Given some of the things you've said here, I'm starting to wonder. =P

edited 11th Dec '11 4:45:44 PM by takashi.0

Come on, don't be silly.

You can't hoard something if it's destroyed.

(kidding, of course)

Not necessarily. If it happens again in the wild he's likely to stay wherever he was at that time.

But I don't think Ginger's demands are unreasonable. Spike caused a lot of property damage when he went super-spike. Even if nopony was hurt, if there's any danger of it happening again do you really just want to move on and pretend it never happened? Having a system in place to take care of it is the least you should do.

The whole "growing-massive" thing is a bit confusing. Dragons don't grow based on age, but on greed. So theoretically, Spike could stay baby-size and be really old.

You people misunderstand me. My first thought would be exile, yes, but I'd expect them to be able to talk me out of it.

If the danger is really that negligible then it shouldn't be too hard to convince me otherwise. Right?

@ Sky Strike

If that's the case, he can happily continue to live with the ponies for years...just older and wiser. Nice thought.

Having just started playing Cave Story, I find this picture more troubling than cute.

Red petals. Ominous.

edited 11th Dec '11 4:52:44 PM by KylerThatch

I'm not saying there shouldn't be contingencies, I'm saying that the very concept of EXILING! A! CHILD! is ludicrous. Not only does it show a degree of ruthlessness that's foreign to the show (Nightmare Moon's banishment notwithstanding), but...how shall I put this? If I banish a kid who can turn into a monster, I have officially forfeited all right to be surprised when he is hellishly pissed and comes back in Monster Mode ready to smash some face. Not only is it brutally unethical, it's also ultimately self-defeating.

edited 11th Dec '11 4:53:08 PM by CountDorku

Then what do I do if they CAN'T offer me a reasonable amount of security then? What if they say there ARE no contingencies they can put in place? (hypothetically)

Do I just ignore Spike and let the potential monster just mill around my home

As I said: No trouble = no trouble convincing me of this fact

edited 11th Dec '11 4:57:18 PM by gingerninja666

Wait, I just an idea...

...if Ponyville had a 'villian', could they be asking questions like this, but in an intolerant and nasty way?

Like they would try to have Spike banished, claiming that it's for the protection of the town, when in fact they just hate Twilight and want to destroy her life?

Twilight threw Ponyville into chaos in "Lesson Zero", and has enough mystical power to lift an Ursa Minor; should she be banished?

Rainbow Dash can knock down buildings, and has been known to put others at risk to get attention; should she be banished?

Hell, we know Luna has enough power to put the survival of Equestria at risk, and she's done so before; why not just send her back to the moon to be on the safe side?

I think it's fairly inconsistent to treat Spike like the Hulk when half the mane cast could easily dish out at least as much damage as he did, and at least are mature enough that they should be able to survive to a degree (whereas the first thing Spike did when he ran away was to wind up in mortal danger).

edited 11th Dec '11 4:59:02 PM by CountDorku

You're trying to turn me into a villain, aren't you?

Honestly, I'd be pissed too. I wouldn't want those sorts of people around

Again, this is what I'D be doing if I were in charge. I'm not HONESTLY expecting Ponyville in the show to respond like this.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:01:40 PM by gingerninja666

I don't know...Dash can destroy a ratty old wooden barn that's already been weakened...a sturdy stone building is probably a different story.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:01:39 PM by ApplelightLimited

@Ginger: I think the issue here is that you jumped straight to Exile as the first option. Like you basically suggested "EXILE, or maybe he can stay if we think of other stuff" rather than "Lets come up with a plan for next time and kick him out of town as a last resort". I think we're on the same page, it's just that everyone else defaulted to "find a way to keep Spike in town" as the best available option.

And I think the ponies would start with "We're keeping Spike in town unless we absolutely cannot" rather than booting him out of town and only letting him stay after thinking it over.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:02:54 PM by JapaneseTeeth

Pinkie Pie's fiancee cannot be a villain. It goes against the fundamental laws of the universe.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:01:49 PM by CDRW

Maybe, but my Twilight and Luna points still stand.

I'm Count Dorku and I approve of this message.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:02:36 PM by CountDorku

@Ginger So you're worried about Spike, but not about the Everfree Forest? There's parasprites, cockatrices, manticores, and a freaking Ursa Major.

@JT My stance has always been Exile, and if there's no problem then you shouldn't have trouble convincing me otherwise. The same result is achieved regardless of the order of their priority. I'd WANT Spike to stay, but I'd also be fearful for my home. Why bother putting something at risk when you can prevent it?

I wouldn't exile him BEFORE discussing other ideas. I'm not HEARTLESS

edited 11th Dec '11 5:05:22 PM by gingerninja666

Funny, that's our perspective too. It's just that we like to think we'd value Spike's life more than our things.

Gaah, I'm getting cranky and should probably disappear from this thread for a bit before I lose control and get moderated.

I think it's your priority that's at issue. Making exile the default option makes others think you're being too hard on the little guy.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:07:11 PM by KylerThatch

My stuff. My livelihood. My LIFE!!! Not just mine, but EVERYONE'S! All at risk, as long as he's in Ponyville

Again. NO PROBLEM!! = NO PROBLEM CONVINCING ME OF THIS!!

edited 11th Dec '11 5:08:51 PM by gingerninja666

I swear, I try to look out for the safety of my fellow ponyvillians and I'm ostricised for it

I'm like that guy from Gurren Lagann. The old, cultist guy

Was wondering why Cherilee bought that swanky pimp hat. Not really something you see chicks wear.

Alright, what pony do you think is going to want to tell Princess Celestia's star pupil, who is living in Ponyville under royal decree, who has saved the town several times and the world twice, that her baby dragon needs to get kicked out of town?

Also, as the episode showed, Spike was pretty well known and liked in town, so once the situation had been explained then I'm sure they'd go easy on him.

Cheerilee's just boss like that.

edited 11th Dec '11 5:17:13 PM by SkyStrike