1) Lyra: I’m not really in a position to ask “Hey, what was the exact thing you fire me for?“ I could try to sue for employee records on myself, but that’d probably go over as well as anything else.

Ribbon: Even if you tried, all you’d get in reply would be a generic “Inappropriate conduct in a public forum“ which is more than stretching the original terminology. This is why law makers should not also enforce the laws. Any time there’s a conflict you can be assured they’ll side with themselves.

2) Hahaha. Ohohoh-kay Strawberry. On a list of things that sound fake, that’d easily top the charts. But whatever you say.

1) Is this something from Portal 2, or something? Because I’m not following…

… Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3? Huh. I only played Red Alert 1 and 2, though. That series is pretty dang hard.

2) Lyra: You want to field this one, Bon-Bon?

Bon-Bon: To be honest, even I find that one insulting. I am gay, but I would never go beyond a hug and a hoofshake without dating somepony.

3) I wouldn’t necessarily consider their motivations to be dumb, just the execution. You can’t leave societies to their own devices and only come around every so often expecting to gain full control of the situation. You need representation to regulate. That’s, like, the most basic requirement for control.

Illegal Immigration, as it exists in your world, only makes sense in a case of population diffusion. That is, a location banning new immigrants on the grounds that there’s just too many in a single location. However, as I understand it, the most populated places in your world have no such limitation.

It seems to be a matter of nationalism; a country wanting- and forcing, its citizens to be part of an inescapable collective whole. Done to the detriment of those who are considered “different”.

Of course, Equestria had closed its borders to the griffon nation; making immigration illegal. But this was done to protect itself until the country became stable again; it was never intended to be permanent.

And! The upcoming Equestria Games holds the important distinction of lifting that ban and opening its borders once more to griffon immigrants or visitors!

1) Shoot. I knew I saved up too long.

2) This is usually where conversations about this lead. Even in Equestra. Ponies don’t talk about the seers. They don’t like them. A society doesn’t want to be monitored. Not because they are or aren’t doing anything wrong, but for fear of being called out on something. Alienated.

It’s always, “What if this? What if that?” But to directly address the question, nothing. The seers monitor vital signs, not thoughts. The only time anything would be done is if your vital signs indicate a potentially violent nature (which they evidently can tell).

I don’t know; it’s always been this way.

3) I severely doubt it, but I guess it’s possible. Even if it is, I don’t think it’s impact would ever pass outside of this website.

Maybe I’m just too busy focusing on the long term.

4) Very… different. Thanks for sharing!

5) It’s a great place to live. It’s beautiful. Calm. Any sort of attack is always repelled. Just, you know, bow before your princesses.

And it’s not like they aren’t worthy rulers. Just… here and there, you know?

Big question with a big answer after the break. Lots of information, though!

Keep reading

1) Nope. My nightmares tend to have closer ties with reality.

2) Interesting. So is it, like, an action game? An RTS? An SRPG?

3) Bon-Bon: Cooler than cool… is icing!

Lyra: No. Bad, Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon: Oh, don’t be such a… sour-tart!

Lyra: Bon-Bon, stahp.

Bon-Bon: You just wish you could be one of the… smarties like me.

Lyra: BoN-BON!

4) This is why I say things like “I don’t know a whole lot about government.” I know plenty about things I’m well-versed in, but stuff like this is completely beyond me. There might very well be an office dedicated to helping foals get their cutie marks. That’s really stupid if there is, but I honestly have no idea.

5) Whoops! My bad! Must be something in the water.

1) Can be pretty sure I wouldn’t.

2) Oh my Cels! You’re right! There’s weapons everywhere!

… I swear… The only way you’re going to find or craft a weapon is through channels that are carefully regulated. Heck, even every ounce of metal a blacksmith uses is carefully tracked by the government.

Best weapon you could muster would be to improv with a kitchen knife or a bat. And the gangs back in Canterlot used to do just that. Wasn’t terribly effective in the short-term. At least to a moving target…

3) I’m not going to scold your decision; I was there once and it’s yours to make. But if you have the time, there are more rewarding avenues than “the easy way.”

4) What’s a “video game?” And Portal 2 sounds like a prescription suppository for diarrhea.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I just finished reading about Dynasty Warriors 8 and I’m psyched. Huang Gai’s default weapon is a [omitted] boat.

5) 1, yes. I pirated it because I didn’t think it would be much, but it turned out to be great, so I felt bad about it. I don’t want to pirate 2. I’d like to buy it legitimately, if I ever get some money, to support the developer.

6) Are you going to just start bringing up everyone that’s ever lived? Because this line of questioning is kind of stale already and it hasn’t even started.

7) Sure did! Was a great show! And that was a good episode!

My favorite was the one where Megadeth showed up and they played Back In The Day.

1) Not a complicated answer. We don’t use our planet’s limited minerals like they’re renewable.

2) I don’t think you’re understanding how weapon bans work. The criminal has no weapons either, because there aren’t any. There are none to buy, there is no means to manufacture them, there aren’t any to steal.

When incapacitating somepony takes a great deal of effort, the desire to go ahead and do it is substantially reduced. And if you can’t be sure you can get away with it by stacking the cards in your favor, the probability of the act taking place is reduced as well.

The fact that weapons are illegal isn’t even important. There aren’t any. When you try to rob somepony in Equestria, the factors of break in and exit time, population, and the reaction time of law enforcement just means you’re more likely to get beat up yourself. Why do you think I got arrested so many times for? I don’t know how things are for you humans, but [omitted]’s not easy to pull off here.

3) You wouldn’t be the first pony to come to that conclusion. Is there anything wrong with that way of thinking, though? Batmare, were she real, is basically some rich filly living out a revenge fantasy over and over again to fill the void left by the death of her parents. Do the psychological implications of that matter if she’s stopping villains from taking the lives of others?

4) [Audible Sigh] Please clarify the nature of your aggression.

5) Animals are animals. They were around since before we were. Leave them alone and they’ll balance themselves. The reason that never works in your world is because you can’t ever seem to leave them alone, what with the pollution, deforestation, segmentation, poaching, and whatever you want to call this bright idea.

If an invasive species is introduced, massive, long term efforts are usually undertaken within days to remove them. That parasprite invasion was bad, but it would have been taken care of before it caused any long term harm, if Twilight hadn’t destroyed the town and nearly killed us all.

6) Not sure if you read what you just wrote, but it sounds to me like you got a pretty big worry for the future there. You could go ahead and start working on that.

1) Don’t pokemon have personalities independent of their species? How would I answer this? I mean, I like Jolteon. Doesn’t mean I identify with it.

2) Maybe. Maybe events are manipulated a little to give the appearance that we’re more unified than we are. Maybe that manipulation causes ponies to subconsciously behave better; because their internal voice expects it of them. Maybe other nations fear our unwavering loyalty to one another, and what that could do if directed toward a threat.

Maybe.

3) Cooler than not having weapons? I guess so. But they’re also dangerous.

4) Thanks, but I sort of played that game to death. I appreciate the notification, though!

5) Everypony can be a chump now and again. Nopony’s perfect.

6) I knew about Matt, that’s how I found out about the show. But I hadn’t heard anything about Mike. That’s fantastic! Do you have any voice credits for him?

1) Sounds pretty farfetched.

2) Because they don’t need to know. It wouldn’t change anything.

3) Okay, okay. Unicorn magic wins wars. You sure do have some awesome ancestors, though!

4) Are you nuts?! It’s illegal for civilians to possess weaponry in Equestia!

5) Only if you believe hard enough and dig deep enough.

But grave robbery is a felony.

6) Don’t know the name; don’t got time to look it up. I’m answering these before I head into work and setting them in my morning post queue.

1) Uh… Huh… That doesn’t sound made up.

2) Nice troll, buddy. Next you’re gonna to give me “proof.”

3) Most paparazzi don’t turn an entire town against themselves. That would be why it wasn’t their special talent, despite their evident skill. You gotta pick and choose who you write about.

4) Hard to say. Usually it has to do with how relatable the subject is. If it’s something the audience is supposed to relate heavily to, but the subject is off-the-wall bizarre to our culture, make them ponies. Instantly more relatable! On the other hoof, if any attempt to tie the subject to reality is being withheld…

5) Buddy, all the cool kids are hanging out with their friends.

6) Not in particular. I’m sure I’d like it if I did, but who has the time?

7) No, a villain is a technical designation by the Equestrian government designed to identify any entity that has made an attempt to over-through, take over, destroy, damage, or otherwise undermine Equestria’s authority as an international power, as decided by the Princess herself.

I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you bronies just sit there looking for loopholes. Almost like you think I’m making this stuff up on the spot!

1) Hadn’t heard about it. Sounds alright, but I’m not ecstatic over the idea or anything.

2) Can’t say I do.

3) I prefer the more arcade-y feeling games. There’s just something magical about holding out a riot shield and getting hammered by a helicopter’s turret fire for a solid 10 seconds, before they give up and you start shooting at them to get their attention again, and then repeat. Also, double flare gun from Future Perfect will never have an equal.

But, ah… The closet thing to a modern military shooter I’ve played even remotely recently was Blacklight: Retribution. Not exactly the same thing.

4) You know, I have heard rumors trickling down. Nothing super significant, but there are talks.

5) You can’t place a price on mental health, especially not on the possibility of all that work and trauma resulting in something significant.

6) I thought you said you read through all of them.

1) What does that have to do with who set the cameras up?

2) That’s an expensive habit there, buddy.

3) Non-ponies are fully capable of filling earth and pegasus pony positions. It’s just that too many typical unicorns can’t.

4) Sure. Sounds like a hoot.

5) Maybe not as far as a hope, but I certainly wouldn’t have to worry about Sweetie’s career taking off.

6) Used to be. And it’s because Princess Celestia wanted to find the source. If all she did was clean up the streets, whatever was causing the gang lifestyle to flourish would have moved elsewhere, where it would take longer to find again and be harder to track. Everyday the Princess had to make conscious decisions that I’d never want to make, but they had to be done.

And the source was found and eliminated. It led back to the former griffon government, hence the rocky political situation between us.

7) Don’t be silly! Ah-ha! I’m fine! I’m on top of things like a cake topper!

1) Well, I don’t have cancer. And you have to remember that almost nothing that happened to me was exclusive. I’m just one of the few that survived. There are others.

2) Nah. Too much responsibility.

3) For pegasus and earth ponies there are government programs that can put the unemployed to work if they can’t find anything. There are plenty for unicorns too, just not in Ponyville. There’s disability, but no, there is no unemployment or food stamps.

4) Sorry. One or the other.

5) That doesn’t seem possible, given the absurd narration.

6) … Uh… Sh-Shocked? Yeah… Pretty shocked… I always sort of pictured them more like siblings or friends.

7) No. In fact, that sounds like the opposite of a worry.

Hmm I don’t remember saying anything bad but I also can’t remember what the redacted word was, haha. In other news, your government sounds scarily like ours.

1) That’s nice, dear. Now go play.

2) You’re absolutely right. Let me go use my lyre playing talent to go advance irrigation technology.

3) If I get into a fight with a dragon, I’m gonna lose. I can at least try to fight it; I might even get lucky and escape. But you can’t win against aging. Ever.

4) Well would you look at that.

5) I’d be devastated. If he ever did, I’d rather never find out.

6) No, because being a prick is subjective. The concept of evil is supposed to be cosmically defined.

7) I don’t recall getting “a very nice ask” in quite some time.

8) For the most part, it works fine for us. Massive societies work best when governed on individual district levels. The only reason there’s any issue is because changing laws regarding non-pony marriage falls under immigration/integration, which in a nation with open borders can only be regulated at the national level. And a law regarding name changing is a matter of security, which is also a national concern. We don’t have things like facial recognition software, so names are important for identification.

Changing either law, with proper process, wouldn’t cause any problems. It’s just that the kind of laws they are require national legislation. And that means the ponies with the money/influence can toss their weight around to sway others away from change that may have unforeseen side-effects.