The Ponies Answer: Part Two · 6:25pm Jun 9th, 2013
Howdy! We got some more questions answered for y'all! This still ain't all of 'em, so there's more to come after these. But now, I'm gonna turn this over to Pinkie!
Dear anypony,
I am a person of two halves. Not like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but... gah. I'll start over. I'm sorry if this turns into a little essay, but I figure some background info is important in answering questions sometimes.
Normally, when I'm comfortable, I'm a pretty excitable person. Like Pinkie! In fact, I really admire her for what she does and her values. Anyway, I can be like her most of the time.
The problem is, I'm not as socially adept as she is. I'm, at best, awkward. I always tend to worry about what people will think about what I say to them, which results in me fumbling before I even talk to them.
So, my question is (we finally got there, eh?) this: how do I be less awkward around others? -United Kingdom
Oh! I know the answer to this one!
You say that you’re lots of fun when you’re comfortable. I bet you’re comfortable around your friends, right? Friends are the best ponies to be fun around, and if you’re only super-extra-fun around your friends, that’s okay!
If you want to be fun around other ponies, you need to remember that they’re your friends too. Even if they don’t know it yet! Even if they don’t act like they’re your friend! Even if they yell at you and tell you you’re being silly and you need to go away, they’re still your friend.
That’s kind of hard to remember for some ponies. So here’s how you remember it: Practice!
You can start by planning it out. Decide to do something fun and nice for other ponies you’ve never met before, like giving them stickers, or balloons, or telling everypony you see something nice about how they look, or even just say hello to everypony! (Make sure to do this for all kinds of ponies. If you’re only nice to pretty ponies your own age, they might think you want to be their special somepony. But if they see you being just as nice to old ponies, and ponies who are pretty in a different way, they’ll just think you’re as nice as you are!)
After a while, you’ll think of fun things to do for ponies right when you see them, and you’ll remember the ponies you were nice to before, and you’ll just go ahead and do the things you think of. Everypony around you will see that you’re a good friend, and everypony wants another friend. That’s how you make friends with everypony you meet, and when everypony is your friend, there's no reason not to be yourself!
Dear Pinkie Pie,
I found an ice cream sandwich in a bush by my house the other day. What should I do? Try to find the owner? Bring it to the police? Put an ad in the paper? Put posters with its picture up around town? Leave a note in the bush with my phone number on it in case they come back looking for it?
I just can't imagine how it's owner must feel right now, crying and alone without their ice cream sandwich... --In general proximity of assorted shrubbery
Uh-oh. Okay, listen up, because this is really important! The real owner of the ice cream sandwich is probably sad, and the ice cream sandwich is probably sad too (it’s such a yummy treat, and it hasn’t been eaten yet!) You, sir or ma’am, are the only pony who can fix this. Ready?
First, put the ice cream sandwich in the freezer.
Next, go and buy a box of ice cream sandwiches to keep it company.
After that, you need to take a picture of the ice cream sandwich, and post it near the bush. Make a flyer, and write on it “Who wants an ice cream sandwich?” This should get the attention of the pony who lost their ice cream sandwich, because they probably really, really want an ice cream sandwich!
If somepony comes to your house, and tells you they do want an ice cream sandwich, find out if it’s the pony who lost theirs! If it is, you can reunite them. If it isn’t, you can give them a different ice cream sandwich.
After a few days, if nopony claims it, you’ll just have to eat all of the ice cream sandwiches you have left. The pony who lost their ice cream sandwich might have left town, but it’s your job to make sure all the yummy ice cream is happy, and the one thing that makes yummy things happiest is being eaten.
This is a big job, but I know a pony like you can handle it. Good luck!
Rarity,
However do you get your hair so luxuriously shiny and curled? -Narnia
Oh. My. Well...
Beauty does not come easily, darling. I have a routine, and while it’s always tempting to keep beauty secrets to oneself, it’s more important to offer other ponies the opportunity to look and feel fabulous.
It starts with a light shampooing, and a heavy conditioner. I personally swear by Mane ‘N Tail, but there are others available. (Twilight assures me that Mane ‘N Tail is available on Earth, but I’m not certain where one could get it in Narnia.) After that, when the hair is slightly damp, a curling iron is used to straighten it, then curl it properly. One should never trust one's mane to curl on its own, unless one intends to wind up with a limp or frizzy mess.
After one’s mane and tail are curled, the next step depends on the type of hair. If one’s hair is dry, and naturally curly, some oil should be used to prevent it from frizzing. If one’s hair is oily, simply use a very light coat of manespray to hold it in place. (As with all beauty products, if other ponies can tell that you’ve used it, you’ve used too much.)
And there you have it, darling. I hope many ponies use these secrets to make their worlds a more beautiful place, starting with themselves.
Dear Princess Twilight,
What is the best way to deal with going from a peer relationship to a hierarchical relationship in which one of your friends is now subordinate to you?
To be more specific, I got promoted and now I'm in charge of one of my friends. How can I balance our friendship and the manager-employee relationship? -Corner Office
Balancing work and friendship can be tricky, and even more so in a situation like that. But like most things in life, it comes down to two important skills: communication and organization!
It’s always important to communicate with your friends, but now you have to make it clear that you have new responsibilities at work, and those have to get done before you have time to play. If you have good friends, they’ll want to help succeed in your new job, you just have to make sure they know it’s important to you. Sometimes your friends might forget, or might not take their own responsibilities seriously (especially if they think you can just let them slide) so every now and then you might need to remind them that this is your job now.
It’s equally important to make sure they know that you’re still the same pony. This is where organization comes in: you have to make sure you’re making time for them outside of work, so they can see that the things that matter haven’t really changed. You can still have fun! These times should be totally separate from work, it’s not the place to talk about projects or things that need to be done at the office.
If your friends see that you’re still their friend outside of work, and that during work you need their help, they should be even more willing to help you. Hopefully that will make your new position a success, and make your friendship even stronger. Just remember to thank your friends, and all the other ponies who help you get the job done!
Dear Ms. Rainbow Dash.
I've had this great friend for several years. We've done everything together, and had our ups and downs, fights and funs. He got a new job he really likes after a long spurt of unemployment, and I couldn't have been happier. Except... now he seems to be working all the time, on the weekends and evenings. And when he isn't, he's hanging around with his workbuddies elsewhere in new hobbies and crowds I have no part in. We usually met once ever week or two, but now I have spoken to him once over the phone in the last two months.
You being the Element Of Loyalty and all... what the hay can I do? I wouldn't want to lose a precious friend, but when I told him how I felt, he said I should quit whining and pressuring him. - Somewhere North
Wow, okay, it’s time to take a step back from your friend.
You have to get that sometimes a pony gets into something new, and makes new friends. It’s not that they don’t like their old friends, they’re just kinda wrapped up in stuff. As long as that’s not stuff that’s dumb or dangerous, it’s just something that happens to ponies over time.
Ponies don’t have to talk every day to be friends, sometimes all they need to do is make it clear they’ve got each other's backs if they need it. It can be nice knowing that there’s a pony out there you can turn to, even if you guys aren’t as close as you used to be. Plus, it gives you time to make some new friends, or hang out with other friends you already have.
On the other hoof, some ponies are just jerks. If this pony is really your friend, they have to be there for you when you need them. Loyalty goes both ways, and nopony has to be loyal to a pony who’s a lousy friend. If a pony thinks you’re pestering them when you talk to them every few months, that pony might be a jerk, and you should find some better ponies to be friends with.
Dear anypony,
Is there anything about the way Mayor Mare runs Ponyville that you'd personally like to change? Like the way funds are spent, or putting certain attractions? Do you think she's competent as a leader?
I think I can speak for everypony in saying that Mayor Mare does a fine job. I’m sure we all have our pet projects that we’d like to get a little more attention, like some new books for the library-
Or fixin’ up the buildin’s and roads instead of throwin’ a party for every pony who helps the town.
I still say we should tear down Town Hall and build a stadium so the Wonder- I mean, so ponies will have shows and stuff in town.
But Mayor Mare does throw some fun parties! Maybe there should be more of them.
Anyway, like I was saying, we have different priorities, but Ponyville is a very nice place to live, so I guess the mayor is doing a good job!
Dear anypony,
What are politics in Equestria like on gay marriage and such controversial subjects?
Ponyville don’t got a lotta laws. No place in Equestria does, really.
We got the big ones, of course, against hurtin’ ponies or stealin’, but when it comes to fiddly lil’ laws like where ya’ can build a barn, or which folks are allowed to get married, we just never bothered with ‘em. We figure ponies have enough sense to figure that out on their own.
So if two mares, or two stallions wanna get hitched, that’s their own business. And usually by the time they’re gettin’ hitched, the ponies around ‘em are used to the idea that they love each other, so there’re no problem there, either.
Now, sometimes there can be a problem when they first find out a pony’s playin’ for the other team. Ponies can be kinda skittish, so they don’t like things that’re different, and the more different a couple is, the more looks they’re gonna get. So, two local ponies are gonna have it easier than ponies who move into town together, and both are gonna have it easier if it’s two ponies, and not a pony and a griffon or what have ya’.
Anyway, nopony is gonna get hurt- most ponies hide from what scares ‘em. But, well, ya’ll saw what happened with Zecora. And just like there, ponies can be herded pretty easy. Soon as they see that the new thing is safe, they go ‘bout their business like nothin’ happened!
Dear Twilight and Pinkie Pie,
What do you think is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?
I know you want me to say that the answer is forty-
Twenty five!
Huh? Pinkie, it’s forty two in that book.
I know, but twenty five is so... fivey!
Fivey... isn’t a word. And why would it matter if something was fivey anyway?
Five is the best number! Everything in the universe is related to five, or you can make it a five. The fiveiness of something shows how important it is, and since twenty five is five fives, and there’s a five in it, it’s extra fivey, so it must be important!
There are six elements of harmony. They’re not important?
Of course they are! You have five bestest friends, right?
Right. Okay, but there are only two princesses who rule Equestria.
Yeah, but there are five extra-powerful ponies in Equestria: Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, you, and Discord.
There’s only one Equestria!
What’s the fifth letter of the alphabet?
E...
And what’s five times one?
Five.
See? Your eye is twitching, Twilight.
I know... I think I need to lay down.
Okay, well, have fun! We’ll be back later to answer more questions for you guys! You can still ask more if you want, at Ask a Pony!
:yay: My question was answered! Thanks, ponies!
You know, I'm worried that people are going to take this as legitimate advice based solely on the guise of the mane 6 answering the questions.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be insulting or anything, but giving people you don't know relationship and friendship advice is extremely dangerous unless you're properly qualified.
My point is, be careful what advice you hand out. People might just follow it.
5
That is all
1134323
You make a good point, but I will say that the show does teach us similar lessons. Sure, they're less personal and more vague, but they're still lessons and I think most of us know that they can't be applied in the same way in every situation.
So, I think it's best to consider these in the same way as we do the lessons from the show. Regardless, they're still a fun read.
1134343
Oh absolutely. These are very fun to read. I'm enjoying them, and none of them have seemed bad so far. I was only saying to be careful is all.
If someone ever comes up with some sort of life-changing question, that's when things get dangerous.
I've seen people take advice from the internet that ruined their relationships before. It's not pretty.
As you said though, nothing so far has been like that.
As long as these stick to lighthearted and entertaining advice from ponies, I'll be happy.
1134323
I don't know. I don't particularly see this. Pauline Phillips, of Dear Abby fame, made an entire career out of giving advice, on the sum total credentialing of... growing up in a helpful family and people generally seeming to appreciate her advice. If people ask me for advice, I'm never shy about giving it and what I have to say is usually well received. Sure, the advice one gives may occasionally be off base, but at the end of the day it's up to the advisee, not the advisor, to make decisions and take actions, and if someone thinks they're getting bad advice, they're probably not going to follow it.
I think I see the point you're trying to make—though maybe I'm wrong about that—but I find myself disagreeing very fundamentally. Everyone is qualified to give advice. It's not like you need a license, and there are some very public figures out there in the media giving very, very, very bad advice on a near constant basis. I could name names, especially in the realms of politics and finance, but I'll try to keep bookplayer's blog clean.
1134352>>1134357
A part of it is how you give the advice, I think.
But experience is often the best teacher. That's what the show is about. Our favorite ponies experience trials and problems and come out of them a better pony.
1134363 Fair enough. I will admit that "Advice from bookplayer" and "Advice from the Mane Six" kind of carry different weight. I think people have a certain desire for defictionalization, that can lead to them giving more credence to advice that comes from (even fictional) parties that they really look up to, regardless of the quality of that advice.
(That said, I think the advice presented in these posts has been wonderful so far, which is why I aligned myself with the "Oh, it's fine" side of the argument
)
Hail Eris!
1134366
Oh, yes, the advice has been very good. And that's what it is: advice. Not fact. Not the law. Not anything like that.
So, keep them coming, Bookplayer!
Er, I mean, ponies!
1134323
Well, in a way it is legitimate advice. As 1134357 pointed out, this isn't much different from Dear Abby or Dan Savage (who also have no real qualifications). And I'll point out that people who write to them probably put more weight on their advice then folks are likely to give to obviously fictional characters. (Especially obviously fictional character that we know aren't perfect. We see them make mistakes all the time in their own lives.)
And while it's true that the advice might be given more weight coming from the ponies, I'm also striving to keep the ponies in character here, so they're generally friendly characters concerned with helping people to be good friends and happy people. Their advice isn't likely to be that irresponsible, and it's also one of the reasons that I mentioned on the form that more than one pony might sometimes weigh in- if one of our more irresponsible ponies is about to give some awful advice, expect Twilight or Applejack or Rarity to step in and suggest something more reasonable.
1134366
So that's why the government has so many people actually following what it advises.
1134363 A smart person learns from their own mistakes.
A wise person learns from other people's mistakes.
Which is also where the best advise comes from: trust me, don't do this, I should know!
Five is the best number!!!!!!!