Bronies feel misunderstood

[Heroine of the Dragon]

Came across this article:

Bronies, men who dig My Little Pony, feel misunderstood

Adults males obsessed with the children’s show say they’re into it for animation, plot, and character development. At Silver Snail comics in Toronto, fans come to buy the latest volume in the series.

Every weekend, a group of men eagerly climb the narrow stairs leading to Silver Snail comics in Toronto, where the latest adventure of cute ponies can be found.

Sometimes, the men are so excited they come dressed as their favourite pony, trotting around the shop before buying the newest volume of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, based on the children’s television show.

The show, produced by Hasbro and originally targeted toward young girls, has many fans, the oddest to outsiders being Bronies, the adult, male fan base that feels misunderstood.

Reaction to their love of the show usually ranges from disbelief to outright criticism and judgment, suspicion even that there’s a sexual nature to their obsession. Not so, they say — they’re just, in one word, nerds.

Stories of inclusion, friendship and tolerance — some traits Bronies wish would be applied to them when people react to their love of My Little Pony by calling it “weird” and “bizarre,” says Horne.

“It’d definitely be nice if people had a more open attitude toward us,” he says.

More here: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/20 ... stood.html



Actually, I like to think that the more general acceptance and tolerance for differences, the nicer this world would probably be...

[Rainbow Dash]

nope nope nope not touching this topic

[CaptHayfever]

My take...
Grown men who enjoy Friendship is Magic: Fans.
Fans: Cool. :)
Grown men who go around dressed as ponies on days that are not Halloween/major release events/conventions/costume parties: Furries.
Furries: Not cool. :-/

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Antisocial]

Hell, apply that to all groups.

Sounds like another classic case of a vocal minority ruining the image of the rest of the fanbase.

There's a cruel irony with being a muted fan of something, as people will only use the most ostentatious fans as a gauge for the entire demographic.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

I don't like Bronies.

[Deepfake]

Yeah, the general practice of playing dress-up just because you felt like it doesn't shock me in the least. Acting like people in general are going to accept that as par for the course is another thing altogether. I mean, people will hate on you for any old reason, and now you're just giving them fodder.

Of course, the idea that "bronies" automatically means guys in cartoon horse costumes is just presumptive anyway. There are, afterall, people who dress up as pokemon, but that doesn't mean we associate their behavior inherently with pokemon fans.

[Wicked Witch of the Crest]

Eh. Hating on them is silly anyway. They're fans. So what? They do as they will.

Also, dressing up as horses don't make you a fan of MLP. Even if being done on Halloween, since you can't assume who bought the costume. I'm a fan of FIM, and I still don't dress up as any of 'em.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

^ They can do as they please, it's still weird and people recognize it. Honestly, I don't care what people do, though since they do not affect me (except online, they are in your face).

[Kil'jaeden]

The guy in the article's picture with the stuffed pony looks just like I guy I know. But I had no idea he was a brony, none of the signs were there.... I also had no idea he was Canadian and changed his name, but if you can hide being a brony you can hide anything.

I first thought bronies were a joke(as in they do not exist). I live in a place where nothing happens, and there are no bronies or conventions. I only vaguely knew about that show they like, because I hardly watch TV anyway, and I do not watch the channel it airs on at all. It came as a surprise that they do exist. I am not sure what draws these guys to My Little Pony of all things. There's entire boards for just bronies, a periphery demographic. I wonder if they are not the majority of the fans now. Seems like they are everywhere. They are even infiltrating this forum, but no one would believe me. I tried watching an episode of it too. It is above what I would think My Little Pony would be (for 6 year old girls). But even then I still do not get why it is that popular.

I do not hate them or anything. People that act like everyone that is a bit different is dangerous annoy me more than any horse costume could. I am surprised that group of bronies did not get thrown out of the theater because some concerned mother thought they might be there to kidnap children. People are concerned about everything because most of them are too dull to realize not to trust anyone at all, especially obviously nice and normal people. If a person seems too normal, I am suspicious. Anyway, everyone knows anime fans, epsecially hardcore ones, are far more dangerous than bronies. I would never associate with anime fans.

[SephirothKirby]

Sports movies are about teamwork, friendship, and overcoming adversity.

My Little Pony: FIM is about teamwork, friendship, and overcoming adversity.

It only seems natural that an adult male fanbase would be drawn towards something that appeals so well to their demographic. It's a very charming piece of fiction and it's a bit weird that only one of the above has a weird stigma attached to it.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

^ Dat logik

[smol Kat]

Show's well written. Nuff said.

[Sim Kid]

My take...
Grown men who enjoy Friendship is Magic: Fans.
Fans: Cool. :)
Grown men who go around dressed as ponies on days that are not Halloween/major release events/conventions/costume parties: Furries.
Furries: Not cool. :-/

You do know not all furries do that, right? There are a number of furries who want nothing to do with My Little Pony, OR wearing costumes. (In fact a lot of them only wear those around Halloween/Major Release events/Conventions/Costume Parties/Organized events for stuff like Charity, etc)


Though do you guys want to know what I find interesting about this Brony thing? The same thing I find weird about other fandoms like Science Fiction, Fantasy, Anime&Manga, Video games, etc.

How come these guys are seen as the deviant outcasts from society, yet they've never derailed a train or rioted in the stadium when something didn't go their way? I know there are videos of people LARPing accompanied by comments of "Wow what freaks", but when have LARPers ever lit buildings on fire? I know there are weird people in every fanbase, but why do we exclusively single out these guys, yet happily give Sports fans a free pass for engaging in similar monomaniac behaviours everyone laughs at other fandoms for?

[Kil'jaeden]

Because sports fans are a fan of something normal. Even if they do set some trucks on fire or 50 people get trampled, it is not the fault of the sport. This same privilege does not apply to other things. Just look at how video games, something pretty mainstream, still consistently get blamed for things. Sports are normal because society says they are. Most people have no real opinion of their own, they only believe what they are told to believe, and do what they see most other people doing. They have to assume that people that do not fit "normal" must be radically different as people. They aren't just different in that they have a hobby, they are a different kind of human. That usually means dangerous.

Also, sports are very masculine, because they come as close to competitive killing without killing someone. Colorful ponies are not. It would be kind of hard to comprehend that men would like colorful ponies, it must mean they are computer nerds, and therefore lesser men. Or they may want to kidnap children, or be repressed homosexuals. There always has to be some motive. If I said sports fans are as close to Cro-Magnon man as we can get presently, what sort of reaction would I get? Or that they are repressed homosexuals, because just look at all those men getting sweaty and in tight clothes, or few clothes at all. But no, only minorities are acceptable targets.

[X-3]

Sports have been around for countless years, the MLP adult men actually care about has existed for less than 5 years. Plus there's the whole "one bad apple spoil the bunch" thing, which new trends are very susceptible to.

[Deepfake]

If I said sports fans are as close to Cro-Magnon man as we can get presently, what sort of reaction would I get? Or that they are repressed homosexuals, because just look at all those men getting sweaty and in tight clothes, or few clothes at all.

I say that **** all the time. It's hilarious.

[Sim Kid]

Because sports fans are a fan of something normal. Even if they do set some trucks on fire or 50 people get trampled, it is not the fault of the sport. This same privilege does not apply to other things. Just look at how video games, something pretty mainstream, still consistently get blamed for things. Sports are normal because society says they are. Most people have no real opinion of their own, they only believe what they are told to believe, and do what they see most other people doing. They have to assume that people that do not fit "normal" must be radically different as people. They aren't just different in that they have a hobby, they are a different kind of human. That usually means dangerous..

But no, only minorities are acceptable targets.

You hit it right on the head. You are indeed right that very few people have a real opinion and believe what they're told to. (This is part of why people react so hirribly to swear words - they're told to be offended.) This kind of behaviour really needs to stop. (Also why gender stereotypes need to die in a fire.)

[The Missing Link]

I would guess that the primary reason there is a stigma attached is due to the fact that there is a name that is attached to the group beyond "fans of X." "Fans of X" seems like a neutral term where the first thing conjured is someone wholly reasonable. Having a more eccentric term for the same group I would argue tends to conjure a much harsher mental picture.

[smol Kat]

^It also likely doesn't help that the term originated within 4chan, which ALSO has a negative (not always warranted, mind you) stigma...

[Sim Kid]

I would guess that the primary reason there is a stigma attached is due to the fact that there is a name that is attached to the group beyond "fans of X." "Fans of X" seems like a neutral term where the first thing conjured is someone wholly reasonable. Having a more eccentric term for the same group I would argue tends to conjure a much harsher mental picture.

You mean like Trekkies or Trekkers?