tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post4359363695193309298..comments2023-11-16T03:32:43.039-05:00Comments on American Dramedy: "Derp" Is Ableist and Offensive- Stop Using It (at least around me)Gabolicioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08500078525979997275noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-58179891157759895602022-12-25T14:09:22.954-05:002022-12-25T14:09:22.954-05:00I know this article is from 2013 but the issue is ...I know this article is from 2013 but the issue is still as real as ever and in fact possibly worsening and I just felt like commenting. <br /><br />Personally I see “Derpy’s” character as portraying every negative stereotype attributed towards the developmentally or physically disabled, so much so that the various claims that it’s accidental just don’t convince me no matter how hard the fandom tries to sell it. <br /><br />“Derpy” is a mockery of the disabled. <br /><br />When I was in school kids would make fun of kids with glasses, eyes that didn’t track, lazy eyes, kids with learning disabilities, kids with downs syndrome, kids on the spectrum, or if they singled anyone out for just being different, they would label then a “r****ds” or a derp and mock them by addressing them in slow drawn out speech just like Derpy and ask if they were inbred, and tell them that they belonged in an asylum. <br /><br />Personally I think the excuses and defenses are falsehoods the animation co. has dished out in an attempt to mitigate the harm that they’ve done and the fan base has unquestionably swallowed it, or accepts it to try to divert blame and guilt away from themselves. <br /><br />However her most fervent defenders are the nuerodivergent or developmentally disabled. They see “Derpy” as a positive representative of themselves. I don’t understand how they see it as positive, but the do. The character to them is a cute, clumsy, adorable representative of themselves. They love her as she is. <br /><br />I think the real issue is actually a number of different issues that came together as one.<br /><br />First of all lack of representation in the media. There are few, if any characters that represent the disabled, then along comes “Derpy,” slanderous as she is, and she’s an instant icon to identify with. <br /><br />Secondly how deeply any kind of decent society abhors mocking of those who can’t defend themselves. Normal people don’t put up with that, only really scummy people or places do and perpetuate it, like in my own hometown. As time has gone by people have become less and less tolerant of making fun of the disabled, so point is that it isn’t something that is encountered as often in mainstream modern decent culture. You’re probably going to be an older generation individual that has encountered it unlike most Friendship is Magic fans who are usually gen z or not much older. <br /><br />Thirdly the sad inability for some of the disabled to recognize when they are the butt of the joke. <br />I knew or knew of a few kids in school that were autistic/ had Down syndrome, kids would make fun of them, but they didn’t seem to realize that it was malicious, they thought people were laughing with them, not at them. The teachers at our shitty school rarely tried to appear that they cared. Just because the targets of the abuse were okay with it does not mean it was okay. <br />What’s more is I witnessed the same behavior from my own relatives, my dad is autistic and his own brother and sisters would make fun of him for it, mocking his speech, mocking his inability to process certain things, they’re still like this today because they are absolute trash. <br />He thinks it’s just fine, he has trouble recognizing when they, or anyone else are treating him badly, he just goes along with it because it’s all just part of the fun. <br /><br />Once again: Just because the target of the abuse is okay with it doesn’t make it okay. <br /><br />The sad reality is that unfortunatly this stereotype has now more or less been normalized by the fim fandom and the malicious actors who knew it for what it was and promoted it with the intent to mock the disabled, so I guess it’s okay to perpetuate the stereotype that anyone with visiual or cognitive impairment is something to laugh at. <br />JustVibeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237494226293475775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-33759347402895864152019-10-25T18:32:49.612-04:002019-10-25T18:32:49.612-04:00Personally? Because I have cognition issues which ...Personally? Because I have cognition issues which can make word recall very difficult. I used derp to refer to moments when I was "derping out." When I struggled with memory, recall, or other cognition issues I'd use it because I thought it was so much better than using the really offensive words like dumb, retarded, or idiot. It makes me really sad to see that a term that began innocently has been consumed by bigotry. https://www.dictionary.com/e/memes/derp-face/Tenebris Eidolonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625754506782932283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-89716336171538192102019-10-25T18:22:32.425-04:002019-10-25T18:22:32.425-04:00I'm curious though, because Derp was originall...I'm curious though, because Derp was originally used in 1988 and even here https://www.dictionary.com/e/memes/derp-face/ it was not originally intended as an insult against the disabled. It's obviously come to be used that way, which is sickening. Originally it was meant to express confusion, surprise, and shame at having done something really embarrassing or silly. That's how I used it, referring to myself as having "derped out" or being "derpy" or "I'm a derp." I deal with some memory and cognition issues from chronic illness and am disabled. So I very much wanted to avoid ableist terms which everyone has been aware of for decades (idiot, dumb, etc.). So now I feel like a complete jerk for referring to myself as with derp, but also, I used it and meant it as originally intended.Tenebris Eidolonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625754506782932283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-25358293231577493992019-10-25T18:21:07.325-04:002019-10-25T18:21:07.325-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tenebris Eidolonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625754506782932283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-72403787357743231182018-02-14T11:02:51.429-05:002018-02-14T11:02:51.429-05:00Regardless of whether or not a bunch of forty-some...Regardless of whether or not a bunch of forty-something-year-old bronies find the term "derp" funny, I find it inappropriate that they would have a character called that in a show targeted towards little children. I mean, growing up, I saw people with Down's Syndrome as funny or even scary because of the way they were portrayed in the media (if even featured at all), and it wasn't until I actually got to know my best friend's brother with Down's that I realized how blatantly cruel the whole thing was. What's more important, their self-esteem, or our five minutes of laughter before we move onto the next thing? I mean, they might as well have named the pony "tardy" or "mongoloid" or some other derogatory phrase, because regardless of the social media meme consensus, the phrase "derp" was originally a slang term for a disabled person. Not to act like a special snowflake, but it's very offensive. Suppose a child with Down's or autism or Tourette's is shown an episode of My Little Pony, and they see this disabled character portrayed as cross-eyed and ugly and bizarre. What will it do to the way they value themselves as human beings? But of course, this is the age where it's commonplace apparently laugh at and mock 9/11 victims who jumped to their deaths out of the World Trade Center with the ever-popular "that's just plane wrong" meme and the song "It's Raining Men" by the Weathergirls, so this derp thing really doesn't surprise me, unfortunately.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07029756351040956939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-42332516802088972412018-01-29T01:11:46.316-05:002018-01-29T01:11:46.316-05:00Also, like what people said, she wasn't ret-co...Also, like what people said, she wasn't ret-conned with a new voice, her actress thought she was a boy at first until they were re-recorded.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16917182604824210483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-50266225513096494662018-01-29T01:09:33.654-05:002018-01-29T01:09:33.654-05:00Even though I am not disabled myself (although I o...Even though I am not disabled myself (although I obviously do respect those with mental intelligence disorder), I have to agree even if I use the word "derp" myself. I kind of regret saying it anyways as a joke on "lazy eyes" and all that other shit like Derpy's name, so yeah. Though, like Clouds Paint said, it was an animation error at first and some disabled kids like Derpy because they find her relatable too, such as commenter Cutewolfandbunny1 AJ. Though, I never use the word "retard" ever.<br /><br />Also, at anyone who complains at this saying things like "THE WRITER IS A RETARDED SJW GETTING BUTTHURT OVER THE EQUIVALENT OF STUPID!!", kindly be quiet and not comment at this if you don't like what they think. There's a reason why this sentence "If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all" exists.<br /><br />Feel free to call me an insensitive dumbass if you want as long as you don't tell me to kill myself, because threatening people with that makes you look like an asshole, and like I said, ILLEGAL. End of sentence.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16917182604824210483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-50551029832650463862018-01-29T01:03:02.587-05:002018-01-29T01:03:02.587-05:00Excuse me madam, you CAN'T fight fire with fir...Excuse me madam, you CAN'T fight fire with fire. Also, telling someone to commit suicide is actually ILLEGAL.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16917182604824210483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-16330508095916866002017-04-14T21:40:43.188-04:002017-04-14T21:40:43.188-04:00Please kill yourself. Please kill yourself. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11938040755407816374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-1650709227932091592016-12-06T12:38:32.261-05:002016-12-06T12:38:32.261-05:00Actually, I would like them to double down on Derp...Actually, I would like them to double down on Derpy Hooves being mentally disabledAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07566351085427986152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-87993762331046842302016-09-04T16:19:40.772-04:002016-09-04T16:19:40.772-04:00NOBODY ever said its meant to be funny.. also it w...NOBODY ever said its meant to be funny.. also it was an animation error in the first place.. and most disabled children loved her becouse they cpuld relate. Get your facts straightscribblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695687390396481338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-51909768202738716472016-09-04T16:17:44.989-04:002016-09-04T16:17:44.989-04:00NOBODY ever said its meant to be funny.. also it w...NOBODY ever said its meant to be funny.. also it was an animation error in the first place.. and most disabled children loved her becouse they cpuld relate. Get your facts straightscribblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695687390396481338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-41136426320380759182016-03-03T12:43:33.757-05:002016-03-03T12:43:33.757-05:00I loathe the word Derp. Instead of using it as a r...I loathe the word Derp. Instead of using it as a recourse of response y not b more articulate and actually add something important to a conversation? People that incessantly use the word 'derp' devalue the importance of learning and ultimately do not contribute in any positive way to conversation. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835281351197408350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-84577788603596890482015-11-29T09:41:17.249-05:002015-11-29T09:41:17.249-05:00In order to be Derp, you have to embrace your disa...In order to be Derp, you have to embrace your disability. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13032690180521942274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-52316372930206492722015-10-30T06:37:56.592-04:002015-10-30T06:37:56.592-04:00Well, to answer your question, 'If you know it...Well, to answer your question, 'If you know it's used as an insult sometimes, why use it instead of silly or awkward in the first place, well, it's kinda simple. It sounds right!<br />Different words feel different for different people based on experiences that they've had with the words. For some people, if they make a goofy mistake, it wouldn't feel right to describe it as anything but silly, or derpy, or whatever other version of goofy they wish. Does that make sense..? I feel like I didn't quite get my point across.. hm.. <br />If someone says something describing theirself, then they're describing themselves. If someone says 'Well, I just had a derp moment', they're not insulting disabled people, unless they're like, specifically doing it within view of many others and stating it in such a way as to be obvioisly demeaning. I guess I'm just trying to say that words are not expressed by defenition, but by expression (If that's not an awkward sentence, I'm an aardvark.). Words are what we make them to be! English, especially American English, is 3% definition, 90% context and expression, and 2% pie. Because pie is fantastic.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627087421006871151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-4365270275469321962015-10-30T06:21:18.201-04:002015-10-30T06:21:18.201-04:00Yup, the first voice was a mistake on the actress&...Yup, the first voice was a mistake on the actress's part, but honestly? When I first heard it, I almost expected Sally to come up and start scolding Derpy for holding onto a blanket for too long - I heard Derpy's voice as a near-perfect replica of Linus from Peanuts! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627087421006871151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-27780110553370317742015-10-30T06:18:12.358-04:002015-10-30T06:18:12.358-04:00I personally don't have eye problems (20/15 vi...I personally don't have eye problems (20/15 vision here), but I gotta admit - I just can't see nothin' if it's right in front of my nose~ ^-^ Derpy's always been my favorite, even before I became a brony and started watching all the episodes. I got a few mental screws loose, and I keep getting 404: brain not found, but hey, it is awesome! Normal people are boring! Why be normal if you can be nuts? :) Hang in there, and be as wierd as you possibly can be!<br />Wierdtastically yours,<br />~JakeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627087421006871151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-32700767668670958102015-10-30T06:07:35.362-04:002015-10-30T06:07:35.362-04:00Ack, derp. Wrong button. (And no, that wasn't ...Ack, derp. Wrong button. (And no, that wasn't to make a point, I'm typing this on a Kindle Fire and I've got big thumbs XP)<br />Continuing on where I left off. <br />Accidentally wrecking Town Hall because she was happily distracted by a bouncy cloud that happened to be a thundercloud? Been there, done that, got the t-shirt (and then misplaced it). Imagine if a trampoline let out weak lightning every time you bounced. You'd accidentally make a mistake and zap someone/somethin, yeah? I know I would. In fact, I'd likely set my pants on fire by accident xp<br />So, yeah. All in all, Derpy remains the pony closest to my heart. It's fine if you don't like her, everyone's got their own likes n' dislikes. But Istand proudly and announce this: I am proud to be a derpface! And I am ... slightly hungry. I need a snack. Watch out for falling-Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627087421006871151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-79927033467170275862015-10-30T05:56:49.885-04:002015-10-30T05:56:49.885-04:00I'm more or less a brony. I've only starte...I'm more or less a brony. I've only started the show (Almost done with Season 2) but I've seen and heard about a good amount of Derpy's episodes. And, yeah, I called her Derpy. Not 'cuz I'm tryin' to be rude to ya, it's just the name that fits her best. Anyway, if you will, please hear me out, mkay?<br />Derpy, to me, is an awkward, slightly addled, clumsy little pony. That basically describes myself. Except, I'm not a pony. Unfortunately. That would be awesome. But she is an adorable character, honestly one of my favorites, partly because I can relate to her, partly because she's just silly. And that's the essence of the 'derp' - it's not about any disability, it's not making fun of those that have them. Not really. We all have 'derp' moments- little moments in life when we accidentally do something dumb or goofy. Is it making fun of the disabled when we say, "whoops, that's not quite what was supposed to happen. derp!" Nah. It's just an acknowledgement that we goofed up a bit. <br />Now, me, I got a fun mix of Autism, ADHD, and Aspergers. I have these 'derp' moments all the time, but I never equate it with my Triple-A service (my fun little nickname for it). I'm just kind of a derpy guy! :) The 'derp' is sometimes used rudely, sure, but last time I checked... that kind of applies to just about anything you can think of. We live in a society that contains a lot of rude people., and they use whatever terms they want to hurt others. We call these 'bullies', and we don't support them at all. <br />What I'm trying to say is that Derpy, and all us derpy people out here, we're silly. And we know it. And we're cool with it, too. The thing is, it's when other people go out and rage against every being under the sun that says a certain term, no matter the context, it kinda takes all the fun out of it. Believe me, I know. And, also, it bugs me a bit that people assume that it's all unpleasant and rude. It's not. Not really. It's a kids' show, and Derpy, rather than being a blatant, walking slap in the face to disabled people, is a silly little pony that shows kids that it's okay and completely normal if we're a little goofy. If the silly filly is banned, tarred and feathered, well... that looks more like a lesson that being like that is something not to be talked about or nothin'. Derpy is a character that many fans adore because she's cute and silly. We don't think of her as disabled, nor do we put her down for her oddball ways, because she lives in the part of our heart where all the happy, goofy things go. Now, if they put Derpy in a weelchair and have her like drool all over or whatever, then, yeah, that'd be taking it too far. But that's not Derpy. Accidentally wrecking town hall because shAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627087421006871151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-63810888592207196282015-10-17T07:08:13.369-04:002015-10-17T07:08:13.369-04:00I gained a lot of insight to abelism and obviously...I gained a lot of insight to abelism and obviously there are so many parallels I'm linking up in my mind to other oppressed groups. Thanks for writing it all. Also I've been clicking the links to the overthinkingit.com and I've found a new site to lurk on lolkalpichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338809720106970139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-21084428290787770192015-05-30T12:53:33.160-04:002015-05-30T12:53:33.160-04:00I love mlp and I love derpy ( ditzy doo)
even th...I love mlp and I love derpy ( ditzy doo) <br /><br />even though im only 13 I completely understand were your coming from and how she can be offensive.<br />but derpy wasnt just called that for her eyes its the face she made as well.<br /><br />You might say I have no heart for loving this disabled pony but heres why<br /><br />Take it from someone who has derpy eyes like her.<br />my eyes arent always crossed but thy do cross on their own alot.<br /><br />Iv'e been called so many names and it hurts so thats why I love ditzy's character so much.<br /> I have a little 6 inch figure of derpy that came in a 3 pack i got for Christmas and I was so happy. ( I almost cried shes my absolute favorite and my dad knows why I care about her so much)<br /><br />I am now in CA visiting my family and I brought Derpy along for the ride.<br /><br />She has gotten so much love since we got here my cousins made her a little room on a box next to my make shift bed, and we take her to the beach, we give her baths.<br /><br />My cousins are convinced shes alive, so we want her to feel special because she is special, People and yes even ponies like derpy should be happy they don't have to be ashamed because of disabilities.<br /><br />I hate some of the drawings people make of her and the memes people make mocking the mentally ill. I had to read them a few times but then I got it NOT funny especially the last one. <br /><br />RD called her derpy once but they edited it out so no one saw it <br />and in "Winter wrap up" they said "Ditzy Doo" but they never showed her except in the background with different colored manes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01539459311168232820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-67952664908081364922015-04-26T00:43:18.635-04:002015-04-26T00:43:18.635-04:00(Also, Derpy has pretty much the same tone of voic...(Also, Derpy has pretty much the same tone of voice as Rudolph from the classic claymation)<br />(She also has the clumsiness due to the wall-eyed-ness)VampireKetsukihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144993059612351300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-84987024470078825222015-04-25T22:19:54.038-04:002015-04-25T22:19:54.038-04:00I just typed up a huge long post and your blog ate...I just typed up a huge long post and your blog ate it... So I have to retype it...<br /><br />Derpy Hooves was not 'ret-conned' with a new voice. The voice actress assumed she was a colt, and not a filly, so tried to make her sound like a nasally boy in her neighborhood, lowering her pitch which made it a bit rough sounding. When finding she was actually a filly she asked to rerecord the lines for the re-release.<br />She is not disabled (aside from the eyes) she is just a clumsy, klutzy, but smart (a mailmare to go by the fans), and the mother of another background pony who shares her colors, Dinky Hooves.<br />The eyes happened as a graphic glitch and one Brony spotted it. She's since become a 'Where's Waldo' kind of character, trying to spot her in different episodes. Hasbro realizes how many adult fans there are, so they throw us a bone every once in a while, putting in a character that was designed just for the background and giving her a speaking voice.<br />She isn't called Derpy to the young fans, aside from the single time Rainbow Dash says her name. Usually with toys her name is either blank, her cutiemark, or a muffin. Only for the collectible items is she called 'Derpy Hooves' and even then it's rare to see it printed out. It's usually to licensed items and not Hasbro branded ones.<br />Oh and this is a better example of the fans trying to keep her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg-_HeVNYOkVampireKetsukihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144993059612351300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-30980848189151359512015-02-23T15:03:31.814-05:002015-02-23T15:03:31.814-05:00Fantastic post - doubly so because of the well cur...Fantastic post - doubly so because of the well curated comments.<br /><br />One point of curiosity... what do we do with 'derp' in your ideal future? Have we lost this word forever? Can the current definition culturally "expire?" I can imagine an argument where widespread post-expiration derp usage would just be an -even sneakier- perpetuation of the system of oppression.<br /><br />I think heeb provides an interesting example from a different -ism. It doubles as a slur against Jews and the phonetic pronunciation of a large chain of grocery stores (H.E.B.) where I grew up.<br /><br />I was actually shocked to find out (when traveling to other parts of the country) that "I'm going to the heeb to get some apples" could offend someone. I polled some friends that I grew up with - none were aware of the slur, and all reacted with an appropriate amount of responsibility. Given the reactions, I can't see how we were somehow perpetuating a bad system.<br /><br />I can imagine derp being like this some day, but I'm curious whether my "hometown heeb" scenario represents goodness or badness.<br /><br />Heeb is also the name of a Jewish youth magazine. Are they helping or hurting by attempting to take it back?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05216322188048323591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369812192623132391.post-36629985007108418362015-01-29T21:59:02.374-05:002015-01-29T21:59:02.374-05:00Thank you for your thorough response! Very inform...Thank you for your thorough response! Very informative and helpful for my goal to speak with unoffensive language Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10520971786195399276noreply@blogger.com