The reason I am vocal about this issue is because it was first brought to my attention by my close friends who have mental disabilities. They had made posts about how much this character bothered them, because "derp" comes from "herp a derp" and "hurr durr"- sounds made to ridicule people with cerebral palsy. No matter what you say, I'm sorry, but that term is absolutely ableist in and of itself.
When people I care about are being hurt, I don't stay quiet. I wasn't putting words in their mouths, they spoke for themselves, and I only chimed in and signal boosted what they were saying. That's great if you find something in this character relatable, but you are not a spokesperson for all people with disabilities. You must acknowledge that other people in your community are very offended. And some of them cannot speak up about it because they fear the massive backlash. Just look at the comments on my page and you'll know what I mean.
I am not against representation of the mentally disabled. I fully endorse a respectful portrayal than people can associate with. But I agree with my friends in that community when they say they deserve better than this: [link] [link] [link]
The first time I even heard the word "Derp" was from the South Park episode with the character "Mr. Derp". That character is silly and spastic, not retarded, or I guess "retarded" in the sense that when something displeases someone it's "gay".
Whether or not the term is ableist is a matter of opinion, as the word "derp" is not so black a white a term as the term "nigger" is for example. Don't get me wrong, Yamino, you and your friends are welcome to your opinion, and I don't necessarily agree with all the flames you've gotten for the issue, but I can't see how this isn't a case of butthurt over something so trivial.
Not to mention, there are plenty of other characters that fit a very similar bill to Derpy that people simply don't care about really. I don't see many people saying how horrible Snips and Snails are when they could just as easily be taken as derogatory to males and or mentally challenged people.
How DARE YOU?! Derp is not an ableist slur, nor is Derpy a stereotype of the disabled, she's just a bit clumsy but she shows that it shouldn't stop a person in life. The minute that gets through you, maybe you'll see that ya made a slight calculation. P.S here's a video that show the consequences of your actions. [link] . Derpy is my favourite background pony and I'll defend her no matter what.
Oh, so you're against things that offend people? Really? Well, your comic is offensive to my religion. I'm not crying for you to get rid of it. Shut up.
"it was first brought to my attention by my close friends who have mental disabilities"
That sounds an awful lot like the old chestnut "Why, some of my best friends are black." bigots used to show how open minded they are. I have an uncle who has a mental disability. I see no link at all between him and a silly cartoon character. I do personally know lots of Catholics who would be shocked and horrified by your comic though.
Wow, you write a comic trashing the Catholic Church, and then turn around and protest a cartoon character you decided makes fun of people with disabilities? It smells like hypocrisy in here.
Derp is an awkward sound. Derpy is an awkward pony. She's awkward, clumsy, and kinda goofy.
Pinkie can PROBABLY be said to suffer from ADHD! Suffer? Or just..you know, HAVE IT? Derpy seems really happy and to not CARE about her clumsiness. Why do you. Everybody LOVES her for her "disability". Nobody is making fun of her. We all want to like, hug her and find her massively charming.
Although some people, I guess you, can lay claim over whatever you're offended by..? She is loved by an ENDLESS QUANTITY more, and her pop-culture reference name is an AWESOME nod to the older fans. It's really unfair that you seem to want to take away the fun for people who are ALSO mentally handicapped or NOT, over a character that exists in a cartoon show, bringing a potentially handicapped character into an adorable light..my gosh. How terrible.
I guess I don't know why I'm bothering, since you have no real logic other than "I said so. That's how it is. I'm offended so everyone should shape their lives around me and my feelings." I understand VERY well you can't choose to be offended, but you can choose your actions based on that feeling. You can. So...kindly cut the crap
Yeah, some of the fan depictions are rather "bluh" but it's nothing to be mad at Hasbro for. And your friend need to really understand that "herp a derp" was taken from south park as a general sound of stupidity and NOT to be associated with mentally disabled. There's nothing wrong with being stupid. I'm stupid at times, everyone is. If we just accept that we're all somehow, in some way, stupid, then maybe a connection can be made. Just as I don't represent them as a whole, neither do you or your friends. No matter what the subject is, SOMEONE will find a way to be offended. That doesn't mean the media absolutely HAS to cater to them. If the world was run that way, then nothing would ever get done. People are offended by homosexuality being publically displayed, just as people are offended by it being censored. So, you really can't please everyone.
"Derpy" is not a "Dhurrrr" sound. It's just like the word "Dopey", or "dumbo". This needs to be cleared up, because the more people say "derp" is something palsey people say is just.. No. It's really not acceptable. SEVER that assumed meaning entirely, because it's NOT true and it's degrading for others to go around applying it like that. If anything, you should be spreading awareness that the word, is in fact, NOT meant to degrade and should not be used to do so. People tend to make "hurrr" sounds when they are tired, out of it, spacy, drunk, or when they feel like they screwed up. ANYONE can do it. It's not exclusive to those with mental disabilities so don't claim that it is. I just want to be clear on this, because this is something that has bothered me far before My Little Pony was even on my list of things I cared about.
Like I said, I respect you as an artist. I do. And I'm sure you're a great gal. But there's some things that just need to be said a certain way. I made a post about my offense to Derpy's voice a while back with solid reasons, and I did not get a backlash because I know how to choose my words wisely and I know that you can't please everyone. The ones people get mad at are the ones that right out act like sticks in the mud about it and act like it's defending the rights of others who could speak fine for themselves. We all have opinions, and it's not fair to always side with the negative side of those opinions.
I'm happy, I've brought life and awareness to this character. I don't think I need to "deserve" better. I have many friends and people who care about me, and people who understand me and treat me like any other human being. I don't mind making fun of myself, I'd rather take things lightly than getting all up in arms about everything around me. The only thing "better" I deserve right now is a job >_>
[link] Derpy To be inefficient, slow, unable, inexperienced, not working correctly, stupid, naive, etc. A word that usually takes the place of "retarded."
Look up "derp" on Google images and you find tons of photoshopped photos made to represent people with mental disability. The term is ableist. I don't even know why people bother trying to argue it isn't. So you say it just means "stupid"? Are you saying it would be fine if she was called "Stupid Hooves?" Hell no.
You say you're not bothered by it, and that's fine. But why should the people who don't care have a precedence over those who are rightly offended and hurt by a negative representation? Or do you really not think they matter?
Urban dictionary = invalid. Definition ripped straight from your sitting-hole with no backup whatsoever (except a few angry FIM 'fans') = totally valid. Totally valid > invalid = YOU WIN!
Well returning to the fact that derp is't even a word and urban dictionary is specialized in such non-existent words and being defined and given meaning there by the people we get to a conclusion that in this case that urban dictionary is valid for such cases
Are you bothered by the fact that "Dopey" is called that in Snow White? Also, I had a pet rat named Bimbo. These sort of names are not uncommon in cartoons. It's silly, it's not supposed to be offensive but some people just take it way out of context. Again. Any human being in the world can "derp". It's NOT exclusive to mental handicap. To "derp" is to make a stupid face. It often goes with actual photos of freeze frames of people making faces that generally look really stupid. We all make those faces. That is called "derping". "Ditzy" is the same thing. It refers to a stupid female. Those people matter if they are hurt, they are more than welcome to feel that way, but do they have to take that away from the multitude of people who don't mind? Do the Christians have a right to remove offensive things from the media? Was it okay for 4kids to recolor a black character as a white guy because they thought it would offend people? No, not really, because it just makes it more offensive when people cover it up like that. If it's not right out TRYING to offend those people, then they need to step back and relax and not get so mad at everyone. That's part of the whole "love and tolerance" deal. Did that give that one mother offended by Halloween the right to take it away from ALL the children of her child's school in Canada? NO. It did not!
Double edged blade, double standards. Personally, I am offended by Rainbow Dash's attitude in the most current season because she's been playing off of a stereotype of tomboys. I'm a tomboy, and I don't act like an egotistical self centered naive dumbass all the time, nor do I go "lolol books are for nerds".
Were you offended by Snails, by any chance? With his huge ears and his vacant drooly stare and his right out "Dhaaahhh" sound that he made? Or does this only apply to females?
I just want to understand why people insist on being THIS upset over something that really isn't as bad as they make it out to be.
Really? In what way do they offend you? I have no concept as to why anybody would be offended by a silly pegasus on a children's show... It just doesn't seem like a good use of your time... Perhaps if you embraced Derpy and petitioned to get her a bigger role where she is the hero of the episode that would help make her less offensive to you.
Dear Princess Celestia Today I learned that appearances can be deceiving and even a slow seeming pony can be a genius if given the chance to shine.
I'm sorry you have to feel so bitterly about these things.
I'm glad I learned to understand what is meant to hurt me and what is meant to be lighthearted, innocent, and unintended to directly attack people. Just wish other people could learn to do the same, because it's like being mad for the sake of it rather than having a good solid reason.
I'm not changing your opinion, nor am I changing mine.
So... because a few people misinterpretated the meaning, that means that you should "raise awareness" which only makes the vast majority of us feel bad about ourselves?
Your doing it for your friends, but what about the ones that you offend in this manner? Like me and a lot more people out there? Your not helping us. at. all!
And it's not helping the bronie community to go over to Yamino's profile and shove hateful comments down her throat and I think you and the rest of the bronie community should be a shame and say sorry to her.
I"m not going to her profile as a bronie, I"m going to her profile as a "mentally handicapped" person who tries to explain to her that she does NOT speak for me in this manner, nor is she helping me in the least.
I will keep it at that. Read through the rest of my comments to see what I mean.
I did read your comments but, you did come to her profile as a bronie & mentally handicapped (You did talk about the character of "Derpy" little.)and I understand that you don't want her to speak for anyone (Plus You) because, they don't want to be that "Speical". But she was trying to say that she can speak for anyone that had disablility on speaking (Example...people that can't speak and do it with sign languages).
Besides I have few friends that are mentally handicapped and others that can't speak and I think it's wrong how you guys plan to go to her profile to shove hateful comments down her throat (Just saying) and she didn't deserve that.
Well I can honestly say, they definately don't speak for all of us.
And no, the word derp has nothing to do with mental retardiness. I appreciate that your trying to help, but with this your actually creating a counter effect.
Please, don't make such a big issue about Derpy. I never saw her as remotely mentally handicapped (and this is coming from someone who spend 2 years of his life in an institute for being "special", so I can safely say what would classify as a mental handicap).
Just treat me like anyone else, I have friends both in real life and on the net, and I just finished my other education. There is no need to see so much behind Derpy, and derp originated just from someone being clumzy.
Sorry if I sounded harsh against you, but it was people who made remarks/posts quite similar to your own that ruined 4 years of my life and gave me a inferiority complex. Those people at the insitute kept saying how I was "special" and (they litterly said this) "how I couldn't live a life like everyone else".
I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself, and I think that this was just seeing things that aren't there. As for those pictures, I can name 100 times as many as those pictures which show Derpy in a lovable manner and just being clumzy.
So please, as a "mentally handicapped person", if you really care about us then realise that Derpy has nothing to do with a mental handicap, and that we don't WANT you to do this for us. It's awesome that your trying to stick up for your friends, but I don't want anyone defending me or anything, and I think most of the people with a mental handicap feel the same way.
When I was at the institude I had only one desire: to be like anyone else instead of being "special". And after 2 years I finally shrugged off anything that was being said to me by people who "tried to help me", and said "I AM like anyone else, and I'm NOT special".
After that I left it, and did another education, and I finished it 2 weeks ago. I still have a inferiority complex due to people who somehow felt that "they needed to defend me", so sorry if I snapped at you here, but it wasn't ironically Derpy who offended me, but actually your journal here.
Thanks for sticking up for your friends, but please, your doing it really wrong in this manner. I hope that you understand what I"m trying to tell you.
The bottom line is- you can't tell other people in your community what they can and can't be offended by. "Derp" is abelist. Read this if you really want a further explanation: [link]
I don't wish to treat you differently from anyone else. I want you to have self-respect and the right to be represented positively, not as a meme that fandom uses to ridicule you. It's wonderful if that doesn't bother you or get under your skin, but you can't just ignore other people who ARE affected and hurt by it. Are you saying they don't matter?
For reasons of privacy I can't talk about why this issue is very personal to me, but there are people very close to me who are hurt by ableism daily, and it's ruined their lives too. It's small things like this that snowball and form societal norms that make bullying and discrimination acceptable. Speaking up is the least I can do.
I AM saying that apparently most people not only don't seem to mind it, but also just love the character. I'm sorry your friends made that connection, but it's based on nothing! Everyone can see things about situations that aren't there, and when I look at the fanbase then the vast majority of them seemed to refer to derpy as clumzy, something EVERYONE does, which is what I AM! Just like everyone!
And if you really want to help people like your friends and me, then DON'T treat us like we're "special"
And speaking of personal, I have not spoken about this subject to anyone else except people very close to me, however I nevertheless wanted to tell you how much comments like yours are actually the ones hurting me and other mentally handicapped people as well.
Yes, if there are bullies then do something against them on the spot, but you can NEVER stop bullying in the manner that your trying to do right now. In fact, all you do is make such people (me included) feel bad about ourselves because we apparently need "special treatment"! Plus you ruin a wonderfull and amazing fanmade character just because you and your friends misinterpreted her in this manner.
Yamino, your an awesome person, but again please try to understand what I"m trying to tell you. Your not helping us in this manner. Worse even, your making things worse!
There are lots of people with mental disability who have been speaking up about this long before I did. I've actually had a lot of people with mental disability thank me for following suit. It is helping, and raising awareness. And you can't tell them it's "based on nothing." It means a lot to them. I would appreciate it if you didn't brush them off so casually.
I'm sorry for your personal experiences, but you're clearly not listening to me. And I'm assuming you didn't read the article I linked, either.
If this is your idea of arguing- completely ignoring everything I say- then I can't continue this conversation.
And I noticed a lot of mentally disabled people (me included) who were completely offended by your post here.
Your "raising awereness" causes other people to treat us in a different way like they would anyone else, and we DON'T want that! I'm sorry, but I had to fight my way out of that institute after 2 years, so I think I know what I"m talking about.
And I did read the article, but I think it's nonsence. In practice the "awareness" has a counter effect, as I can vow. There are a lot more people with a mental disability who disagree with you then there are those that agree with you, that I can promise you. A lot of fans love Derpy, not because now they can "make fun of handicap people", but because she is like the old style toon clumzy characters, the ones who are clumzy like any other person, regardless of gender/sex/skincolor/sexuality.
And to me it actually seems like your the one who is completely ignoring everything that I"m saying. I may be the one with a "mental handicap", but even I can see that saying "your ignoring everything that I"m saying" just because I disagree with you, shows that apparently you are really close minded on this issue.
I'm sorry about your friends, but you should handle her problems directly on the spot, and "raising awareness" by ruining a lovable character is NOT going to help her! In fact, this awareness will not only not remove the bullying (people will ALWAYS be bullied, regardless of what reasons), it will make other people feel like they should give her "special treatment", but in reality that will mean that they won't see her as a normal person like you and me, and will NOT treat her as a normal person should be treated. Your just making things worse for them. Trust me, I've been there!
I'm sorry to hear that my words seem to go over your head, but at least your heart is in the right place. Please reconsider what I said to you. Aside from that I guess there is nothing more to be said.
You're talking to a wall here. The thing is you could just as easily let a few extreme nut-job religious groups know about her Sister Claire comics and they would just as easily find it as offensive too, but we don't because WE AREN'T DOUCHEBAGS. ANYTHING can be offensive if you look long enough for it.
Sta.sh
When people I care about are being hurt, I don't stay quiet. I wasn't putting words in their mouths, they spoke for themselves, and I only chimed in and signal boosted what they were saying. That's great if you find something in this character relatable, but you are not a spokesperson for all people with disabilities. You must acknowledge that other people in your community are very offended. And some of them cannot speak up about it because they fear the massive backlash. Just look at the comments on my page and you'll know what I mean.
I am not against representation of the mentally disabled. I fully endorse a respectful portrayal than people can associate with. But I agree with my friends in that community when they say they deserve better than this:
[link]
[link]
[link]
And I believe you deserve better, too.
Devious Comments
Whether or not the term is ableist is a matter of opinion, as the word "derp" is not so black a white a term as the term "nigger" is for example. Don't get me wrong, Yamino, you and your friends are welcome to your opinion, and I don't necessarily agree with all the flames you've gotten for the issue, but I can't see how this isn't a case of butthurt over something so trivial.
Not to mention, there are plenty of other characters that fit a very similar bill to Derpy that people simply don't care about really. I don't see many people saying how horrible Snips and Snails are when they could just as easily be taken as derogatory to males and or mentally challenged people.
That sounds an awful lot like the old chestnut "Why, some of my best friends are black." bigots used to show how open minded they are. I have an uncle who has a mental disability. I see no link at all between him and a silly cartoon character. I do personally know lots of Catholics who would be shocked and horrified by your comic though.
Pinkie can PROBABLY be said to suffer from ADHD! Suffer? Or just..you know, HAVE IT? Derpy seems really happy and to not CARE about her clumsiness. Why do you. Everybody LOVES her for her "disability". Nobody is making fun of her. We all want to like, hug her and find her massively charming.
Although some people, I guess you, can lay claim over whatever you're offended by..? She is loved by an ENDLESS QUANTITY more, and her pop-culture reference name is an AWESOME nod to the older fans. It's really unfair that you seem to want to take away the fun for people who are ALSO mentally handicapped or NOT, over a character that exists in a cartoon show, bringing a potentially handicapped character into an adorable light..my gosh. How terrible.
I guess I don't know why I'm bothering, since you have no real logic other than "I said so. That's how it is. I'm offended so everyone should shape their lives around me and my feelings." I understand VERY well you can't choose to be offended, but you can choose your actions based on that feeling. You can. So...kindly cut the crap
There's nothing wrong with being stupid. I'm stupid at times, everyone is. If we just accept that we're all somehow, in some way, stupid, then maybe a connection can be made.
Just as I don't represent them as a whole, neither do you or your friends. No matter what the subject is, SOMEONE will find a way to be offended. That doesn't mean the media absolutely HAS to cater to them. If the world was run that way, then nothing would ever get done.
People are offended by homosexuality being publically displayed, just as people are offended by it being censored. So, you really can't please everyone.
"Derpy" is not a "Dhurrrr" sound. It's just like the word "Dopey", or "dumbo". This needs to be cleared up, because the more people say "derp" is something palsey people say is just.. No. It's really not acceptable. SEVER that assumed meaning entirely, because it's NOT true and it's degrading for others to go around applying it like that. If anything, you should be spreading awareness that the word, is in fact, NOT meant to degrade and should not be used to do so.
People tend to make "hurrr" sounds when they are tired, out of it, spacy, drunk, or when they feel like they screwed up. ANYONE can do it. It's not exclusive to those with mental disabilities so don't claim that it is.
I just want to be clear on this, because this is something that has bothered me far before My Little Pony was even on my list of things I cared about.
Like I said, I respect you as an artist. I do. And I'm sure you're a great gal. But there's some things that just need to be said a certain way. I made a post about my offense to Derpy's voice a while back with solid reasons, and I did not get a backlash because I know how to choose my words wisely and I know that you can't please everyone. The ones people get mad at are the ones that right out act like sticks in the mud about it and act like it's defending the rights of others who could speak fine for themselves. We all have opinions, and it's not fair to always side with the negative side of those opinions.
I'm happy, I've brought life and awareness to this character. I don't think I need to "deserve" better. I have many friends and people who care about me, and people who understand me and treat me like any other human being. I don't mind making fun of myself, I'd rather take things lightly than getting all up in arms about everything around me.
The only thing "better" I deserve right now is a job >_>
Derpy
To be inefficient, slow, unable, inexperienced, not working correctly, stupid, naive, etc. A word that usually takes the place of "retarded."
Look up "derp" on Google images and you find tons of photoshopped photos made to represent people with mental disability. The term is ableist. I don't even know why people bother trying to argue it isn't. So you say it just means "stupid"? Are you saying it would be fine if she was called "Stupid Hooves?" Hell no.
You say you're not bothered by it, and that's fine. But why should the people who don't care have a precedence over those who are rightly offended and hurt by a negative representation? Or do you really not think they matter?
Again. Any human being in the world can "derp". It's NOT exclusive to mental handicap. To "derp" is to make a stupid face. It often goes with actual photos of freeze frames of people making faces that generally look really stupid. We all make those faces. That is called "derping".
"Ditzy" is the same thing. It refers to a stupid female.
Those people matter if they are hurt, they are more than welcome to feel that way, but do they have to take that away from the multitude of people who don't mind? Do the Christians have a right to remove offensive things from the media? Was it okay for 4kids to recolor a black character as a white guy because they thought it would offend people? No, not really, because it just makes it more offensive when people cover it up like that. If it's not right out TRYING to offend those people, then they need to step back and relax and not get so mad at everyone. That's part of the whole "love and tolerance" deal.
Did that give that one mother offended by Halloween the right to take it away from ALL the children of her child's school in Canada? NO. It did not!
Double edged blade, double standards.
Personally, I am offended by Rainbow Dash's attitude in the most current season because she's been playing off of a stereotype of tomboys. I'm a tomboy, and I don't act like an egotistical self centered naive dumbass all the time, nor do I go "lolol books are for nerds".
Were you offended by Snails, by any chance? With his huge ears and his vacant drooly stare and his right out "Dhaaahhh" sound that he made? Or does this only apply to females?
I just want to understand why people insist on being THIS upset over something that really isn't as bad as they make it out to be.
Dear Princess Celestia
Today I learned that appearances can be deceiving and even a slow seeming pony can be a genius if given the chance to shine.
I'm glad I learned to understand what is meant to hurt me and what is meant to be lighthearted, innocent, and unintended to directly attack people. Just wish other people could learn to do the same, because it's like being mad for the sake of it rather than having a good solid reason.
I'm not changing your opinion, nor am I changing mine.
Your doing it for your friends, but what about the ones that you offend in this manner? Like me and a lot more people out there? Your not helping us. at. all!
I will keep it at that. Read through the rest of my comments to see what I mean.
Besides I have few friends that are mentally handicapped and others that can't speak and I think it's wrong how you guys plan to go to her profile to shove hateful comments down her throat (Just saying) and she didn't deserve that.
<3
And no, the word derp has nothing to do with mental retardiness. I appreciate that your trying to help, but with this your actually creating a counter effect.
Please, don't make such a big issue about Derpy. I never saw her as remotely mentally handicapped (and this is coming from someone who spend 2 years of his life in an institute for being "special", so I can safely say what would classify as a mental handicap).
Just treat me like anyone else, I have friends both in real life and on the net, and I just finished my other education. There is no need to see so much behind Derpy, and derp originated just from someone being clumzy.
Sorry if I sounded harsh against you, but it was people who made remarks/posts quite similar to your own that ruined 4 years of my life and gave me a inferiority complex. Those people at the insitute kept saying how I was "special" and (they litterly said this) "how I couldn't live a life like everyone else".
I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself, and I think that this was just seeing things that aren't there. As for those pictures, I can name 100 times as many as those pictures which show Derpy in a lovable manner and just being clumzy.
So please, as a "mentally handicapped person", if you really care about us then realise that Derpy has nothing to do with a mental handicap, and that we don't WANT you to do this for us. It's awesome that your trying to stick up for your friends, but I don't want anyone defending me or anything, and I think most of the people with a mental handicap feel the same way.
When I was at the institude I had only one desire: to be like anyone else instead of being "special". And after 2 years I finally shrugged off anything that was being said to me by people who "tried to help me", and said "I AM like anyone else, and I'm NOT special".
After that I left it, and did another education, and I finished it 2 weeks ago. I still have a inferiority complex due to people who somehow felt that "they needed to defend me", so sorry if I snapped at you here, but it wasn't ironically Derpy who offended me, but actually your journal here.
Thanks for sticking up for your friends, but please, your doing it really wrong in this manner. I hope that you understand what I"m trying to tell you.
I don't wish to treat you differently from anyone else. I want you to have self-respect and the right to be represented positively, not as a meme that fandom uses to ridicule you. It's wonderful if that doesn't bother you or get under your skin, but you can't just ignore other people who ARE affected and hurt by it. Are you saying they don't matter?
For reasons of privacy I can't talk about why this issue is very personal to me, but there are people very close to me who are hurt by ableism daily, and it's ruined their lives too. It's small things like this that snowball and form societal norms that make bullying and discrimination acceptable. Speaking up is the least I can do.
And if you really want to help people like your friends and me, then DON'T treat us like we're "special"
And speaking of personal, I have not spoken about this subject to anyone else except people very close to me, however I nevertheless wanted to tell you how much comments like yours are actually the ones hurting me and other mentally handicapped people as well.
Yes, if there are bullies then do something against them on the spot, but you can NEVER stop bullying in the manner that your trying to do right now. In fact, all you do is make such people (me included) feel bad about ourselves because we apparently need "special treatment"! Plus you ruin a wonderfull and amazing fanmade character just because you and your friends misinterpreted her in this manner.
Yamino, your an awesome person, but again please try to understand what I"m trying to tell you. Your not helping us in this manner. Worse even, your making things worse!
I'm sorry for your personal experiences, but you're clearly not listening to me. And I'm assuming you didn't read the article I linked, either.
If this is your idea of arguing- completely ignoring everything I say- then I can't continue this conversation.
Your "raising awereness" causes other people to treat us in a different way like they would anyone else, and we DON'T want that! I'm sorry, but I had to fight my way out of that institute after 2 years, so I think I know what I"m talking about.
And I did read the article, but I think it's nonsence. In practice the "awareness" has a counter effect, as I can vow. There are a lot more people with a mental disability who disagree with you then there are those that agree with you, that I can promise you. A lot of fans love Derpy, not because now they can "make fun of handicap people", but because she is like the old style toon clumzy characters, the ones who are clumzy like any other person, regardless of gender/sex/skincolor/sexuality.
And to me it actually seems like your the one who is completely ignoring everything that I"m saying. I may be the one with a "mental handicap", but even I can see that saying "your ignoring everything that I"m saying" just because I disagree with you, shows that apparently you are really close minded on this issue.
I'm sorry about your friends, but you should handle her problems directly on the spot, and "raising awareness" by ruining a lovable character is NOT going to help her! In fact, this awareness will not only not remove the bullying (people will ALWAYS be bullied, regardless of what reasons), it will make other people feel like they should give her "special treatment", but in reality that will mean that they won't see her as a normal person like you and me, and will NOT treat her as a normal person should be treated. Your just making things worse for them. Trust me, I've been there!
I'm sorry to hear that my words seem to go over your head, but at least your heart is in the right place. Please reconsider what I said to you. Aside from that I guess there is nothing more to be said.