Bronies Get the Cracked Treatment

[Berithil]

If anything should disgust anyone here it's how one-sided and close-minded a lot of people not only here but all across the internet have become as far as this reactions unexpected demographic go. If anything, I feel that Bronies are 100x more masculine than any stereotypical jock or meat-head out there because at least the Brony is comfortable enough with his masculinity to say that he enjoys watching a show originally intended for little girls. And it seems that there are plenty of other people out there who can stand to learn a thing or two from the show's morals.

I agree 100%. Bronies don't feel like the show is threatening their masculinity. And yes, the show does have some overused morals, but they're overused because they're important. There is nothing childish about the lessons and morals the show teaches.

Man, this thread makes me want to change my avatar to a pony one.

 

[Walter44]

(rather than, for example, a Pony winning a flying competition by breaking the sound barrier and creating a rainbow-colored sonic boom)

Forgive me for targeting one specific line, but what?

What? There is an episode where one of the ponies, Rainbow Dash, partakes in the "Best Young Fliers Competition" and wins, because she rescued another pony by accelerating to Mach 5 (or something. There's a Brony who calculated it afterwards for a Physics presentation) and thereby creating the so-called "Sonic Rainboom". Which is a Sonic Boom colored like a rainbow.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Why can't we be content to just laugh at these 'Bronies' until they go away? They'll eventually realize what they've been doing and stop out of embarrassment. Then discover sex or something.
No need to encourage this fad by fostering debate. Basically, trolls are not to be fed.

Umm, when has liking something someone else doesn't been considered trolling? I don't understand. You know what? Nevermind. Like you said, don't feed the trolls.

Please refer to my other posts. I only used 'd on't feed the trolls' as an analogy. What I was getting at is that not responding to a harmless problem will often diminish its visibility. I'm content to laugh and feel fortunate without spreading any hate.

Now, the issue I have with this is that you think we are a problem. We have done nothing wrong and there is nothing wrong with what we are doing. We are in no sense of the word a problem.

I don't think you're a problem. You guys make me laugh and feel good about myself. Other people seem to think you're a problem, and they're not handling this perceived problem very constructively.

So when you said that ignoring a problem would cause it to go away, you weren't referring to us at all and those words only found themselves in your post by crazy random happenstance?

Perhaps I didn't make this clear enough. I was talking about their opinion, which holds that Bronies are a problem.
If I, for example, developed a distaste for polka-dot carpet, it would be unwise of me to rally against it. It's not a major problem, and being vocal in its opposition would most likely lead to more exposure to it.
Again, nothing against you people. You bring humour into my drab existence.

You completely failed to make it clear that this was not actually your opinion. What you originally said was:

Why can't we be content to just laugh at these 'Bronies' until they go away? They'll eventually realize what they've been doing and stop out of embarrassment. Then discover sex or something.
No need to encourage this fad by fostering debate. Basically, trolls are not to be fed.

In that post, you said what we do is embarrassing, belittled it by calling it a fad and implied we were trolls. You appear to be terribly, terribly bad at getting across your point if you were trying to show that other people over-react to it.

Yeah, I'm not the most articulate of people.

Some points still stand, though.
I can see this whole Pony thing being very embarrassing in hindsight [much like my emo phase, for example]. And its sudden and unexpected rise in popularity gives it decidedly fad-like characteristics. They're just personal opinions, though, and are not to be taken to heart.

Apologies if the troll thing came across as an insult. Personally, I'd admire the whole Brony movement a lot more if it turned out to be a feat of mass trolling. That would be absolutely hilarious.

 

[Walter44]

And its sudden and unexpected rise in popularity gives it decidedly fad-like characteristics. They're just personal opinions, though, and are not to be taken to heart.

Again, I accept your opinions, but I don't understand how you can talk about a "sudden rise in popularity" if it's already going on for almost a year. Admittedly, the biggest rush of Bronies came this summer, but I've been one since April and even back then, there were already things like ponychan, Equestria Daily, ponibooru and RDNetwork (it's Twitter for Bronies, basically). I just don't get how people can still think is something completely new. The second season has already begun!

 

[Redingold]

Why can't we be content to just laugh at these 'Bronies' until they go away? They'll eventually realize what they've been doing and stop out of embarrassment. Then discover sex or something.
No need to encourage this fad by fostering debate. Basically, trolls are not to be fed.

Umm, when has liking something someone else doesn't been considered trolling? I don't understand. You know what? Nevermind. Like you said, don't feed the trolls.

Please refer to my other posts. I only used 'd on't feed the trolls' as an analogy. What I was getting at is that not responding to a harmless problem will often diminish its visibility. I'm content to laugh and feel fortunate without spreading any hate.

Now, the issue I have with this is that you think we are a problem. We have done nothing wrong and there is nothing wrong with what we are doing. We are in no sense of the word a problem.

I don't think you're a problem. You guys make me laugh and feel good about myself. Other people seem to think you're a problem, and they're not handling this perceived problem very constructively.

So when you said that ignoring a problem would cause it to go away, you weren't referring to us at all and those words only found themselves in your post by crazy random happenstance?

Perhaps I didn't make this clear enough. I was talking about their opinion, which holds that Bronies are a problem.
If I, for example, developed a distaste for polka-dot carpet, it would be unwise of me to rally against it. It's not a major problem, and being vocal in its opposition would most likely lead to more exposure to it.
Again, nothing against you people. You bring humour into my drab existence.

You completely failed to make it clear that this was not actually your opinion. What you originally said was:

Why can't we be content to just laugh at these 'Bronies' until they go away? They'll eventually realize what they've been doing and stop out of embarrassment. Then discover sex or something.
No need to encourage this fad by fostering debate. Basically, trolls are not to be fed.

In that post, you said what we do is embarrassing, belittled it by calling it a fad and implied we were trolls. You appear to be terribly, terribly bad at getting across your point if you were trying to show that other people over-react to it.

Yeah, I'm not the most articulate of people.

Some points still stand, though.
I can see this whole Pony thing being very embarrassing in hindsight [much like my emo phase, for example]. And its sudden and unexpected rise in popularity gives it decidedly fad-like characteristics. They're just personal opinions, though, and are not to be taken to heart.

Apologies if the troll thing came across as an insult. Personally, I'd admire the whole Brony movement a lot more if it turned out to be a feat of mass trolling. That would be absolutely hilarious.

While I can see that some might find this whole thing a tad embarrassing, I could never say the same. I guess that is quite subjective, though.

Now, to me, the word fad implies that people only like MLP because it's popular, and I find this to be insulting, because it suggests we are incapable of evaluating something on its own merits, and instead merely flock to it like sheep.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

As a Brony myself, I approve of the rather gentle nudging from Cracked. I've seen worse things said about Bronies.


Also, you can have Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash all the way.

Twas funny. And I'll keep on Team Fluttershy, thank you. Because she can stare down a cockatrice.

And I'm with the great John Funk. Rarity all the way, bitches.

Spoiler: Spider-Man is with us too.

 

[Snoozer]

Pretty calm threat so far - good job so far Escapist (some exeption posts proof the rule?)

The article was ok, I mean you must be ok with people making fun of you at times. Also was it not just a stupid hate rant like you see it at times.

 

[Thyunda]

(rather than, for example, a Pony winning a flying competition by breaking the sound barrier and creating a rainbow-colored sonic boom)

Forgive me for targeting one specific line, but what?

What? There is an episode where one of the ponies, Rainbow Dash, partakes in the "Best Young Fliers Competition" and wins, because she rescued another pony by accelerating to Mach 5 (or something. There's a Brony who calculated it afterwards for a Physics presentation) and thereby creating the so-called "Sonic Rainboom". Which is a Sonic Boom colored like a rainbow.

Can I retract my comment about it being drivel and substitute it with a bemused expression and a half-uttered exclamation of puzzlement?

 

[chowderface]

I do think that the anti-pony crowd is being a little harsh. Some of the statements made are a little irrational and over the top. That said, I don't think all of the "brony" crowd reacts all that maturely to criticism, either.

My honest opinion, I think the pony craze is more than a little silly. You know what else is silly? My spending hours of my free time trying to get 100% in Saints Row 3. Or searching the wasteland in Fallout NV for an armor that doesn't make my character look funny. Or my compulsive collecting and rewatching of sitcoms people forgot about years ago. Or the fact that I have the scripts of certain movies entirely memorized, down to the blocking.

Everyone has some hobby or fad that is a little unusual when compared to the majority of the population. And when taken in the larger perspective, yeah, it's kinda silly. What separates that hobby from an obsession is when you can admit that. If you can't laugh along with the world at what you're doing, then either you're taking your hobby too seriously or yourself too seriously.

If you can't admit that your adult fanhood of a television show aimed at young children aged 5-10 is, at the very least, a little odd, then maybe you need to step back and think it over a little.

To quote Winston Rowntree, I've never seen a normal person and I have no idea what one looks like, and I don't think anyone else has either.

What? There is an episode where one of the ponies, Rainbow Dash, partakes in the "Best Young Fliers Competition" and wins, because she rescued another pony by accelerating to Mach 5 (or something. There's a Brony who calculated it afterwards for a Physics presentation) and thereby creating the so-called "Sonic Rainboom". Which is a Sonic Boom colored like a rainbow.

Can I retract my comment about it being drivel and substitute it with a bemused expression and a half-uttered exclamation of puzzlement?

Oh yeah, I saw that. If his math is right, Rainbow Dash was pulling something like 1670 Gs. Like to see one of your fancy Michael Bay Transformers do that.

 

[Ninjasander]

(rather than, for example, a Pony winning a flying competition by breaking the sound barrier and creating a rainbow-colored sonic boom)

Forgive me for targeting one specific line, but what?

What? There is an episode where one of the ponies, Rainbow Dash, partakes in the "Best Young Fliers Competition" and wins, because she rescued another pony by accelerating to Mach 5 (or something. There's a Brony who calculated it afterwards for a Physics presentation) and thereby creating the so-called "Sonic Rainboom". Which is a Sonic Boom colored like a rainbow.

Can I retract my comment about it being drivel and substitute it with a bemused expression and a half-uttered exclamation of puzzlement?

You will find this video very informative of what has just been said.

 

[hittite]

Can I retract my comment about it being drivel and substitute it with a bemused expression and a half-uttered exclamation of puzzlement?

Be my guest. Pretty much everyone has that response at least once to the show. For me, it was the episode where Pinkie Pie went (more) insane.

[http://gifsoup.com/view/2421105/pinkie-pie-gone-insane.html]
But that's mostly because by that point I knew about... a certain fanfic that shall go unnamed.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

It was missed due to the simple fact that so many of you do use that horrifying destruction of the English language. Whimsy i have no problem with, but you people are a scourge upon the world and you intolerable behaviour has cause many unnecessary modwraths to be inflicted on innocent individuals fed up of your nonsense.

oh and before you think of replying (or anyone to quote me in anger)

This is my offical response to all of you.

<youtube=LoXfiSU_wqE>

You are a very angry individual. I think you need a hug and muffins.

I'll point out that the "innocent individuals" you mentioned could easily have simply not said anything, or worded what they did say in such a way as not to get in trouble for it.

Also, "horrifying destrution of the Enlish language"? You are clearly new to the internet if you think that that's bad. It's simply a jargon shared by people who like the same show and generally only really use it amongst themselves.

Maybe instead of using all of your energy raging at people for speaking about something you don't like, you could use it to go to places, you know, not discussing it? This thread is a prime example. You came here with the full knowledge (at least I hope you did) that you would get into a discussion just like the one we're having.

Instead of being mature, you're being offensive to those people who, really, haven't done anything to you. You came here, knowing it would start trouble, essentially making you the same as those you hate. Or rather, how you perceive those you hate. I'm sure some of them just do it for shits and giggles, but most of us don't freak out about it, or go out of our way to cause people trouble.

That being said, I hope that this wraps this discussion up, and good day to you.

 

[Outcast107]

snip

I think someone just needs a hug.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Bronies is a fandom I too, cannot stand. It's not that they like the show. I don't care less about what people like. It's how they go about justifying plastering it everywhere, like they're some bizarre kind of colourful horse-based revolutionaries. Look at us, we don't fit in with male gender stereotypes! We're rewriting the definition of manly!

Ugh. Every freakin' time. Look. It's a girl's show. If you want to watch it, go ahead and watch it. I'm not going to complain. However. Those avatars. Those gifs. You don't have them because you like them, you have them because they're My Little Pony. I personally don't like my avatar. I chose it because I had nothing else to choose from. I'd change it, but it's kind of associated with my name now, and I'd rather not confuse people. But I like Armoured Core. Kind of. I enjoyed the second game. Okay, back on track.

You don't like the show. You've become the show. While I think Trekkies take it a little bit too far sometimes, and I don't get their jokes, I can understand why you'd get into a franchise as big as that. THAT, at least, is the target audience. You guys are getting off over a story about FRIENDSHIP. I'm not sure how hard I have to hit these nails for you to understand. They are happy little horses who are struggling to understand friendship. This is morality for kids. You should not be entertained by this drivel. Good God.

Much of my thoughts on this, here. Most of the phenomenon is because it's a fad, people just going through the motions because that's the cool thing to do right now. I'd be fascinated to see how people of these guys actually watched this on their own, with absolutely zero influence whatsoever from anyone else, and actually, genuinely enjoyed it. I bet I could count them on my fingers.

I might need an extra hand to count the ones that watched it because it's a fad, but genuinely enjoyed it afterward.

The hive mind is an interesting but disturbing thing. People can convince themselves of almost anything as long as it's socially acceptable to a large enough group somewhere. The ferocious need to fit in, for solidarity, to feel like part of a greater whole seems to override all sense in most people. And when told something to the effect of "Uh, don't you think you guys are being a little ridiculous?", rather than ask themselves "Wait, am I?", they instead spew some automated response in an attempt to gain cred with their peers.

It's just amazing how this is the form it so often takes.

 

[Melon Hunter]

Bronies is a fandom I too, cannot stand. It's not that they like the show. I don't care less about what people like. It's how they go about justifying plastering it everywhere, like they're some bizarre kind of colourful horse-based revolutionaries. Look at us, we don't fit in with male gender stereotypes! We're rewriting the definition of manly!

Ugh. Every freakin' time. Look. It's a girl's show. If you want to watch it, go ahead and watch it. I'm not going to complain. However. Those avatars. Those gifs. You don't have them because you like them, you have them because they're My Little Pony. I personally don't like my avatar. I chose it because I had nothing else to choose from. I'd change it, but it's kind of associated with my name now, and I'd rather not confuse people. But I like Armoured Core. Kind of. I enjoyed the second game. Okay, back on track.

You don't like the show. You've become the show. While I think Trekkies take it a little bit too far sometimes, and I don't get their jokes, I can understand why you'd get into a franchise as big as that. THAT, at least, is the target audience. You guys are getting off over a story about FRIENDSHIP. I'm not sure how hard I have to hit these nails for you to understand. They are happy little horses who are struggling to understand friendship. This is morality for kids. You should not be entertained by this drivel. Good God.

Much of my thoughts on this, here. Most of the phenomenon is because it's a fad, people just going through the motions because that's the cool thing to do right now. I'd be fascinated to see how people of these guys actually watched this on their own, with absolutely zero influence whatsoever from anyone else, and actually, genuinely enjoyed it. I bet I could count them on my fingers.

I might need an extra hand to count the ones that watched it because it's a fad, but genuinely enjoyed it afterward.

The hive mind is an interesting but disturbing thing. People can convince themselves of almost anything as long as it's socially acceptable to a large enough group somewhere. The ferocious need to fit in, for solidarity, to feel like part of a greater whole seems to override all sense in most people. And when told something to the effect of "Uh, don't you think you guys are being a little ridiculous?", rather than ask themselves "Wait, am I?", they instead spew some automated response in an attempt to gain cred with their peers.

It's just amazing how this is the form it so often takes.

That bolded part will apply to pretty much any form of media ever. When was the last time you picked up a book, game or film, or watched a TV program without any form of encouragement or endorsement beforehand? I know I can't remember, and I get through a lot of media. I know this will mean nothing to you, but the vast majority of fans genuinely enjoy the show, and don't simply watch it because it's the 'cool' thing to do. You can keep repeating "It's just a fad" to yourself, but that isn't going to change anything.

 

[Paladin Anderson]

I've watched some ponies. I don't see the attraction. But I find bronies pretty entertaining and completely harmless.

Sad thing is, no matter who you are, where you're from, what do you, or how you look, people ARE going to hate you and criticize you. Then there are those who will be bitterly disgusted at your entire existence.

They have nothing better to do and that's pathetic.

The first step of maturity is overcoming those who want to push you down to lift themselves up. Letting them get to you only means they win.

 

[TheHorribleSmell]

"Much of my thoughts on this, here. Most of the phenomenon is because it's a fad, people just going through the motions because that's the cool thing to do right now. I'd be fascinated to see how people of these guys actually watched this on their own, with absolutely zero influence whatsoever from anyone else, and actually, genuinely enjoyed it. I bet I could count them on my fingers."


That's both accurate and completely wrong. There's a lot more than a handful of people who enjoy the show because it's good (which, seriously, it is. That's why this whole thing started in the first damn place), but the amount of people who use it in EVERYTHING just because it gives them a sense of community is arguably bigger. I watched the show myself only knowing a fraction of how big it was, and enjoyed it immensely. I thought it was damn odd that I liked it so much at first, and only found out later that I was FAR from alone. I'm a brony because the show is good, no other reason. It just helps that other actual bronies are probably the nicest, most talented and overall best community on the internet right now.

Fad bronies, on the other hand, are one of the worst. We dislike them almost as much as you do, yet we still get lumped up with them because vocal minorities within a larger group will always get more attention than their quieter counterparts.

 

[hittite]

*snip*

I started watching because a lot of people on the internet said it was good.
I didn't find most of the rest of the fanbase until almost a month after I started watching.
I kept watching because it makes me happy. Simple as that.

 

[Eomega123]

I liked the article. They did some research, and they didn't jump on the OMGPONIZGAAAAAYYY boat that some people have taken. Though they did use the G1 image. We bronies (or at least 99% of us) do not like G1. We tolerate it, however. G3.5 on the other hand needs to burn in a fire (don't google it unless you have brain bleech handy).

And for people talking about bronies invading forums, I haven't seen a single pony comment anywhere it wasn't applicable for the past several months, and I go on this site pretty much daily.

 

[Melon Hunter]

snip

Two words: Vocal Minority. Everyone hates the people who spammed pony GIFs and reaction images for no good reason. Also, I'm intrigued by your announcement that you believe you're responsible for stopping our 'plague' (nice emotive choice of word there, by the way) spreading even more on these forums, along with a choice selection of other users. Do you have an organised club going, or is it on an ad hoc basis? I'm genuinely interested, as it seems there are a dozen or so users who have a united anti-brony front on the Escapist, and a couple of them have mentioned they actually go out of their way to post on pony threads before.