This version of the scene is much better, even though it doesn't completely right the previous error in the first place. Though, for better or for worse, I'm impressed at how responsive Hasbro is to the fans.
Speaking of the fans, I'm gonna put this out right now: the "Derpy Hooves" obsession is one of the grossest things about the fandom. While the fandom is wonderfully enthusiastic and creative, this aspect alone has prevented me from getting too involved in this fandom. I really don't get offended by many things, but oh my God does this part of the fandom offend me so much.
Although I don't talk about personal stuff online too often, I will say that I've been pretty involved with nonprofits that help those with disabilities throughout my life. I've been around these communities often enough to know them pretty well, as well as how the people outside groups like Best Buddies react to them. I spent every day in high school my junior and senior year watching my kindhearted friend Guillermo get teased by assholes who would teach him to say or do inappropriate things, pretend to be his friend and put him into uncomfortable situations while laughing derisively at him, or straight-up make fun of him. They found it funny; I found it disgusting and cruel. The brony obsession with Derpy Hooves and all of the macros, fanart, reaction, etc, in my opinion, derives from the same vein of that behavior, sans most of the intentional malice.
"Derpy" people are funny, and its silly how they can't seem to do things right, bless them!<=NOT A TOLERANT DISPOSITION BRONIES. Don't kid yourselves. All of these comments about how the portrayal of Derpy Hooves is tolerant because it portrays those with disabilities in a "positive way" are ridiculous. How was the original scene "positive" to those with down syndrome? Was Derpy able to do something productive and helpful, or was she portrayed as a sweethearted screwup? Was Rainbow Dash understanding or was she agitated at Derpy? Actually, I want to mention something about the "sweethearted screwup" thing, since that's what most "tolerant" people think of those with disabilities. Yes, the people with disabilities that I have met and befriended are among the kindest, most life-loving people, but using that trait coupled with the "screwup" bit doesn't make Derpy or other special needs characters more well-rounded as a character (or less stereotypical, seriously guys). Derpy was still shown to be wrecking havoc and costing the city lots of money for the damage. Um. Most individuals with special needs aren't blissfully happy all of the time; they can also get frustrated at themselves and feel upset or angry, and their temperaments and attitudes are just as diverse as those in the general population.
Quick side note: why are people comparing this to shows like "Ed, Edd n' Eddy" and "Spongebob Squarepants?" Although I haven't really watched either of these shows (and don't care to, to be honest), any "special" characters in these shows are NOT comparable to Derpy Hooves. Those characters were designed that way from the onset and are not created from a fan reaction to a background character's animation error (was it originally an animation error? I could be wrong about that). Secondly, those shows, to my knowledge, base their humor on things that appeal to the lowest denominator, whereas MLP is more clever with its writing. And MLP, unlike the previously mentioned cartoons, tries to impart important life lessons about friendship, kindness, and acceptance for its viewers. It's so stupid to say "if its 'okay' for those other shows, why is Derpy offensive?!" We're comparing apples to oranges here, and I should mention that most shows that feature characters with disabilities either present them one-dimensionally or botch the character royally. Most characters with special needs in media aren't done well, period.
Next time Derpy Hooves appears in the show (though I personally hope she doesn't, since she only feeds this ignorant ugliness), she better be doing something that reveals a talent of hers, or something like that. Like my friend Guillermo, who is using his love for movies and theater to study it as a Theater Major at UCF (the second largest university in the nation). Or another friend, Robert, who's fascination with weather patterns and hurricanes led him to pursue a career in meteorology. That would be a truly positive portrayal, not a gross caricature.
no subject
Speaking of the fans, I'm gonna put this out right now: the "Derpy Hooves" obsession is one of the grossest things about the fandom. While the fandom is wonderfully enthusiastic and creative, this aspect alone has prevented me from getting too involved in this fandom. I really don't get offended by many things, but oh my God does this part of the fandom offend me so much.
Although I don't talk about personal stuff online too often, I will say that I've been pretty involved with nonprofits that help those with disabilities throughout my life. I've been around these communities often enough to know them pretty well, as well as how the people outside groups like Best Buddies react to them. I spent every day in high school my junior and senior year watching my kindhearted friend Guillermo get teased by assholes who would teach him to say or do inappropriate things, pretend to be his friend and put him into uncomfortable situations while laughing derisively at him, or straight-up make fun of him. They found it funny; I found it disgusting and cruel. The brony obsession with Derpy Hooves and all of the macros, fanart, reaction, etc, in my opinion, derives from the same vein of that behavior, sans most of the intentional malice.
"Derpy" people are funny, and its silly how they can't seem to do things right, bless them!<=NOT A TOLERANT DISPOSITION BRONIES. Don't kid yourselves. All of these comments about how the portrayal of Derpy Hooves is tolerant because it portrays those with disabilities in a "positive way" are ridiculous. How was the original scene "positive" to those with down syndrome? Was Derpy able to do something productive and helpful, or was she portrayed as a sweethearted screwup? Was Rainbow Dash understanding or was she agitated at Derpy? Actually, I want to mention something about the "sweethearted screwup" thing, since that's what most "tolerant" people think of those with disabilities. Yes, the people with disabilities that I have met and befriended are among the kindest, most life-loving people, but using that trait coupled with the "screwup" bit doesn't make Derpy or other special needs characters more well-rounded as a character (or less stereotypical, seriously guys). Derpy was still shown to be wrecking havoc and costing the city lots of money for the damage. Um. Most individuals with special needs aren't blissfully happy all of the time; they can also get frustrated at themselves and feel upset or angry, and their temperaments and attitudes are just as diverse as those in the general population.
Quick side note: why are people comparing this to shows like "Ed, Edd n' Eddy" and "Spongebob Squarepants?" Although I haven't really watched either of these shows (and don't care to, to be honest), any "special" characters in these shows are NOT comparable to Derpy Hooves. Those characters were designed that way from the onset and are not created from a fan reaction to a background character's animation error (was it originally an animation error? I could be wrong about that). Secondly, those shows, to my knowledge, base their humor on things that appeal to the lowest denominator, whereas MLP is more clever with its writing. And MLP, unlike the previously mentioned cartoons, tries to impart important life lessons about friendship, kindness, and acceptance for its viewers. It's so stupid to say "if its 'okay' for those other shows, why is Derpy offensive?!" We're comparing apples to oranges here, and I should mention that most shows that feature characters with disabilities either present them one-dimensionally or botch the character royally. Most characters with special needs in media aren't done well, period.
Next time Derpy Hooves appears in the show (though I personally hope she doesn't, since she only feeds this ignorant ugliness), she better be doing something that reveals a talent of hers, or something like that. Like my friend Guillermo, who is using his love for movies and theater to study it as a Theater Major at UCF (the second largest university in the nation). Or another friend, Robert, who's fascination with weather patterns and hurricanes led him to pursue a career in meteorology. That would be a truly positive portrayal, not a gross caricature.