@Background Pony #85E1  
I can see where it would go over the line if the insult was repeated too often and against the insultee’s wishes. That did happen in Dash’s case, but I don’t think the Wonderbolts knew they were hurting her.

@zerowinger66  
Well, they did really want her on the team.

@Wertyla  
I think the Wonderbolts were actually a little too easy on her - she didn’t look both ways while crossing the runway even though Spitfire had told her about this and why it was important a mere five minutes earlier. And when it results in her nearly getting run down by Soarin’ and the other guy and her crashing, does she own up to her mistake like a mare? No, she accuses them of deliberately trying to buzz her. In any other organization, doing that would instantly put you on their shitlist.

@Background Pony #20FE  
As far as I know, their actions are often those of condescending dicks, but the intent is (usually) not bad. The people there that aren’t completely new know that it generally part of the atmosphere.

@IceKitsune  
Sometimes the line can be hard to draw, even for adults in real life.

I think one of the more subtle lessons this episode taught was figuring out the difference between good natured ribbing and actual bullying. Which is a lesson that a lot of people need to learn quite frankly.

@Brony_Conundrum  
I don’t really like hazing, especially for the sake of being cruel, but Rainbow Dash DID need a serious reality check. She’s too arrogant.

@Background Pony #EA2A  

 
Thank you for describing the Internet in a nutshell.

@Ping_chan  
Never to the point it’s no longer Rainbow Dash.

@Ping_chan  
I’m always curious. Some people call the US Marines condescending dicks, but do they actually mean well or a good chunk of them are really dicks in general?

@Psyga315  
The second two are jerk moves, but they accused Rainbow because she had both motive, ability, and no alibi. They didn’t accuse her for no reason.

As someone who has played sports and did so for a very long time…
 
Come on people, nicknames, this is what teams do, trust me. Learn to laugh at yourselves.

Oh, please. What kind of organisation like the Wonderbolts doesn’t haze the new guy?

Episode in a nutshell! Dash should just found her own team already!

@zerowinger66  
You have a good point. Rainbow Dash DID repeatedly ignore important safety protocols, and look what happened to her. There’s a reason for the rules. You need some serious discipline to be a Wonderbolt without getting yourself killed.

@Wertyla  
Dashie has a pretty big ego.  
But I’m not sure if she will ever be written down as more humble and less of a show off…

@Background Pony #EA2A  
It was certainly better than in Rainbow Falls, when Spitfire and Fleetfoot tried to sabotage Ponyville’s team.

@Meso Echo  
Rainbow Dashes ego would fit in well with the Marines. Especially their pilots.

It did seem abusive at first, until they revealed that EVERYONE had a nickname like that and that they were willing to move on and be friends when it no longer applied. I guess the names are meant to keep their egos in check.

I’d join any group with the subtitle “Legitimately terrible ponies” so I can finally be the terrible person pony I really am inside.

You forgot
 
>will quickly accuse the first person they see  
>will abuse their teammates and betray them to get better teammates  
>will overlook the fact that a recruit nearly killed some people of they aren’t called out for it

@Meso Echo  
You’ve been there? How’s it like?

This episode actually showcased the Wonderbolts pretty positively. They’re a group of tough ponies who don’t let little things get in the way of their work. Nor do they let a pony’s abilities and accomplishments let them get away with mistakes or make them immune to lightheared teasing (they clearly had no idea that they were using the same nicknamed that was given to Dash as a filly). If Dash wanted more sensitivity then she shouldn’t be with a pseudo-military group. And as we see, she is fine with the nickname once she realizes it doesn’t mean the Wonderbolts don’t acknowledge her abilities.
 
People offended by how they treated Dash in this particular episode (obviously in other episodes it may be a different matter) may need to think about if perhaps they are just too easily offended. In many cases what people mean by what they say is just as important as what they actually say after all.

Lol, you think that’s bad?  
Join the USMC.

@FillyFondlerFun  
I would like to see how Rainbow Dash making it through boot camp/basic training.  
But that’s probably similar to what happened when a certain friend of Twilight was messing around with a time travel spell…