Does gender hold back the use of some characters?

[FNGRpony 658]

I was gonna make a thread invoking rule 63 on dr hooves, and than i thought heh male derpy.

 

So wait, would their been a shit storm about derpy if she was a colt? 

"look there's another dumb male character on mlp"

 

No one might have said anything.  that and the show has shown a willingness to use dumb characters (Snips and snails) like their gonna rot.

 

just my thoughts.

[Scootalove 10,692]

Gender doesn't matter nor does it have to do with the use of characters. It depends on their character, personality, and what there is that interests us about them. Whoever hates a character based on their gender, really do need some help.

[Denim&Venöm 20,697]

I guess people view female characters as something to either be respected at all costs, as anything offensive deserves divine wrath, or handled tediously like it's fragile. Yet many view this as an avenue unexplored. There haven't been many female characters in western animation that were the center of the stories focus, yet didn't fit the damsel in distress motif. 

 

It's okay to make dumb male characters apparently, since the view that guys are tough and are supposed to handle that (that and sometimes they do act that way). But calling or portraying a female as dumb is just heresy, and that's when people will say it's a completely inaccurate representation.  

 

That would be an interesting question to ask. Would there have been a problem if snips and snails were female characters?

[Malinter 3,065]

i've seen plenty of artwork of R63 Derpy. Whats interesting is that he wears an eye patch in alot of them which you'd think implies he's sensitive about is lazy/wall eyeness then the female derpy who basicaly doesn't give a shit.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Malinter

[FNGRpony 658]

I guess people view female characters as something to either be respected at all costs, as anything offensive deserves divine wrath, or handled tediously like it's fragile. Yet many view this as an avenue unexplored. There haven't been many female characters in western animation that were the center of the stories focus, yet didn't fit the damsel in distress motif. 

 

It's okay to make dumb male characters apparently, since the view that guys are tough and are supposed to handle that (that and sometimes they do act that way). But calling or portraying a female as dumb is just heresy, and that's when people will say it's a completely inaccurate representation.  

 

That would be an interesting question to ask. Would there have been a problem if snips and snails were female characters?

 

 

Snips and snails would been kicked off the they if they were female.

 

wait... written exactly as they are with a crush on trixie?  and sun set shimmer?

 

Okay lets pretend it goes from crush to hero worship, (yes shipping people there's a difference).

[Trekkard 49]

Gender never bothers me at all. Characters with personality, traits, growth and development are all that matters. Good writing also helps.

[Cygnus 60]

Isn't Shining Armor a reasonably intelligent male character? Brave, too. This is a female-oriented show, so it makes sense that the writers will focus on the female characters at the expense of having many (or any) truly relatable and interesting male characters. It's pretty common.

[Malinter 3,065]

Shining Armour is also willing to accept his wife, Cadence's assistance when he needs it and vice versa. None of the "Tis only a scratch" lark where he'd try hiding this weakness to look manly.

[Cygnus 60]

Shining Armour is also willing to accept his wife, Cadence's assistance when he needs it and vice versa. None of the "Tis only a scratch" lark where he'd try hiding this weakness to look manly.

 

Shining Armor and Cadence are setting a better example when it comes to relationships and marriage than Twilight's Edward and Bella, at least.

[Sunlight 357]

I don't think their genders restrict them at all. Some of the lessons in the show are that just because you're a girl, doesn't mean you can't be tough, or like apparently 'boy-ish' things like sport. One of the best things about the show is the strong female characters. Their gender is better as it is.

Edited November 9, 2013 by ~Sunlight

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

I think gender may have been the source problem or the censorship of Derpy anyway. If she were to be male, then the whole problem may have been avoided. Though we will never know, but dumb males has always been tolerated while I can't really recall a female character as clumsy as Derpy.

 

Anyway a strong female character is often popularized (just look at Rule 63 Adventure Time)

Edited November 9, 2013 by Goodra

[Jamesblorg39welsh 125]

No the issue wasn't females appearing dainty the issue was soccer moms being offended however on general characters can be held back by gender

[Mywas 687]

I don't think their genders restrict them at all. Some of the lessons in the show are that just because you're a girl, doesn't mean you can't be tough, or like apparently 'boy-ish' things like sport. One of the best things about the show is the strong female characters. Their gender is better as it is.

I don't think that thats what the OP meant.

For example had Garble been a female dragon would she been more popular?

Had Angle been a female would the fandom react the way they did when he slapped FS?

[FNGRpony 658]

I don't think that thats what the OP meant.

For example had Garble been a female dragon would she been more popular?

Had Angle been a female would the fandom react the way they did when he slapped FS?

 

 

ding, ding, ding.

 

that's an exactly point about angel.  some fans might not like the fact a male bunny is pimp slapping their (our) flutter shy around (lol).

[Radiance64 7,059]

Well, there will always be more strong female characters on the show because of the target audience- but I think we have enough strong male characters like Spike, Shining Armor, Big Macintosh at times, and Discord to balance things out a little bit, 60/40 at least imo.

[Captain Brony (MG11) 219]

Being a Male character itself doesn't hold them back but it seems that the writers do. We unfortunately got characters like Snips n' Snails as well as Flash Sentry (He wasnt the problem just the circumstances and his writing). Characters like Big Macintosh and Shining Armor have potential but in reality are just not fleshed out enough as they could have been because of focus on the main characters (Luckily IDW went more into the male characters)

 

we have enough strong male characters like Spike, Shining Armor, Big Macintosh at times, and Discord to balance things out a little bit, 60/40 at least imo.

 

Discord wouldve been successful with either gender. The reason why a male Discord works more is credit to John de Lancie's performance.

[Cygnus 60]

I don't think that thats what the OP meant.

For example had Garble been a female dragon would she been more popular?

Had Angle been a female would the fandom react the way they did when he slapped FS?

 

Did people really react over that?

 

I know other shows such as Family Guy have a lot of gimmicks involving violence towards female characters from male ones. It's not something I expect people to react to these days unless it's extreme or not in a comical sense.

[Galen 1,354]

No one might have said anything.  that and the show has shown a willingness to use dumb characters (Snips and snails) like their gonna rot.

 

just my thoughts.

 

If Snips and Snails were little fillies, I'm pretty sure people would still think they're uncute. I doubt gender has any influence over how likable background characters are. There's already been ideas flowing around about the mane 6 being colts as opposed to mares. The only reason they're mares is because the show was and still is originally targeted to little girls as opposed to grown men.

[Mywas 687]

If Snips and Snails were little fillies, I'm pretty sure people would still think they're uncute. I doubt gender has any influence over how likable background characters are. There's already been ideas flowing around about the mane 6 being colts as opposed to mares. The only reason they're mares is because the show was and still is originally targeted to little girls as opposed to grown men.

Even then there are other examples. the reaction to Angel slapping Fluttershy was worst than the reaction to Gilda making Fluttershy Cry even though Angel has more redeeming qualities. And Garble is disliked more than Lightning Dust even Though Garble was nicer to Spike than how Lightning was to Dash

[Nulln 755]

I think specifically in the MLP universe, being a male is gonna make you a background or not very interesting character.  Every so often, guys get a SMALL part in the show, Shining Armor didn't even have much screen time on his special day episode.  As for special female characters, the episode usually revolves around them, such as Zecora and Gilda.  Poor Big Mac, the only episode he actually had real lines it was just a few seconds long.  It was so shocking because he's been involved with the show for so long and he's just a very small supporting character most of the time and usually only says one word.