I Don't Like Cutie Marks · 12:28pm Nov 12th, 2016
First off, it's Veteran's Day, so if like to say thank you to everyone who has served in the armed forces for our country. Seriously, thank you. Now on to why I don't like cutie marks.
The main reason I don't like cutie marks is because they are very limiting. What I mean by that is that when a pony gets their mark, they take it as what they are meant to do. This means that by the time you get to middle school, you already know what your job will be and can't easily change it. At least, not without challenging the status quo.
Also, the cutie marks aren't always the most helpful. For example, a pony with a money sign for a cutie mark only knows that they're going to be rich, but not how or when. Also, the Cutie Mark Crusaders' marks make them want to only ever help other ponies get their marks... not a very successful career choice, if you ask me.
Finally, Cutie Marks are just asking for bullying to happen. Whether it's bullying over the lack of a mark or over what mark somepony has, it's not good. And it happens A LOT, and in the case of Starlight Glimmer cutie mark caused issues almost destroy Equestria - twice.
In my opinion, cutie marks do much more harm than good, and Equestria would be a better place without them. If you agree or disagree with me, please tell me in the comments. Thanks for reading!
Interesting perspective on cutie marks. I actually like the concept, though real life clearly doesn't work that way. Relatively few people in real life have a calling or a destiny that can be accurately summed up by a cutie mark which often symbolizes only a single aspect of what they are like, what they love to do and / or what they excel at. They do exist, though, and I know several people like that, who could be accurately described using this cutie mark / special talent model.
Many find it harder to find their place in the world than that, though. If we were all ponies, there would be a lot of adult blank flanks around, something we never see in the show and which would probably indicate something is seriously amiss. I guess ponies are just wired differently. I can see the appeal of this model to many people, adults and children alike, but it's good to remind yourself that the world doesn't actually work that way, at least not for us humans who have to live in the real world.
I understand how you would feel some ponies' cutie marks to be limiting. For some of the background ponies (and even some of the not-so-background ponies) the writers clearly didn't put a lot of forethought into their cutie marks and what it would mean for their character. No one is really sure what Derpy's bubble cutie mark means, and what kind of destiny is a silver spoon anyway?
I guess the thing to keep in mind is that a ponies tend to love exercising their special talent and find fulfilment in it, so many wouldn't mind if it seems a bit limiting. Those who do can just be written to have a more abstract mark that leaves more room for interpretation, or even be a conglomerate of several things, like the CMC who got a two-for-one kind of deal. They have their shared destiny of helping other ponies with their cutie marks, but they also each have their individual things. Kind of a sweet deal, actually.
And yeah, I can see how some ponies might feel it's a bad thing how much focus is put on cutie marks especially when it comes to education. Might be interesting to see that explored in a fanfic, actually.
Personally, I really like the cutie marks the CMC finally got. It's a great way to let them continue doing what they do best, and the two episodes we got in Season 6 really showed them progressing in exactly the way I was hoping for. I loved seeing them consulting with parents about their child's cutie mark, and being taken absolutely seriously while doing so, despite their young age. I think it's actually a very valuable specialization for them to have, and I think they're going to be in high demand once word spreads. It would actually be great for the map to send them somewhere, I think. Make some of the adults come along to supervise them, and have them solve cutie mark issues further from home.
Bullying is a fact of life, sadly. If you're in middle school, chances are you know that all too well. Sure, cutie marks provide a target for bullies, but if they didn't exist, the bullying would just be about something else. After all, we live in a world without cutie marks and it certainly doesn't seem to be stopping anyone. Bullies gonna bully - getting rid of cutie marks isn't going to change that.
The world of ponies is a fair bit more idealized than reality. In that context, I really have no problem with cutie marks. Our world clearly doesn't work that way, but Equestria doesn't have to mirror it perfectly. After all, this is escapism, right?
4312964 Thanks for giving me another perspective on cutie marks. Also, your comment was about three times as long as my actual post (which is fine).