My Little Pony has gone mainstream...?

[Vicarious Reality]

What is this thread about?
Commenting on the popularity of a popular show?

 

[XX55XX]

Tbh, if I saw an adult male wearing one of these I would instantly begin to think low of him. They might be a great guy but the whole thought of a grown male wearing a shirt aimed at young girls is kind of repulsive :| Just my 2 cents let's not get to lynching me aye

I'm with ya, buddy. I find it completely weird, since I used to watch and play with My Little Ponies when I was a little girl. I really can't get to grips with this fad and honestly, the constant threads and the fact that it keeps popping up in other threads too is starting to irk me. It's cool though, this is the only place it seems to pop up, other forums I visit have a no MLP policy and it's not really a thing in the UK so I can put up with it.

It originally began as a sort of hipster fad, but the meme has disappeared as a community/fandom has sprouted around it. I was once quite critical of the fad myself (as I dismiss most Internet fads out of hand), until I gave the show a watch. It's quite good, but people can be overly obsessive about it at times (as evidenced on the fanblogs, fan forums, and such).

Granted, if you are not a huge cartoon/animation fan, you are not likely to enjoy this. I watched a lot of quality cartoons from the 1990s, and MLP: FiM just reminded me of those glory days, so I warmed up to it.

 

[Aidinthel]

What is this thread about?
Commenting on the popularity of a popular show?

More like commenting on the OP's realization of how popular it was, but yeah, pretty much.

 

[Dystopia]

I'm with ya, buddy. I find it completely weird, since I used to watch and play with My Little Ponies when I was a little girl. I really can't get to grips with this fad and honestly, the constant threads and the fact that it keeps popping up in other threads too is starting to irk me. It's cool though, this is the only place it seems to pop up, other forums I visit have a no MLP policy and it's not really a thing in the UK so I can put up with it.

It originally began as a sort of hipster fad, but the meme has disappeared as a community/fandom has sprouted around it. I was once quite critical of the fad myself (as I dismiss most Internet fads out of hand), until I gave the show a watch. It's quite good, but people can be overly obsessive about it at times (as evidenced on the fanblogs, fan forums, and such).

Granted, if you are not a huge cartoon/animation fan, you are not likely to enjoy this. I watched a lot of quality cartoons from the 1990s, and MLP: FiM just reminded me of those glory days, so I warmed up to it.

Absolutely. I don't think people would have so much of a problem with it if it weren't for those few obsessed types who do constantly bring it up. It's the same with every fandom. Personally I won't be watching it (unless my 3 year old niece makes me :/). I want to keep hold of my childhood MLP memories!

 

[Thaius]

I've noticed them and really want some. It would be more than a little awesome. My personal favorite I've seen (not sure if it's at Hot Topic) is the one with Fluttershy saying "Your face!" and what looks like water at the neckline. I laughed.

Alternatively, I'd like one that incorporates "20% cooler" in some way.

The other day I saw someone at my college with a shirt that had Sweetie Belle on it and said, "Dumb fabric!" It made my day.

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

Honestly, Bronies are pretty much your standard subculture. Not popular enough to be considered "normal", but popular enough for companies to capitalize on the demographic. Idk if it's "mainstream" or not; it depends on your definition.

I got a shirt there and I wear it on the weekends if I hang with my brony friends. Still won't wear it at school unless my rep goes through the toilet and/or I stop giving a fuck.

 

[XX55XX]

Absolutely. I don't think people would have so much of a problem with it if it weren't for those few obsessed types who do constantly bring it up. It's the same with every fandom. Personally I won't be watching it (unless my 3 year old niece makes me :/). I want to keep hold of my childhood MLP memories!

I don't blame you. Having been to quite a few in-person MLP fan meetups, there are quite a few people out there who are obsessive about the show, almost to a fault. It's as if their enthusiasm is being fueled by the enthusiastic and overbearing nature of the fandom itself, not the show's content.

The meme is mostly dead now. Thank goodness. I'm glad it has reinvigorated my interest in cartoons, but the presence of the meme was becoming somewhat grating. It was annoying to go on a message board where "serious discussions" presumably take place, only to see a bandwagon fan harp all over it like it's the second coming of Jesus Christ on the off-topic forum.

MLP: FiM is great, but it's not the best cartoon out there. That accolade, my friends, belongs to Invader Zim (which has a huge cult following but has never been part of an Internet meme).

 

[Thaius]

Tbh, if I saw an adult male wearing one of these I would instantly begin to think low of him. They might be a great guy but the whole thought of a grown male wearing a shirt aimed at young girls is kind of repulsive :| Just my 2 cents let's not get to lynching me aye

No lynching, but would you mind perhaps explaining this perspective to me? I get not liking the show; like anything else, not everyone is going to feel the same way about it. But repulsive? I've never seen fandoms outside of the target audience repulsive; heck, my all-time favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'm far from the only one my age to think so. And though I've seen a lot of people react with surprise or even ridicule, no one has ever been disgusted by the fact that I love a children's show so much. And yet, because this is more specifically a young girl's show, one created with the specific intent of creating quality programming for that audience in a world where little exists, it's actually repulsive? You're far from the only one to think so, and I do not mean to attack you for it, but this just makes absolutely no sense to me. Any way you could explain why you feel that way?

 

[PunkRex]

Trixie: "Your ponies are so mainstream"

Come on though guy, what do you expect. Are you asking if MLP is popular enough for others to exploit in order to make money? Eeeyup.

You should check out Welovefine. They use fan art so have quite a few and there all fairly awesome.

 

[PunkRex]

Huh, I guess the Brony thing is even more popular than I thought. Or Hot Topic just makes merchandise out of everything, I wouldn't really know, I'm not sure if that store even exists in England.

Anyway, if the fandom really is becoming more manestream* I consider that a good a thing. Contrary to what some people seem to believe, most of us are not hipsters. If we were I'm sure this would all have ended a long, long time ago.

[sub]*I'm so sorry. Also I can't believe no-one did that yet...[/sub]

This is funny coincidering your avatars Trixie and all the fanart of her ive seen lately has been Hipster Trixie.

I live in London and im fairly sure theres one or two Hot Topics darted here and there. BUT you should check out Welovefine onlines selection, its quite abit better. They has Trixie... if I remember correctly.

 

[PunkRex]

Absolutely. I don't think people would have so much of a problem with it if it weren't for those few obsessed types who do constantly bring it up. It's the same with every fandom. Personally I won't be watching it (unless my 3 year old niece makes me :/). I want to keep hold of my childhood MLP memories!

I don't blame you. Having been to quite a few in-person MLP fan meetups, there are quite a few people out there who are obsessive about the show, almost to a fault. It's as if their enthusiasm is being fueled by the enthusiastic and overbearing nature of the fandom itself, not the show's content.

The meme is mostly dead now. Thank goodness. I'm glad it has reinvigorated my interest in cartoons, but the presence of the meme was becoming somewhat grating. It was annoying to go on a message board where "serious discussions" presumably take place, only to see a bandwagon fan harp all over it like it's the second coming of Jesus Christ on the off-topic forum.

MLP: FiM is great, but it's not the best cartoon out there. That accolade, my friends, belongs to Invader Zim (which has a huge cult following but has never been part of an Internet meme).

I luuurve poonies.

Also, you might like this pic I drew'd. http://mohawkrex.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d42ank7

 

[Aidinthel]

You seem to think the brony crowd is mainly hipsters, but I don't think so.. I think the brony crowd is mostly just nerd-ster people; your standard anime, videogame, all-round internet culture people.

That's what I keep trying to tell people, but it never seems to stick. I suppose I can't really blame them; the whole "MLP actually being good" thing did kinda come out of left field.

 

[Sleepy Sol]

I did see 2 Rainbow Dash shirts in my local Hot Topic.

...My dad said he would disown me if I bought either of them.
Good thing I'm not really a brony at all.

 

[Aidinthel]

...My dad said he would disown me if I bought either of them.

...seriously? I mean, he was joking, right? I'm going to assume he was joking.

 

[SAMAS]

Wait, when was MLP ever NOT mainstream?

 

[Sleepy Sol]

...My dad said he would disown me if I bought either of them.

...seriously? I mean, he was joking, right? I'm going to assume he was joking.

I'm pretty sure he was joking, but I can't be sure unless I actually buy one of the shirts.

 

[Aidinthel]

Wait, when was MLP ever NOT mainstream?

Well, it seems to me the OP means that FiM's older fanbase is now more mainstream. Of course the franchise as a whole has been pretty mainstream among young girls since it's inception.

New page, new user group link
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/MLP-Friendship-is-Magic
I recommend anyone who joins turn chat notifications off when given the option as the group is very active.

 

[Jellly]

Tbh, if I saw an adult male wearing one of these I would instantly begin to think low of him. They might be a great guy but the whole thought of a grown male wearing a shirt aimed at young girls is kind of repulsive :| Just my 2 cents let's not get to lynching me aye

No lynching, but would you mind perhaps explaining this perspective to me? I get not liking the show; like anything else, not everyone is going to feel the same way about it. But repulsive? I've never seen fandoms outside of the target audience repulsive; heck, my all-time favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'm far from the only one my age to think so. And though I've seen a lot of people react with surprise or even ridicule, no one has ever been disgusted by the fact that I love a children's show so much. And yet, because this is more specifically a young girl's show, one created with the specific intent of creating quality programming for that audience in a world where little exists, it's actually repulsive? You're far from the only one to think so, and I do not mean to attack you for it, but this just makes absolutely no sense to me. Any way you could explain why you feel that way?

Oh it's not a logical thought at all. If I think it through I realise I should not feel this way but instinctively my brain conjures up images of overweight 30-40 year olds fapping over ponies. :| I'm hardly saying that MLP watchers are like that at all, it's just what my initial instinctive thought of them is. Hard to say why, I'm guessing stereotypes and whatnot are to blame. Again, not saying people that watch the show are like that.

 

[Dtox333]

Tbh, if I saw an adult male wearing one of these I would instantly begin to think low of him. They might be a great guy but the whole thought of a grown male wearing a shirt aimed at young girls is kind of repulsive :| Just my 2 cents let's not get to lynching me aye

No lynching, but would you mind perhaps explaining this perspective to me? I get not liking the show; like anything else, not everyone is going to feel the same way about it. But repulsive? I've never seen fandoms outside of the target audience repulsive; heck, my all-time favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'm far from the only one my age to think so. And though I've seen a lot of people react with surprise or even ridicule, no one has ever been disgusted by the fact that I love a children's show so much. And yet, because this is more specifically a young girl's show, one created with the specific intent of creating quality programming for that audience in a world where little exists, it's actually repulsive? You're far from the only one to think so, and I do not mean to attack you for it, but this just makes absolutely no sense to me. Any way you could explain why you feel that way?

Oh it's not a logical thought at all. If I think it through I realise I should not feel this way but instinctively my brain conjures up images of overweight 30-40 year olds fapping over ponies. :| I'm hardly saying that MLP watchers are like that at all, it's just what my initial instinctive thought of them is. Hard to say why, I'm guessing stereotypes and whatnot are to blame. Again, not saying people that watch the show are like that.

Ah that is a much better, more understandable explanation.

I pretty much had the same initial thought when i started seeing all of the pony stuff around the web (Deviantart avatars, TF2 sprays, and other things), i thought it was a bunch of children or autistic people getting into a fad of some sort or something. It was especially confusing and concerning when i learned that there were people of a much older age into the show.

But then i checked the show out....and fell in love with it lol.

 

[CODE-D]

Its a shirt at Hot Topic, hardly means mainstream.