satisfy the human characters’ urges on the most superficial level
the chosen solution for human desires came across as somewhat shallow and superficial
I don’t see it. Satisfying every human’s values (even with the specifications “through friendship and ponies”) strikes me as about as deep as it can get. Some humans are more shallow than others, and wouldn’t find satisfaction in something deep unless their personalities were forcibly modified.
I misspoke in the first comment and was trying to correct myself. It wasn’t really shallow, but it feels shallow the way its described, and that adds to the impression that the story doesn’t end happily from the reader’s perspective.
I think it’s just the author trying to appear ” neutral” and not an out and out enthusiastic supporter of the idea. Notice that the misgivings we may feel about stuff in the story are purely emotional, and, faced with Celestia, we can’t even argue for them properly.
Imagine if the Borgs or the T’au had been like her, instead of being the strawmen we were faced with?
I don’t see it. Satisfying every human’s values (even with the specifications “through friendship and ponies”) strikes me as about as deep as it can get. Some humans are more shallow than others, and wouldn’t find satisfaction in something deep unless their personalities were forcibly modified.
I misspoke in the first comment and was trying to correct myself. It wasn’t really shallow, but it feels shallow the way its described, and that adds to the impression that the story doesn’t end happily from the reader’s perspective.
I think it’s just the author trying to appear ” neutral” and not an out and out enthusiastic supporter of the idea. Notice that the misgivings we may feel about stuff in the story are purely emotional, and, faced with Celestia, we can’t even argue for them properly.
Imagine if the Borgs or the T’au had been like her, instead of being the strawmen we were faced with?