Heartstrong

So yeah, just like the title says, I'm taking a sociology course and I'm supposed to present a case study in a couple of weeks. I decided to do it about adults and teens who like things meant for kids, and why they like them. I'm going to be focusing on things like Pokemon, Disney movies, and of course, the brony community. I need to gather data, so I was hoping that some of you lovely people could help me out and answer these questions? 1) When did you start watching mlp? 2) Did you watch or own merchandise of the previous generations of mlp? 3) How long have you been a brony (or if you don't consider yourself a brony, just a member of the fandom in general)? 4) Why do you like the show in general? Thanks!

Lyra is best background pony Although I do love Dr. Whooves. I admit I wasn't really interested in him until I was walking in the mall one day and I saw this t-shirt in some comic store: He's so adorable

I think that she's probably Dizzy Twister http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Dizzy_Twister She's a regular background character. Also I've heard that the purple and pink pony is Rainbow Dash's mom. I think that she's actually Rainbowshine, whose been in the background since the beginning, and even talked to Rainbow Dash once. She was the one who said "Ditzy Doo went north to get the southern birds!"

I teared up in Suited for Success, when Spike made Rarity walk out on stage and take credit for the horrible dresses that everybody hated. I just felt so bad for her

I sort of know how you feel... I'm sixteen, and my mom HATES that I love the show. It's not for the same reason that your parents hate it I think, because I'm a girl, it's just that my mom is disgusted that I haven't "grown up" and that I don't act like a "normal" teenager. I don't even think she knows what a brony is, all she knows is that I watch pony videos, play pony games, listen to pony songs, and more than anything else, draws ponies, and she hates it. I don't ever talk about the show in front of her, except if my little sister wants to talk about it, but she tends it to bring it up and rant about how much she hates it. Anyways, what I'd suggest doing is maybe point out that telling you to stop liking ponies is like you telling your parents to stop liking whatever they like, whether it be crime shows or a movie genre or a certain band. It just isn't fair. Don't yell at them, don't get angry, just stand your ground and say that it's your life and you aren't hurting anyone with your hobby like they aren't hurting anyone with their's. Good luck sir

I thought this episode was decent. It wasn't my favorite, and it had it's issues, but it also had it's good moments. Spike was way too clumsy and it seemed out of character, but maybe he was just excited and couldn't focus properly? It happens to me all the time, and I always screw things up. Still, he seemed a little TOO clumsy, like how he couldn't even rinse off a plate without flooding Rarity's sink, although at other times he was the complete opposite, such as when he built that giant rock tower for Rainbow Dash. It was extremely inconsistant. Not to mention, when I was watching the parts with the Timber Wolves I was screaming at my TV "USE YOUR FIREBREATH YOU IDIOT!" Granted, I can see why they didn't want to burn them to a crisp... I mean, that would surely kill them, and death is a little dark for a kids show, but even so, it did seem kind of idiotic that Spike defeated them with a pebble Speaking of the timber wolves, I thought they were awesome! The animation style used for them was cool, and the way they put themselves back together after being destroyed was awesome too. I guess they are invincible? Though I really want to see what happens if they get burnt. Will they die or just rise from the ashes like a pheonix? As for the humor, I love the mustache, Pinkie and Applejack's acting, and the fact that Rainbow Dash is writing a novel! And I know I am defiently in the minority, but I thought that Twilight basically ignoring Spike while she was reading was kinda funny. I have a friend who is a complete bookworm, and a lot of our conversations are like that. So that was very realistic Also Rarity poking the pipe after Spike broke her sink made me laugh, and I loved Dash's rawr and the way she and Fluttershy hoof bumped after Spike said it was realistic. And speaking of hoof bumps, Spike and Applejack's hoof and claw bump thing was really adorable. There was also one more thing I really liked, and it might seem a little weird, but I loved how they were consistant with Cherry Berry and her balloon. She was shown in Mare Do Well in her balloon and wearing googles and she was shown like that again. I really like consistancy, even little things like that can really make the show for me. The one major flaw in this episode was probably the Dragon Code... I was disapointed they didn't actually explain it, and the way they left it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I mean, a lot of other ponies had saved Spike's life, why didn't he ever act like their servant? How does he even know about the Dragon Code? Why is there even a Dragon Code if dragons are extremely greedy and would never lift a claw for another dragon? It needed to be explained a lot more. All in all, I'd probably give this episode an 7/10. It was good, had some funny parts and some consistancy , but it definetly had some flaws

I highly recommend The Mentally Advanced Series. It's similar to Friendship is Witchcraft but is a little bit more grim, but no where not to the point of .MOV. There's twleve episodes out ( well techicnally eleven because one episode was never offically released, but still) and you could start watching them from the first one, but I think episode nine best shows the personality given to each character http://www.youtube.com/embed/htRqLTQ5qs4 The people who make The Mentally Advanced Series also makes Rainbow Dash Presents, which is a parody of My Little Pony fanfiction http://www.youtube.com/embed/_AbtCTbSWTk

I'm a girl, and I'm a kid (well I'm a teenager, but close enough) and I'm not offended at all. I admit to being horrified when I first heard about Cupcakes, but then I wasted no time at all in reading it, and I have to say that it wasn't written all that well, but I thought some parts were pretty good. For example, I remember Pinkie was pretending to be Rarity at one point, and for some reason I found that hilarious. On the other hand, the actual video for cupcakes grossed me out, but it made me fall in love with the song Ready to Die, so go figure I also love Rainbow Factory. It was brillant, well written, and has an extremely interesting story attached to it. I think the reason people like stuff a little bit darker is pretty much the same reason people like horror movies: the thrill and being kept in suspense, and they aren't afraid to embrace our darker side. Stephen King probably stated it the best when he said, "I think that we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better – and maybe not all that much better, after all." What this means is that everybody has a dark side whether we want to admit it or not. Ever wonder why violent movies and video games are so popular? Why memes such as Insanity Wolf or Overly Attached Girlfriend spread so fast? Most people like things a little bit dark, and many people don't just see ponies such as Pinkie and Rainbow Dash as pastel colored horses, but in fact, characters. I really don't think a lot people would stress too much about characters in other shows or movies being used in a horror movie like situation, but because Pinkie and Dash are ponies, it is suddenly viewed as sick and the people who enjoy it have something seriously wrong with them, while the millions and millions of people who watch horror movies aren't judged as harshly. Just my opinion, anyways. We had a discussion about something like this in English class once and this is pretty much what I came up with

Or maybe Fancypants? He's much more like Paris, and he and Rarity already have a friendship that people are saying might to lead to a romance down the road (Although Juliet and Paris weren't really in a romantic relationship, it was more of an arranged marriage, but still)

I'm not really sure... My personality is so weird. I'm an extremely hyper, random, shy, sensitive, and quiet kid who squeaks a lot and tends to bounce instead of walking. So basically I'm Pinkie mixed with Fluttershy Thus it makes sense that my discorded self would be like a mixture of Meanie Pie and Flutterbitch I am surprisingly okay with this

Lyra is best pony She has the best scenes. The sitting thing, the pie thing, the shake thing, and then there was a part where she was bouncing above all the other background ponies with a goofy look on her face. She also randomly showed up in Cloudsdale one time despite being a unicorn Lyra is boss

Lyra. Lyra is best pony. And anyways, it'd fufill her life long dream of finding the humans, and I get my own little Lyrie. Everyone wins!

In some ways I'm like FLuttershy. Iif I'm in public or around people I don't really know, I am extremely shy. I've hidden in the bathroom a couple times during class to avoid doing presentations, and I have a stutter and say "Um," a lot. I'm also a total animal lover and animals seem to be attracted to me. (Not like fluffy bunnies or anything though. I always get bats and rats. I've had both climb all over me) I think the majority of the time I'm extremely Pinkie Pie ish. I love sugar and being random, and I actually bounce when I'm happy. I'm also insecure and worry about losing my friends, and if I do lose a friend I kind of become a Pinkamena (Though I haven't talked to bag of flour... Yet ) Also, me and my friend are a lot like Lyra and Bon Bon. Not like we're lovers or anything, but basically she's the reasonably normal person and I'm the extremely quirky friend who is obsessed with another species (ponies )