@Zebasiz  
-w-  
*notices the swastika*  
OwO what is this
 
…I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist

@Andandampersand  
When did I ever claim to have good ideas? =P
 
 
More on-topic: I like Air Raid’s hair~
 
Though I feel his wings look kinda small~

@Zebasiz  
I find aryanne humorous/enjoyable. but I doubt itd be a good idea to make her featured,..

@Zebasiz  
I confirm that he does.
 
^{_{And it’s totally not me that dared him to, nope.}}

@40kponyguy  
@Andandampersand  
You may think it’s not serious, but I DO have an Aryanne pic up for voting~
 
 
_{^{Totally not because I was dared to do so by another mod, no totally not that.}}

@Gemspark  
is a joke ya see,

@Gemspark  
Who cares? They already make stories like that, I also doubt they pay attention to the pony websites. Besides if it’s Fox News we have nothing to worry about.

@Gemspark  
Somehow I don’t think that comment was serious.
 
Aryenne is a cute character, but it’s what she stands for that’ll make featuring her a bad idea.
 
Unless, of course, the staff here want drama in the comments.

@Gemspark  
Aryanne is a cute tho.

@toxicitzi  
Coming at this as someone who’s only seen a couple of pictures of aryanne and having no idea of the OC’s intent, would it not be fuel for the fire of pony haters to see a swastika-laden character in the featured slot of a popular site for bronies?
 
“Next up on Fox News, ‘Is Jimmy the Basement Brony a Hitler Supporter?’ Find out at six.”
 
Ain’t saying it’s a bad idea, I’m just curious what it’d lead to. I can already predict users here complaining, let alone outsiders.

@toxicitzi  
I guess then the site will get 20% nationalisticooler :V  
…alright, alright, just kidding
 
 
@Not_A_Brony  
You’ve got a similar problem?
 
…btw, just realized that this kind of problems seems to have at least some link with borderline personality disorder. Ewwww…

@toxicitzi
 

@toxicitzi  
This should be good

@toxicitzi  
hahaha XD

@Nittany Discord  
people shouldn’t worry too much, because, next on our list to feature is, oc:aryanne

@Background Pony #63C8  
Air Raid is a oc of Fallout equestria

@Andandampersand  
I disagree. Maid outfits are iconic, but they have some variety.
 
Take it from a guy that is obsessed with maid outfits.
 
@Background Pony #1E05  
Our agenda was this.
 
Mod: “I want to suggest this crossdressing image. It’s cute, well-made, and I want to give cute feminine stallions a shot at the featured image.”
 
Staff: “Sounds good. Put it up for vote suggestion.”
 
Staff votes for featured image.
 
Crossdressing pony wins.
 
Mod: “Nice. I hope everyone enjoys this.”
 
That’s it. No PC agenda. No arm-twisting from anyone. No bias. It competed with every other image in a fair way and won because the staff liked it.
 
Just because we feature something progressive or liberal doesn’t mean we’re buying into PC culture or SJW culture. It means that we’re treating this equally. We could very well vote in a religious image one day because it’s good and we feel it needs a feature. Does we mean we’re suddenly pushing a conservative agenda? Hell no, but we’re likely going to get accused of it.
 
It’s funny when people who complain and get banned cite freedom of speech as their defense. We’re practicing freedom of speech and freedom of expression by allowing anything within the rules an equal chance at this spot. Censoring images that may upset people on any side out of fear of retaliation violates freedom of speech and freedom of expression. People need to realize when they say “I don’t like this, please stop featuring this,” they are encroaching on the freedoms and rights of others. People have the freedom to not like an image of a stallion wearing a maid outfit, but people do not have the freedom to stop others from enjoying it because they don’t like it.

@Andandampersand  
Then substitute “specific”

@Ciaran  
“distinct” outfit? I agree with the cute part but french maid outfits are pretty generic

@BarryFromMars  
In the end it all comes down to that final question: “would it stop you?”

@toxicitzi @Ciaran @Tofu  
All fair enough, and it’s true that there’s plenty of personality here. Maybe it’s that personality that contributed to my impression of things: the coquettish, sort of bashful look that elevated a French maid dress from simple cross-dressing into something that’s ostensibly more fetishy. From there, maybe it became a “dare you enter my magical realm” feature in my head.
 
Not that it matters either way. Friendship is pretty darn magical, after all.
 
Anyway, I guess that nagging feeling has been assuaged a little bit. Thanks.

@Background Pony #1E05  
I can assure you I’m not friends with any of the mod staff. I don’t even know any of them.

@LightningBolt  
Yeah, I don’t doubt that. Although most of those either fit the other things I mentioned, or were timed to certain occasions (Derpy Day, Trixie’s return, etc).
 
The number of comments on that Flashlight image, though. Haha, oh wow.

@Ciaran  

 

@Background Pony #1E05  
The “agenda” is images that the staff like and that we don’t feel got enough attention when it was first posted. And there’s nothing personal about it - these are chosen though staff votes. So, if there is some sort of bias, its one that a majority of the staff share.
 
Which in this case is; “Oh! What a nice image. Sure - let’s feature that one”.
 
And I feel like this image is a great example of the kind of characterization that really makes the show work - Sure, it’s a single figure with no background (as many of the featured images are) but you can get a fairly complete mental image of how this character will interact with others just from this initial pose. Pensive, yet eager, shy, but also bold in their own way. And the outfit is very distinctive and cute.
 
Without any kind of written character bio, you could take this from a show bible and put the character straight into a scene and begin using them. I could easily see this image pinned up next to a storyboard, 100% ready for use; we just need a voice actor.
 
So, your vibe antenna may be misaligned. No one person “made” this the featured image. And speaking as someone who voted for it, I didn’t know this was an OC.
 
@toxicitzi  
Yeaaaah … a couple people have actually tried to make “images to be featured” …
 
That’s not a good way to get featured.
 
For me, I just start at the back of the pile and click forward until something catches my eye. Especially if it has less than a dozen upvotes, and really seems beautiful to me.