comic, both Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake have been able to maintain their flying and magical abilities. 

[Scootadress 361]

Thats not a 100% true. Rarity did say that baby unicorns have magic out burst that come and go, but this was never proven for pegasus. To what we know when a pegasus starts flying they well continue to fly.

 

Also according to the Crystal Heart book and volume 9 of the MLP comic, both Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake have been able to maintain their flying and magical abilities.

 

That makes me sad for Scootaloo now (That just makes it MUCH worse) But then again, how old ARE they there? In Baby Cakes, they were 1 month old and in later episodes, they still are pratically babies. I'm not sure.

 

Perhaps she's the next Twilight XD. Then again, the comic and book don't seem canon.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

That makes me sad for Scootaloo now (That just makes it MUCH worse) But then again, how old ARE they there? In Baby Cakes, they were 1 month old and in later episodes, they still are pratically babies. I'm not sure.

 

Perhaps she's the next Twilight XD. Then again, the comic and book don't seem canon.

 

Well the comics start off after the Canterlot Wedding episode, so I would say they are at least 8 or 9 months old. For the Crystal heart book I would say they are about one or one and a half years old.

 

As for if the comics are canon, I think they are. Seeing as they deal with Chrysalis, the next issue is going to be about how Shining Armor and Cadence met, and a short one on how Sunset Summers got to the human world.

 

So it could go either way. 

[Scootadress 361]

Well the comics start off after the Canterlot Wedding episode, so I would say they are at least 8 or 9 months old. For the Crystal heart book I would say they are about one or one and a half years old.

 

As for if the comics are canon, I think they are. Seeing as they deal with Chrysalis, the next issue is going to be about how Shining Armor and Cadence met, and a short one on how Sunset Summers got to the human world.

 

So it could go either way.

 

I'm not sure if that's canon then, I mean, they DID look busy with whatever they were doing with the crystal empire. (Also, many of those comics aren't exactly canon seeing how they are created by people OTHER then the main creators of MLP) Then again, that would explain the Nightmare things that turned Luna to NNM and why she was afraid. If your talking about them being canon...

 

then thats sad for Scootaloo :( I feel sad for her more then. If pegasi do fly and stay flying then what is SHE?