Anachronism Stew · 10:45pm Mar 28th, 2013
Anachronisms are jarring. There are few things as off-putting as when a pony apartment is fitted with a microwave, or two ponies go on a date to watch a drive-in movie.
Equestria is, for the most part, powered by steam and magic. Automobiles are not a common sight in Manehatten. When Twilight Sparkle writes a report, she writes it with quill and ink on parchment, then transports it by dragonfire. She does /not/ flick open a cell phone and twitter to @PrincessCelestia, unless this is seriously AU.
The need to invent specific details for fanfic makes it all too easy to slip up and add familiar ones without thinking about them. This breaks continuity with the show and other fanfics, and makes obsessive fans like me sad.
However, I do not complain merely to be pedantic! A little extra thought towards the world does more than avoid continuity errors with the show. It makes the stories richer, makes the world come alive, and can, in itself, be a great source for humor and drama.
So, get writing! Equestria needs us!
Additional:
I used technology as the most obvious source of anachronisms, yet there are many others. Equestria has it's own slang (as everypony should know by now) and it's own maps and history. Ponies have their own naming conventions, and are generally herbivores. Weather is scheduled, and the sun and moon are moved by alicorn magic. Equestria is not a world in which one expects to hear about a pony named John Smith, who lives in New York City, eats ham and eggs for breakfast, was caught in an unexpected downpour, and talks about how the earth moves around the sun.
