Does Fluttershy have a double standard?

[A Talking Dragon 257]

I've notices a large gap in the way Fluttershy treats her animal acquaintances verse pony acquaintances:

 

With non-pony creatures--minus large dragons--she'll go out of her way from their sake (PYHD, CC, SOTC, Pinkie Keen, MTBPW). Fluttershy is generally excited around creatures, seeking them out (Best Night Ever, Dragon Quest, Three's A Crowd), and if an animal is injured or needs her she'll care for that animal in her own home, no questions asked, for as long as it's needed (A Bird in a Hoof, IAEBB).

 

With other ponies and non-animals Fluttershy is more hesitant. She doesn't seek them out. And when she helps them she appears guilt into doing things(Bats, Hurricane Fluttershy) or the circumstances are set up to force her hoof (Dragonshy, KCFO, Luna Eclipsed).

 

 

Edit: (Coming back and reading my opening post it did not come out like I wanted it to so I reworded the section after).

 

I guess I should be saying that throughout the series there seems to be a lot of missed opportunities to display Fluttershy's kindness to pony individuals. A good example is the barn scene in the last roundup. Fluttershy could be the one who hands the cake to the mail pony instead of Pinkie. Or in MMMystery on the Friendship Express as the one who doesn't take a bite out of Pinkie's cake. With Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Fluttershy could be the pony who approaches the mayor to save Sweet Apple Acres.

 

 

So does the show do the best job at showing Fluttershy's actions among fellow ponies. Or is there a difference in how Fluttershy acts to them?

 

--

Edited March 4, 2014 by A Talking Dragon

[Frostgage 7,976]

I don't think she has a double standard per se, more that she just feels more comfortable around small animals than fellow ponies. I also think she feels it's her duty to protect things that can't protect themselves, maybe because she relates to them.

 

She doesn't mean to be rude to anyone, she just tries to do what she thinks is right. 

Edited March 4, 2014 by Frostgage

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

Yep, Frostgage has it right I think. I think Fluttershy would go out of her way to do those things for the ponehs but she's generally intimidated by them. Social anxiety twists your ability to deal with others quite a bit, as someone who has it, I know I always second guess myself every single time I want to even do the most basic of friendly things, let along rushing out to help.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

I've notices a large gap in the way Fluttershy treats her animal acquaintances verse pony acquaintances:

 

With non-pony creatures--minus large dragons--she'll go out of her way from their sake (PYHD, CC, SOTC, Pinkie Keen, MTBPW). Fluttershy is generally excited around creatures, seeking them out (Best Night Ever, Dragon Quest, Three's A Crowd), and if an animal is injured or needs her she'll care for that animal in her own home, no questions asked, for as long as it's needed (A Bird in a Hoof, IAEBB).

 

With other ponies and non-animals Fluttershy is more hesitant. She doesn't seek them out. And when she helps them, ever her friends, she's guilt into it (Bats, Hurricane Fluttershy) or the circumstances are set up to force her hoof (Dragonshy, KCFO, Luna Eclipsed).

 

One good example can be found in the first episode. Fluttershy meets Twilight and Spike under the same circumstances, yet she treats Spike far differently than Twilight. Fluttershy even--unintentionally(?)--shoves Twilight aside to talk to Spike.

 

 

What are your thoughts? Do you think Fluttershy shows a double stranded? If not share your reasons. If so what have you notices and how can this be changed?

 

--

She shows symptoms of asbergers.... She has trouble dealing with her own race, or has problems understanding them sometimes. Socializing does not come easy for her.....

[Moonlight 7,288]

I wouldn't necessarily say she has a 'double standard'. she's just a little more hesitant to help ponies. Her social anxiety and shyness mostly causes her to be hesitant to raise her voice or voice her opinion, and it's understandable. She doesn't really have to worry about that sort of thing around animals other than ponies, since she's been good with them nearly all of her life. It's not that she isn't willing to help, it's just personal problems that tend to get in the way. 

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

She's more hesitant and nervous around ponies because she's shy; her reason being might be the bullying she got for not being an up-to-par flier

Flutters feels safer around animals because they treat her well; most likely because she has a natural talent with them. She trusts them because they trust her

That's my take on it, at least
 

[Shanks 10,816]

It is not so much that she has a "double standard" it is that Fluttershy due to her shy, timid nature can relate to animals much more easily than ponies. She has shown multiple times that she is willing to be there for her friends when push comes to shove even if her shyness may sometimes pose a problem with that.

[A Talking Dragon 257]

I don't think she has a double standard per se, more that she just feels more comfortable around small animals than fellow ponies. I also think she feels it's her duty to protect things that can't protect themselves, maybe because she relates to them.

 

She doesn't mean to be rude to anyone, she just tries to do what she thinks is right. 

 

^ I guess, but her fears or discomfort seem to get in the way of expressing the best aspects of herself. As a result more out going personalities like Pinkie or AJ stand out in their acts of kindness more.

 

Fluttershy does have it in her. Look at Stare Master. Fluttershy really steps up to babysit the CMCs. She's not forced or guilt into it. And it looks like she wants to do it.

 

I think the show could have shown more moments like this. Her love of animals is great and all, but when she sides with them so much it sends a different message.

[Forlong 1,726]

Fluttershy seems to have Schizoid Personality Disorder.  SPD is characterized by avoiding social interaction.  To fill in the void of social interaction, SPD patients will form emotional bonds with animals or even inanimate objects.

[ShadOBabe 19,013]

It's more of a trust and fear issue.

Animals have never emotionally tormented Fluttershy the way ponies have.

It's uncommon to be afraid of other people. Especially when childhood experiences make you feel that they will just automatically dislike you and make fun of you. So you protect yourself by removing yourself from other people so it won't happen again.

 

Also, animals not only make her feel loved, but they make her feel useful.

The depend on her, and it makes her feel important and needed. Other ponies tend to make her feel useless and inadequate. And not necessarily on purpose. She just has grow to feel that way.

[MLPForums Phanact 1,374]

It's like people in real life though. I know that I personally would feel easier helping an animal than helping a fellow human because some people will think you're weird if you just go and try to help and you haven't met them before.

 

I think Fluttershy, just like some people in real life, feels more comfortable helping those who won't judge her.

[A Talking Dragon 257]

It's more of a trust and fear issue.

Animals have never emotionally tormented Fluttershy the way ponies have.

 

Also, animals not only make her feel loved, but they make her feel useful.

 

Explain her fear of Dragons then. There's nothing to show that they have ever done anything to her.

 

And the big and scary argument can't apply because it's been shown that this isn't a factor in her helping larger creatures.

Edited March 4, 2014 by A Talking Dragon

[FNGRpony 658]

Hm, interesting point you got there OP.

It sounded like you were implying it might be a racist sorta thing.

 

to which i was going to reply like everyone else, well she's just afraid.

But isn't that sorta thing driven by fear?

 

I tend not to think so in flutter shy's case but i'm not sure i trust my opinion,

i do rather like flutters.

[emilyyyy 6]

I don't think she tries to be mean to anypony or animal in this case I just think she really tries to help rember the episode where she wanted to take care of Celsitas dragon (Sorry It's been awhile since i saw that episode) It really shows you how much she cares.

[Flutter's lover <3 8,206]

Because she feels she's being judged by other ponies. Like In Hurricane Fluttershy. she had flashbacks of flight school making fun of her not being able to fly very well. She was scared of being judged by the other ponies around her because of her lack of wing power. She doesn't wanna be made fun of.

 

Same goes for in Filli Vanilli, she has stage fright. and her being a shy pony, well she probably doesn't want to draw attention to herself. And she probably thinks that if she helps one pony, then everypony will want her help and just take advantage of her kindness.

 

 

Critters on the other hand....don't judge her. She feels 100% happy around little (and big) critters. She confides ot them to, she often talks to them and such. She's much more open about helping her critters because they don't judge, and they won't take advantage of her. Minus the breezies, they were intelligent enough to talk, unlike all her other critter friends.

[DND 2,355]

Because she feels she's being judged by other ponies. Like In Hurricane Fluttershy. she had flashbacks of flight school making fun of her not being able to fly very well. She was scared of being judged by the other ponies around her because of her lack of wing power. She doesn't wanna be made fun of.

 

Same goes for in Filli Vanilli, she has stage fright. and her being a shy pony, well she probably doesn't want to draw attention to herself. And she probably thinks that if she helps one pony, then everypony will want her help and just take advantage of her kindness.

 

 

Critters on the other hand....don't judge her. She feels 100% happy around little (and big) critters. She confides ot them to, she often talks to them and such. She's much more open about helping her critters because they don't judge, and they won't take advantage of her. Minus the breezies, they were intelligent enough to talk, unlike all her other critter friends.

 

 

This is summed up really well. It's easy for Fluttershy to act differently towards ponies because she's sensitive. She's been made fun of a lot when she was in flight school, and her being a wallflower, she didn't do anything about except let it scar her in a sense. She feels wary and uncomfortable with most other ponies besides her five best friends. 

 

Given her talents with animals and the way she bonds with them, I say in her eyes, they're pony enough and equally capable of being her best friends as well.

[Tigerpop198 696]

No, it's that she is very nervous of the other ponies, so it is troublesome for her to help them, unlike animals.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Fluttershy was bullied. She probably thinks it is ponies who have a double standard. The animals who come to her for help return the kindness generally (dragons and cockatrices with already mean dispositions notwithstanding). If she's reluctant to help anyone, it's because it is likely it will expose her either to criticism (or worse, being made fun of again) or draw more attention to herself than she would really like. If anything, it is probably only the other five who she would be willing to help out of the blue, and even that is dependent on the situation, as Rainbow Dash found out.

[Forlong 1,726]

I don't think she tries to be mean to anypony or animal in this case I just think she really tries to help rember the episode where she wanted to take care of Celsitas dragon (Sorry It's been awhile since i saw that episode) It really shows you how much she cares.

Do you mean her phoenix?  Or the red dragon?  Those are both very different episodes.

[man dude man 555]

At the same time, I would like everyone to pay mention to the fact that when push came to shove, and shove pushed back, Fluttershy was the only one to give Discord the benefit of the doubt, and would find himself calling her friend even, his "only friend". All elements of harmony would have a core of kindness, I mean Rarity is generosity lol, but at the end of the day, who will give kindness that others wont, FLUTTERSHY, she gives the animals kindness that others don't have the time for, as she did with one of Equestrias biggest villains. 

[Scootalove 10,689]

I wouldn't say that she has a double standard, it's just that when she meets new ponies she has her timid nature where she doesn't feel comfortable in meeting them unless they open up. Fluttershy feels that even though she relates more to ponies, her duty is to protect and ensure the safety of animals and everyone else alike.