Yeah, it's a direct sequel. The hookup at the end of Best Night Ever winds up having...fallout. To put it mildly.

edited 6th Dec '12 5:42:56 PM by Pykrete

Fluttershy went to Flight Camp, so it's not a talent thing. And last time I tried to argue that Magic Kindergerten was part of Celestia's school, almost everyone disagreed with me. Regardless, if there was any learned component to EP powers, then it would have been brought up in the show. We've had tons of exposition on unicorn magic and flight stuff and all of the practice and training that goes into it over the course of the show, so it doesn't make any sense for Earth Pony abilities to be similarly learned.

I can easily see Earth Ponies having a "sense" about things related to their personality and talents that they can learn to use, and the fact that it's personal to each pony means you can't teach it. Pinkie Sense is the most obvious version of this, and the randomness of it is due to Pinkie's own spontaneity. I bet Applejack or Big Mac can tell just the right place to buck a tree to knock the apples off, and can tell when the apples are ripe enough without even having to try them.

It's like I never left.

An Earth Pony blacksmith would know their metalwork intuitively, and always know exactly when and how to manipulate the heat of the metal to maximise its tempering treatment.

Earth pony bakers instinctively know when the cooking's done, no need to stick a toothpick in to see whether it's thoroughly cooked.

Huh? Who are you? I don't think I've seen you around before.

Earth pony miners know how to not cause a cave-in.

Earth pony minors know the way to school.

I am only a man, sir.

Oh goodie. Youtube finally forced me into accepting the new format, and as I suspected, it's pants-on-head fucking stupid. Good job, youtube!

But...all this time...I thought you were Applejack.

MY LIFE IS MEANINGLESS NOW

edited 6th Dec '12 5:56:45 PM by TheFreeman

MMMPH!

evening, what we talking about?

@Freeman: Aw, are you feelin' down, Sugarcube? I can mix ya' up a tall glass of cider if you want.

Don't patronize me, liar!

@Perpetual: That makes sense. Maybe Pinkie just lucked out and got an especially good one, like how Twilight lucked out in the magic department.

Hey, I wanted to make a sockpuppet, but I screwed up the process, so this is as good as you're gonna get, Pardner.

@JT I wouldn't call her's especially good, since it more or less only lets you know that something will happen in the next few seconds, but very rarely lets you know what will happen, when it will happen, or how it will happen very specifically. Not to mention that its function is more or less entirely random.

edited 6th Dec '12 6:09:47 PM by PerpetualLurker

I have a body pillow, thank you very much.

I'm kidding. Seriously.

edited 6th Dec '12 6:08:57 PM by TheFreeman

I don't see the point of body pillows. They're not body-shaped, they're just regular (if extra-large) pillows with pictures on them.

Yeah, they should be weirdly shaped and have pointy elbows to jab at you while you sleep.

I've been neglecting this thread far too much; I'm starting to miss you guys.

So by now we'd normally have gotten a preview or two for the next episode, wouldn't we? Y'all think that means we might get a rerun this weekend?

Here's a philosophical question for you's...can a pony earn a CM for something that they aren't actually very good (at least initially?)

For example...could a pony have a cooking CM and wish to be the greatest chef ever, despite their cooking been very bad?

Hey!

There's definitely a new episode, but the lack of previews is odd.

edited 6th Dec '12 6:17:02 PM by ApplelightLimited

Don't we get the dates in advance or something?

@Blue Nope, this weekend is still scheduled for Scootaloo. The past few weeks have just been earlier than normal with the previews, anyway. We'll probably get one tomorrow.

@Apple Sereg would disagree, but I'd think it's possible. A Cutie Mark is supposed to represent a pony's passions just as much as their talents. So long as they enjoy it and want to continue doing it, then they could earn a mark for something they're "bad" at. Logically, most ponies wouldn't enjoy something they continually fail at, though, so it would require a very unique mindset.

edited 6th Dec '12 6:19:02 PM by PerpetualLurker

@Kyler: They're for ronery people :V

Now buffering.gif

Ask Pregnant Scootaloo's gotten awesome again. Also Jet Set and Upper Crust confirmed for failing hard.

edited 6th Dec '12 6:20:30 PM by AceOfScarabs

@Applelight: Well, Fluttershy got her cutie mark for caring for animals the first time she was on the ground, so its not like she had any experience yet. So probably, if they discover something that really calls to them they can get a cutie mark even if they aren't good at it yet.