Today is the last day to join, so if you want in on it, be sure to read over the rules and PM Shakespearicles!Silver Spanner: What We Know · 9:09pm Mar 17th, 2016
Welcome to my 100th blog post!! 
So after some nasty business elsewhere, I thought I'd share my thoughts on a cool background pony called Silver Spanner, whom I think is pretty intriguing. As far as details go for her, they are few and far between.
The MLP wiki provides some info, and I even found a YouTube video that covers her, but I think we can squeeze out a bit more information with some keen observation and careful extrapolation. Let's skip the basic stuff first:
First, Silver's good with tools. Obviously. Second, she likes cider. Now while a skilled writer might be able to do something with that detail, I don't feel that is especially unique to Silver Spanner. Lots of ponies like cider, so who cares? We want to know who SHE is.
Disclaimer: These are just some ideas to get people started on writing fics for Silver Spanner. I'm not claiming these are "right" or other ideas are "wrong". If you want to write her as an insane robot creator, or a plumber, or a modern metal artist, then go for it!
Silver Spanner
What We Know
1. She knows how to fix small appliances.
Source: The MLP Collectible Card Game.
But from this, we can probably also guess that...
2. She ADORES fixing things!
Source: The MLP Collectible Card Game.
Silver Spanner isn't just good at what she does, she loves what she does, which is a pretty important distinction. This is the kind of pony who will likely take her work home with her. She's probably got pet projects that would have most others scratching their heads. She may enjoy the challenge of a broken device, and also finds the inner workings of appliances fascinating. She could dabble in invention, trying to improve on some of the designs she encounters on a daily basis.
This trait may lead you to asking questions like, "What technology would exist in Equestria for Silver Spanner to fix?" World building! It's your friend!
3. She dumpster dives.
Source: The MLP Collectible Card Game.
Straightforward information, but we can get more than just the surface details from this. What kind of pony dumpster dives? Not a hoity-toity fancy pony, that's for sure. She's not afraid to get her hooves dirty, and this relates to clue #3 that she loves her work so much she's willing to crawl around in trash to find treasures related to her interests. Even more, this could give us clues as to the kind of places she frequents.
4. The kinds of places she hangs around.
Source: None - Just plausible guesses derived from other clues!
If Silver Spanner wants to sort through garbage in search of parts or discarded appliances, she probably won't be hanging around much in affluent/clean areas. (Not that she wouldn't want to sort through rich ponies' garbage, but I doubt the guards would let her...) Maybe she hangs out in the ghettos a lot, trotting down back alleys, and hanging out at junkyards? What kind of ponies would she encounter in these places? How would it affect the way she behaves? Is she like teflon--ebullient and energetic despite her otherwise unattractive surroundings; or is she prickly and guarded, wary of any in her vicinity?
Drawing further from the quote on the card above, think about certain events she might frequent from the show's canon. I'd imagine she'd be a regular at the annual Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange from the MLP episode Trade Ya.
5. She's got a friend in Thor Pony.
Source: Season 2, Episode 15; Season 4, Episode 12.
I know the creators put certain ponies next to each other because they just look good together in the background, but Lyra and Bon Bon became an inseparable pair in the fandom's eyes this way, why can't these two?
This one's kind of easy, but I'll start you off anyway: Why are these two friends? How did they meet? How long have they known each other? How do they talk to each other? What do they do for fun? Are they JUST friends?
And that's all I've got so far! If anyone wants to throw in their ideas, finds, or speculation, then please feel free to share!
And all evidence has been nuked. Seriously, all threads have been deleted.
I fully support your decision to leave, and will now follow you and attempt to be your friend out of sheer respect.
3813170
LMAO!
Yeah, I saw that it was all wiped. It's all so silly! I considered just messaging the admins my grievances, but because of the weird power play, I thought I'd alert the group on the way out. Seems they really didn't like that!
I still want to write something for Silver Spanner, despite the mini-drama.
3813180 http://www.fimfiction.net/group/210313/silver-spanner-fans/thread/242610/let-us-all-start-new
Feel like, as long as nobody ever starts a single thread, it's a decent enough place to maximize viewership.
3813193
Basically.
I'm part of groups that are basically glorified story dumps, so I'm not opposed to them per se, but if they're trying to build up a character who has yet to have a following, you KINDA need people chatting about her... 
3813204 And when the first attempt to do such resulted in power-hungry censorship which necessitated a total nuking of all of the evidence...
I kind of want to start a new Silver Spanner group and run it competently, just to spite Lightning Crystal.
3813208
The thought had crossed my mind too, but I'd hate to do anything just out of spite.
3813212 Well, also out of a desire to provide an environment where we aren't terrified of the admin waking up.
3813216
Yeah, that would be nice.
I dunno. I'm not interested in power plays, personally. That's part of why I left. Staying would have just been subjecting myself to more of it, and I hate passively supporting that kind of thing. On the other hand, after some time has passed, maybe the disillusioned can be convinced to join a new group?
3813224 Yeah. Besides, there is a chance that history won't repeat itself.
3813227
Well Lightning Crystal seems to have changed his/her mind about multiple threads of the same nature being allowed or not, so it's possible. Regardless, the experience has kind of been soured for me. If I need to advertise my future Silver Spanner fic, there's plenty of groups with more members!
3813240 Mind letting me know which groups those would be? I might have plans involving a thunder goddess and a mechanic waging a two-mare war to kickstart an industrial revolution.
3813256
Oooh! That sounds like a good read.
Well for that, I recommend giving the Steamponies group a try. There's also Steampunk Bronies and the Sci-Fi Ponies.
3813273 Never said they'd be successful. Silver Spanner just wants to have more stuff to repair, and using her friend's awesome lightning powers seems the most efficient way to do that.
3813350 it can! Nice catch. Background ponies seem to be treated as ageless in the show, but I don't see why the time discrepancy can't be addressed or corrected!
This is awesome! I'm so happy you did this research
and also, I learned alot, I started the Silver Spanner group with very limited information on her, and this all makes sense 
3819281
Yeah, the first place I shared all of this was in the Silver Spanner group, but Lightning Crystal deleted it because they wanted to make an "official" idea thread... I noticed the forum was reset, though, so even that's gone. I'm sorry to say, that made me leave the group. Having the first real discussion censored isn't encouraging activity at all, and after checking the group, I see that no new threads, or all that many new posts have been created after that day. Just saying, you might want to talk to your admin about letting people do their thing without needing to control it all.
3819320 Woah, I had no idae that was the situation!
he had PMed me saying that people were being a jerk to him on the group, but now I know that he was the jerk
I'm so sorry, I will most definently be speaking to him about this
3819424
He's likely referring to me and another user, KingMoriarty.
I should clarify one thing: He didn't DELETE the thread. He locked it, after KingMoriarty criticized him for trying to monopolize the discussion threads. Then I posted this separate thread in the hopes of getting more people to speak up:
img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/MajikNiNE/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-18%20at%202.50.17%20PM.png
(just proof that it had been on the group forum at one time.)
img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/MajikNiNE/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-17%20at%202.20.05%20PM.png
Just a few minutes after I posted that, Lightning deleted everything off of the forum and posted that new rule thread (a response to me pointing out how no rules means no accountability for admins) And, I'm sorry, but those are horrible rules.
So no mature stories? Maybe this should be on the FRONT of the group page.
What does being a "meanie" even amount to? Be specific. Do you guys mean personal attacks like name-calling? Negative insinuations? Racial slurs, both well known and less known? Gay bashing? Fat shaming? Slut shaming? Gender discrimination? Religion bashing? Attacking anyone non heteronormative?
I know you are both young, but there's a reason you have to be specific with these things, because if you're not, then it leaves room for misunderstandings. No one likes trying to guess what the admins find "offensive" or what they think makes people "meanies"...
Not using the forum as a blog, I understand, but what do you guys mean when you say "multiple threads can be made?" Do you mean multiple threads of the same topic (like idea threads) can be made?
From the sounds of it, this basically just sounds like you're repeating Rule 2...
Groups are social, yes, but to expect everyone to just "be friends" is naive and useless as a rule. It's like a "have fun!" rule. It's all sentimental and cute, but in THIS situation, given what happened in this group and the "rules" that have since been placed, it feels like some contrived attempt at no one ever disagreeing about anything... Which is BAD FOR DISCUSSION.
In the end, you guys are gonna have to ask yourselves this: did you start the group so that it can sit and stagnate? Or are you going to encourage people to participate? For that, you need to lead the group. I'm being honest when I say, your other admin started things off very badly. The thread I posted had started some nice interaction before he came in and shut it all down. Now no one is posting. If you really want content generated for Silver Spanner, you need to turn that around. If that happens, I might consider going back...but right now?
3819492 thank you for clarifying. I'm very sorry for all the trouble he's caused you. I will be taking away his admin status for this.
3819529
No problem. I know you were offline for a while, so this was going on without your knowledge. I want to see the group succeed, which is why I was so disappointed. Not trying to ruin anyone's day, but things didn't happen as they should have, and I see the group already suffering for it.
The Princess Luna fan group has some pretty good group guidelines you might consider modeling yourselves after. The Silver Spanner group is young and not much is happening, (and let's be honest--a background pony's group will never be super huge) so not all of it is necessary, but if things grow...?
3819529 First, terribly sorry to butt into this conversation without announcing, but this felt like the least rude way to bring this to your attention:
You may want to update the group's front page, seeing as LC is no longer an admin but the front page refers to him as such.
Also, I feel it's only fair that I admit that I could possibly have handled the situation with a little more tact. Diplomacy isn't exactly my strong suit, and I would like to apologize for the crass nature in which I criticized the previous management.
With all of that nastiness out of the way, hi! I'm KingMoriarty.
3819576 yeah, me not having wifi at home has really put a damper on my friends.
but I appreciate you bringing this to my attention.
Also, I will look into that. And I understand that a background pony fan group never gets very far, that's why I don't put much effort into it
3819659 thank you! I forgot about that
I will change the description.
Yes, you would have been a much better admin. I didn't really know Lightning very well, so I didn't know he was like that. I'm so sorry for the situation that occurred. Also, no need to apologize for butting in.
I'm Feline 
(duh
)
Hi! Nice to meet you
3823054 What's this about my being an admin? I meant to say that I was apologizing for having been a little rude when reprimanding Lightning.
Of course, since I am online at least three times a day and seem to have a fairly good grasp of common courtesy based on interactions with people, I could fill the role of admin. Maybe. If you'll have me.
3823134 I would love to have you as admin! But only if you want to. I was only implying that you would have made a much better admin from the start
3823175 Oh, I definitely want to. You just say the word, boss-lady.
3823175
Hey, do you think I could repost this to the group forum? I'll rename it to like... "My silver spanner ideas" or something.
3823201 I would absolutely love it if you did that!
3823199 I'm on it
3823201 As new co-admin, I recommend you post it under the old name.