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NoGiantRobots1983

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  1. NoGiantRobots1983
    On this note, I'm interested in how Unicorn Magic... umm... actually works. Every time we see it, all we see is Twilight or somepony just concentrate really hard. So I wonder: why do they have to read about spells, if apparently all magic is, is willing it into existence? (I have a theory that they're doing some sort of mental chant, or visualizing glyphs or something)
  2. NoGiantRobots1983
    Speaking as someone who has to budget his entertainment, I'd say... Watching the show is fine. Buying toys of your favorite characters is understandible, maybe a little bit of peraphernelia. Becoming an outright collector though... that might be going too far. Ponies are awesome, but I can't imagine what level of obsession you must have if you never want to do something not-pony-related.
  3. NoGiantRobots1983
    1. Sonic and Tails 2. That hospital in the first Silent Hill game. 3. Memorizing a script for a play based on Speed Racer.
  4. NoGiantRobots1983
    It's more like a philosophy of strength. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't like (for lack of a better term) "pampered" people. People who aren't challenged in life tend to develop unrealistic, feel-good ideas and ultimately become useless. Worse, they have a bad habit of interfering with hard-working and experienced people who want to take actions that could actually improve life. There's actually some signs of this in-universe: Diamond Tiara is clearly pampered, so she makes fun of a lot of things she doesn't understand (Granny Smith's habits, for example). I imagine later in life she's going to be one of those counterproductive bureaucrats who is always interfering, unless years of being forced to hop around in a bunny suit wisens her up. On top of that... I still can't see Babs Seed actually being as big a deal as this episode wants you to believe, in much the same way I can't imagine Angel Bunny tossing Fluttershy out of her own house just because she didn't put a cherry on top. It contradicts everything we know about both Ponyville and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. These girls are NOT social outcasts looking to fit in--if anything, Diamond Tiara is the outcast, and there is ample evidence to support this. I feel like for this writer, the message was more important than the setting and characters, and that's always a bad sign. The message should be an end result of the story, not the other way around. If you have to bend an established setting and established, beloved characters to make a message work, then its probably not a message worth sending.
  5. NoGiantRobots1983
    I actually agree with a lot you say. I know this is partially my fault for posting a first-draft review in the heat of emotion, but I feel like my stance here has been misrepresented and blown out of proportion. To get back to basics, all I was saying was that "go to an adult" is not okay as a one-size-fits-all answer to bullying. As others have said, it depends on a lot of things. By all means, try going to an adult (or if you're adult, the nearest authority) if its an option, but life loves putting people in situations where they have to do things for themselves. People need to be prepared for when that happens, and teaching kids to rely on authority is ultimately going to hurt them in the long run. One day, they're going to be adults and then they will be the authority, but how will they manage it if they've never had to be independent? To put it another way, imagine if Ponyville solved all its problems--Parasprites, Pinkie Clones, love potions gone wrong, poison joke--by simply writing to Celestia and asking her to intervene. Yes, I know that happened precisely once, but that was an unusual circumstance where there was clearly no other alternative. It's because the mane six do most things themselves that they're able to take on gods, diamond dogs, and their own neurotic tendencies. I think some people are reading me as "wah get gun start shooting people wah!" And that's not what I'm saying at all.
  6. NoGiantRobots1983
    I believe we have now officially exhausted the topic re: whether the episode's moral is applicable to real life. Every possible point-of-view that can be presented on that, has been, and I too am looking to retire that topic. I just hope that the next time we see the Cutie Mark Crusaders, it'll be in a "fun" episode, and that we no longer get episodes that try to tackle serious issues. Being a children's cartoon, it is simply not equipped to deal with strong subject matter.
  7. NoGiantRobots1983
    Thanks, Dessa. It's nice to hear a reasoned response rather than extremism. I'll admit that "political correctness" and "stockholm syndrome" were bad choices of words. I was ticked off when I wrote my review and really not thinking carefully about my words. I stand by the ultimate message though, which--as we both said--that ultimately the episode dealt with a complex issue too simplistically and offered an answer that truly helps no one. As for my Skype anecdote, I honestly don't know how I would've dealt with the situation if I didn't have the options I did.
  8. NoGiantRobots1983
    I can't help but feel you must've lived an extremely blessed life. That's the only way you can hear of everyday things like corruption, apathy, incompetence, human bias or plain 'ol laziness and think they can only happen in extreme or fantastic scenarios. As I said, I dealt with all of these things--and continue to do so--and I live in the good ol U S of A. To be honest, no. I was skeptical of this episode before it aired. But I didn't expect it to be this bad. If it weren't that I've been waiting for a Scootaloo-focused episode, I'd make up my mind to always skip CMC episodes in the future.
  9. NoGiantRobots1983
    You're losing credibility, dude. Apathetic authorities, corrupt authorities, ineffective or ignorant ones, favoritism, bias... these are all real things that actually happen. In fact, I've dealt with them all my life. You probably have to, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. If you're going to put something very real on the same level as a clearly fantastical scenario as a zombie apocalypse, then clearly there's not much point in discussing this further.
  10. NoGiantRobots1983
    What if the teachers are apathetic, or the police are corrupt? What if the very authority figures they're supposed to reach out to, don't want to help? What if the authority figures themselves tell the kids they need to just toughen up? What if you live in Soviet Russia? Simply put: everyone finds a time in their life where there is simply nobody else they can depend on. Heck, whole SOCIETIES have faced this problem before. I'm okay with violence as a last resort, and maybe making a token effort to get the word out in case questions need to be asked later (say, if you finally decide to pepper-spray the guy who has been swiping your silverware). The problem with messages like this episode's is that they say running to an authority is the ONLY solution, and that's just terrible.
  11. NoGiantRobots1983
    Let me ask you this: What do your kids do if they're being harrassed... and you're in the hospital? Or away on business? Or dead? Who do they turn to? Is there somebody who cares as much as you do? What if there isn't? I think you're misinterpreting me. I'm not saying we should all be brutish barbarians, but teaching kids to always be dependent on others is just teaching them to be weak. Often in life, you have to be able to stand on your own two feet (or four hooves, I guess?)
  12. NoGiantRobots1983
    I'm aware of why she was named that, but it.... just feels like its not even a pony name. And yet not afraid to perform in front of crowds or run out in dark, scary woods looking for lost chickens. That's the part that seems off to me. That's all fine, but "this bully should be pitied because they went through some bad stuff back home" does not make their actions okay or make them particularly likable or sympathetic. I wouldn't let a person rob me at gunpoint just because they got screwed by the IRS, so why would I let someone bully me just because they're victims elsewhere? And then you actually tell someone, and they don't do anything or otherwise show they actually DON'T give a hoot... That's the thing. If a cartoon is gonna be educational (and that's essentially what all the moral messages are for), it should teach things that can actually be put into practice, with a positive benefit. Granted, cartoons have never actually been great about that, but then MLP has rarely ever dealt with real-life concerns like bullying. Which is another reason learning to be a scrapper is better than learning how to be dependent on a higher-up who might not give a clop about you.
  13. NoGiantRobots1983
    I haven't read other reviews yet. I just wanted to post. This episode was terrible. It may legitimately be my vote for the worst episode in the show's entire run. It's definitely already the worst Season 3 episode. They can only get better from here. Why so negative? Four reasons. 1. Babs Seed Okay first off, her name annoys me. "Babs" is short for "Barbara." So her name is Barbara Seed. I'm sure that fits in perfectly next to names like "Shining Armor," "Big Macintosh" and "Berry Punch." The character herself is painfully one-dimensional, inconsistent and more a plot gimmick than a character. 2. The CMCs being so weak-kneed. Okay, the CMCs are fairly well-liked (see the ending of "Call of the Cutie" and the beginning of "Mysterious Mare-do-Well"), have good families (fanon notwithstanding), and have shown time and again that they have backbones. Who was it that first tried talking to Zecora? Oh yeah, Apple Bloom. Who was it who gave their all to put on a stage show in front of ADULTS? Oh yeah, the entire threesome. Yeah, Apple Bloom was embarrassed about her granny in that one episode, but embarrassing relatives is a thing that happens even to adults, so that gets a pass. The point is, it felt like their personalities were bent over backwards to make them seem hurt by the bullying, when that is patently out-of-character for all three of them. Also, that song was just terrible. I seriously wanted to change the channel. 3. Political Correctness Warning! And this is the big problem. MLP was just not equipped to handle a bullying story without being all annoyingly PC. So naturally, it tries to pull the "oh, the bully is actually someone who is bullied herself," and tries to make Barbara Seed all sympathetic. No. If she's been bullied, then she should know better than to pass it on, and deserves punishment all the more for knowing full well what she was subjecting others to. This idea that we should all develop Stockholm Syndrome for our tormentors is one reason bullying stories simply should not be told... at least as long as the media is the way it is now. 4. Political Correctness Warning Part Two! On top of that, the show goes with the tired moral that the proper response to bullying is to tell somebody--a parent or other authority figure. Did none of the writer's go through high school? Or did the moral guardians stand there with guns to their heads and force them to teach kids to do the thing that only ensures they will never stop being professional victims for as long as they live? Because that's really what dependency on authority will do to you in the long run--make you weak. Sorry, but Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had the right idea when they decided revenge was better. Like, I knew this guy who would come to a Skype group I was in and intentionally try to start fights. He would also pretend in the background to be everyone's friend so he could learn things about them, then spread it to others in private to create dissent and cause more dramas. When I figured out his game, I blocked him and then kickbanned him from the Skype chat, not even asking anyone else if it was okay. This same guy contacted me weeks ago and actually thanked me for doing this, and now he's genuinely become a much better person as a result. If I had followed this episode's advice, the guy would still be a pain and just getting worse and worse all the time. I gotta admit, sometimes I think... well, nevermind. I'm gonna close with this: "Pumpkin? More like LAMEkin!" Who wrote this script, R.L. Stine?
  14. NoGiantRobots1983
    Once more asking for Prereaders. "Surprise Days, Scene 7 - Walking a Tightrope (Part One)" is in its semifinal stages. All I need is a kind prereader to go through, make sure there's no mistakes and point out anything that needs touching up. My usual prereader is sick so I'm asking for help here. Any kind soul who is interested, the story is right here (the rest of the stories are here, and I appreciate comments on those too)
  15. NoGiantRobots1983
    I'm starting to have some ideas to work with, but nobody's linked to actual fics. My own fic "Surprise Days" features a human, and to my surprise I've only seen two cliches that he meets. ... Speaking of which, I'm currently debating with myself about how the parody is gonna go. My original idea was that Surprise's pet human gets entered in a "Best HiE" contest and Surprise tries to make him act more stereotypical to get points. I'm having doubts because that feels more like bragging than an honest parody. So my second idea is having a second human show up who is pretty much a walking HiE cliche. What you think?
  16. NoGiantRobots1983
    Honesty I would've just had the clones wear off or something. Like maybe they disappear after a day or so. But personally I try to keep in mind that the show is for little girls and we're a periphery audience. It's not gonna measure up to my standards if I'm too strict, so its nice to loosen up and have FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN *--is zapped out of existence by Twilight Sparkle*
  17. NoGiantRobots1983
    It makes sense when you think about it! Rainbow Dash wants to look just like her dad!
  18. NoGiantRobots1983
    Yeah if anything, Pinkie is a little less shallow in this episode than she's been previously. I mean go back and look at "sometimes its fun to be scared!" Pinkie, or "love me, Cranky!" Pinkie, or It's About Time where she's just an excuse for pointless gags. In this episode she actually behaves somewhat like a real person. Which is why earlier I called it Pinkie's redemption.
  19. NoGiantRobots1983
    Might I recommend you check out the story in my sig? /shameless plug "Cliche" might be more ripe for parody.
  20. NoGiantRobots1983
    So, I thought about writing a fanfic that parodies "Humans in Equestria." There's one problem: I haven't really read any HiE stories. I rarely get a chance to read fanfiction at all, and usually only do so on recommendation, and... well, most of my friends don't really like HiE stories. The only thing I know is that * A lot of Humans in Equestria are bronies or gamers * A lot of them are there because Twilight screwed up a spell * I think there's also a trend of having Equestria be post-apocalyptic Earth, like Planet of the Apes with Ponies instead of Apes. * Lyra But are these the only ones? Are there others? Can you link me to fanfics that best exemplify some common HiE motifs? Thanks in advance.
  21. NoGiantRobots1983
    It really doesn't make sense to me that a spell to send clones back could inadvertently send back the original. And I have to agree with others that its odd nobody thought "This Pinkie is depressed. Maybe she's the real one?" Then again... maybe they were all stressed, had been sick lately or otherwise weren't thinking clearly. You have to be on a whole other plane of thought to come up with "make them watch paint dry" anyway. I wish I could adopt one of the clone Pinkies, even if they are destructive little fun-loving bouncy balls.
  22. NoGiantRobots1983
    I said in another topic that Pinkie had become my least favorite pony due to her exaggerated personality traits in season two. This episode may well have been Pinkie's redemption as far as I'm concerned. I gotta admit though... I really wanted to hug some of those clones. Ironically, in a fanfic I'm writing, I have a villainness whose power is she can clone herself. And then an episode premieres that is all about clones.
  23. NoGiantRobots1983
    What Elsporko said. Also, I really don't see why people are harsh on Sombra but are somehow okay with Discord, who was pretty much a stock example of "being evil for the sake of being evil."
  24. NoGiantRobots1983
    I gotta be honest... I can't see calling Gilda or the Flim-Flam's "villains." They were closer to antagonists than anything (a villain is evil, an antagonist just opposes the protagonist but may not necessarily be a bad person). Also, the term "deus ex machina" refers to when things just HAPPEN to work in the hero's favour and resolve all the conflicts without much effort. There's no way a villain can be one. Personally, I liked Sombra. I think people are over-focused on "development." The guy proved his chops. He kept attacking the crystal empire for DAYS STRAIGHT, leading to Cadence being all sleep-deprived, and his evil was still clearly felt (the way the ponies had mental trauma any time they tried to remember things... I'm not sure whether that was some magical mind-block, or if they were subconsciously repressing the memory because it hurt that much, but either way it was effective). As for motivation... why are greed and power not motive enough? That's what powers most real people, after all. Sombra is a reflection of what could happen if the wrong people get into power. What every country in the world is capable of having happen to them if they don't keep a close eye on their leaders. To me, Sombra worked. I could understand what he was about, and I could feel the effect he was having. As opposed to Discord, who was just a glorified comedian who seemed like he was in the wrong show altogether.
  25. NoGiantRobots1983
    I have to disagree with you guys. I liked Sombra as a villain, and he's easily better than Discord (who I simply did not like). Yes he doesn't say much, but... the guy is basically the fog from Silent Hill, with a face. And yes, the door was awesome. I really loved this episode, I just wish they hadn't left the "next level of Twi's training" plot hook hanging. Also, Sombra's horn breaking didn't turn out to be that important. Nine-out-of-Ten. The only real "issue" I had was the "I wasn't prepared for this" song (though I liked it fine during the Reprise... just the first time it seemed like padding because she was refusing to answer Spike's question, when she could've just said "Different kind of test, Spike.")
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