Loved the movie, loved the main actress, the message, but did NOT love the ‘shaky handheld artistic for effect camerawork’ that was prevalent though easily 75% of the movie.

THAT aside, I am super excited to see the next one! I also kind of wanna read the books and I am NOT a reader who like, reads a lot of books. 

Most importantly though, is the message the movie (series) holds like many cautionary tales before them.  While it may not be as glaringly obvious as a book like 1984 - this series basically IS how our society is today.

99% of the population is owned and controlled by the 1%.  Right now, we’re at war (All respect to the people who have sacrificed, this is not about war good vs war bad, keep with me here - ) Whose sons and daughters are sent as tribute to fight for the ‘good of the people’?  You can bet, not a lot of those 1%’s sons and daughters join the army.  We give incentive to those who join - money for school, healthcare, your family taken care of.  It’s for honor, pride for your town and family, the risk is worth the prestige and aid for your country.  The media drives this into our heads. 

In the world of the hunger games, people in the poor districts can get extra help in the form extra food or supplies, but your name is put more times into the Russian roulette pot of the hunger games the more outside help you accept.  Their world is driven by media, the masses controlled by a balancing game of hope and fear.  Distract them with propaganda, give them just enough hope to stay happy, but never enough they rebel and realize the real situation. 

You can see in this interview how Robin Roberts gets antsy when Donald Sutherland goes off script near the end of this interview and really tries to press the connection of this tale to society right now.  He brings up the Occupy movement and the 99% vs the 1% thing and how young America is ripe to change things. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWOF8RUytes

Not that I was ever a puppet of the media before, but especially after all this, I’ll never look at things the same way again.  It’s not all black and white and I’m not all doom and gloom, but basically, shit’s gotta change and people gotta stop letting the media distract them from what is really important.

knightspendid:

But most of my followers don’t watch the show and don’t wanna hear about it while the rest of you will probably fucking crucify me because that’s what happens to people with legitimate fucking grievances in this fandom apparently because these cartoon ponies can do no wrong. So I’m slapping it under Read More and preparing for angry asks and unfollows like a bitch. Probably not enough people care for those things to happen.
Also, for the people who care, trigger warning! Ableist shit.

Read More

I looked this up argument in general as I heard Hasbro apparently pulled the online downloads of the Episode that highlighted Derpy Hooves in a cameo with Rainbowdash and named her thus officially/gave her a voice. It’s speculated it was due to copyright issues in copyrighting the character name  (They might go back to “Ditzy Doo”) -

But the internet is in a flurry about the offensiveness of the depiction of “Derpy” as “Unfit to work according to Rainbow dash because she is so clumsy”, AND HOW KIDS (the target audience) might start using the word as the slur means to some, to mean ‘stupid and retarded’.

For me, I did not know how much ‘derpy was an “Ableism slur”  (I did not even know what that ism was, I had to look it up).  I myself never saw it as such before…tho now I might think differently.  I learned a lot from the above article and other ones I read.

Here is an argument on the other side who makes some good points too: LINK

….

….

My Devil’s Advocate to the whole thing and closing comments:

- How would her original name of “Ditzy Doo” be better?  Isn’t Ditzy a slur too to her intelligence and ability?Why not just name her “Bubbles?” Then she is just ‘clumsy’ and lets not forget there have been PLENTY of clutsy characters in kids shows as comic reliefs.

Don’t get me started on all the GAY comic relief characters, if we are pulling that card.

- Rainbowdash reacted how she did/would with any pony who was falling behind her, she acts like that to EVERYONE.

- ‘Ditzy Doo’ is shown doing plenty of work (clumsy sometimes yes, but still, she works!), and doing lots of non-clutsy things shown as able and participating in plenty of pony events like anypony:

From Winter wrap up:

To being a Mail carrier (Her mistake could have easily been made by any new to the job pony - and tbh it was just as fault as that pony next to her):

And at events / parties:

…

TL/DR:

I’m in support of naming “Derpy” Something else if they will be naming/highlighting her more like in the Last Roundup - so as to not associate ‘derpy’ with how they portray her (combination of the eyes/voice/clumsy), cause yes I’d not want my kids (if I had kids) using the term to other children, especially to those who might have disorders that make them unable to control their face or actions and are not ‘mentally challenged’ at all.

Though if you think about it she is like Ed’s long lost sister based on her voice /portrayal?

Was Ed offensive too?

How about Patrick?

Kids see it as funny and they love those characters, they don’t see ‘mentally challenged retarded people’, and those kind of words are not used in the shows.

The only issue is that they used the term ‘Derpy’ associated with someone like  “Derpy Hooves’

THAT is where the issue lies, if you wanna make an issue.

Cause then you might be teaching kids a slur they don’t know is a slur.

First of all, said coworker should not really have been talking about such a thing at work in the first place so vocally, seems inappropriate.  If you feel they are making you uncomfortable - talk to your manager (if you feel they are someone you can talk to comfortably about this kind of thing- just rememebr it’s part of their job to help you have a good work environment).

If that is not an option, just tell people the rumors are not true if it comes up.  It’s none of their business, first of all, and can re-butt with, “Just because I support gay people’s rights doesn’t mean me and/or my females friends are all gay”  (As I don’t know your orientation). And also from the sound of it your coworkers giving such looks and spreading rumors are acting like a bunch of middle schoolers.

I got into a similar discussion with an older coworker (she is 55 I’d say) only it was over religion in general.  It came up in casual conversation as she apparently is a Jehovah Witness, and I said something like “well I can’t comment I don’t believe in God.”  And she kinda latched onto me with things like ‘why, how can you, evolution this etc etc.’  I basically shyed away from the conversation and bascially was ‘lets agree to disagree’ and didn’t get mad or let her sway me any.  None of her business and she can believe what she desires, I don’t care.  She let off and after a few days things were back to normal and she never brought it up again.

Either way, take a deep breath, go to a higher up manager if you feel your cowokers are making your workplace uncomfortable,  and hold your ground calmly and without having to divulge as much personal info as possible (it’s none of their business).