The CMC message from "Show Stoppers" counterproductive to it's target audience?

[Never2muchpinkie 211]

Now, I have no problems with the CMC themselves. They're adorable, have lots of great episodes, but the message from the episode "The Show Stoppers" doesn't really seem to mesh with it's real life audience. In the show the message makes sense, as every pony has one special talent, and gets a cutie mark for it, so to focus on what you're good at makes sense.

 

However, in real life, Rainbow Dash's advice seems the more prudent choice, which was to try as many different things as possible. Heck, even in the show that would be the better choice, if the pony involved had no clue what their talent was. To shoehorn yourself into one thing, and one thing only, just doesn't work in the real world. The more talents and skills you develop, the more appealing you are to a possible employer, as you show you can do many different things. 

 

Of course, for the CMC to work, they have to just blatantly ignore their skills and keep doing a bunch of random things everytime they appear in an episode. Of course following that episode the writers seem to have abandoned that message, just letting the CMC do what they want without having any of the mane cast chastise them or push them towards focusing on what they can do already.

[dekutree64 713]

Indeed, I've always disagreed with that episode. Scootaloo wanted to sing, so she should sing. It's not about finding things you're just automatically good at, but finding what you enjoy and developing it through practice. And I actually love their song

 

Same with Sweetie. She wanted to try her hoof at her sister's job, therefore she should. You never know whether you'll enjoy something until you try it. And I love their outfits too. Not so much the set design, though And she didn't want to sing, so obviously she shouldn't force herself, even if she is good at it.

 

Apple Bloom was the one who got the short end of the stick, being last to speak up.

 

IMO, what they should have done is a more cooperative approach, rather than individual jobs. Sweetie should have only made the costumes, and let Apple Bloom handle the props. Then she'd have time to help Scootaloo write the song. And Scootaloo could help plan the dance steps and practice together with Apple Bloom during the time Sweetie was working on costumes.

 

So I guess the moral in my opinion is, teamwork is better than working alone, especially if one of your friends has experience with what you're trying to learn

[Malinter 3,064]

The joke about that episode is that they all actually do something they are good at. But don't get their marks because they don't realise there good at it.

 

For example, Applebloom completely refurbishes the tree house so she's pretty good a woodcraft. Why Scoots has no mark on riding her scooter yet I have no clue.

[FNGRpony 658]

Look you know why the CMC kick non stop flank?

they prove not everything has to make sense.

They are the fluffle puff of the real show lol.

their there to be cute,

funny, and make you go dah even if you are a heartless basturd (hi lol).

They take the lumps in the gravy of life and they take them in stride.

 

You make your own lessons from the cmc,

or you just enjoy them.

 

Their everything and nothing.

They really are.  they can fit into anything because they don't have a nitch yet.

[Malinter 3,064]

Pretty sure Fluffle Puff has a mark tho we can't see it. (Pffftpffft. xD)

 

They've got to get there marks at the same time. Also sure some marks can look the same but on different ponies though I don't know if thats between siblings. Flim & Flam for example have very similar marks.

[Never2muchpinkie 211]

The joke about that episode is that they all actually do something they are good at. But don't get their marks because they don't realise there good at it.

 

For example, Applebloom completely refurbishes the tree house so she's pretty good a woodcraft. Why Scoots has no mark on riding her scooter yet I have no clue.

I read someone's opinion on that that possibly explains why they don't have their marks. It's talents that they seem to have naturally, so they feel it's too common to be their SPECIAL, defining talent.

[Zygen 6,066]

I guess i get what your saying, and a good bit of it is true i guess, really its more about what you love then what your good at, however typically if you enjoy something you'll end up good at it anyways, because practice afterall makes perfect!

 

I guess it can be misleading especially for kids, but idk.

 

I try all kinds of random stuff like the CMC in a way, in order to find something i'm truly good at. But idk I guess you do have a point.

 

I still enjoy the episode, but i guess the moral is a bit confusing.

[FNGRpony 658]

Pretty sure Fluffle Puff has a mark tho we can't see it. (Pffftpffft. xD)

 

They've got to get there marks at the same time. Also sure some marks can look the same but on different ponies though I don't know if thats between siblings. Flim & Flam for example have very similar marks..

OH i wasn't even calling fluff a blank flank.  (it's a ham LOL) but that would be pretty funny.  I mean isn't love her special talent?  Any annoying Chyselias. 

 

I was pointing out like Puff the CMC primarily roll is to look cute and dumb which their amazing at doing

[TheSupremeLeaderOfChaos 1,211]

Yes, in real life, Rainbow Dash's idea would work much better; however, this is not real life.

 

I think it was mainly supposed to be a 'fun' episode, just like basically any other CMC episode. Now, I'm not the target audience, so I can't say, but don't you think even the little kids would understand that the point of the episode was to be silly.  And highly ironic.

 

The writers did a good job of showing what the older ponies thought of the kids' antics, and that seemed to be the moral a bit more than what the CMC got out of the situation.

 

By the way, I haven't seen this episode in forever, so I'm a bit rusty on the facts here.

[Denim&Venöm 19,755]

Perhaps this will help clarify and explain things. It will probably elaborate on the ideas about cutie marks better than I would.

http://youtu.be/iYpSNFse7JA