I don't watch the show, but I'm pretty sure most people could say that they're affected by ponies, because people don't shut up about it. Between the constant babbling of 'bronies' and the inconsolable rage of people who hate them, it's almost impossible to have not at least heard about the thing.
I understand that some people like to watch cartoons, and that FiM might even be a REALLY GOOD cartoon, but you don't have to tell EVERYONE about it, it's just a cartoon. People that don't watch cartoons, don't care, and probably never will. I don't understand this whole thing of trying to 'convert' people into watching it, it's stupid, and probably has't happened with ANY other cartoon. I mean nobody's trying to convert me into watching Scooby Doo or the Powerpuff Girls or anything else, why is FiM so special? Because it's for girls? (My Little Pony has, and always will be a franchise aimed at young girls, don't get mad) and it's cool to be a guy and like female-oriented things?
I guess it has affected me more than I thought, because I rarely type massive blocks of text like that, but it's true, FiM watchers are loud about it, and it annoys me.