Stupid Bronies and Stupid Anti-Bronies

[jonny5]

I have no problem with bronies or what TV shows they choose to watch, but I will admit that the second I see a grown man in a pony t-shirt I immediately think less of them. Something just seems off/creepy about the whole thing to me. To each their own and all that, but seriously.

[Strikers1945guy]

I have no problem with bronies or what TV shows they choose to watch, but I will admit that the second I see a grown man in a pony t-shirt I immediately think less of them. Something just seems off/creepy about the whole thing to me. To each their own and all that, but seriously.

Don't ever watch a YouTube video from a MLP fan club meet up. Not a single adult male under 18 that attends these things.

[jonny5]

I actually saw a grown man my age(mid 30's) on the subway the other day wearing a pony t-shirt and... a fucking fun-fur tail.

Do these people seriously not have any kind of awareness of how they come across to other people? Do they just not care? I'm all for being yourself and expressing yourself...actually no, I don't think I am in this situation.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

I actually saw a grown man my age(mid 30's) on the subway the other day wearing a pony t-shirt and... a fucking fun-fur tail.

Do these people seriously not have any kind of awareness of how they come across to other people? Do they just not care? I'm all for being yourself and expressing yourself...actually no, I don't think I am in this situation.

I've only ever met one other brony in real life - and it was at your house.

[jonny5]

I actually saw a grown man my age(mid 30's) on the subway the other day wearing a pony t-shirt and... a fucking fun-fur tail.

Do these people seriously not have any kind of awareness of how they come across to other people? Do they just not care? I'm all for being yourself and expressing yourself...actually no, I don't think I am in this situation.

I've only ever met one other brony in real life - and it was at your house.

I honestly mean no offence to those of you who enjoy the show. I just question those who go a little overboard with the whole thing, like being into the show is a defining thing and they REALLY want those around them to know they are into it.

[The Coop]

Edmond Dantes- Kids are a germ magnet, aren't they? Too bad when they get home, their magnets switch polarities and shoot all those germs onto everyone else.

Regarding MLP:FIM, as I said in my previous post, I simply don't agree with any of the assertions you're making about the show. I'm as cynical and distrustful as the next guy these days, but I don't see the messages you do, or the corrupting force you believe MLP:FIM to be putting out. We're obviously looking at the show through very different perspectives, and my putting up another long post countering everything you brought up with my own thoughts (which would really just be an expanded repeating of what I've already said) won't change that. You don't like the show, I do, and there's not much more to add now that we've assaulted each other with walls of text. So... yeah, I guess that's about it on the subject

[Specineff]

I have no problem with bronies or what TV shows they choose to watch, but I will admit that the second I see a grown man in a pony t-shirt I immediately think less of them. Something just seems off/creepy about the whole thing to me. To each their own and all that, but seriously.

As much as fan of the show and the fan-made works as I am, I'll have to agree. Leave that for the cons or at home; garments featuring Haruhi or Rainbow Dash in the street aren't a fashion statement if you're over 20.

[Skykid]

I have no problem with bronies or what TV shows they choose to watch, but I will admit that the second I see a grown man in a pony t-shirt I immediately think less of them. Something just seems off/creepy about the whole thing to me. To each their own and all that, but seriously.

As much as fan of the show and the fan-made works as I am, I'll have to agree. Leave that for the cons or at home; garments featuring Haruhi or Rainbow Dash in the street aren't a fashion statement if you're over 20.

But it is a statement period. That's the point: demonstrating to people that you are part of a social phenomenon and that you're happy you have some kinship and exclusivity that other people don't "get".

This is a recurring theme with all recent fandom. It was clear the moment I hit London's MCM Anime expo that the material (Anime) is absolutely secondary - maybe even third - to the importance of belonging that most of the attendees would otherwise struggle to attain.

These fads all have this common theme. Even third wave feminism is about belonging and social comfort. The actual rhetoric is utter nonsense, but they will promote it with all their worth to ensure they don't lose that hard won pocket of acceptance.

[Strider77]

Things are so weird now... I'm mean like it's weird for even weird stuff. Maybe I'm just getting old though.

[Squire Grooktook]

No, I'm young and I think things are pretty weird too.

[jonny5]

I have no problem with bronies or what TV shows they choose to watch, but I will admit that the second I see a grown man in a pony t-shirt I immediately think less of them. Something just seems off/creepy about the whole thing to me. To each their own and all that, but seriously.

As much as fan of the show and the fan-made works as I am, I'll have to agree. Leave that for the cons or at home; garments featuring Haruhi or Rainbow Dash in the street aren't a fashion statement if you're over 20.

But it is a statement period. That's the point: demonstrating to people that you are part of a social phenomenon and that you're happy you have some kinship and exclusivity that other people don't "get".

This is a recurring theme with all recent fandom. It was clear the moment I hit London's MCM Anime expo that the material (Anime) is absolutely secondary - maybe even third - to the importance of belonging that most of the attendees would otherwise struggle to attain.

These fads all have this common theme. Even third wave feminism is about belonging and social comfort. The actual rhetoric is utter nonsense, but they will promote it with all their worth to ensure they don't lose that hard won pocket of acceptance.

No, I get that. It's just the fact that the statement is 'I'm really really into this show aimed at 5 year old girls'. Casual observer's response, ' hmmmm... That's a bit weird'. 'No, really there are so many moral lessons and feel good vibes'. 'Riiiiiight.'

I can understand wanting to belong to something, but there has to be something a little more age appropriate to direct their energy into that doesn't immediately give people creepy pedo vibes

[Xyga]

I can understand wanting to belong to something, but there has to be something a little more age appropriate to direct their energy into that doesn't immediately give people creepy pedo vibes

Aren't some of these people into some kind of soft BDSM ? (like furries)
In this case it's really an adult thing (of questionable taste okay but).

The really creepy ones in my eyes are those who aren't into sexual play and actually feel a thing for that shit, for real, even more than actual children would.
Bronies or Touhou otakus trippin' dressing as ponies and little girls -> disturbing.
Ridiculous costumed bdsm ? -> not so much.

[The Coop]

I can understand wanting to belong to something, but there has to be something a little more age appropriate to direct their energy into that doesn't immediately give people creepy pedo vibes

I think what you just said is part of the problem these days, jonny5. It's become far too casual an act to look at something as simple as someone's shirt, and then make judgments about what kind of person they are, their character, their worth and their morals. This might be a bit of hyperbole on my part, but linking someone wearing an MLP t-shirt to pedophilia, is like saying anyone who has a beer in their hand is a drunk driving alcoholic. It's a logical leap to the worst case scenario that Fox News would be proud of.

Now, I know you're not outright calling anyone a pedo or a worthless loser, jonny5. And I'm not insinuating that you are. But when those are the immediate kinds of vibes you get just because of the ink on the shirt they're wearing that day, it still mirrors that kind of unfair leap. Keep in mind, I'm not saying all Bronies are priceless saints, but they're not all worthless sinners either. A t-shirt shouldn't be what leads someone to think the latter or the former.

I mean hell, based on our beloved genre of video games here, people would liken us to grossly overweight, Mountain Dew-swilling, ADHD-riddled, OCD-afflicted, hyperactive, no-life having spazouts if they did that kind of thing to us


Edit: Typo

[jonny5]

The pedo vibe comment may have been slightly exaggerated, but still, you know what I mean. A grown man being into something aimed at 5 year old girls is bound to raise some eyebrows. I am mostly referring to dudes walking around with all kinds of pony gear on.

Don't get me wrong, you are more than entitled to be into whatever you want, so long as it doesn't directly harm others. At the same time you cannot fault others for drawing conclusions about you based on your appearance and things you identify yourself with. Let's be real here, being THAT into this show as a grown man is pretty weird - it is not us, the casual observers, that's weird for questioning that fandom. You can be as weird as you want, but you can't blame people for looking at you funny because of it.

If I see a stranger on the street, likely the only thing I know about them is what I can draw from their appearance. If this person is a grown man wearing a my little pony backpack, well I've automatically drawn a conclusion about this person, right or wrong. While I accept your right to present yourself as you want, I reserve the right to judge you based on it when it is my only point of reference. I'd give the same look to somebody walking around with a fuck pillow, or wearing BDSM leather gear.

Just because you are into something doesn't mean the rest of the world must accept it as normal. If I went out tomorrow wearing a bedazzled BRATZ tshirt or something, I would expect to get some looks and be judged by those around me. It's no different for the bronies out there. Suck it up.

[Strikers1945guy]

I'm all for being yourself and if you want to wear a pony tail and rainbow dash ears in public go for it sure. Just don't be upset when people stare. More often than not it just seems like an attention seeking attempt. Same as teenagers and their horrendous haircuts or people wearing their pants around their ankles.

Wearing the pony gear at MLP events makes perfect sense I mean you are there along with everyone else of similar interest. Feeling like you need to make sure you've got your furry tail on when you go to get groceries just so everyone sees you like a show aimed at 5 year old girls seems like more of a "look at me" statement than anything else.

[jonny5]

I'm all for being yourself and if you want to wear a pony tail and rainbow dash ears in public go for it sure. Just don't be upset when people stare. More often than not it just seems like an attention seeking attempt. Same as teenagers and their horrendous haircuts or people wearing their pants around their ankles.

Wearing the pony gear at MLP events makes perfect sense I mean you are there along with everyone else of similar interest. Feeling like you need to make sure you've got your furry tail on when you go to get groceries just so everyone sees you like a show aimed at 5 year old girls seems like more of a "look at me" statement than anything else.

Exactly!

[Edmond Dantes]

Edmond Dantes- Kids are a germ magnet, aren't they? Too bad when they get home, their magnets switch polarities and shoot all those germs onto everyone else.

Indeed. It's like, they're fun to be around when you can try to introduce them to, say, Dungeons & Dragons.... and despite clearly saying "your magic wand shoots lightning" they insist on using it to fly or make bubbles or all these other things you never said it could do and they're the kind of kid who will just keep going on by herself if you stop playing but because she has an uncle fixation she gets upset if I leave (indeed she even latched onto my arm once and her mom had to pull her off of me) so you wind up with this weird campaign where she magically cleaned up the whole world so the only adventure you can come up with is Filthy Joe being mad that you cleaned his room....

Ahem....

Admittedly, all of MLP's issues may be more incompetent/thoughtless/rushed writing than anything else, mixed with me being the kind of guy whose mind never shuts up. That and honestly a part of me wonders how a thing like MLP even works with a "Canon" next to it anyway. Like I said before it seems to me like the best route is to not even seriously try and just do it as a sort of joke/gag-strip-in-animation series (again like Lucky Star). That's probably my biggest disconnect... the show can't seem to decide if it wants to be a serious fantasy epic a la Lord of the Rings or a bunch of cartoony antics a la Looney Tunes, so it tries to have its cake and eat it too. Again though this is something I could say for a lot of cartoons, even some of the holy Eighties ones (in fact, some of my problems with MLP distinctly remind me of problems I had with Disney's Chip n' Dale's Rescue Rangers, which according to ED also has a whack fanbase around it).

Meh, at least the ponies are cute to look at though. Just have them being cute and I'm sure that would satisfy most people. I mean that's why we watch shows like "The Planet's Funniest Animals."