Saving Derpy Hooves...

[ThatLankyBastard]

Many, if not all MLP fans, know who Derpy Hooves is. She is a fan favourite character distinguished by her crossed eyes (an animator's accident during production turned fan nod-off) and hilariously ditzy ways. Simply put she is loved the internet round.

...which was why I was shocked to find that she is so controversial, even mores that I haven't heard anything about it on the Escapist (did I miss a thread on this or am I really the only one who knows... or cares?). Anyways, Hasbro has been receiving complaints from what can only be assumed as Helicopter-Parents saying that the character is mocking people with mental disabilities and should be completely changed: the crossed-eyes, the voice, the "Ditzy Character" thing, the whole package.

Do you find the term "derpy" offensive? I sure don't... What is The Escapists thoughts on this?

[sub][sub]Should probably put a source on this or something... I don't know I don't usually make threads... [/sub][/sub]

Source: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/02/small-update-on-derpy-overall.html

ALSO: If you don't think this is the right thing to do, actually like MLP and Derpy Hooves the way it is, or just really wanna fuck with some Helicopter-Parents then you should add your name to this petition! Join the other 25 000 people in the fight to save Derpy Hooves!

http://www.change.org/petitions/hasbro-studiosthe-hub-do-not-change-derpys-name#

[sub][sub]...best I can do, now back to trolling threads[/sub][/sub]

 

[Aidinthel]

I've heard that the term "Derp" is actually copyrighted by some company, and that's where the trouble is. Apparently the team never actually knew that people were offended until other people started telling them not to take the offended people seriously.

Oh good, a slightly less flame-baity pony thread to link the group in:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/MLP-Friendship-is-Magic
I recommend that anyone who joins turn chat notifications off when prompted as the group chat tends to be quite active.

 

[Berithil]

Oh, jeez. Of course helicopter parents would find SOMETHING negative in a popular cartoon. Not surprised at all. Unlike a lot of fans I actually liked Derpy becoming canon. I just hope they don't go overboard with the fan service. Anyway, this whole thing is just petty. People need to whine and complain about something I guess. I'm gonna go ahead and sign it just because I think its so ridiculous.

 

[XMark]

I was kinda surprised when they officially named Derpy at the beginning of The Last Roundup. I always assumed they'd keep her nameless because of the possibility of people being offended by the connotations of the word "derp" and SOMEONE would get all up in arms about it.

There doesn't seem to be any official word anywhere that anything about Derpy's name actually even happened, and we're all just letting speculation go wild because one episode got taken down from iTunes for some reason or another.

Honestly, I don't really care if they officially name her Derpy or not, since we're all gonna call her that anyways, and the show's really meant for the kids with us bronies as the peripheral demographic.

 

[Applejack]

I've heard about this but I haven't seen an official statement from Hasbro. I'm not on the internet much did I miss something? Kinda glad I downloaded that episode from itunes before it went away. I think it would have been ok if she didn't sound like she had a mental handicap, I know I never imagined her speaking that way.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Many, if not all MLP fans, know who Derpy Hooves is. She is a fan favourite character distinguished by her crossed eyes (an animator's accident during production turned fan nod-off) and hilariously ditzy ways. Simply put she is loved the internet round.

...which was why I was shocked to find that she is so controversial, even mores that I haven't heard anything about it on the Escapist (did I miss a thread on this or am I really the only one who knows... or cares?). Anyways, Hasbro has been receiving complaints from what can only be assumed as Helicopter-Parents saying that the character is mocking people with mental disabilities and should be completely changed: the crossed-eyes, the voice, the "Ditzy Character" thing, the whole package.

Do you find the term "derpy" offensive? I sure don't... What is The Escapists thoughts on this?

[sub][sub]Should probably put a source on this or something... I don't know I don't usually make threads... [/sub][/sub]

Source: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/02/small-update-on-derpy-overall.html

ALSO: If you don't think this is the right thing to do, actually like MLP and Derpy Hooves the way it is, or just really wanna fuck with some Helicopter-Parents then you should add your name to this petition! Join the other 25 000 people in the fight to save Derpy Hooves!

http://www.change.org/petitions/hasbro-studiosthe-hub-do-not-change-derpys-name#

[sub][sub]...best I can do, now back to trolling threads[/sub][/sub]

Just one question: What on earth are helicopter parents?

I just have this baffling picture stuck in my mind now:

HELLO SON! We're your real parents!

 

[Muspelheim]

Well, there's always going to be -one- parent who raise a fuzz, just because it's what she does to not feel inadequite as a parent.

If it wasn't for Derpy, I'm sure something else would come up. Like a distrubing lack of bible or something.

 

[Aidinthel]

I know I never imagined her speaking that way.

Part of the problem is that the voice actress thought Derpy was male. Apparently she was mimicking a specific kid she used to know.

 

[SpaceBat]

It isn't offensive enough to warrant such a negative response and such mentally challenged characters are very often used in cartoons. The two reasons there is such a controversy regarding her character might be because of the heightened correctness state we are in and certainly because of the fact that she's a mentally challenged female.

For a second I thought it said "PIPA ARRIVES"

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

Just one question: What on earth are helicopter parents?

I just have this baffling picture stuck in my mind now:

HELLO SON! We're your real parents!

...strangely I have that movie...

A Helicopter-Parent is a parent that hovers over their children, watching and controlling virtually every aspect of their lives. I used the term because they seem to think that everything has some sort of child-innocence destroying fault...

Example...one of my friends wasn't allowed to play Pokemon because they evolved...

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

They just need to redo the voice. I could see people raising an eyebrow. I think they might have been trying to go for a female Butter's voice but instead they got Cartman doing an impression of a mentally disabled person. Eeek.

Now the last episode. Chemo pony and crazy pony. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! In the context of the show that type of humor doesn't work. Smart ass brony may like it but everybody else is going 'Huh?'.

 

[See Spot Run]

Ok, so, a few things.

1. It wasn't a "helicopter parent" but the parent of an actually mentally disabled child that took exception to the use of the name and the characterisation of the pony.

2. Word of god indicates that the portrayal of Derpy is in no way intended to represent a mentally challenged pony. She is clumsy, and unlucky. She's not disabled.

3. The origin of the word "derp" is decidedly not ableist in nature, although it has certainly been used as an ableist slur from time to time. Whether or not it was wise for the show to adopt the fanon name for derpy is debatable.

4. According to http://i.imgur.com/VVlYy.png a post that hit retddit's r/mylittlepony sub this morning, it looks like Hasbro plans to keep the name.

5. The REAL ableism here is that Derpy is wall-eyed, owing to an animation error, but representing a real physical condition known as strabismus. Naming a physically handicapped pony "Derpy" probably was in poor taste in this regard. This poor taste originates on the internet though, and it was probably the result of a lack of web-cultural awareness that the name wasn't ruled out as a result.

6. I don't actually think there's anyhing terribly wrong with having a clumsy, unlucky character named derpy who's maybe a little slow on the uptake. I especially like the fanon portrayal of Derpy as a hard working-letter carrier and single mom, who struggles to overcome her clumsiness, and is a super positive and endearing character. I'd hate to see the show drop her rather than develop her. i might like them to tone down the eye thing.

 

[SpaceBat]

I'll grant that I don't know enough to say whether it should be condemned or not, but saying 'Oh but they do that often in cartoons' isn't a good defense of anything.

I'm not saying that's the reason they shouldn't complain. The character itself isn't much mentally challenged as she is an incredible klutz. They never actually shove the fact that she may not be so smart into our face and neither do they ever put the character in a negative light or anything (the fact that she's wall-eyed came from an animation error that got stuck). While it might come off a bit as classless when you combine it all with the name, it still doesn't really deserve such controversy. My point was that in this case it is incredibly mild, which is why I find it odd that this created such an unexpected controversy, seeing as such characters are used in cartoons on a regular basis without any news of controversy popping up.

The latter bit sounds pulled out of nowhere, don't see why it would matter if it's a female.

Neither do I, to be honest. I did not state it as a fact, as it is not one. It is simply something odd I noticed. I might be ignorant on the matter and there might have been tons of complaints about other shows containing mentally challenged male characters, but after having come across these so often and not hearing about single complaint until this particular case just caught my eye.

But yeah, you're right. Seeing as there is no factual evidence to support that it might have something to do with it, I might as well have left that out. It was unnecessary and without class, I apologize.

 

[him over there]

Calling him Derpy is offensive though. It's the same as the stereotypical homophobic little kids on xbox live who say that using "gay" and "fag" as insults is okay and not derogatory bigotry because they aren't refering to actual homosexuality. Except this is worse because people nicknamed her Derpy because she was cross eyed and it could be a trait of a number of mental disorders. It is akin to calling her retarded.

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

Calling him Derpy is offensive though. It's the same as the stereotypical homophobic little kids on xbox live who say that using "gay" and "fag" as insults is okay and not derogatory bigotry because they aren't refering to actual homosexuality. Except this is worse because people nicknamed her Derpy because she was cross eyed and it could be a trait of a number of mental disorders. It is akin to calling her retarded.

Yes, but... I've honestly never heard anyone using the phrase 'derp' or 'derpy' to refer to someone with a mental disorder. I realise this is purely anecdotal, but I've yet to hear anyone with a mental disorder themselves complain about it, just people complain on behalf of them...


^That's the person who did what was basically the most popular fan version of Derpy's voice before she was given a canon voice.

 

[him over there]

Calling him Derpy is offensive though. It's the same as the stereotypical homophobic little kids on xbox live who say that using "gay" and "fag" as insults is okay and not derogatory bigotry because they aren't refering to actual homosexuality. Except this is worse because people nicknamed her Derpy because she was cross eyed and it could be a trait of a number of mental disorders. It is akin to calling her retarded.

Yes, but... I've honestly never heard anyone using the phrase 'derp' or 'derpy' to refer to someone with a mental disorder. I realise this is purely anecdotal, but I've yet to hear anyone with a mental disorder themselves complain about it, just people complain on behalf of them...


^That's the person who did what was basically the most popular fan version of Derpy's voice before she was given a canon voice.

I guess it really is a location thing since where I'm from people use it as one all the time so calling her derpy, especially because of the connotations that people do call her that would be akin to calling a flamboyant character "Faggy". A nickname based off a derogatory term placed on the person because they possess a stereotype of that minority.

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

I guess it really is a location thing since where I'm from people use it as one all the time so calling her derpy, especially because of the connotations that people do call her that would be akin to calling a flamboyant character "Faggy". A nickname based off a derogatory term placed on the person because they possess a stereotype of that minority.

Well, since I'm from the UK I suppose it's fair enough to say I'm not really in a position to comment about your derogatory slang. I suppose the closest we ever had was 'spazzy'...