Can Equestrian Society Work?

[@Earmo-Imni]

Personally, I prefer Equestria's society. At the very least we would have less dropouts. Also, as a high school student, I can say with some authority that with the amount of schoolwork I get, I don't have a whole lot of time to find my "special talent," much less develop it. Also, just a thought about the innovation problem: if someone works long enough at one skill, it's highly likely that they'll find a way to improve upon that area in general, for all people specializing in that field. Ex. A unicorn specializing in magic comes up with a new spell for all unicorns to use, or a farmer comes up with a new fertilizer that works really well.

[@factsandstuff2832]

Marilla Raina you can get enough people together with different talents. Every Scientist doesn't need a doctorate in every feild, but you need at least on Dr in every feild. Thus Equestria works.

[@nameynamd9212]

Facts and stuff you don't want to highlight exactly what is the problem with this type of society,while benfictial, major problems come along For starters, what says a conflict between the two sisters doesn't happen again(monarchy, or this case diarchy, are a good way of ruling, especially when you don't have to put so much focus in government), it happened before with Luna, and without proper intervention, could of happened again during A Royal Problem Even not taking that into account, what happens when the currency(bits) loses value. The entire nation as a whole will suffer from it, this also being part of the reason why there are more than one type of currency in our world, sometimes even in the same country. Equestria works on the basis that mistakes, even big ones can be fixed entirely most of the time. While technology can do the same, it's nowhere near the level magic is in Equestria. By giving everyone equal opportunities, you run the risk of the unskilled or reckless messing something up(imagine what the damages Rainbow caused to the weather factory in Tanks For The Memories would do to the economy, the weather factory in this case representing an important industry, such as energy production) And the main issue, too much favoring. Ponyville is very much favored in Equestria,being so close to what is essentially the capital of the nation and housing such important figures as well. Being that such talent doesn't just pop up in the show, the rest of Equestria without these important figures would be underdeveloped. You could say that Celestia would help out these nations become better developed, but that only goes so far, you need actual talent to sustain such development. While having so many allies is beneficial(as most long wars only last so long due to the allies or trading countries a country has), you are putting yourself in big danger, especially when you aren't a military nation. What says that another nation won't just steal from you due to being envious of your success? Chrysalis for example, sees exactly how much love exists in Equestria and proceeds to use it for her hive since they need it. Had events gone differently, this could have destroyed the entire nation(her plan was to take the capital and its surrounding cities and eventually take all of it)and there it would go, the ashes of this nation allow for another aggresive nation to rise in power and have an important position in the world, effectively dooming the rest of the world to its influence(I chose not to mention take over as no nation would actually take over the world, it would be very difficult to defend it all and even harder to keep in check with everything)

[@dukedashwolfgg2283]

We still don't know what happens when you fail flight school

[@CocaColaStan]

@@dukedashwolfgg2283 I mean, Fluttershy is practically an elementary dropout. So, you aren't as proficient in flying? And, it isn't very often that she does fly so she might not have a lot of stamina/endurance.

[@Dombrus]

You have to remember though, pre-child labor laws, children grew up fast (As mentioned in the How old are the mane 6" episode) and learned their families business or talents. School pre-1900's was not mandatory, but rather a product of the world going 'dormant' in the winter, leaving farm work and some city work unable to be done until there was fair weather and a thaw, thus the children were sent to learn math, reading and the basic skills. Most basic schooling stopped before age 20. It was common to see mature pre-teens with emphasis on them learning what they needed to take over a business or farm in their late teens or early twenties an start a family. It has only been in the past 100 years that people have put so much time into a required year-round school system that with some people can take up nearly 20 years of their life, and still not have a decent skill direction to head in. I was raised more or less like the equestria system, where I had the basic schooling done, then as no choice of my own, was pulled from the schooling system. I spent a few years doing what my parents did and a whole host of other activities. Then I guess you could say, I found my cutie mark, being a mechanic. It just clicked, fit right in and knew what I wanted to do. I also gained an appreciation for acquiring knowledge, and read and try whatever I can to better myself. So yes, the Equestrian society can work, and in the past has worked in the real world. Though it would have worked alot better if everyone believed in the magic of friendship, or at the least, being a friend to everyone.

[@ScarlettJae]

I found this video to be very compelling and thought provoking. I've always focused more on just a couple of aspects including public speaking and writing. One of my close friends is very diverse dabbling in writing, traditional and digital art, music, and her studies of Japanese. I've noticed that she gets stressed and overwhelmed because she's trying to do too much. The idea of the cutie mark would hone that and give someone something to focus on.

[@ft.jackjimmy7282]

I don't think a cutie mark is a sign of what you will do for your entire life. I believe it is just a representation of a pony's personality. I am only basing this off of a lot of indirect cutie marks like Cherilee's cutie mark. It is not a teacher or an apple( a symbol of a teacher) or in any way academic but then why is she a teacher. I think because she has three happy flowers, it probably meant she help inspire ponies, especially fillies, to bloom. I believe every pony themselves contribute to the evolution to society not only ponies like Twilight. I believe Pinkie Pie help invents new types of entertainment in pony civilization. Anypony that would further improve their skills in some way do contribute to the change of society.

[@elderscrollsswimmer4833]

And I think Cheerilee may also have a little garden with flowers.

[@Diamond_Tiara]

as a cutie mark analyst and expert, yes. that's the point of a CM.

[@vickwhyvideos6770]

And Derpy's bubbly, carefree personality.

[@eponeycheetah2169]

Balloons commonly are considered to fly, and Pinkie Pie does this more than even most of the community's Pegasi. if she doesn't go balistic, she has a Balloon, a Helicopter and several other flying contraptions. Of course, she manage to levitat3 or even walk directly on air or in rare occations manage weather as in clouds.

[@Dairo512]

This is a well thought-out video, but you seem to have neglected an important factor in Equestria that makes its societal structure (or lack thereof, really) work: the fact that Harmony is not a notion there, but a force of nature. In Equestria, there is probably not a single pony who is not needed where they are. There's probably a roughly equal distribution of kind and unkind ponies, but all of them have most likely found the niche they were born to fill. On Earth, however, chaos has slightly more power than harmony. People are born with a random distribution of talents, some not at all, and some in places where their talents will never be needed unless applied with sufficient creativity. Additionally, there are a couple of other key factors that come into play here: 1. Equestria's population appears to be very low, even though they seem to have gotten over their implied high mortality rate way back when Sun and Moon took their thrones. Therefore, it stands to reason that the birth rate of ponies is at best populous-stable, though possibly on a decline. This by extension means that the chances of there being too many of one kind of pony are fairly low (except for Apples of course). 2. Education in Equestria seems to be limited to the rudimentary because there really is no need for it. In a world whose inhabitants are naturally very good at whatever it is they're destined to spend their entire lives doing, there's very little incentive to put stock in higher forms of education. The exceptions of course being what must be available for those interested in pursuing their natural talents to levels above and beyond what is expected of the average pony. These individuals will doubtless be held in high esteem by anyone remotely interested in what they do, but there seems to be little in the way of ambition in Equestria at large. 3. Magic seems to be the only field that really calls for higher education in the sense that we understand it. Well, that and probably engineering, but we have yet to have our screens graced with the presence of a pony engineer of any relevance. And even then, advanced magic education only applies to ponies who are interested in it. Rarity, for example, has no use for more than the most basic magic education, and for the most part just makes up her use for it as she goes.

[@LavenderRare]

Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns has had students at a young adult age. Twilight was a student in the school until she moved to Ponyville, where she was more like a transfer student, studying with the same teacher in a different place, until she became an alicorn and Starlight Glimmer's teacher. In The Fall of Sunset Shimmer, Sunset was a student at a young adult age, as well, until she left Equestria and started attending Canterlot High. And finally, I believe Moondancer said she was still in school in Amending Fences. Either that, or she was homeschooling herself. I guess in the case of Applejack and other Ponyville residents, they dont need school anymore because they dont need a teacher to own a farm or perform a Sonic Rainboom or anything like that, but until you have it under control entirely, youd need a teacher to help you with nagic, even if youve grown up.

[@avecesar28]

Rainbow dash need to go to the flying academy of the wonderbolts, Also she need to learn about weather to do her job at cloudsdale

[@shadowmetroid18]

Look at flim and flam. Their cutie marks are apples. But they show that they are proficient inventors (making the SSSS6000) and businessmen/conmen

[@qwefg3]

I think the cutie marks play a lot of on jobs and future planning. One's like pinky pie with a set out mark have an easier time finding the job they are good at to match the talent they have. If you go with Twilight... She has a talent in magic, but what jobs exactly use magic since it is a common occurrence. That's where you have a special talent without a special field or fields to go into. So while Flim and Flam have apple marks... most of their planning try to find a use for their talent in apples that fits their other abilities. Applejack also has a apple mark, but that doesn't mean she is an inventor (or conpony) like the brothers. There also seems to be some sort of strive to stay within the given field. Trixie is a good stage pony and able to make many tricks and illusions, but her real goal/strive could be said as fame or talent of magic. To prove her skill around the world. When she lost against Twilight she searched for something that could give her the edge. So the cutie marks do play a large role in their society, but it does not solve all of it's problems. Mostly I think the pros out way the cons and while it might be nice to see in our society... I highly doubt we have the ability to use magic to solve that question for us.

[@NarocoSuper]

Honestly, I like the way Equestrian Society works. It makes like going through many subjects that you couldn't understand due to your mindset avoidable. It also makes it so the stresses of going through an occupation you thought you would love and being wrong avoidable as well. And no matter what, there will be people who have a personality like Twilight's that makes them want to broaden their horizon and explore other things. The Equestrian society works much betters that the American society, due to how some people arn't good in some subjects, and will fail the subjects repeatedly until they go through one or two years of that class, just to forget the information they gained due to them not needing to use the information. It is somewhat like the old saying "You use it, or lose it." If you dont use the information you are given on a day to day basis, then you lose the information. Equestrian society makes it so the information you have IS what you use all the time.

[@AndrewMeyer]

Yeah, that's one of the bigger problems I have with our education system.

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

I don't know if innovation it requires going beyond your cutie mark, your cutie mark could just encompass innovation. Like Twilight makes a whole bunch of magical innovation because her cutie mark is magic. (She also makes friendship innovations but that's because friendship is just another kind of magic.) Similarly, I think all you need for technological innovation to happen is for somepony to develop an inventing cutie mark or a mechanical cutie mark or something along those lines. Like all you need to do to create something new is to innovate in an already existing field and I think the magic of cutie marks and destiny gives a pony the cutie mark the society needs. Like if ponies were on the cusps of discovering nuclear physics, I'm sure a pony with a cutie marks in physics would make that discovery. And once he discovers and teachers nuclear physics to other ponies another pony could get a cutie mark in nuclear physics, further specializing and advancing the field.

[@codyconnor6981]

I doubt Equestrian society would work in our world given there's not much emphasis on individuality. Some might consider Equestrian society on the level of Communism where ponies find their talent and normally never break the mold. Where as in our world we place an emphasis on individuality and heavily encourage the expanding of ones mind, and understanding of the world around us.

[@vicentemorales2533]

the 6 in our modern society fluttershy would be a veterinarian, pinkie pie would be a party planner, rarity a fashion designer, twilight would be like one of those scientist genious who get money from the goverment (princess celestia) to develop medicines or make scientific discoveries, etc. so all of them would be functional in model of society such as our. now, if we adopted the equestria model, i think we would have people working over things the love the most, thus, they would be happier and that would means more productivity and a better lifestyle, thanks to our model we have a lot of talents that go to waste, everyone was born with a spacial gift, and our society is only holding back those talents, i thik we could use a model of society like the one equestria has.

[@codyconnor6981]

True but the main problem with equestrian society is that it impairs versatility amongst its people. American society despite its flaws promotes versatility and encourages people to gain a working knowledge of multiple skills and talents thus making for a more productive and varied society. Whereas equestria it's all find special talent and don't learn anything else.

[@vicentemorales2533]

Cody Connor I think a model in which we include the best of both would be an excellent option. Children finding out what are the best at in such young ages so they can hone their skills, and at the same time encourage them to study, investigate and learning to do other things. Thereby, we'll have humans ready to face every challenge that life put in front of them.

[@animefn]

Vicente morales Look up multiple intelligences schools.

[@xoqvuz]

Vicente morales A major thing that's not done is to teach a lot more in the 0 to 5 year bracket when their synapses are forming so learning doesn't become tedious later, & we ought to focus on critical thinking then expand from that.

[@vicentemorales2533]

xoqvuz I agree, so they would feel learning as something natural. And is true, the need a discerning mind. True, knowledge is important, but it goes to waste if children don't know how to use it. I also think that kids need more "street knowledge", so they won't believe in strangers, or get tricked by thieves, so it won't happen what happened to pinkie in silent poniville.

[@Dragonlover553]

3:32 here's my answer: look at human history. Just a few short centuries ago, there was this thing called Apprenticeship. Sure, people weren't always places as well, but I'd say it wasn't that different from what mlp seems to be

[@ryanw5500]

The creators should expand more on how equestrian society works.

[@Diamond_Tiara]

two words: *ABSOLUTE MONARCHY*

[@RomanSheep]

What about a pony whose special talent is ingenuity; inventing stuff, streamlining processes, etc. Wouldn't somepony like that be able to create that kind of technological advancement you're talking about? That seems to be your biggest hang-up about this society actually working. Also that they don't really discourage ponies from higher learning if that does happen to be their special talent. Being versatile doesn't automatically make a pony better at inventing things or solving problems; the same results could be reached with good communication between ponies from different fields. IDK, it's late and I'm probably thinking too hard...

[@juanmanuelpenaloza9264]

I definitely see growing up in Equestria as much better. They cover the basics, let the kids explore possibilities and once they get their cutie mark receive guidance in that field. Definitely better than my schooling life where I burnt out of a four year college pursuit and I was miserable in AVID...even when they did give trips to amusement parks. That being said, I gotta ask: How do parents react to an unexpected cutie mark on their child? I'm guessing some parents impose their own wishes on their children beforehand, but most will accept their special talent, as exemplified by the Pies, and my own parents. As for the progression of Equestrian tech, I actually started planning an OC around that. My character has a cutie mark that's a combo wrench and pencil. At first their parents thought he was just good at fixing wagons, plows and other pieces of farming equipment. However he keeps a few books and grows interested in engines and such, and begins working on contraptions and inventions. Usually it starts with small things like making a better wheel barrow or electric assisted cart, that leads to prosthetic pegasus wings, and a full car. All with the intention of finding solutions to problems. Constantly learning, always discovering, forever improving.

[@krisfelton526]

I think you multiple skills are better than just one, for instance I am pretty decent at animating hoping to join a career based on that, but I also hope to become good at writing scripts so, I can combine my skills to provide more options. Another thing is that you can help your friends or kids to learn about their skills with a few tips that you may have learned even if that isn't your best talent.

[@framwinkle]

Cutie marks are strange things. They not only show what a pony is good at, they also have to somehow be tied to the time period they exist in. We've seen plenty of ponies with modern tools as their cutie mark. But what if those same ponies had been born hundreds of years earlier, before those tools existed? Their talent might lie in computers, but without those, they'd get a mark in something else, something more relevant to their time. So the mark not only knows the pony, it knows the age its in. I don't think ponies are quite so closely tied to their marks as you make it sound, though. Pinkie may have her talent in fun and parties, but she's also a competent baker. Fluttershy may have a talent with animals, but is also pretty good at sewing. Just like people in our world, a pony doesn't have to do just one thing. But it would sure be nice to know what your SPECIAL thing was. I'm still looking for mine.

[@Longma1]

Framwinkle Silvermaple I always assumed the magic just grabs the image (or a related image) from their heads and slaps it on their butts and calls it a day.

[@elderscrollsswimmer4833]

Uh-- how would someone *discover* talent for computers if there are none? Only by making one. Someone would create something totally *new* and thus discover their talent. It still works.

[@SunIsLost]

*Exactly THIS!* (and one episode even explored it later on)

[@eatmonster5610]

I have an explanation for education in Equestria. In the episode where Gabby wanted a cutie mark one of the things was teaching pre calaculus! Yes, Applebloom is a filly who is taught high school standards! But this would make since as the mane 6 don’t go to high or college. Maybe after fillies are taught high school standards they get a cutie mark in their expertise and go immediately to college. (Sunburst and Twilight are good examples) This would be true assuming the life span of horse in Equestria is as much as the one in real world. That would explain the hard subjects and graduating early

[@ButterflyBandit88]

As of yet I don't think we are at a technological or social point to reach this 'higher society'. Firstly our world revolves around money, so in order to live comfortably you require a source of income. Therefore you either live with someone else until you reach a sustainable source of income or you take a job doing something else and try to develop your skill enough to make a reasonable profit. Not to mention that if you don't have a demand for your skill set, then your out of the job anyway. Of course this can be fixed if people had free food rationed out and a cheep place to sleep the night. (Robots are the answer) The other problem is that society demands that children learn a set of subjects each year until they leave school at 17-18. Only after that do they get to chose freely what they wish to study. We need to create a way to allow our children to go out into the workforce and discover what they want to do with their life while they are young and inquisitive. I believe this age is 13, when children start to question who they are and what they want to do. But you wouldn't let them say, design a skyscraper on their own, however if we had a way to let them sample a career they would like to join but not put their or others lives in danger then that would be great. Just tell that to the parents.

[@LeeBuddy]

This is the type of video that I've been waiting for someone to make. Thank you for this. :)

[@tyokabina2829]

If ponies cutie marks were their inborn destiny, they would be born with them! :O there must be more to it.

[@JT33813]

Now, I know this seems like a specific topic, but I was wondering what your thoughts would be. What if humanity from before WW1 was to say pop into the world of Equestria? This Era of humanity was incredibly unstable because of arms race between the many empires, but it's basically what would be the Allied powers on one side of Equestria and what would be the Central powers on another side. How would the ponies be affected and how would it change the world of My Little Pony?

[@The0ptimus]

I think both are important, you need to be able to focus hard on what you love doing, but also stay open minded to new experiences.

[@razaalam1350]

I get your point but who's to say that there can't be cutie marks having to do with innovation. I mean starswirl is known for inventing spells. There is probably other ponies that have destinies related to innovation but just in other fields

[@killroy458]

0:24 front row corners, recolored sweetie Belle and Scootaloo (RC scoots also has her mark) EDIT: can be seen again at 1:14 , and at 1:16 Sweetie Belle is back to her normal colors, but scoots is still altered.

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

Equestrian Society in many ways reminds me of ancient human society. We didn't have elemenatry schools 500 hundred years ago, just scholars and universities for the most elite intellectuals and leaders in society. Your job was pretty much determined by your family. Your dad's a farmer? Well that''s what you'll be when you grow up. Dad is Balcksmith? Congratulations, that's what you'll do. In this way, out society mimics the way Equestria functions with cutie marks, you already knew your destiny. Sure it's not exactly the same because that's not the thing you are best at, it's just the thing you have to do as determined by society. And suppose there could be some change here and there, I'm sure some people set out to find a new occupation or experimented/explored to discover something new but it didn't happen that often. Society back then was pretty much changed by leaders, people who could alter society via technology, philosophy, or brute strength. Those special leaders pretty much set the pace for everyone else to fit into society. So yeah, Equestrian society works because it's an even better version of human society, where everyone knows there role in the world and it's their special talent so they truly are the best at it.

[@edsel816]

I believe such society would work, in my opinion. We learn our most important skill at a young age and begin to develop it. Then, if we choose to, can begin to study and learn other things like Twilight. A perfect example of this would be Pinkie Pie and Twilight. Their special talents don't have anything to do with their works (Bakery restaurant or Library), but still do so because they learned to be good at it.

[@Ismalith]

If a society is working or not is 90% caused by the people that live in, and if we see that here in the Internet we do things that only 20 years ago would have been called impossible and absolutely unthinkable and that this isn´t even the first time that happened, I would say there is much more possible than we would even imagine, in everything but also in way to live together.

[@folvenson]

I would say that a society where every job is viewed as equily important would be a society worth living in.

[@ThePastAnalysis]

Hmm.. Nice video DRWOLF. This is a video that was much more entertaining, as the subject isn't covered very much. Bravo man, :D.

[@magiccarpetmadeofsteel4564]

Vas for society moving forward, it reminded me of- I believe it was Temple Grandin- *looks it up* aha! Here we go: "Who do you think made the first stone spears? The Asperger guy. If you were to get rid of all the autism genetics, there would be no more Silicon Valley.", which I'll leave you to interpret yourself, but I think the Twilights of Equestia would have a similar roll-learn, tinker, think outside the box-whether or not that was their talent-and one way or another, moved society forward.

[@Chickenlover121]

i think that the cutie make is just a generalization, it will just show the area of specialty such as fluttershy not just being good with one type of animal but understanding the "language" of all of them not just that but the care of each and every single one of them

[@acorneroftheinternet4910]

To answer the title: better than ours

[@silverdragonwolf1]

Coming back to special talents it conceivable that some ponies in Equestria's past actually found they have talent for technology based skills like carpentry, engineering and scientific fields like hydrology and soil science. Ponies with these skills could easily have accelerated the advancement of technologies and practices, but the chances are that ponies with such talents are few and far between. Also given that much of Equestria's art seems to be quite old (or done in a style that to us looks like it was from a point in our history) it is also possible that there are ponies that have a talent in maintaining or restoring art pieces such as paintings and statues or even specialize in the restoration of literature pieces like books and scrolls. The fact we have yet to see any ponies with technology related talents (assuming the Flim Flam brothers have a talent in marketing and really don't know the full range of advancements they are hocking) then we really have yet to see any ponies that are helping to push Equestria's technologies forward. Then again we've only seen a small fraction of Equestria's populace, communities and citizens. I think this is where the fan base really comes through in the concept of building the world, they generate characters that could potentially have any of the skills needed for the advancement of practices, technologies and principles of Equestria. It can be argued that entertainers like singers and actors were a driving force for the more technology oriented ponies to have drive to develop music recording devices and cameras (even though most examples shown in series are many generations behind what we are used it in our world) and a desire keep all the amazing works artistic, academic and technological were driving forces for the ponies with a talent for restoration to try it as a means of discovering their place in the world. Of course the same can be said the same about our world, however the existence of functional magic obviously hindered or outright abolished the development of some technologies. While it would be amusing to see telephones in Equestria the fact that spells and actual air mail (via pegasi, which seem to comprise the entirety of Equestria's mail system from what has been displayed thus far) can get messages to and from locations much faster than any in our world did prior to the introduction of telephones and radio, and magic as also basically made television an unknown developmental idea. The fact that they have theaters that can accommodate large groups in far greater abundance says that plays are rather inexpensive for the most part (much like Elizabethan times in England). The fact is there are probably factors in both our world that we don't think about or consider that make the systems in both work.

[@ellap6828]

Just have a cutie mark that specializes in contributing to a growing society-basically, a cutie mark that gives you the ability to make new inventions, and hence grow the society.

[@scifidino5022]

4:44 Equestria is early nuclear age atleast. Cutie pox shows the radio-active-warn-symbol on a protection suite.

[@TheLostBear78]

missed one major thing, Rarity's cutie mark is finding gems, that has very little to do with her profession of making dresses, other then an inexpensive supply of bling to add to them. So cutie mark or not does not determine your job in life, just shows passionate talent.

[@JacobMKeeneAKADrPepperKing]

You're videos are really interesting, you've earned a new subscriber!

[@TheMephox]

I think there are a lot of ponies like Twilight Sparkle but, unlike her, did not receive a push to go out and really make friends, so remain relatively isolated within their communities and their contributions spread only slowly throughout Equestria. Also, magic likely plays a huge role in slowing the spread of technology. It's just not needed and may actually be a hindrance to the use of magic. There was also another headcanon video that I watched recently that spoke of magic as another form of energy, similar and can transition between the different forms of energy we are familiar with such as thermal, kinetic and chemical energy and, if true, then other forms of energy can be converted into magical energy as well, though the process may be more complex and fraught with unknown perils.

[@factsandstuff2832]

You don't need a person with many talents if you can get enough people together with different talents. Every Scientist doesn't need a doctorate in every feild, but you need at least on Dr in every feild. Thus Equestria works.

[@chrissdayo]

I think that the equestria society will work but the question is more of Will People want to work with equestrian society

[@SparkleChord]

there is other schooling outside of schools like cheerile's(pardon me if i spelled that wrong) the first episode of the show shows twilight on a school campus. (in a later episode this school is identified as Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns)

[@kittyboom2187]

Doesn't Twilight attend more school after her school house? She "apprenticed" under Princess Celestia before moving to Ponyville, but she appeared to study in libraries or a higher level school (College or High School).

[@gulomijomesh9551]

There is a high school in Canterlot. It is seen in Neigh Anything, the fourth arc of the IDW comic series.

[@2vectors708]

our world worked in the same way at one point in time. where education was minimal and children were expected to take on the job their families originally had, only those who chose to refuse, or at least go beyond, these preset molds actually helped advance our world.

[@rikerprestonsimons7969]

As demonstrated when Apple jack works at a cherry farm the pints don't have to make a career out of their special talent. Pinkie pie also demonstrates this. She loves to make ponies smile and throw party's but she works at a bakery. Extending to the human world I have seen many talented youth era, writers and other crafts people that don't work in that field for a living. Thought working in the place that your best at often makes a pony/person very happy

[@nattherat20004]

well i am good at more then 1 thing. I am good a tie-Kwan-do and playing the clarinet and drawing and decorating so what would my cutie mark look like

[@Catastropika]

to be honest, there are certain other academies like the Wonderbolts Academy for ponies that are older. There are also more certain places like in Cloudsdale when pegasi are able to do their work with weather. For some reason, ponies with reasonable names match with their cutie mark. When they are given a name, their name is like a definition of their cutie mark. For example, Luna was given her name because of her soon to be ability of raising the moon. Plus Luna is at least a synonym for night.

[@matthewdinode]

Who's to say that there can't be ponies that have multi-use talents? Rainbow Dash got her cutie mark racing, yet we also see that she is an excellent weather manager. Pinkie Pie invented the party cannon, even though she doesn't have an inventing talent. For that matter, why couldn't a pony have a cutie mark for inventing and innovating?

[@twilightsparkle6529]

I agree Rarity is a perfect example. Rarity's talent is finding gems yet she can create dresses. I believe that your talent has many other meanings. Pinkie Pie is a party planner but she invented the party cannon. I think this means you can invent and innovate but only if it's beneficial to your job, carrier, or talent. Fluttershy's talent is communicating with animals yet we see her helping out with disputes and taking care of them if they are injured or ill. My theory is that cutie marks are just the tip of the iceberg when I comes to displaying what makes you special. You may have one specific talent but that doesn't mean you can use it to create things that would be beneficial to your career.

[@Kayclau]

Equestria is a sweet and colorful utopia. Focus only in what we are good at is a perfect way to live happy (at least in the job part), but be monotonous is not good for people, when more experience they have, more complete they will be, and be a complete (pleace change complete with a word more appropriate for this context) person is what we all should want to be.

[@jaiden5941]

In "Anthropology" by Jason the Human, Lyra stated she moved out of her family at age 12. She met Audrey at age 16, both arguing about the schooling system and such.

[@kuro_neko5863]

I certainly think it can. Equestria is, and probably always well be, running on an artisanal handicraft system. That is to say, everything is made by hand, by a master of that particular crafting system. It's what our world used to run on before we moved to industrial manufacturing. The huge emphasis Equstria has on talents means that they will likely never make that move, since it would make a lot of craftsponies obsolete, just as industrial manufacturing did to a lot of master craftsmen in our history. In the pony system, there are factories, such as the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, for things that are really needed in massive quantities, but there are extra advantages to the artisan system: 1) A pony working in harmony with their cutie mark tends to produce things ranging in quality from "very good" to "literally magical". 2) Ponies that don't get to pursue their special talent in a satisfying manner tend to have...problems, and a tendency to spread those problems to others around them. You mentioned being on the cusp of an industrial revolution, but I don't think that's likely to happen, or at least not the way it did in our world. The entire culture of Equestria revolves around the cutie mark and how it guides ponies to their special talent. Industrialization wouldn't work with that system, and since the system is magical it's not something that can really evolve. Are there some things industrial manufacturing can make better then hand crafting? Definitely, electronics as a prime example, and if Equestria wants computers, unless they can find a way to magic up microprocessors they'll have to adopt a limited industrial base. But anything that can be done via artisanal handicrafting will be. The major drives of the industrial revolution (were complicated and still debated but) were basically an increased population due to better disease control resulting in more people to employ and more importantly feed, and self-interest (greed basically). The population in Equestria seems stable, and they don't seem to produce nearly as many children per family as humans did at that same tech level. Their culture's focus on cutie marks and making sure everyone finds a place to use their talent means there's no unemployment. Earth pony magic and talents means better farming isn't needed to feed everyone. A combination of the various races' magics means transportation of food or really any other resource doesn't need any improvement. The average standard of living is very high and there's not much greed beyond that, since their focus is more on bettering themselves and their talents (and the enjoyment generated thereof) rather then the consumerism that well consumes humans, so there's no drive there. Basically ponies have no need for industrial revolution. I can see some things happening eventually, but very slowly, and likely in a much more individualized manner then cookie cutter assembly lines. Another problem with an industrial revolution is it's dirty. It's hard on the environment which earth ponies, with their connections to the earth and the balance of nature, wouldn't stand for. The pegasi probably wouldn't like what it does to the atmosphere either. As a final note, this is a really good system. It means that no one ends up doing something they hate just because that's what their family does (Pinkie Pie), because it's what society expects (Fluttershy), or because they don't know what they're good at.

[@casinotrio1965]

Pinkie has more talents than bringing joy to others: baking , singing, playing instruments, breaking the forth wall, ice skating , comedy , her pinkie sense, photographic memory , ect

[@ScorpioHighlander]

I suppose it would highly depend on the rate of change. The higher the levels of change the more adaptability is required to grow. If the the rate of change is slow it allows far more time for individuals to specialise and excel in a single topic. The past thousand years seem to have been fairly stagnant under Celestia's rule as shown in Granny Smith's flash back to her youth when Canterlot seemed to be mostly comprised of tents. Adapting quickly to an industrial revolution may very well be difficult and perhaps even more so with Discord free to stir things up even if he can't do so in any malicious or overly disruptive way. If there are other not entirely friendly nations out there that can adapted quicker, I personally fear for Equestria's future prosperity.

[@TigerTwinblade]

And that is why we need beings like the good doc to keep us thinking see what might work not just in society but in our lives.

[@WhammyReviews]

I just recently wrote my own article talking about cutie marks and how Equestrian society seems to run very similar to how humanistic psychology as advocated by Abraham Maslow might run (it's on the subreddit as Cutie Marks and Self-Actualization). I think you might be underselling the talents represented by cutie marks. As we see with Cheerilee's cutie mark, it is fully possible for them to represent wider, broader concepts that can cover a wide range of talents.

[@StrikerFX47]

I believe it would be better to study different subjects rather than just focusing on your one special talent. It adds options and more flexibility to the possibilities of your future.

[@MissyMeghan3]

Think about Rainbowdash, Her cutie mark is for fast flying, but her job as a young adult is weather/cloud kicking. Being a wonder bolt and fast flying isn't the utmost importance to the livelihood of equestria, but a weather Pegasi is appreciated. though it wasn't her goal, it is a job she was capable of doing. one cutie mark does not mean you are capable of one thing, just like Twilight, EVERYPONY is able to set out to do SEVERAL kinds of careers pertaining to their cutie mark, whether its crucial to livelihood or not~

[@GabrielWarlock]

Everypony got a basic duty, in the case of pegasus is control the weather, but RD wanna become a WonderBolt, it's like for my basic medic, his basic duty is heal people but he is also a scientist of Stamina Project (or better he was because our motherfucking politicians in Italy locked the project with theyr false and non scientific fears)

[@kimpepper4713]

Although I do agree with the video in some areas, there are couple of things I myself had noticed in their world. If we were to go back to, oh, let's say, 1760s, we would see that the education was similar to what Equestria has right now. Schooling was expected at a young age of our children and then most of them went on to work in the same work of their family or became an apprentice to someone else in order to go into the field they wanted to. We are talking about most children being in school in until about the age of 10-13. It seems to me that this is also the case for Equestria. Like in Equestria, there were ways to extend education if they had the means of doing so and if they desired to do so. As for the cutie marks themselves, they seem to not only represent the pony's special talent but personality as well. Rainbow Dash is head of weather management of Ponyville, but she is wicked fast. Yes, her desire is to join the Wonderbolts, and she does become a full member of the team later on, but she has always enjoyed racing and winning. Pinkie Pie has balloons that show that she is carefree and completely positive personality. She does indeed become a party planner, but then why isn't her cutie mark a party hat(s). I don't think that would not show her personality as well as the balloons does. How about Rarity? She does have a talent of finding gems, but she is very classily and up to date with fashion. Also, is seems that even once a pony does discover what they are good at, they are not stopped from continuing to learn. Fluttershy is a good example. Her talent is taking care of other animals but we see that she is good at sewing. She helped to finish Rarity's dress and has made clothes for other animals (ex. sweaters for the Breezies). I think Twilight is still of the exception in learning in Equestria. It is clear that she has defiantly gone well beyond anything her talent in magic is allowing her to become a princess in Equestria. It may be the same with Cadence as well.

[@koopaking6148]

I think the way the current set up could work very well actually... And as long as piece is being properly maintained by celestia, Luna, twilight, Candace, flurry heart and any other alicorns that may come to be I don't think there should to large of an issue about low numbers of certain Fields... Not saying there won't be a problem though... But I'm sure there will be ponies like miss harsh Winnie that can help organize where ponies are needed the most and of few to take leadership roles like Mair Mayer... And then there's ponies that could have sub talents connected to there main talent like how twilight is really good at organization... I could also see the flowerests also being able to help medically... I know that in real life just like in mlp there are plenty of flowers and other plants that can help cure disease and sickness... So although the day to day work for someone growing and selling flowers would be to sell them for food or for a center piece on a table but they could have side jobs that not only help with there income but benefits society as well... I'm sure there are several other fields of study that have multiple applications similar to this as well... Repeating myself though I do think a society like this one does have flaws the biggest being that it probably needs peace to survive, after as if it didn't there would have been at least one reality shown by the map when starlight went into the past that didn't have the world practically destroyed or decaying... But it could work, not without a few bumbs here and there like in the show but it could work...

[@Lucius1958]

Some thoughts: It is most probable that in Equestria, as in our own world, there is a continuum: there are extreme specialists, broad generalists, and a wide spectrum in between. To think of the Cutie Mark as an absolute indicator of a pony's life, we would have to posit a highly stratified society, somewhat like the Vedic caste system of ancient India: if one adds the inherent difference of strengths in the pony 'races', we would end up with the Pre-Classical feudal system (a system, I might add, that some extremists in this world would like to restore). As in this world, a person's skills and strengths may change over time, so a pony may gain experience in other fields - without necessarily changing their original bent. Considering education: in show canon, the Mane 6 are depicted as young adults, with homes and jobs of their own: in the EG world, they are in high school. Could this be because of the relative difference of aging between ponies and humans?(cf. Lucretius' arguments against centaurs). 7@=e

[@Demonic_Culture_Nut]

Equestria is a Utopia. It's the perfect society. HOWEVER, there is one thing that the society doesn't touch upon that needs to be addressed if it is adapted to our world: desire. Humans usually want more of everything while it's evident most ponies want nothing more than they have most of the time. There are some exceptions like the "Great and Powerful" Trixie, but there it does work theoretically.

[@Thane36425]

In "The Axemaker's Gift" the observation is put forward that the majority of people are satisfied with the status quo and make little effort to change it. However, there is a small percentage who will tinker and invent things. If these inventions end up causing a change, particularly for the better, like say steam engines, the rest will quickly adapt to the new paradigm. They will use these new things but have no interest in refining these or creating new things themselves. So, all it would take is a few pony inventors each generation. More important would be if the Equestria had the capital and resources (natural, intellectual and labor) to actually build up the systems needed to produce and support a railroad, etc.

[@pokerainbow3436]

I've been thinking and I believe the cmc/ other fillies are around 13/14. Most of my reasoning for this is in equestria girls. They are in high school with the mane six which makes sense if you think that they are young teens and the mane six are in their later teens. This also ties in with the episode 'somepony to watch over me'. Apple Bloom is the subject over a debate whether she can stay home alone, which generally happens at this age. Also, Applejack is seen more as an adult which goes in with my theory. As the mane six are older it would make sense for them to have proper jobs. For schooling for this age, I think it works a bit different than Earth in the way that maybe a cutie mark could be a qualification, and for example if your cutie mark is to be a teacher you wouldn't need further education - your cutie mark would show that you were capable of being one. I've been thinking about this for the past couple weeks, and it does seem to work. Seems like an interesting idea for pony ages.

[@icejustice6122]

Finally some talents could just be like our hobbies. Food for thought. I hope SOMEONE reads this stuff.

[@MStewartREG]

on the specific talent of the person. i believe the system we have now, whilst not ideal and certainly not friendly, is made to work around the notion that you take what you can get, being more versatile both makes applications to work and work potential more likely. however i would like to certainly live in a society that worked the way equestrian society does.

[@tonylu2471]

Ponyville is a rural town. I imagine that there isn't much of a need for further education past young adult. I think its possible particularly proficient ponies who are fortunate enough to live in the city would be given the chance to further their education through apprenticeship programs or some other form of higher learning. If what you say about Equestria emerging from a feudal society is true then I might assume from that Equestria is going through the equivalent of Rennaissance to Enlightenment Europe (with the Industrial Era thrown in). During these time periods society was similar to much of what I've said before.

[@oida10000]

I think that magic is very wide field and it is shown (ok maybe later than this video) that Twilight is not the only one with that Talent. I think some ponies get so broad talents, that they can choose several carries - I can imagine a talent in magic is equivalent to talent in Physics, Chemistry or Medicine. These are wide filds with many specialized carriers. Also destiny place a big role in Equestria, so every Pony gets the talent that is needed.

[@akmalsy159]

I'm also interested in history of cutie marks. Is it unique to ponies? Are they always a natural part of pony physiology? or did Celestia & Luna introduce them? But I agree with DrWolf. The system can work in certain conditions. Particularly when the difference in income & oppurtunity in various jobs are less pronounced.

[@zebjensen4251]

I think we need to also consider that equestria has been around for literally a thousand years plus. also we also need to consider that just because someone has a talent for something doesn't mean it's there job. look at rainbow dash for example, her talent is doing stuff life the sonic rainboom, but she works as a weather poney for several years. pinkie pie is a party planner but works in a bakery when not doing her talent. or heck look at people like myself I have a a talent that I work on almost every day but it isn't my job. your talent maybe something you do for fun and don't want as your occupation like mine in. your talent may be painting, or writing, or animation but that doesn't mean you want a job in one of those fields. so your talent may just be something your good at but also pashonate about as well.

[@shadedfalcon]

I think that it could work, but there would need to be a medium. Ponies would need to be encouraged to focus on their main talent, yes, but also taught to learn other areas of study as well, so that if one thing doesn't work out, they have other options. If taught this from a young age, ponies could enjoy their area of work and still be confident that they are contribution to society with what it needs.

[@yellowangelstudios4783]

I think Equestria's society is better than ours in many ways. Also, could a cute mark also be a telescope for a scientist or a gear for someone who makes new things? That is to say, a special talent that forwards the society naturally.

[@TheHarleyDragons]

also if you were to look at the timeline of mlp it shows that their timeline is very similar to ours in a was of when they enter and exit midevil times and how their technology advances EXEPT for very recently (within the past 100-150 years) where they seemed to have stopped advancing in technology right before the industrial revolution. i believe this is the case because around this time is the sweet spot for a simple and functioning society with the least amount of effort to sustain it. they have a steady supply of food, shelter that is seemingly advanced enough to be comfortable and functional, fast and convenient travel methods, and a population that isnt too high and needs maintaining nor too low and is in danger to not have enough ponys to do the jobs needed. because of all of this nopony had really been pushed to make new technology because they are at a stable point in their society. the only reason humans HAD advanced farther was because they dont have cutiemarks... without these humans had too learn all the basics AND MORE in order to help them find their way in life and to soften the fall when kicked out of a job they are good at, because of this more and more humans got interested in science and math where at the same time more ponys would have gotten there cutie mark and focused on that instead of focusing on advancing all of society as a whole. and for those who believe that Equestria is just younger of a society then ours then what would explane other more advanced technology such as the brainwave reading machine in "feeling pinkie keen" we are just now uncovering tech like that. only a society nearly as old as ours couldve created that, just because they dont NEED to advance dosnt mean that Equestria dosnt have groups if not corporations of ponys that study science and technologicly anyway it just means they usually only focus on certain things at a time such as magic, portals to another world (holy shit they probably focused COMPLETELY on that shit during these 100 or so years), or even transportation. or maybe this is just a kids show and im a idiot of taking 20 mins out of my day to write this...

[@GunnarClovis]

Also, I take your scenario of an overabundance of ponies with the same talent in a different light: yes, an overabundance of workers could cause a lack in other fields, but the sheer mass I think would lead to new innovations in that field, as our own society can testament to.

[@zeokingsilver]

one of the wonderbolts said something how how your not limited by your cutie mark and how you can do something else if you want so I think in some ways pony society could work while cutie marks do show a talent ponies have they can go and find something else

[@hermionebell3277]

I think both ways are right that we need to expand our learning but still mainly focus on the things we are good at as well

[@ladylucario7958]

I think that once a pony finds his/her talent, they can still learn more. Like i think Sweetie Belle is an amazing singer when she's taking her time but what can she do one the side if she can't do her talent right now. being able to do more than one talent in this situation would be good.

[@morganwood9657]

Maybe after ponies have completed "elementary school", ponies study more on what they're meant to do. To explain more, think about Pinkie Pie. She's a party pony, first of all, but she's also an amazing baker. Maybe the Cakes teach her as well as employ her. So every pony has a sort of mentor in their respective field. Something to think about.

[@SparkleChord]

i think that if school was designed so we could only or mainly study the career we want to pursue, it would be an ideal world and everyone would be happier

[@TheParadoxZone]

Versatility is important but so is mastery of a skill. Being good at a wide range of tasks is fine, however, it has its down side too. It wouldnt be possible to completely master every task, focusing on one single task leads to less ability to cope with change, it allows for a far better understanding of that task meaning one can perform it better. It's all about a balance, one must be versatile enough to deal with change, but also be able to master a specific task for this to work perfectly.

[@thephysicwerewolf]

the way I see it opportunities open up. For example Pinkie Pie was limited to her dull life until she looked into nature and discovered something new: happiness. It can be possible that a pony is observing a lightning storm, wonders if she can harness that power, then invents something to harness lightening as a power source, and her cutie mark ends up being something involving electricity.

[@kellingc]

Pure theory - what if providing the early development of talent is a way of exploring what there is, and finding what you excel in. We see that with the original creation of the CMC - all three are trying different things to find that one special talent. Once they found it, they are now able to focus on how to use it and hone it, thus expanding further than the basics. The cutie mark is the liminal. Though this is a constant state of being, and once crossed, your are reintegrated with society constantly in that state, thus eliminating the ritual. However, now that the CMC has their cutie marks, they can focus on the next task at hand.

[@ShiroNekoDen]

part of my experience is that in trying to learn many things i have unintentionally crippled myself when trying to find work because so many jobs nowadays are only asking for specialist so id say that the pony model is better so long as optional avenues of learning aren't obstructed.heck rarity's talent isn't even to do with fashion it's finding gem stones which she uses in her passion.

[@acestar4470]

I wonder if there is cutiemark for creativity or being inventor?

[@Toonkid4life1]

All this did was remind me of philosophy class... reading the Republic would fit with this question. Twilight seems to be the philosopher; seeking go learn more than one craft. In the republic, Socrates points out how anyone can be great at their craft that they focus on, probably better than others. Same to rarity in this case. But a philosopher has many different opportunities knowing different things and can better understand others, life, and justice. I recommend the read, if you don't mind your head being boggled. But thats how I see it.

[@FoxyGekkerson]

True. There are also the Flim Flam brothers, who despite having apples for cutie marks, developed a cider press, which is more a feat of engineering than apple farming. Literally the only reason they got driven out of Ponyville is because in their greed and arrogance, they turned the quality control switch off to the SSCS6K so they can best the Apple Family at making the most cider. Had family pride not gotten in the way, the Flim Flam Bros' cider press would've been a valuable asset.

[@Sandalwoodrk]

i think that ponies can improve society within the realm of their own marks passions. such as twilight, with a talent for magic, can through that make imrprovements in the field of magic. and i think it works likewise with others that they each make improvements within their respective fields, which all link togteher and move eqeustria forward as a whole.

[@Kalopsic]

I guess my point is that it would take several people and many generations of technology in order to achieve a very specific machine, and the "talent" the process would fit under changes gradually. No man alone could have discovered and built any of the advanced machines we have today in our society from scratch, but they can still be experts on their workings.

[@icejustice6122]

For a place where cutie marks are just what you are good at, there are many possibilities, not limits, where these can be. If you have a talent, you can find a place in which to work where your talent can be taken full advantage of and improved, maybe even making new designs, new machines, new species and spells, etc. And what if your special talent is creating new things, making interesting and effective new designs? What if you are in a category that allows you to think of a way to do it better? Also, there are real jobs, Fluttershy's job is as an animal conservationist (I think......) but her talent is communicating with animals. Pinkie is a party planner/ apprentice baker but her talent is making people happy. Finally Ditzy is a mail mare and her talent is......... being bubbly?

[@annastewart4726]

please tell me what episodes are CMC episodes

[@daviad3487]

One thing that I believe is overlooked- Cutie marks that themselves lead to innovation. You could easily have an inventor cutie mark. A social organizer cutie mark could lead to innovations in how groups are set up. And so on. Polymaths like Twilight are great, but I do not believe they're the sole, or even necessarily main, source of innovation.

[@kelseythekrazypuff9510]

I've got a question. If the MLP world is like our world. Then would that mean there are ponies who are suffering?

[@sirclassicalhou3650]

Yes, and it should be noted that Equestria is not a utopia. People like to say how "oh, if our world could be more like Equestria", but they forget that there are ponies who suffer, and in the city of Manehattan, Equestria's version of Manhattan, there are rude ponies and there are some who don't care about you. So I'd say the MLP world is a pretty good place in terms of harmony, but it does have some ponies who suffer from whatever issue is in their life, and I know that poverty does exist in their world, it just isn't really shown, because MLP is a work of fiction. And we don't have magic villains threatening our society like Tirek or Chrysalis do when they invade Equestria, so I'd say we are blessed for that in real life.

[@RoninCatholic]

I think technological advancement is quite possible with a few ponies with special talents for gadgeteering or mechanics perfecting their narrowly specialized fields over their lifetimes.

[@nightbreeze2125]

I'm just imagining how much support Da Vinci or Einstein would've got with cutie marks representing ingenuity in Equestria.

[@Canido19]

I find it humorous to point out that among the problems that an equestrian society would have would be numerous ponies with similar special talents, and yet in the real world, one of the most aggravating problems with career pursuit is the competition for popular positions. Especially since it's not necessarily because they're all each competitor's specialty, but because they all simply choose the same path from among the numerous potential careers that society makes obvious as more desirable.

[@HorseApples007]

But Applejack's CM relates to her love of and devotion to her farm in general, which means that she not only bucks apples, she does handywork and cares for her family. She organizes events on the farm, and handles the business aspect too. So even with a specific mark, ponies can find many ways to expand upon what they do.

[@dukedashwolfgg2283]

Twilight: makes a school for creatures younger than the main six

[@stephensam-otuh2997]

when cheese sandwich comes for rainbow dashes party on 1side of the cake it has 21candles

[@McLeod735]

such a society would also need a lot of ponies with talents in since and engineering

[@thefreelancepsyco9426]

Camp blank flanks forever! Seriously, the idea of Cutie marks terrifies me, I'm not sure why, maybe I enjoy searching for answers than I do finding them, maybe I don't want to be really good at one thing more than another, or maybe I know that what I want is paradoxical, but whatever it is they really scare me.