... I don't know whether I should laugh, cry, or go, "DOY SHOU!".
Experience has taught me to investigate anything that glows.Well, I wouldn't be surprised if it was...
Experience has taught me to investigate anything that glows.Cartoon ponies have now officially become Serious Business.
Makes me less embarrassed for once having made the effort to point out that the economy of the Elves in Lord of The Rings didn't work.
"Well, it's a lifestyle"Friendship doesn't seem to be propaganda to me, in this case. More like a necessity. Perhaps Celestia can't get any other system to work, specifically because of racial problems. The only way to prevent this is keeping everyone ignorant. And from what we can see, this is actually working without anypony getting hurt.
In these respects, Celestia is doing a brilliant job (assuming nothing sinister is going on behind closed doors). Even if it is maintained by ignorance, everypony is still happy anyhow, and if it were to fade, war could result.
Thus Equestria is a very good society, even if it is impossible in real life. Perhaps the situation they're in makes it honestly work without any inconsistencies.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD
Planescape Hijack
Unironically liking My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is already a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, but that's probably not as bad as the fact that I'm genuinely enjoying this analysis as well. These are the sort of questions that have come up for me while watching it, and it was really good to see that someone else was thinking about it too. It does seem that they missed a few things that, though individually minor, together wreck the thesis (the main one that comes to mind is that all the one-shot celebrity characters were earth ponies, as far as I remember), but that doesn't mean the analytical method was invalid.
Also, from the comments:
I don't think the ponies getting along as a society is a result of propaganda or ignorance. I think the culture tends towards cooperation and generosity. The developed towns also seem well off enough that there doesn't appear to be any serious economic hardship for any individual.
The latest episode did have a significant conflict over resources, but that was with another species and culture. It's interesting to note that neither side was above using (non-lethal) violence to resolve the dispute in their favor.
I don't see why not.
edited 31st Mar '11 5:37:52 PM by Gelzo
Ruining everything forever.Actually, the first episode is available for download for free on iTunes in HD. I could also point you to some less than legal downloads. Is it okay to post the link on the forum? Maybe I should PM it.
If you're less of a graphics snob, you can watch it on You Tube.

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