As a guy who watches the show and has a My Little Pony coffee cup let me explain why I do it. Have you seen the news? So much violence and negativity in the world, it's extremely depressing. My Little Pony on the other hand is bright and cheerful, helps pick me up after reality beats me down. It's refreshing to see something not about shooting/stabbing/otherwise killing people.Zen Bard said:
What has been your impression of bronies?
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I found them obnoxious. Partially because they seemed to take enormous pride in the fact that they watched a TV show, but also because they spammed MLP stuff everywhere and it got obnoxious. Now? Frankly I don't think about them much anymore because they seem to have either disappeared or gone silent.
I also found it kinda messed up that "brony" eventually became the term for all MLP fans regardless of gender or age. It just felt like they were appropriating the show rather than simply embracing it.
I also found it kinda messed up that "brony" eventually became the term for all MLP fans regardless of gender or age. It just felt like they were appropriating the show rather than simply embracing it.
I watch the show and enjoy it but it's just another show I enjoy. I do not consider myself a brony and most people who know me have no idea I watch it because it doesn't come up(I actively recruit for The Wire, however. WHY HAVEN'T YOU WATCHED IT YET?). Aside from one brony I met in real life, the only ones I've met have been online through my normal course of interaction(mostly on this site).
From what I can tell they're like any other fandom, normal people mostly, with a few crazies and creeps (Clopping...ewwwwwww) who tend to get all the attention because that's what crazies and creeps do.
From what I can tell they're like any other fandom, normal people mostly, with a few crazies and creeps (Clopping...ewwwwwww) who tend to get all the attention because that's what crazies and creeps do.
Most bronies are fine. But the old bronies that would spam MLP stuff everywhere waiting for one person to complain so they could play the martyr and cry about being discriminated against for liking a cartoon causing those loong argument threads everwhere were a little annoying....
But like anything else on the internet. You can just ignore it and keep scrolling through the page.
But like anything else on the internet. You can just ignore it and keep scrolling through the page.
Such as ... ?McElroy said:
But, yeah. We all know what the people in the "mainstream media" show is clearly representative of ALL of the members of any group. Volkswagen is in the news, that must mean ALL German companies are vile, lying, cheating, polluting scumbags. Donald Trump is in the news, that must mean ALL "republicans" are incompetent at business and want to drive the country into bankruptcy (everyone knows that after 5 bankruptcies, the 6th one is free). Kathleen Kane is in the news, that must mean ALL democrats are perjurious that are corrupt and use their prosecutorial offices to attack their political rivals and protect their allies.
Need I go on?
No. I don't sing the show's praises. The show doesn't need me to. It's fully capable of being enjoyable all on its own.
As I already said, I do own teeshirts. I don't own any plushies, nor do I plan on buying any. But, if anyone felt like sending me one...
No. While I appreciate the songs, I don't feel the need to sing along. I don't intend to make others suffer.
No. I don't go out of my way to listen to pony-themed songs, whatever they may be.
Of course I have an opinion on it. And, if you asked nicely, I may share it with you. But, since you haven't, I can only assume that you don't give a toss.
So, it appears that I only rank 2 out of 5 on your list of what makes a Brony. And, you know what? I am still a Brony. Why? Because I self identify as one.
If you think that means anything other than I'm just a fan of the show, then that is just your false assumptions. Like I said, No True Scotsman everywhere.
Oh dear, this is what happens when you forget the inb4.madwarper said:
You're a fan of the show and want to be a brony too - cool. Regardless of that, the brony has been (channeling a bit of TvTropes here) codified by other people, directly by some bronies themselves. I don't mean to tell anybody that they're "not a true Brony", but the other way instead: should they see these mainstream brony stories and relate to them and their mindset, then they are bronies.
The distinction was made multiple times in the stories they ran here in Finland. For example: The 12-year-old kid who wears a pony t-shirt to school and isn't even teased about it; not a brony but an example of the show's popularity (a passing mention, no direct quotes from an interview, no picture). After that there was the longer story about a Pony meet with pictures and interviews - among others a guy who forked up 400? to win a Luna plushie in an auction. Another example is last year's Crystal Fair, where they interviewed some people who had just wandered about the scene, some who had been dragged there, and of course bronies. This was all done in a positive light - the unavoidable comments about horse porn were pushed aside. Stories in English media have been similar.
Still it's easier to just think: a fan of the show = brony, but the arguments will never stop anyway (hurr durr, who is a "real" fan). Just like all the other topical hobby/enthusiast distinctions only this time media perception struck a chord with the fans straight away.
Yeah, that line about Equestria Girls was a joke and I actually wrote that down in the comment first, but then I figured you couldn't possibly... damn. My opinion on it is quite standard: apart from the cuteness overload that's Sonata Dusk, it's a crock of cash-grabbing shit. But y'know, I'm weak, I'll watch Friendship Games just so I can complain about it.
The closest thing to real-life interaction with a brony was me seeing some guy walking down the street in my city with a plushie under his arm and glaring viciously at anyone who dared make eye contact.
Sooooo... that impression wasn't good.
As for online, I have no issue with people who like the show but people who self-identify as bronies, generally I'm not keen on them at all. And I'm not even going to mention all the gross stuff, like wtf.
It is sad that some of them felt the need to try and take over this cartoon for little girls.
Sooooo... that impression wasn't good.
As for online, I have no issue with people who like the show but people who self-identify as bronies, generally I'm not keen on them at all. And I'm not even going to mention all the gross stuff, like wtf.
It is sad that some of them felt the need to try and take over this cartoon for little girls.
I find this to be hilarious. Just imagining it makes me laugh.Phasmal said:
Sometimes I wonder if bronies are even real. Why do all the effeminate nerds of the world suddenly and simultaneously start to worship something so weird and clearly not "for them." It's nearly beyond my comprehension.
I will say one thing though. I don't mind the fact that it's inspired this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAGB11YrSs] video.
Some are a bit weird, but most are probably alright, much like any other fans of whatever. I personally never really got the idea of calling yourself a "Brony" though, or "Whovian" or whatever.
I do kind of have some fond memories of brony on this site though I guess, called "EternalNothing" maybe? Used to enjoy wandering into his threads about how MLP was turning into Dragonball Z or something like that. I don't think I've seen much of them nowadays though...
I do kind of have some fond memories of brony on this site though I guess, called "EternalNothing" maybe? Used to enjoy wandering into his threads about how MLP was turning into Dragonball Z or something like that. I don't think I've seen much of them nowadays though...
It's a pretty good show (from what I've seen); certainly better animated and written than a lot of the crap that's fed to our children to sell toys. Care actually seems to have been taken in its making.
I'm not entirely clear what causes certain men above the age of the target demographic to fixate on it so, but my lack of clarity on the subject doesn't mean that fixation is somehow harmful or wrong. Any group that feels isolated by its interests is likely to seek out fellow travelers on the Internet, these days; this particular one happened to find enough people with those characteristics in common to make a bit of noise on the cultural scene. Much of it as baffled as my own take; some of it regrettably unkind. And, yeah, there are some socially awkward and downright obnoxious folk among "bronys"; I haven't seen evidence that there are proportionally more than there are in any of a hundred other fandoms or interests.
But I will confess the tiny group that has taken MLP:FiM fandom into sexual realms just squick me the hell out. C'mon, guys- don't put your masturbation fodder under terms that are going to be searched by the show's actual target market. Not cool.
I'm not entirely clear what causes certain men above the age of the target demographic to fixate on it so, but my lack of clarity on the subject doesn't mean that fixation is somehow harmful or wrong. Any group that feels isolated by its interests is likely to seek out fellow travelers on the Internet, these days; this particular one happened to find enough people with those characteristics in common to make a bit of noise on the cultural scene. Much of it as baffled as my own take; some of it regrettably unkind. And, yeah, there are some socially awkward and downright obnoxious folk among "bronys"; I haven't seen evidence that there are proportionally more than there are in any of a hundred other fandoms or interests.
But I will confess the tiny group that has taken MLP:FiM fandom into sexual realms just squick me the hell out. C'mon, guys- don't put your masturbation fodder under terms that are going to be searched by the show's actual target market. Not cool.
Maybe he was forced to buy it for someone else and that's why he looked pissed.Phasmal said:
'No seriously, I was holding it for my cousin.'
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Its not that its a show for kids, that doesn't matter, its that its a show targeted at girls. If it was just that it was for kids then people would be much more hostile to transformers.jklinders said:
By that logic though, why aren't you equally a "Brony" for all of the other cartoons that are out there, that are equally bright and cheerful and uplifting? I'm not criticizing your fandom of the show, just pointing out that your stated reason for being a Brony isn't anything unique to that cartoon.Xan Krieger said:
OT: As I've stated before in this thread, the only real specific interaction I had with someone who was a Brony was online, and it wasn't a positive one, but hey, it's the internet. The internet is full of assholes, and I don't hold that against the one person I spoke to on the subject. Having watched several episodes of the show with my god-daughters, I find the show amusing to a degree, and found myself laughing uncontrollably at one particular scene with....PinkyPie I think? The hyperactive goofy one that loves parties. I can never remember their names. I genuinely found one line she said during a halloween episode where she was dressed like a chicken to be hilarious, and was laughing so hard and long that my god-daughter told me to be quiet, as she couldn't hear the show. Beyond that, eh, it's a cute show for kids, nothing more to me. I don't hate it, or love it, or have any strong opinion on people who like it.
I've got better things to do with my time, than to spend it raging at people who take joy from something I don't take joy from. More power to them if they find it uplifting.
That was something I considered, but then I thought `why not put it in a carrier bag?`. I also wondered if it might be some sort of social experiment or if he was trying to cosplay as an internet stereotype.Casual Shinji said:
A friend of mine had a similar experience, but the guy was carrying a different plushie. Which means there is either more than one angry brony in my city or the guy rotates plushies.
I suppose to each their own.
This is possible, I did something similar in my early 20's. I wore nail polish, and lipstick, and had a fairly feminine earring, though to me it just felt Bajoran (it was a stud with an upper ear ridge clamp, and a chain attached to it. Nerd me didn't see anything weird about this as both genders wore this on Deep Space 9). I mostly did it to see how many assumptions people would make about me based on these external fashion choices. It was quite enlightening, so I could see him doing something similar if he was of that kind of a mind.Phasmal said:
BOY do I have some impressions of it! I have this friend who became totally involved with the fandom, he was kind of obsessed with it. I thought it was weird, and I did question him because at first I suspected he was just fooling, but nope it was totally legit. He would talk about it for hours, and he would nag me nearly to death about "joining the herd" even though I clearly said I wasn't interested MULTIPLE times. It got so bad that I refused to talk to him for a while, but eventually we would agree to respect each others tastes (I didn't really think highly of it at the time, and realise I might have come off as a bit hostile). It was probably worse for him though. He loved the show, but because it was clearly targeted at little girls he was very cautious about letting anyone know he was a fan (I actually think he only told me). Whenever he got me to watch an episode with him (I never came to really like the show, but I could see its qualities in the few episodes he skimmed through) and later talk about it, we had to refer to the characters in code names, and he was terrified his dad would find out (I don't know why, his Dad is a really cool dude). It was not to last though. Nowadays he doesn't seem to be very interested in the thing, now he's looking at Vikings and other Middle Age technology. I have no idea why, but for some reason it seems the show just died off these last couple of years, at least for him (it is possible he just grew out of it). I did have some fun though. We saw both of the movies, which are teeeeerrible, but bad in a fun way (for me at least).
Interestingly enough, this sounds a lot like coming out as an LGBT or an atheist to your family/friends. Lots of fear of rejection for something you identify with. Very curious. Not implying anything about your friend, even though if it was an indicator of some other reveal, I don't see any problem with it either, but it is interesting your choice of words to describe it, is very similar to other groups on a basic level.Halla Burrica said:
I'm now picturing him building a longship and decorating it with Viking Pony iconography, like that Pony Born picture of the one shouting Fus Ro Dah, which still makes me giggle every time I see it. I find this image most enjoyable. Let them battle to reach the halls of Ponyhalla!Halla Burrica said:
Haven't met many, but the two people in my game group that are or were bronies were pretty easy going, once you got them through the "defend the fandom" phase.
What I mean by that, really, is that I noticed in both of them a need to defend what they loved about it and why, and to encourage (almost to the point of demanding) people to give the show a chance. I think it stems from being in online communities where it carried a stigma in the early days, honestly.
One person isn't in my game group anymore, because of scheduling, but the other has mellowed right the fuck out about it. For one part, he's become disenfranchised calling himself a brony because of how much he sees in the community of people acting like the show/products should be catered to their tastes (or specifically where they seem to be). The other is he's just mellowed out, because none of us really care as long as you aren't demanding we be bronies too. To top that, another player is a Twilight fan (books not the movies, because apparently that distinction matters), and another is a fursuiter. No one cares unless you try to make disinterested parties participate.
For full disclosure, I did actually give the show a watch; the pilot anyways. I found the animation well done and the characters/stories well written for the age group it's aimed for, but clearly not for me. I kept having issues with things like transparency of moral, thinness of characters, and basic issues of biology and culture. Not points one should be nettled about during a kid's show but, again, it wasn't for me.
The one who is still in my group made the mistake of letting it slip that the blue/rainbow one creeps him out, because of its prevalence in the porn imagery. Whenever we get him a gift, my wife always tries to get him something of that character for a laugh.
What I mean by that, really, is that I noticed in both of them a need to defend what they loved about it and why, and to encourage (almost to the point of demanding) people to give the show a chance. I think it stems from being in online communities where it carried a stigma in the early days, honestly.
One person isn't in my game group anymore, because of scheduling, but the other has mellowed right the fuck out about it. For one part, he's become disenfranchised calling himself a brony because of how much he sees in the community of people acting like the show/products should be catered to their tastes (or specifically where they seem to be). The other is he's just mellowed out, because none of us really care as long as you aren't demanding we be bronies too. To top that, another player is a Twilight fan (books not the movies, because apparently that distinction matters), and another is a fursuiter. No one cares unless you try to make disinterested parties participate.
For full disclosure, I did actually give the show a watch; the pilot anyways. I found the animation well done and the characters/stories well written for the age group it's aimed for, but clearly not for me. I kept having issues with things like transparency of moral, thinness of characters, and basic issues of biology and culture. Not points one should be nettled about during a kid's show but, again, it wasn't for me.
The one who is still in my group made the mistake of letting it slip that the blue/rainbow one creeps him out, because of its prevalence in the porn imagery. Whenever we get him a gift, my wife always tries to get him something of that character for a laugh.