My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

[Blackbird]

Perhaps the reason MLP grew a fandom so readily is because the re-design of the show made it much more like a traditional fantasy setting? Fantasy and science fiction stories (let's call it science fantasy) have historically been very prone to developing fan communities, and I think a good part of that is the exploration element. Fantasy settings are easy to project oneself into, because they provide a small number of facts about the setting, just enough to engender interest, and then leave the audience wondering about what else is possible in the setting. They have fairly relaxed boundaries, and essentially encourage the audience to explore their imagination. There is a desire to explore and expand on the boundaries of the story; what is canon and isn't. A story with very strict, rigid rules about the universe that are more or less factual, like nonfiction, is less inviting to invention and fandom. Not to say that it doesn't exist; historical reenactment as one example.

[Skykid]

Yes, and Edward Bernays appropriation of Freuds theories into commercial ventures. I have to say though, if the creators of MLP formulated and implemented an innate, unconscious lifestyle appeal to a large demographic of twenty-something men with intent, it's the most staggeringly well concealed example of the process I've ever witnessed.

I know people who do this for a living, and have a Ph.D. in Psychology. Roughly, they help designers, marketing advisors, etc., within companies on how to create products that cater the typical unconscious desires of certain demographics.

You may become scared to know more about this.

I read all about it, and yes, it's horrifying - but also liberating when you begin to see the transparency of marketing, since adverts stop working almost completely when you identify their core components.
What's amazing is that people are duped because they want to be, because it's become a therapy to spend all your money on things you don't need, and pledge your allegiance to brands that care nothing for you.

Century of the Self is a great starting point, and the psychology of unconscious desires is further explored in Adam Curtis' other documentaries.

I have to admit though, Costa Coffee have got me by the balls.

[njiska]

Ah Spadgy, why you lyin' son!

I don't see Bronyism as a mental health issue, just a state of mind. It's the same as goths who cut their arms and actively wallow in sorrow and pain: the connection to a community through music is more important than the music itself. The trend is itself is a form of acceptance: the material is completely irrelevant. Any youtube brony meet video is consistent in the absolute with the exaggerated caricature present in the above animation. Like the weeaboo, life and behaviour is fashioned around the collective community and the liberating freedom - or shielding - it presents from persecution. I refuse to accept that MLP - the material, the show - is the root cause for the fandom. I've watched it and examined it and it's a show for little girls: nothing highbrow. It's just manipulated by defenders into something of higher quality because it's a bubble for their insecurities they don't want people to burst.

Skykid, just because you don't understand something, doesn't mean there isn't something there and just because you refuse to accept something, doesn't mean it isn't true. If that was how the world worked than the Creationists would be right. I watch My Little Pony because I like the writing, I like the characters and yes, I even like the flash animation. Actually I really like the flash animation, especially when used for beautiful shots like this: http://youtu.be/eVt9tFj3HA4. That's pretty much it. I do like and actively participate in the Brony community, but no more so than I participate in the Video Game community, the shmup community, or hell, even the golf community. Actually, probably far less. It's not something I turn to for validation, I don't fashion myself around whatever the community expects and as for freedom or shielding from persecution, I've never been more persecuted than I have been since I started to enjoy the show. This thread is a fine example of that. Your theory doesn't hold water. Maybe it would if MLP was all I did, but that's just not the case.

As far as insecurities go, I think you need to take some time for personal reflection. The fact that you flat out refuse to accept that the show even could be the root cause for the fandom shows that you're not willing to explore the idea and take an objective look at it. You're only interested in maintaining your world view and that shows just how insecure you are in your own beliefs. If you were secure than you'd be saying you don't understand and you'd look to validate your view, not just "refuse to accept".

The biggest lesson I've learned since I started watching this show is just how big a folly it is to try and judge something on first look and prejudices alone. Prior to June of last year I didn't know what bronies were or why men would be interested in My Little Pony. I probably would have never known, were it not for the subject coming up here on shmups forum. After that I was willing to give the show a watch and was immediately taken in by the bright colourful art-style and the characters. I fell in love with the show around the 6th or 7th episode and never looked back. I didn't even discover the brony community until nearly two months after i had finished watching the first season. So how can you say that the show isn't what's important? And I'm not speaking for the community, I'm speaking for me, the single brony on shmups forum that is actively engaging you in conversation. Are you really going to tell me that I'm socially maladjusted, crying for help and that being part of the community is more important to me than just liking a TV show?

[Specineff]

Holy smokes. I visited the forum before I started work today, and two pages were spawned in less than eight hours. Sorry for not having much to contribute (may be seen as adding fuel to the fire), but wow. Just. Wow.

[Randorama]

What's amazing is that people are duped because they want to be, because it's become a therapy to spend all your money on things you don't need, and pledge your allegiance to brands that care nothing for you.

Human beings need to pledge allegiances, as they have an unconscious drive to place themselves in a social network: not facebook, the old-school ones such as parties, fan groups, etc. The more friends we have, the less we risk to die lonely and forgotten.

So, the big companies tap on this drive to feed us with garbage: buy [X] to feel part of the community, and so on. Of course, buying [X] and belonging to group [X] will not give us any of the benefits of belonging to a group such as, say, charity networks, because they don't actually give a toss of you.

That companies don't really care, is something we usually figure out when we are in need, not before, because we like to ignore negative factors. We are really this dumb, by default.

It is quite a precise science.

And I'm not speaking for the community, I'm speaking for me, the single brony on shmups forum that is actively engaging you in conversation.

I don't think you qualify as a brony. Unless I am missing something, a "brony" is a fan who spends 99% of the time obsessing over the derivatives of the show, and 1% appreciating the actual show. You seem to miss said 99%, from what you say.

Besides, you ARE a misfit. We called the Men In Black to zip you out of reality, so you learn to go around and say perverse things such as zero being a natural number, dammit! :deepthroat sound:

[neorichieb1971]

How many misfits has this thread spawned now?

I got a big pony, no need to worry about the little ones..

[Skykid]

That companies don't really care, is something we usually figure out when we are in need, not before, because we like to ignore negative factors. We are really this dumb, by default.

Oh absolutely.

...I find it quite difficult to summon conversation when we're on the same side of the argument, lol, but yes, people are slaves to marketing willingly, until someone comes along to repossess their home and suddenly that $800 handbag they bought doesn't look so pretty any more.

especially when used for beautiful shots like this: http://youtu.be/eVt9tFj3HA4

No offence intended, but comments like this pander to my theory. Really, what's so special about this? Nothing that I can see. If they did the same shot in an episode of X-Men no-one would care.

As far as insecurities go, I think you need to take some time for personal reflection. The fact that you flat out refuse to accept that the show even could be the root cause for the fandom shows that you're not willing to explore the idea and take an objective look at it.

Ok, since you seem intent on pushing this: everyone has insecurities. I do, you do, your friends do, your parents do, etc etc. People are fragile and naturally dissatisfied with many aspects of their lives (another Freudian observation), it's just that the manifestation of insecurities and their wealth differs from one person to the next. Hence Bronyism in some people, violent rage in others, and so on.

You keep suggesting I take an 'objective' look at the show, which I have. There's really nothing special about it. I would expect, based on its content and delivery that little girls would appreciate it. Grown men not so much, hence I put forward a theory for Bronyism that seems to have been taken on board at least in part by the folks over the last few pages.

I honestly see Bronyism the same as Weeabooism: both communities of frustrated individuals finding freedom of expression through each other, the material itself posing a vessel. I don't believe that Bronies and Weeaboos are inherently aware of this however, and therefore some blame is relinquished.

To that end:

a "brony" is a fan who spends 99% of the time obsessing over the derivatives of the show, and 1% appreciating the actual show.

[njiska]

especially when used for beautiful shots like this: http://youtu.be/eVt9tFj3HA4

No offence intended, but comments like this pander to my theory. Really, what's so special about this? Nothing that I can see. If they did the same shot in an episode of X-Men no-one would care.

I'm not saying anything is "special" about that shot. I'm just saying it's beautifully put together. That was not an argument in defence of MLP, but that flash animation can look nice, be appealing and is not automatically garbage.

As far as insecurities go, I think you need to take some time for personal reflection. The fact that you flat out refuse to accept that the show even could be the root cause for the fandom shows that you're not willing to explore the idea and take an objective look at it.

Ok, since you seem intent on pushing this: everyone has insecurities. I do, you do, your friends do, your parents do, etc etc. People are fragile and naturally dissatisfied with many aspects of their lives (another Freudian observation), it's just that the manifestation of insecurities and their wealth differs from one person to the next. Hence Bronyism in some people, violent rage in others, and so on.

You keep suggesting I take an 'objective' look at the show, which I have. There's really nothing special about it. I would expect, based on its content and delivery that little girls would appreciate it. Grown men not so much, hence I put forward a theory for Bronyism that seems to have been taken on board at least in part by the folks over the last few pages.

I honestly see Bronyism the same as Weeabooism: both communities of frustrated individuals finding freedom of expression through each other, the material itself posing a vessel. I don't believe that Bronies and Weeaboos are inherently aware of this however, and therefore some blame is relinquished.

Skykid, here is the problem and here is why I am intent on arguing this point with you. Regardless of what your personal definition of a brony is, I am someone who identifies himself as being one. When you try to say that bronies are insecure and frustrated like goths and weeaboos that is pretty god damn insulting to me and most likely to Specineff and DrunkNinja24 as well. Same as last week when Elixir tried to claim that bronies were similar to the KKK, which was completely out of line.

And I'm not saying take an objective look at the show. I'm saying take an objective look at the fandom. Everyone has their own tastes and if you don't get why someone like me likes the show, then you don't get it. End of story. It doesn't mean that I have "problems" and it doesn't mean that I must also not get anything out of the show and must only get something from the community. You seem to flatly refuse to look at the fandom as a whole and see the people who are a part of it aside from the saddest examples of humanity. The plain fact is that the brony community at large consideres anyone who is a fan of the show to be a brony. You don't have to participate beyond that. Most bronies are people like me. We watch the show and we like some of the fan works. Just like I love shmups, but also love fan works, which in this case could include knockoff doujins, remix music, art work like desktop backgrounds. Most bronies are pretty god damn normal people. Yes there are weirdos and people looking for acceptance, but those sad souls are present in any fandom. I know for a fact there are shmup fans who depend on their score to justify their self-worth.

a "brony" is a fan who spends 99% of the time obsessing over the derivatives of the show, and 1% appreciating the actual show.

I don't know anyone in the community who would define a brony as being that and taking that broad definition is what has caused the problem here. That's like saying you're not a trekkie unless you only care about the community, not the show and we know that's just no true.

[Skykid]

Ok, here is my definition of a brony. This is what my theory is based upon. If this isn't you, then you are not part of the theory and it doesn't apply to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8E2zElH79s

[njiska]

Ok, here is my definition of a brony. This is what my theory is based upon. If this isn't you, then you are not part of the theory and it doesn't apply to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8E2zElH79s

What? People singing at a get together?

[Skykid]

^ Forget it.

[BulletMagnet]

Unless I am missing something, a "brony" is a fan who spends 99% of the time obsessing over the derivatives of the show, and 1% appreciating the actual show. You seem to miss said 99%, from what you say.

Isn't this charge leveled against fans of pretty much everything, though? The second someone starts talking about Touhou around here there are immediately a flurry of "you've never even played the games, you just like dressing up in the costumes and whacking off to the hentai" posts, no matter what the underlying subject or focus of the original post might be.

From where I'm standing it seems that "brony" is very quickly devolving into the same sort of term that "hipster" or "gay" have become, at least in the internet realm: nebulous, largely-meaningless all-purpose insults that can mean pretty much whatever the insulter wants them to mean.

[xbl0x180]

Unless I am missing something, a "brony" is a fan who spends 99% of the time obsessing over the derivatives of the show, and 1% appreciating the actual show. You seem to miss said 99%, from what you say.

Isn't this charge leveled against fans of pretty much everything, though? The second someone starts talking about Touhou around here there are immediately a flurry of "you've never even played the games, you just like dressing up in the costumes and whacking off to the hentai" posts, no matter what the underlying subject or focus of the original post might be.

From where I'm standing it seems that "brony" is very quickly devolving into the same sort of term that "hipster" or "gay" have become, at least in the internet realm: nebulous, largely-meaningless all-purpose insults that can mean pretty much whatever the insulter wants them to mean.

I associate them with "furries" since it's an anthromorphic show. They probably also enjoy watching The Care Bears and The Get-Along Gang since - thematically - they're the same




Mebbe I can relate ( ). As a kid, I used to love watching those Disney Afternoon cartoons (i.e., Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, Ducktales, Gummy Bears, Tale Spin, etc.) and those things may be enjoyable now due to the nostalgia

[Blackbird]

As a kid, I used to love watching those Disney Afternoon cartoons (i.e., Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, Ducktales, Gummy Bears, Tale Spin, etc.) and those things may be enjoyable now due to the nostalgia

You're getting warmer... =P.

A lot of SkyKid's concern seems to center around the fact that MLP is overrated, and isn't special enough to engender to fanbase that it has. To which I would argue: Why does it need to be special? When everything else is garbage, even an average show is refreshing. I also think that SkyKid's got some serious nostalgia goggles on. Yes, if you compare MLP to every piece of animation that's ever been drawn, it's nothing amazing. However, if you fairly compare it to it's contemporary competition, I think it holds up really well. It's got a unique art style and uses flash much more competently than most of it's competitors. The backgrounds are actually very good, there's a lot going on in them. The voice acting is extremely well executed compared to other American animation. There are a lot of selling points, just on a pure technical level, that make it more exciting than it's contemporaries.

Expecting MLP to be hand drawn and painted in the current business climate is unfair, as well. To my knowledge, no animation, not even feature length productions with large budgets, are being produced in this way anymore (in the US). This is because the relentless pursuit of profit margins won't let us have nice things anymore. Or maybe it really is too expensive, given inflation + the recession.

[xbl0x180]

You're getting warmer... =P.

A lot of SkyKid's concern seems to center around the fact that MLP is overrated, and isn't special enough to engender to fanbase that it has. To which I would argue: Why does it need to be special? When everything else is garbage, even an average show is refreshing. I also think that SkyKid's got some serious nostalgia goggles on. Yes, if you compare MLP to every piece of animation that's ever been drawn, it's nothing amazing. However, if you fairly compare it to it's contemporary competition, I think it holds up really well. It's got a unique art style and uses flash much more competently than most of it's competitors. The backgrounds are actually very good, there's a lot going on in them. The voice acting is extremely well executed compared to other American animation. There are a lot of selling points, just on a pure technical level, that make it more exciting than it's contemporaries.

Expecting MLP to be hand drawn and painted in the current business climate is unfair, as well. To my knowledge, no animation, not even feature length productions with large budgets, are being produced in this way anymore (in the US). This is because the relentless pursuit of profit margins won't let us have nice things anymore. Or maybe it really is too expensive, given inflation + the recession.

The thing is, some these dudes weren't even around when the original aired and the older ones don't mention it at all. Hence, the appreciation for My Little Pony makes about as much sense as old dudes being fans of Dora, The Explorer and Muppet Babies, or shows such as Blues Clues and Teletubbies. I can almost picture a real-life scenario where I am with my little 8-y.o. niece in the toys aisle looking for one of those pony toys and seeing a weird, creepy dude my age at the same aisle At best, MLP is to North American animation what moe is to Japanese animation

If the "selling point" was the quality of the show, then it'd make even less sense. It's not very good, nor does it have interesting designs (they look like Pony Puff Princesses!). I mean, when we have South Park, Futurama, Dethklok, King Of The Hill, and other stuff, which are uncontestably of better quality when it comes to animation, music and sounds, voice cast, and which also have better writing (hell, someone just pointed out the new Avatar cartoon and that s*** is probably one of the best animated shows from the past few years), how could anyone even pay attention to that MLP drek?

[Skykid]

A lot of SkyKid's concern seems to center around the fact that MLP is overrated, and isn't special enough to engender to fanbase that it has. To which I would argue: Why does it need to be special? When everything else is garbage, even an average show is refreshing.

You mentioned that before. I was under the impression TV was the best it had been in years, from what I'm told - but I couldn't say for sure since I haven't really watched any series since those first few seasons of 24.

Still, I find it hard to believe there's nothing on TV more entertaining than My Little Pony.

[Blackbird]

I mean, when we have South Park, Futurama, Dethklok, King Of The Hill, and other stuff, which are uncontestably of better quality when it comes to animation, music and sounds, voice cast, and which also have better writing (hell, someone just pointed out the new Avatar cartoon and that s*** is probably one of the best animated shows from the past few years), how could anyone even pay attention to that MLP drek?

I'll agree on Futurama, I think it's really well written and animated. I'd prefer it over MLP.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on the rest though.

Unless my memory is really skewed, I don't remember very much "animation" in South Park at all! The characters are cut-outs that barely even move! There are only a few expressions for each character. The writing is occasionally poignant in this show, but it resorts to low brow humor and cheap running gags more often than not.

Dethklok... that dethklok!? Really!? The show's entire humor is based around the fact that the characters are barely articulate neanderthals. This is supposed to be better written? Come on.

King of the Hill I'm not as familiar with, but I don't remember the animation or the VA as being especially exciting. I actually recall this show being somewhat unpopular initially (it compared poorly with The Simpsons) and only gradually building a hardcore fanbase based on the writing, which became more relevant as it went along.

By all means, please point me to some examples from these shows to point out the highlights. I freely admit that I haven't seen these shows from beginning to end, so it's possible I've missed the more genius moments, but Futurama aside, I remember all of these shows as having significant flaws and not being all that great.

[Randorama]

I am cutting stuff as posts have accumulated and I am drinking too much, hope no one minds.

I don't know anyone in the community who would define a brony as being that [1% fan, 99% rest, N.D. Rando] and taking that broad definition is what has caused the problem here. That's like saying you're not a trekkie unless you only care about the community, not the show and we know that's just no true.

I think you missed one small detail. I said that, looking at this thread, a brony looks like that. If you disagree, explain why you disagree, and say that you call yourself a brony, then I retort that you seem to have a different attitude than the 99%/1% slandered over, so far.

I'd be curious to see a detailed analysis of ponies fans and their attitude to the show, to be fair. I would guess that the 99/1 % perception applies to a minority of fans. Said minority is likely to be the noisiest, media-wise, i.e. the one that produces the most mediatic content and is easy target for mediatic slandering. Similar patterns are the norm, in other forms of fandom (say, Anime).

Ultimately, all fandom groups include a minority of posers, who are a magnet for crucifixion by the moral majority: bronies can't be an exception, can't they?

Oh absolutely.
...I find it quite difficult to summon conversation when we're on the same side of the argument, lol, but yes, people are slaves to marketing willingly, until someone comes along to repossess their home and suddenly that $800 handbag they bought doesn't look so pretty any more.

This may actually sound deeply offensive, but I only look and care at a person's positions and arguments, not at the person himself, when expressing my positive/neutral/negative opinion. So, a possible outocome is that part of you agrees with a part of me on a complex set of arguments (...a discussion), no?

Also,

I honestly see Bronyism the same as Weeabooism: both communities of frustrated individuals finding freedom of expression through each other, the material itself posing a vessel. I don't believe that Bronies and Weeaboos are inherently aware of this however, and therefore some blame is relinquished.

Any minority made of individuals under social pressure turns into a tight-knit community when some core set of beliefs is found, whether the single individuals even know these beliefs or not. That's a very powerful, unconscious drive into group behaviour in humans.

Any decent market psychologist can exploit this to a t, to the effect of hiring fans and make experiments with them to see what sells better. Welcome to 2012, I'd add.

To which I would argue: Why does it need to be special? When everything else is garbage, even an average show is refreshing.

I'd say that if an average show is the best on the market, it's time to turn off the tv and play more shmups. I could simply not stand watching 2 minutes without having dark thoughts about eugenics and the like. Just to offend people: I can't stand the accent, whatever US dialect they employ. So, I may be biased against the show.

EDIT: messy quotes.

[Blackbird]

I'd say that if an average show is the best on the market, it's time to turn off the tv and play more shmups. I could simply not stand watching 2 minutes without having dark thoughts about eugenics and the like. Just to offend people: I can't stand the accent, whatever US dialect they employ. So, I may be biased against the show.

Haha, yeah. I honestly feel that way about mainstream entertainment. I spend most of my time playing or watching classics, because I feel that entertainment was designed for a more educated, adult audience back then. Modern entertainment isn't really designed to genuinely engage the viewer, so much as clumsily mash on emotional cues in a pandering way. They are designed to dazzle you with a smoke and mirrors show of special effects and plot twists, and once you know how it all works, it becomes painfully predictable and boring.

[Skykid]

South Park absolutely destroys My Little Pony. There's not even a comparison there.

Futurama
King of the Hill
American Dad
Beavis and Butthead (they're back!)

I'd also wager highly superior.

And, if we're rewinding some way, something like Batman: The Animated Tales had more artistry in its every cel than MLP has in all its flash frames, and no-one went fapping off to that like spanners in 1995.

[xbl0x180]

I mean, when we have South Park, Futurama, Dethklok, King Of The Hill, and other stuff, which are uncontestably of better quality when it comes to animation, music and sounds, voice cast, and which also have better writing (hell, someone just pointed out the new Avatar cartoon and that s*** is probably one of the best animated shows from the past few years), how could anyone even pay attention to that MLP drek?

I'll agree on Futurama, I think it's really well written and animated. I'd prefer it over MLP.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on the rest though.

Unless my memory is really skewed, I don't remember very much "animation" in South Park at all! The characters are cut-outs that barely even move! There are only a few expressions for each character. The writing is occasionally poignant in this show, but it resorts to low brow humor and cheap running gags more often than not.

Dethklok... that dethklok!? Really!? The show's entire humor is based around the fact that the characters are barely articulate neanderthals. This is supposed to be better written? Come on.

King of the Hill I'm not as familiar with, but I don't remember the animation or the VA as being especially exciting. I actually recall this show being somewhat unpopular initially (it compared poorly with The Simpsons) and only gradually building a hardcore fanbase based on the writing, which became more relevant as it went along.

By all means, please point me to some examples from these shows to point out the highlights. I freely admit that I haven't seen these shows from beginning to end, so it's possible I've missed the more genius moments, but Futurama aside, I remember all of these shows as having significant flaws and not being all that great.

Hm. Each cartoon has its own distinct style. On that alone, I think they're way better than MLP and most animated shows in general. I can tell what Mike Judge's designs look like, I can tell what Matt Groening's designs look like, I can tell the look and the syle of South Park. These are very unique. MLP looks like generic clip art that can be found in an animation program menu. I couldn't even refer to it as "ugly" because it has a generic, non-descript style. I'd wager that even Sealab 2021, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Assy McGee are better in terms of their [modern] Dada styles (and in their writing). MLP was a chore to watch. Again, it was akin to sitting down to watch Strawberry Shortcake, Hello Kitty, or some puerile junk... when it dawned on me that this wasn't animated with an audience other than babies and little girls in mind

[chum]

American Dad better than MLP? please...

[Skykid]

American Dad better than MLP? please...

Suddenly I'm reminded of the utter stupidity of this fad in the first place. When this is the general level of taste, sensible discussion is clearly futile.

...unless this is sarcasm (please let it be sarcasm.)

[Blackbird]

Beavis and Butthead. Is this really what you think of as "adult entertainment"? The most memorable line in the show was about how he needed toilet paper to wipe his butt with.

Let me grok your argument here: Poop jokes are more mature and adult than a show that deals primarily with fellowship and understanding.

I literally cannot even wrap my head around the idea that a crass, intellectually insulting show like American Dad or Beavis and Butthead could somehow be better adult entertainment than a show about ponies.

Then, we have a statement that Sealab 2021, ATHF, and Assy McGee are great because they are "Dada", followed by a statement that children's shows are "puerile"? O_O. Double standards anyone? ATHF is among the most puerile things I have ever seen.

[chum]

American Dad better than MLP? please...

Suddenly I'm reminded of the utter stupidity of this fad in the first place. When this is the general level of taste, sensible discussion is clearly futile.

...unless this is sarcasm (please let it be sarcasm.)

Why discuss when it won't lead to anything but disagreements anyway?

I think American Dad, and especially Family Guy, are utter trash.

[njiska]

I don't know anyone in the community who would define a brony as being that [1% fan, 99% rest, N.D. Rando] and taking that broad definition is what has caused the problem here. That's like saying you're not a trekkie unless you only care about the community, not the show and we know that's just no true.

I think you missed one small detail. I said that, looking at this thread, a brony looks like that. If you disagree, explain why you disagree, and say that you call yourself a brony, then I retort that you seem to have a different attitude than the 99%/1% slandered over, so far.

I'm happy to answer this, since unlike Skykid I know you can actually have a reasonable discussion, but I have two questions I need to have clarified first.

1. You said looking at this thread a brony looks like 99% something other than being a fan of the show. What specific elements of this thread lead you to this conclusion? It will be a little easier for me to agree or disagree if I have more detail and can respond to specific points.

2. Could you revise the "and say that you call yourself a brony, then I retort that you seem to have a different attitude than the 99%/1% slandered over, so far." into a clearer point? I'm not certain exactly what you mean to convey here. I blame the alcohol

I'd be curious to see a detailed analysis of ponies fans and their attitude to the show, to be fair. I would guess that the 99/1 % perception applies to a minority of fans. Said minority is likely to be the noisiest, media-wise, i.e. the one that produces the most mediatic content and is easy target for mediatic slandering. Similar patterns are the norm, in other forms of fandom (say, Anime).

There is a study being conducted by Dr. Patrick Edwards of the University of Georgia on the fandom. I do not believe that the results currently available will answer this question, but they may be a start. It's certainly something more clinical than conjecture and hearsay.

http://bronystudy.com

[Skykid]

Beavis and Butthead. Is this really what you think of as "adult entertainment"? The most memorable line in the show was about how he needed toilet paper to wipe his butt with.

So Mike Judge's nuance and commentary went entirely over your head. That's one strike.

I literally cannot even wrap my head around the idea that a crass, intellectually insulting show like American Dad or Beavis and Butthead could somehow be better adult entertainment than a show about ponies.

American Dad and Beavis and Butthead are intellectually insulting? That's two.

since unlike Skykid I know you can actually have a reasonable discussion

Ok, I'm out, I finally cracked it: Bronies are fucking morons.

Glad I finally got to the bottom of it after all this time!

[Marc]

I don't give a fuck about MLP, but whoever mentioned Family Guy really shot themselves in the foot, it's fucking trash.

[xbl0x180]

Then, we have a statement that Sealab 2021, ATHF, and Assy McGee are great because they are "Dada", followed by a statement that children's shows are "puerile"? O_O. Double standards anyone? ATHF is among the most puerile things I have ever seen.

No, no double-standard. It's the intended/target audience. Sealab, Space Ghost Coast To Coast, Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law, and the like were done partly with audiences already familiar with the originals in mind while the rest were covered by the general adult-themed humour. I can identify with those audiences. In terms of designs, everyone knows what Hanna-Barbera cartoons look like because most of us grew up with them. When I watch the lampooned versions, I laugh at how corny the originals were in their earnestness as children's entertainment. In short, Sealab et al. were/are rife with irony and sarcasm, as well as lewd and crass jokes. I like them because they look good and are funny

I didn't get any of that with My Little Pony because its intended audiences are babies and little girls. Hence, the writing and cartoon designs reflect that. It's tantamount to watching Winx and other similar fare. I don't care for jokes and drawings that babies and little girls identify with, so it seems "puerile" to me, an old dude

[xbl0x180]

The new MLP is currently in syndication on the HUB network. Quite different with the CG aestethics compared to the hand-drawn animated episodes that hail from back in the early 1980s. I used watch She-Ra sometimes (considering that it was done by the same folks whom did the He-Man series, the "old-school" Funimation production company). It was a different era to watch Saturday morning cartoons in the U.S. back in the early-to-mid 1980s. Even the production company, DIC, made some interesting cartoon series including "The Littles" during that time.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I think you meant to say Filmation, not Funimation. Filmation was also responsible for the 80s Flash Gordon movie and teevee series

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAJ1wE0vvno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mT3FeaO_sM


DIC was also responsible for Inspector Gadget, Heathcliff, Dennis The Menace, and, my personal favourite, Ulysses 31. These were French and Japanese collaborations (Jean Chalopin et al. with Tokyo Movie Shinsha)