Post by ganondorfchampin on Aug 2, 2011 16:34:10 GMT
The topic of this debate is simple: Does the pegasus Fluttershy from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic have Asperger's syndrome? (By God, I hate that word, it sounds like ass burgers). I'm haven't finished the season yet, and I'm not an expert on psychology, so I might not be the best person to argue this. I'm aware that there are several people on this forum who claim to have Aspergers or are otherwise autistic, so I would like to see their opinions.
First a video.
As you can see she can't make eye-contact with Twilight, won't keep up the "conversation" without Twilight's constant urging, is extremely shy and her voice is barely audible, and before long she is unable to speak. Her entire demeanor changes when she finds something that interests her, Spike the baby dragon. As you can see she takes no regard for Twilight and pushes her out the way in an attempt to get to Spike. She is still a bit awkward, but now she is talking.
Now lets look at episode 5.
Look at this transcript:
Pinkie Pie: Is someone over there? Who're we gonna squirt? Who're we gonna squirt?
Rainbow Dash: [chuckles] Fluttershy.
Pinkie Pie: WHAT? [spits] Nonononononono, we can't prank Fluttershy, I mean, she's so sensitive, it'll hurt her feelings, even our most harmless prank.
This might be interpreted as saying that Fluttershy can't take a practical joke as she mistakes laughing with with laughing at or something, a common trait associated with Aspergers.
Later on she walking down a street backwards, leading a trail of ducks. Even though she is caring for the ducks she is completely oblivious to the people behind her, and ends up being chewed out by Gilda for her "inconsideration" to the point where she burst into tears and runs away. Fluttershy apologizes profusely for everything she does, which may be a sign that she doesn't understand if what she's doing is acceptable or not.
Fluttershy is also shown for lacking in physical strengths, another associated trait. When she was young she nearly died because she was such a weak flier, and she still isn't the best of fliers. In one episode she is bullied in a flashback, after after falling onto the land and being saved by butterflies she says that she never wants to return to the skies again, or something like that.
Despite Fluttershy's shy demeanor she is shown to quite knowledgeable on unusual subjects, such as sewing, to the point where she knows more than the actual seamstress in the mane (hurr hurr) cast, Rarity. This is another trait associated with Aspergers. In another episode she tries to aid a "dying" Phoenix, but she despite her efforts she doesn't actually know whats she's doing and if anything her efforts are just worsening the Phoenix, which is trolling her.
The main counter argument is that Fluttershy is too empathetic to have Aspergers. I disagree. She is as empathetic as hell with animals, but not so with other ponies. Many autistics find it easier to empathiase (how ever you are supposed to spell that) with animals than with humans, though to their difference in psychology from other people and an animals difference in psychology than people. Temple Grandin is known for being the most empathetic with animals person alive and she has high-functioning Autism, which is similar to, but not the same as, Aspergers. Also the so-called lack of empathy in Asperger's diagnostics may not be lack of empathy, but rather simply being oblivious to social ques and whatnot, so they come across as being unempathetic. Also there is the whole difference is psych thing. Many Aspies find it easy to empathiase with Fluttershy. Also keep in mind that many people diagnosed with Aspergers do not have all the traits.
One last counter argument is that she may be more bipolar than autistic, as seen in an episode where when pushed to far she chews out a dragon to the point where it cries, and in the season final she acts quite off character when the royal animals ignore her. I see no reason why this makes her not autistic, and bipolar and autistic do have some links and can overlap.
Any thoughts?
First a video.
As you can see she can't make eye-contact with Twilight, won't keep up the "conversation" without Twilight's constant urging, is extremely shy and her voice is barely audible, and before long she is unable to speak. Her entire demeanor changes when she finds something that interests her, Spike the baby dragon. As you can see she takes no regard for Twilight and pushes her out the way in an attempt to get to Spike. She is still a bit awkward, but now she is talking.
Now lets look at episode 5.
Look at this transcript:
Pinkie Pie: Is someone over there? Who're we gonna squirt? Who're we gonna squirt?
Rainbow Dash: [chuckles] Fluttershy.
Pinkie Pie: WHAT? [spits] Nonononononono, we can't prank Fluttershy, I mean, she's so sensitive, it'll hurt her feelings, even our most harmless prank.
This might be interpreted as saying that Fluttershy can't take a practical joke as she mistakes laughing with with laughing at or something, a common trait associated with Aspergers.
Later on she walking down a street backwards, leading a trail of ducks. Even though she is caring for the ducks she is completely oblivious to the people behind her, and ends up being chewed out by Gilda for her "inconsideration" to the point where she burst into tears and runs away. Fluttershy apologizes profusely for everything she does, which may be a sign that she doesn't understand if what she's doing is acceptable or not.
Fluttershy is also shown for lacking in physical strengths, another associated trait. When she was young she nearly died because she was such a weak flier, and she still isn't the best of fliers. In one episode she is bullied in a flashback, after after falling onto the land and being saved by butterflies she says that she never wants to return to the skies again, or something like that.
Despite Fluttershy's shy demeanor she is shown to quite knowledgeable on unusual subjects, such as sewing, to the point where she knows more than the actual seamstress in the mane (hurr hurr) cast, Rarity. This is another trait associated with Aspergers. In another episode she tries to aid a "dying" Phoenix, but she despite her efforts she doesn't actually know whats she's doing and if anything her efforts are just worsening the Phoenix, which is trolling her.
The main counter argument is that Fluttershy is too empathetic to have Aspergers. I disagree. She is as empathetic as hell with animals, but not so with other ponies. Many autistics find it easier to empathiase (how ever you are supposed to spell that) with animals than with humans, though to their difference in psychology from other people and an animals difference in psychology than people. Temple Grandin is known for being the most empathetic with animals person alive and she has high-functioning Autism, which is similar to, but not the same as, Aspergers. Also the so-called lack of empathy in Asperger's diagnostics may not be lack of empathy, but rather simply being oblivious to social ques and whatnot, so they come across as being unempathetic. Also there is the whole difference is psych thing. Many Aspies find it easy to empathiase with Fluttershy. Also keep in mind that many people diagnosed with Aspergers do not have all the traits.
One last counter argument is that she may be more bipolar than autistic, as seen in an episode where when pushed to far she chews out a dragon to the point where it cries, and in the season final she acts quite off character when the royal animals ignore her. I see no reason why this makes her not autistic, and bipolar and autistic do have some links and can overlap.
Any thoughts?
