Applejack: The hibernating animal drowner? Very OOC moment

[Never2muchpinkie 211]

I know this is talking about an episode, but my question is more about a character moment, so it feels appropriate to leave it in show discussion.

 

 

In winter wrap up, Fluttershy and Applejack get into an argument about how fast to melt the snow to Rainbow Dash, who's in charge. Applejack wants the snow melted fast so she can start planting seeds. Fluttershy wants it not melted, or at least very slowly, so she can finish waking up all the hibernating animals in their dens.

 

However, if Applejack had gotten her way, the melted snow would have flooded the dens, drowning the critters inside. At the very least, even if their buoyancy would have carried them out, they still would have been quite rudely woken up, disoriented, and struggling to breathe while they tried to understand what was going on. Fluttershy even blantantly says that if the snow's melted the dens will get flooded. And Applejack is fine with this. She has no problems with possibly killing a bunch of animals if it means she can plant her seeds quicker. It just feels disturbingly out of character given her personality.

 

And keep in mind that before Twilight and her organizational skills came around that spring was late every year, which means this argument may have gone on every year, and who knows if fluttershy got lucky all those times.

[NavelColt 22,883]

Applejack, being the absolutely stubborn one, probably wasn't even considering death as a factor. She's been chasing 'varmints' around her entire life, keeping them from her apples and other crops. She knows how persistent they are, as well as sneaky. She probably assumed that all of the animals may get a rude awakening from the sudden water, but that they'd get out one way or another. Maybe their homes would be flooded, but at that point she'd approach it from a 'well, least' they're alive. They can rebuild new homes lickety split'.

 

Let's also not forget Fluttershy is known to over-exaggerate and freak out when it comes to animal safety. Her reaction to Twilight levitating her animals in Magic Duel being a prime example.

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

Pretty sure the writers just didn't consider this. Though, if it was just a rude awakening, AJ probably wouldn't let it keep her up at night the same way a mass drowning would.

 

If a few more hours of animal sleep is going to cost them some food, then AJ's inclined to choose the food, as I'm sure most ponies would in her position. She's a bit of a witchy-twitchy-rhymes-with-itchy, but that doesn't make her wrong.

[Unipeg 17]

Well Apple Jack is very devoted to her work so it doesn't really strike me as OOC, but I can see what you mean.

 

She would choose crops, as it is a source of food after all, over "varmints". It does seem to fit her work ethic and such 

[Scootalove 10,689]

She was basically trying to protect her crops but, when your known for being stubborn at times it usually comes back to bite you. But, every time there is a break in animal safety we all know that Fluttershy would react first.

[Mutemutt 773]

Weren't the animals being woken up by bells and whatnot? Not a very deep sleep. I'm pretty sure the water would have just woken them up without any drowning incidents. AJ was just trying to rush things along and the sleeping critters were holding up traffic. It's that "I wanna get things done" ethic she has; from working on the farm, no doubt.
 

Edited September 4, 2013 by Mutemutt

[True Rarity 1,240]

Applejack, needless to say, is stubborn. She was also stressed out and ticked off as one problem after another came her way.

 

Besides, she gets mad when beavers flood her home, and she really doesn't like rabbits or squirrels ("Git back here, ya thievin' varmints!").

[Katana 298]

There are plenty of times when a person in a management position, trying to meet a deadline, absolutely has to have things their way, even when it defies logic.

 

"I need this new widget finished in one week!"

"Sir, we're implementing entirely new technology here. This is a huge undertaking. We need two months at the very, VERY least."

"One week!"

"...I'm ending this meeting, but I'm just reiterating: It will be finished in two to three months, no matter what orders you shout."

"ONEWEEK!"

 

Also; it could have been that Applejack was ordering Fluttershy to run around the dens, yelling "WAKE UP, GET OUT OF BED, NOW NOW GO GO GO, LEAVE YOUR POSESSIONS, YOU CAN READ WHEN YOU'RE DEAD."

[Koelath 445]

A bit of water isn't going to drown the animals. They'd wake up and get away from it, same as you would do if your house started to flood. Natural selection would claim any too dense to do this but as the term implies, that's just nature. Can't be too fussy over that stuff, y'know.

[Zygen 6,066]

I guess she was being a bit stubborn, extra being tired and angry, and worried the time wouldn't be met.

 

And fluttershy cares for the animals well being an thus doesn't want risks taken, and wants them awakend slowly.

 

Both where pretty in charactor I think, just extra being stressed and worried I guess.

 

I don't think all the animals would be garetees to die, but it wouldve been dangerous.