Reformation Spell

[NightsEmber 2]

In S3 E10 we learn that Equestria has reformation spells.  I didn't think much of it when they first brought it up but then a bit of fridge logic hit me.

 

When you think about someone reforming whats the first thing that pops into your mind?  

Someone changing the way they think, act or view the world to sync more in the line of the current views of the society they're currently apart of right?

 

Well maybe not the last half of that but it's a choice to change your ways.  If equestria has reforming spells isn't that a form of mind control since they're forcibly changing someone's views, personality and/or outlook on life to fit more in the line of what's deemed acceptable?

 

That's not all sadly.  The very fact that twilight was looking for the spell in her library hints that it's pretty much accepted by society at large and probably has multiple different versions of it seeing as she had so many different books floating around her.

 

I'm interested to see what you guys think about this.

[Melior 52]

THIS. Equestria banishes, petrifies, and eradicates any that does not comply! There is all this talk about the magic of friendship but when an evil non-pony shows up like Chrysalis it's all   "GET THE ELEMENTS AND ERADICATE THAT PEST!"

 

But speaking seriously it is true that the citizens of  Equestria seem to be okay with stripping someone of their freedom if it is for the better "good". Tartarus mentioned by Twilight is where "evil" creatures are locked away. The Everfree Forest is mentioned multiple times as a place of banishment. Ponies also seem to abuse other sentient creatures such as cows and sheep; treating them as we treat farm animals (maybe a bit better than we do. At least on screen :okiedokielokie: ).

 

on a seperate note, do you think a reforming spell would even work on Discord. He is far more powerful than any other character we've seen. Do you think Twilight would possess the magical strength to forcefully brainwash Discord into being reformed?

[Scootalove 10,690]

I think when I hear about someone reforming, is someone being turned into something that they are not for the greater good. So, trying to reform Discord usually takes more than magic to do.

[Zygen 6,066]

I always think of reformation as having a good conotation attached to it, not a bad one like being forced against your will.

 

However i still think the old fashion way is better, and frankly Discord may not have been affected by the spell anyways. knowing how powerful he is, maybe Fluttershys methods where the only way.

 

And maybe Twilight had Celestia send some books over with the spells or something, maybe its only permited for high level unicorn use or something.

 

To be fair, its probaly so hard to use that the only ponies who can use it are ponies like Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and well thats probably it.

 

I do think that reformation spells sound kinda a dumb way to reform someone, and i think the old fashion way should be the way to do it, but i don't think of reformation as bad exactly.

 

Also, the spells might not even exist anymore, seeing as discord ate the books containing them.

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

It's actually a very scary thought. A spell able to turn you against your own will? The very fact Twilight even considered using it kind of made me think Twilight is kind of scary. Even if the spell wouldn't work on Discord because.......he's Discord. It would most likely be similar to Chrysalis brain washing powers.

 

It's not like how Discord did them in the season 2 premiere. He just warped their personalities. He didn't take away their will.

[techno915 408]

...how did I not catch this?? yeah, um. i guess this is a bit freaky. unless twilight has bought an extra copy of all those books that had those spells, i think there isn't much to worry about them. although, mind control would be a bit creepy. if you were the one being controlled.

[NightsEmber 2]

Will have to put the fact that Twilight seemed to have 0 qualms about using it against another being against their will as a pretty bad sign.  Didn't even consider that while i was thinking about it.

 

Ponies also seem to abuse other sentient creatures such as cows and sheep; treating them as we treat farm animals (maybe a bit better than we do. At least on screen :okiedokielokie: ).

 

Yeah, bit worried about the farm animals.  I always figured that they were semi-sapient instead of having full blown sapientence. The reason they live on the farm is convenience or tradition as a place to live/work.  They would trade something useful be it milk, wool or the like for board, food and probably pay.

 

 

on a seperate note, do you think a reforming spell would even work on Discord. He is far more powerful than any other character we've seen. Do you think Twilight would possess the magical strength to forcefully brainwash Discord into being reformed?

 

It would probably be easy if he wasn't expecting anything and thus wasn't actively defending himself.  You can have all the power in the world but it would be useless to you if it's just sitting there doing nothing.  If that does happens it might come down to a battle of wills also though.

 

Another point you have to realize though is that discord acted first to permanently remove the spells instead of taking the opportunity for a trolling session via getting hit and having fun stringing them along.  While it doesn't prove anything it does show that it may have been a threat.

 

 

 

 

I always think of reformation as having a good conotation attached to it, not a bad one like being forced against your will.

 

 

Normally i would think the same thing except this happens to be a spell so it's kinda hard to come up with multiple valid uses for it seeing as the very act of the spell changes the way you act or think to parameters set by the spell or user.  Also Twilight wanted to use it on discord who we know for sure wasn't a willing target.

 

 

However i still think the old fashion way is better, and frankly Discord may not have been affected by the spell anyways. knowing how powerful he is, maybe Fluttershys methods where the only way.

 

And maybe Twilight had Celestia send some books over with the spells or something, maybe its only permited for high level unicorn use or something.

 

To be fair, its probaly so hard to use that the only ponies who can use it are ponies like Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and well thats probably it.

 

I do think that reformation spells sound kinda a dumb way to reform someone, and i think the old fashion way should be the way to do it, but i don't think of reformation as bad exactly.

 

Also, the spells might not even exist anymore, seeing as discord ate the books containing them.

 

As for it being books Celestia sent Twilight that is very possible.  However the reason i think it was from the public library part of their home was because it looked as if spike was taking books from the larger ground floor instead of the smaller personal space upstairs. I also doubt that those are the only copies of it especially if it was part of the local library section.

 

Reformation could be good or bad it depends on the circumstances.  Also our view's of good and bad, acceptable and unacceptable are influenced by the culture we grow up in.  You may see something is fine but another person who grew up in a different culture may find it abhorrent. 

What do you think the reactions of the 2nd persons family/friends would be if the spell was used on them to acclimatize them to your culture and he/she started doing that very act as if it was normal for them?   

Edited August 22, 2013 by NightsEmber

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

In S3 E10 we learn that Equestria has reformation spells.  I didn't think much of it when they first brought it up but then a bit of fridge logic hit me.

 

When you think about someone reforming whats the first thing that pops into your mind?  

Someone changing the way they think, act or view the world to sync more in the line of the current views of the society they're currently apart of right?

 

Well maybe not the last half of that but it's a choice to change your ways.  If equestria has reforming spells isn't that a form of mind control since they're forcibly changing someone's views, personality and/or outlook on life to fit more in the line of what's deemed acceptable?

 

That's not all sadly.  The very fact that twilight was looking for the spell in her library hints that it's pretty much accepted by society at large and probably has multiple different versions of it seeing as she had so many different books floating around her.

 

I'm interested to see what you guys think about this.

I don't completely agree. Remember, Twilight really wanted to try everything she could before using the reformation spell. Also, my library has books on Hitler, even ones that don't take any side, but does that mean that it's deemed acceptable to throw people of a certain religion in gas chambers? Your ideas were interesting, but I really don't think that mind control is "Accepted" in Equestria.

[NightsEmber 2]

I don't completely agree. Remember, Twilight really wanted to try everything she could before using the reformation spell. Also, my library has books on Hitler, even ones that don't take any side, but does that mean that it's deemed acceptable to throw people of a certain religion in gas chambers? Your ideas were interesting, but I really don't think that mind control is "Accepted" in Equestria.

 

It's not so much that she wanted to try everything first it's the fact that she seemed to have little problems making it an option.

Also it would be more along the lines of the government developing a mind altering drug that puts the person taking it into a deep hypnotic trance that makes them responsive to commands on the subconscious level then making the full process of creating said drug available at your local library.

That there is a really scary thought. 

Edited August 22, 2013 by NightsEmber