R.I.P Real Derpy

To be quite honest, I really don't see what this huge problem is. I really don't. A lot of people are treating this like it's the end of FiM or something! Relax bronies, calm down! I'm going to address a few things and I don't think I'll be brief in doing it, so incoming wall of text!

First, some pre-knowledge. I was never against Derpy's original character. I thought the eyes were great, her general behaviour was perfect. Her voice seemed out of place for a mare and I've never really been a fan of the slower, lower 'dim witted' voice (for lack of a better term). Still, I thought it was a great nod for the fans of our favourite where's-waldo-esque pony.

When I heard the initial reaction about people being offended by Derpy, I thought it'd be the usual minority who didn't like the episode for some off the wall reason. It happens every episode, they'll get over it. But then it kept going. It kept rolling and snowballing until it became a huge issue that had the community and various groups split; those that wanted derpy changed/censored and those that wanted her kept the same. Now personally, I thought Derpy was fine, and I thought it was a gross over-reaction of those offended that they felt this way, that they were looking too deep into what is essentially less than a minute of humour for children about a mare who is, at worst, unluckily clumsy. But this is just my opinion, one I'm entitled to have, as they are to have their opinion. Whether we think each other is wrong, Hasbro decided to change Derpy to comprimise for these people who were offended, something in their right to do so as creators and writers of the show.

When I saw and heard the new Derpy, I was actually impressed. I didn't go in with a jaded "THEY CHANGED DERPY OMFG RAGE". I watched the scene and tried to think of it as seeing it for the first time, to get a rational, unbiased opinion. So, here's a quick rundown of what I thought:
"Ok, they took the name Derpy out. Understandable."
"Ooh, she sounds like a girl now. I like this new voice."
"The eyes aren't as derped as before, but they're not completely straight. Clever."
"This is what everyone's getting hyped up over?"
I like the new voice. She doesn't sound like a dim witted boy. She's now a ditzy blonde girl. She's still clumsy, good natured and adorable, and if you look carefully, her eyes aren't completely straight in most of the footage. That one scene where her eyes are straight? Well has she been wall eyed in EVERY appearance? Still, going past that, I'd also like to bring up an email sent by Hasbro. Due to lack of time, I cannot link it now (I'll probably edit this later), but the email said they were not changing Derpy's name. They simply removed it from being said. I see no problem with this. It makes those that complained happy and simply removes an 'in joke' for the bronies, for which the primary demographic are not, for the most part.

Now for the kick... I sit here and type this and I find myself... disappointed. This community has not taken this well and I feel this has not done much to improve the 'brony' image as a whole. The way in which many bronies have reacted have, in my eyes, made us seem as bad, if not worse, than those who originally campaigned so hard to have Derpy changed. We are bronies. We are a community that is meant to love and tolerate, a community in which our core ideals are friendship and acceptance, something I feel a number of us either have forgotten or no longer care about. Come on bronies, what happened to the love and tolerance? The year of friendship? We are better than this.

In the words of my favourite pony; "All I want to do is make you smile, yes I do." So let's do it. Let's spread happiness and laughter and smile smile smile.

~Foxytail

 

It has made for a lot of new good fan art though... For the watchers of Dr. Who, I got a tad choked up at this one... *sniff*

 

Or you've been crying over Derpy all this time. That's why you weren't on the forums. Lurking, yeaaaah.:Trollestia:

 

Coolio. And yea, the whole Derpy thing really doesn't concern me all that much. At first I was like "Oh sh--." But now I'm over it so whatever. Derpy will always be Derpy in my book. And Twilight and Dashie is best pony so...yeah.