Pony Science

[justcallmeslow]

Where does Twilight and Spike get money from? Does fluttershy tending to local pets offset the cost of all the woodland animals she looks after? Who pays Rainbow Dash for clearing the clouds? (Oh yeah, I've thought about it!)

1. Princess Celestia
2. Yes
3. The Mayor

Done

 

[ChaoticKraus]

This is... pretty neat. Overanalyzing fiction is always entertaining.

There are some problems with it, but given what you had to work with i'd say you did a great job! Though having studied social science i must say that i found the Marx-smelling analysis of class in Equestria even more entertaining.

I keep seeing images of a ponian civil war in my head. It is terrifying to behold.

 

[Ninjasander]

snip

Ok dude, I don't even understand what you're talking about anymore. The continuity isn't as rigid or important as it is in say, the DCU or Star Trek or whatever, but it's still there. Also, the show doesn't really go out of its way to explain magic, but it is implied that it follows strict rules. And "over the top without being called out?" What are you even saying?

This thread is dead anyway though. Love and friendship brother. G'night.

Exactly. There is no continuity, explanation, nor attempts to explain. There is no logic, and by extent, no science in MLP. Its a children's show where anything goes because of magic not being bound by logic or laws. Science, logic, etc are all replaced by magic which cannot be explained in any length. By being over the top, there needs to be a reason. MLP's reason is magic, which means it can do anything. Look at ed edd and eddy, the reason is lack of reason and logic. How much stupid crap has ed done? and believed? Lack of knowledge coupled with too much comics and TV. Over the top "just because" is seen as random, with no logical path to follow. people will call that out. A story with no path of progress or logic only ends in an intelligible clusterfuck if taken seriously like applying science to it. Family Guy comes to mind at its worst. For example, Brian is an Atheist yet he sees Jesus Christ perform real miracles, and forgets all about it in the next episode. If you're into offenders in games, the Indigo Prophecy is the worst offender, taking the logic of the world and replacing it with another over the course of time. In short, MLP has no science or logic, it just does whatever it wants. Just like 4chan.

There is continuity, the show keeps pointing to things that have happened in earlier episodes, and 3 of the episodes are part of the same mini-story arc.

Magic is briefly explained in episode 9 and 15. And apparently there are limits to magic in MLP, but these limits seem to be there because the user is the limiting factor.
Magic is just another fundamental law of this universe.

Of course slapstick violence in this show is unexplainable in any logical way, and is just done for the lulz. There are always moments like this in cartoons. Probably some exceptions.

Another thing, in the everfree forest the animals fend for themselves and weather changes independent of ponies (See episode 9). Ponies only seem to have taken control of the weather and animals in the places they live. Kind of a smart choice. Just wanted to point that out.

If they could control the forest then they must have the ability to survive it. The ponies seem to faint at the very idea of being taken away from their controlled environment. This would mean the everfree forest would retake the land from the ponies once they lose the ability to survive it. If they can't fend off attacks from the forest, then the settlement is lost. Considering how they lack a lot of developments that make life easier like machinery ( In some worlds magical machinery exist like the dwarves from TES), or automation. I doubt they have been around long enough to lose their survival instincts. This means they must rely on physical prowess or magic, which seems to be lacking honestly. The soldiers seen with Celestia lack weaponry, and to earth ponies with no magic or flight they would be forced to rely on their strength. Id doubt they have bows, crossbows, or guns, because they lack hands. Hooves can't really do that much damage against a manticore or dragon unless they have brass hooves or spiked horseshoes. Sure narrative continuity exists, but universe continuity about what is and isn't possible is nonexistent, making universal laws moot. Basically, there is no science or logic in MLP.

I do not completely agree with you, but you are bringing up a lot of good points. I would say it follows some logic though.

I don't want to make assumptions about weapons and how ponies defend themselves, since this has never been brought up in the show. Except for when they were defending themselves with pies, I choose to overlook this, and write it off as humour. And probably the only way they're able to portray a "war" in this show. I doubt this show is going to show us anything spesific regarding this since it's a show with friendship as its theme.

One more thing about weapons, just an idea of mine. Maybe they have helmets fitted with an extra sharp and long unicorn horn? And there needs to be some unicorns with magic capable of doing harm.

Also, I think earth ponies are supposed to be physically stronger than the other types of ponies. Earth ponies are stronger, Pegasi can fly, and Unicorns have magic.

But lets see what season 2 brings us and lets resume weird fan discussions when it airs!

 

[Hexenwolf]

I've always wondered how Ponies have an intergrated society without hands.

Magnets.

I thought someone was going to say magic, but touché sir.

What's the difference?