Am I The Only Person That Loathes Derpy Hooves?

[MLPForums Phanact 1,374]

That is by the most informative and well written post I've seen on this entire forum. Thank you so much, Dark, for clearing up a lot of issues. I guess it's a shame I still feel some kind of dislike towards the character (although it is much less than I initially did) which literally has the exact same eye problem as me. I'm starting to warm up to this character at least, especially regarding Dinky Hooves because she is by far the most adorable Filly.

[Dark Horn 430]

@@Dark Qiviut,

 

A brohoof for you. I think you pretty much wrapped up the topic, stuck a bow on it, and shoved it in the haters' face.

 

Well, that's that. Muffins forever!

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

Three reasons why:

• Even though the others might've said, "Muffin!", Derpy's mouth and exclamation fit right in the tune of the syllables. (Not a strong reason, honestly.)
• The aforementioned voice was cute, light, and a little bubbly, traits that since fit Derpy's personality.
• When Derpy said it, she was in plain sight and right in the upper-middle of the picture. (Sea Swirl and Colgate said the same thing, but they're located at the bottom of the screen; like still pictures, people glance at compositional screens from the top to the bottom, not the other way around.) When this happens, it's bound to be noticeable, even by people who couldn't care less about her. As a result, when people think of muffins in the canon, Derpy is consequently synonymous with them. (Like what you wrote yesterday, the fanon and canon references in the comics, Hasbro packaging, and animation [both in Putting Your Hoof Down and Equestria Girls] confirm it further.

Okay, I will be willing to accept that Derpy is the one who says "Muffins" based on reason 1. The question remains: Why does Derpy saying "muffins" imply that she is obsessed with them? Also, even accepting that she was the one to say it, the other ponies in that scene are all drooling and going mad for muffins too, so why isn't it a part of their fanon?

2. You got light, cute and bubbly from a voice clip one second long? It just sounds like a female voice to me. 

Even with all 3 reasons, it seems a little arbitrary to me to focus on the "Derpy likes muffins" idea to the extent that the fandom does. And with the focus on such, we end up with a caricature, not a character. More on that later.

 

Well, drop that mindset.

No thanks. You don't have any right to dictate to me what mindset I ascribe to. 

 

Ditzy Doo is a completely different character, and that was backed up by Winter Wrap-Up. But during production of Feeling Pinkie Keen, Faust and DHX caught wind of Derpy. As a result, Ditzy was scrapped and replaced with Derpy.

 

(The reason AKR wrote in Ditzy before changing the name to Derpy was because she was unaware of the Derpy phenomenon initially.)

 

Plus, giving her another name is a REALLY bad idea. When bronies young and old think of "Derpy," they think of the wall-eyed mare and vice-versa. She's already a brand with a set personality and (fanon/canon) name and identity. The name "Derpy" is a crucial element of her identity; changing it to another name disturbs that attachment she as a character and brand have, and her official sellers (first- and third-party) know that; it's a reason why she hasn't been given an official name since last year's fiasco.

Yes, the character that was supposed to be Ditzy Doo has been replaced with Derpy. I accept that, due to her canon appearance in "Last Roundup", even if it was later altered. Nor am I arguing that they should go so far as to give her another name. She will always be Derpy, since that ship has sailed. I am under no obligation to be happy with the situation, however. 

 

To state my position a bit more clearly: I disagree with a character being renamed/altered as a concession to the fandom. I don't like creators altering their creations for the sake of making the peripheral demographic happy. Derpy is the representative of that, and therefore I like her less. This is as valid an argument as liking Derpy because she is a link between the creators and bronies, just in the opposite direction.

 

As for her having the qualities and quirks that make her a good character, it's explained briefly below (first reason).

 

Narrowing it down to that is plain naïve. There are many other reasons why Derpy is very beloved. Some of which are following:

• Because she has a bubbly, cute, relatable personality. In the few scenes she's featured in, she's seen as someone who is aloof, happy-go-lucky, clumsy, and sometimes careless. Her wall eyes, while cute, also creates great stories behind how she got strabismus (in the FIM-'verse) and allows bronies to explore how she can overcome them. (The eyes, like her personality and name, really set her apart from the others and give her an identity.) However, despite her shortcomings, she rises to her feet and does her best to do what she thinks is right.
• The fanon helps give her backstories. One of the most popular is her being a mailmare and/or mother to the filly, Dinky Hooves (birth or adopted, your mileage varies). Sometimes the stories intertwine, but sometimes they don't. It depends on the stories given. Great to Be Different (the most well-known pro-Derpy song) references Derpy as a mailmare.
• Because despite her shortcomings, she's treated as an equal. Not only in The Last Roundup, but other parts of society in various episodes like Feeling Pinkie Keen (helping with the mail) and Hurricane Fluttershy (helping take part of the funnel to transport the water from the reservoir into Cloudsdale). She has vision flaws, but is treated as an equal citizen of Equestria. For people who have these same vision problems as Derpy, that makes her extremely relatable, identifiable, and personal.
• Of all of the background characters, she's the one with the most potential (much more so than Vinyl, Dr. Whooves, Lyra, Bon Bon, Colgate, etc.). She has the qualities, personality, strengths, flaws, and determination that make her plausible and realistic. Even at those glimpses, she's a human character.

• Emphasis mine.

If you're going to dislike a character, show, or 'ship, never use fandom baggage as the or a reason to ruin your enjoyment for something. This so-called "logic" is scapegoating, and it's so misguided and lazy. Derpy's characterization, qualities and flaws in the canon bear no effect on her fanbase and vice-versa. Letting the fandom ruin your enjoyment of anything — be it Derpy, anothther character, or something else — and result in disliking something (more) does nothing except tell everyone here you were never a fan of Derpy to begin with and invites more people to question your poor reasons further.

I never was a fan of Derpy to begin with. Glad we cleared that up. 

 

Although I didn't think so at first, on reflection I find that your point about scapegoating is valid. There is indeed a distinction to be made between the way one feels about the process of fans escalating incidental personality traits into neuroses that effectively define the character in question, and the end result of that action. Focusing on the process could validly be called scapegoating, and would indeed be unfair. However, the end result is a generally-accepted trait of the character in the fanfiction, and thus it is valid to use as a reason to like or dislike the character it is a part of. For Derpy, in large part, this trait is her obsession with muffins. Some fans find that endearing and use it as a point in her favor. I don't find it endearing, I think it makes the character one dimensional. If her fanon is valid for liking her, it should be just as valid for disliking her.

 

I also have some issues with her canon appearances, quite apart from her fanon representation. But that should go in a post some other time.

Edited July 22, 2013 by Full Spectrum

[Rave Crocker 49]

 

Edit: I actually have Strabismic Amblyopia which has never been treated and I now literally only look out of one eye at any one time (though I can kind of switch between each one) which causes the inactive eye to 'wander.'

i have something like that after my eye surgery i have whats called a DVD i forget what it stands for, but basicly even though i can see fine one eye drifts for a second, also when i blink the other eye takes half a second longer to position

[Oblivion 20,270]

Hahaha. I'm chuckling because my quoted post comes up as "snip." I think we know for a good fact that Snips is a well-disliked character in the show.

 

Yea, Snips and Snails are kinda just tend to be the numb nuts of the show that are will do almost anything for almost no reason at all.

[MLPForums Phanact 1,374]

i have something like that after my eye surgery i have whats called a DVD i forget what it stands for, but basicly even though i can see fine one eye drifts for a second, also when i blink the other eye takes half a second longer to position

I just put that edit in so people don't think I disliked Derpy from an Ableist's perspective because I literally have the same condition that character has. I must say though I actually don't mind Snips and Snails, they do annoy me but they're cute in a way and I'm starting to feel like this for Derpy now. She is adorable, granted, but it annoys me that she has a large spotlight for not doing a lot. My opinion on her has greatly changed though thanks to some amazing posts in this thread.

[Mywas 687]

I don't like her or dislike her. She barely had a role for me to have an opinion on her. but What I do dislike is the vocal of her fans that Worship her and would attack you if you din't do the same.

[MLPForums Phanact 1,374]

To be quite frank, I've not been attacked or threatened or insulted by any Derpy fan. Most of them simply react shocked and ask me "How can you NOT like her?" So all in all, I feel the excuse that the fandom will attack you is a completely rubbish reason for disliking some pony.

[Mywas 687]

To be quite frank, I've not been attacked or threatened or insulted by any Derpy fan. Most of them simply react shocked and ask me "How can you NOT like her?" So all in all, I feel the excuse that the fandom will attack you is a completely rubbish reason for disliking some pony.

But still that reaction is no excuse. I like Luna but I won't ask anyone why he doesn't like her because Its not worth my time to argue with opinions.

[They call me Loyalty 1,948]

I don't dislike Derpy, but I don't like her, either. Neutral here, just like with almost  every single background pony.

But in the other hand. Until now she just doesn't only managed to almost kill Twilight. But also made more expensive the quantity needed to fix up the Town hall, by screwing up the thing, which probably ended up putting a lot of extra pressure over Applejack's shoulders during the tournament.

The only message that the writers managed to deliver through Derpy in the show, was something like this "If you are not "normal" don't even try, unless you want to screw up everything"

 

At the show itself, she was nothing but a laughing stock. And that's not a good message to people with lower IQ.

 

Apologies for my english, it isn't my first language.

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

I don't dislike Derpy. I just think she's cute. I don't get why some of the background ponies are SO popular though. I never really cared for Lyra, or Bon-bon. Derpy is okay. Vinyl and Octavia are my favorites though.

[Luna 831 466]

Yes she really does not do anything or teach anything. And she breaks alot of things in the show.

[Heliodor 156]

I like Derpy so much because of fanon, honestly. I love the fanon portrayal of her as a hard-working single mom, and I also like her/Doctor. I don't think you'll find the depth you're looking for in Derpy in the show because she is just that: a background character. But there is a lot of fun and interesting fandom work surrounding her which is why she is popular, I think.

[Vemillia Nightshade 2,247]

Okay, I don't want to come off as a jerk but First off, what's there to teach? Isn't that for the mane cast to do? Secondly, I see nothing wrong with her ditzyness. It's a quality that makes her cute. Thirdly, she isn't retarded or in need of higher intelligence. She is just merely clumsy. I'm sure there are other clumsy people out there. Lastly, though it's not exactly a super issue, her crossed eyes maybe a condition she has and by no means should mark her as stupid or retarded.

 

Now don't get me wrong, you are welcome to dislike her if you wish but if you do, don't follow allot of stereotypes that are assumed of Derpy Hooves. She is one for those characters that isn't for everybody, much like Trixie is. Derpy is ditzy and clumsy, but sweet. Trixie has a in your face kind of competitive attitude, and can get cocky. Does it make either of these ponies bad? No.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Sadist the Wanderer

[Nulln 755]

I don't hate her.  Her color scheme is really nice, her cutie marks is BUBBLES (so cute!!)

 

her eyes go in different directions, so she's unique. 

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Meh.... I think its a bit heartless to hate such a cute, nice spirited pony as Derpy.....

[Fractured 2,684]

You don't like her because she exists?
I'm not sure what to say to that...

[Pastel 7,630]

Yes I hate that pony, I don't know why she's so popular. And...her voice is stupid!

 

 

j/k

 

[Mars Caramel 319]

I simply don't care for the character. Okay, I will never forgive Derpy for stealing Applejack's spotlight that one time by doing next to nothing, but that would be it.

[Luna 831 466]

she is a special pony and she breaks a lot of things and talks very weird i dont understand while people like her alot.

[Tao 8,036]

I find her amusing and all,  and as background pony you can do

a lot with her fanfic wise in writing which is kinda nice to have that

fun to explore her a bit more indepth.

[Princess Pinny 6,099]

Yes, I hate her

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding I don't

[Solid 1,327]

I respect your opinion but personally I don't dislike Derpy, I like her very much.

 

Derpy is a representation of the people that aren't necessarily the same as everyone else, does not limit to crossed eye, could be the fact that they are a different race, missing a limb, some kind of physical or mental difference, etc. Often some people will ridicule others just because they are different, which could result in bullying.

 

However, in MLP, though still made fun at, compared to how those like her are treated in real life, Derpy is a significantly more respected "different" individual. She and her relationship with the other ponies serves as a role model for us, that we should show the "different" people the basic respect they deserve.

 

I know this is one of her best purposes, which makes me like her even more.

[SnipSnap 432]

Mehh, I like Derpy Hooves... despite the fact she serves no purpose to the show at all.

 

But yeah, it's amazing how a community can make such a meaningless thing/person massively popular throughout the fandom. And that it all began with an animation error. Such one little error creates such an outburst on the internet and changes the cast of the show is... weell... yea, awesome.

Edited August 19, 2014 by SnipSnap

[Deathstroke 1,564]

I don't hate her i just find her overrated so i don't know