Thunderchild

Probably try to find someone to marry so I could become a citizen. Then get twilight to turn me into a pone. Then live happily ever after.

I wondered about this for a while - for me it's about a bunch of stuff: Of course, the ponies are cute-but so are lots of things in the world. I think it's about magic. When you're a kid you're surrounded by magic all the time-Santa, the tooth fairy, even rooting for your favorite 'Good guy' wrestler to beat up the 'bad guy'. Then, as you get older, all these things disappear. Remember Christmas eve night when you were little? It was unreal. I think there's something in us that reaches out for that however old we are. This show, in some way takes us back to when things that were magic were commonplace and accepted. Of course, the ponies being cute doesn't hurt either.

I have found the whole experience of being part of 'the herd' to be positive. I have been posting on discussion boards for many years and have had more pleasant interactions here than probably the whole of the rest of them combined. The show is positive and based around friendship and a good message-so it is with the fandom.

I guess, as well as what's been posted up 'till now, it would depend on your definition of what a 'brony' is. If the only qualification is to be a fan of the show, I guess anyone and everyone is included. If, however it depends on involvement in the fandom on boards like this, or attending conventions, roleplay etc, that's going to practically exclude a bunch of people, as kids are completely dependent in most cases-and their parents will be deciding on their internet use and convention attending habits. Who cares really? I don't care one way or the other-I like the show, and the interactions I have here. I'm not going to any conventions and I'm not dressing up. I don't care in the slightest if you do, it's just not my thing. If that doesn't make me a brony in your opinion, that's fine-as I don't live in your opinion. Hopefully, everyone else will come to the same conclusion, and we can enjoy each other's company instead of deciding who belongs and who doesn't.

41? HAH! Got you by 2 years! Oh wait-maturity? O.k... Since when has age had anything to do with maturity? If you can look at someone's age and judge their fitness to be part of a fandom, I'd say you're deluded. Kids want to feel part of something. Lots of things are changing in their lives-why wouldn't they be attracted to a fandom which emphasises unconditional friendship, tolerance and support to it's members? I say, 'whosoever will, let him come' (actually, that was Jesus, but you get my point).

@Strawhat Thanks for the title edit-wasn't exactly sure how to title it-yours works better. If you get the chance, check out the old TNG episodes featuring Q - you'll dig the job John did with the charactor-especially as the show progresses.

So, let me preface by saying I'm pretty new to the fandom-have almost made it through the first season and am trying to watch the series in order. So, everyone went out today, and I did what any red blooded masculine man would do-I put on the Hub and watched Ponies. Now, I haven't done a lot of research into the voice actors at this point, so when one of the episodes featured Discord I had no idea who was acting the part-however the first time he snapped his fingers and something wierd happened I immediately thought of Q from Star Trek TNG. Of course, then I started noticing certain vocal inflections-Damn, it even sounds like Q. Quick Google search -'Holy crap, John De-Bloody-Lancie!' So Q has made his way into Equestria. Awesome. Of course, I'm sure you all knew this in advance, but it was such a revelation to me I wanted to share it. I looked into his involvement in the show, and am amazed at the support he's shown to the Brony community-even appearing at Comicon in a Brony shirt, and of course co-producing the documentary about the fandom. I knew there was a reason I liked John as an actor. So freaking cool that they could incorporate him in this way, and that he's embraced it like he has.

Pinky jus happened to be the one that made me smile on this particular day. I must say she took a bit of geting used to initially, but I dig her now. However, if I had to choose it would be Fluttershy, no question. She had me from the beginning. Just so damn cute.

I see-so it ended up being part fact-finding mission and part an effort to shut them up. Incidentally, on a totally different subject, the .gif you posted made me laugh, as I had recently read about the whole 'wingboner' thing-look how small his wings are. That's the downside of 'roids compadre.

Curious to know how someone forced you into watching ponies? Did they sit on you and stick an ipad under your nose or something? Personally I have thoroughly enjoyed telling people I know that I watch the show. I'm a #280lb powerlifter, so most people don't mess with me. It's hilarious to see the conflicted reactions-they so badly want to say something but don't know what i'll do to them if they do-so they usually end up saying "But.........Why?" It's so hard to not laugh.

I think the fandom tends to draw folks who are generally non-conformist in their approach to things. Whether that's a good or bad thing would depend on your personal viewpoint. The people I've interacted with on this forum have been some of the most polite and friendly I've encountered in many years of posting on forums. I think that speaks volumes about the sort of people this show attracts.

I would never have believed it 6 months ago if you showed me what I'd be looking forward to watching. It just wasn't on my radar, Glad I got bored one night and started looking at memes.

Yeah I see that-I guess being pretty new to it all I hadn't realised the theraputic effects of little cartoon ponies. It all came as a bit of a shock, but in a good way. This would be really difficult to explain to anyone outside the fandom, you know?

Pinkie just made me smile this time, is all. If I had to pick one it'd probably be Fluttershy anyhow-she's just so cute. The fandom is cool too-good to see we have similar experiences with the show.

So, a particularly crappy day at work behind me-I just finished a 5 episode streak, and feel much better. It's amazing how much positivity there is in this simple little show-and how much it takes you out of the rat race for a little while, and lifts your spirits. Well, there it is. After all is said and done, all the human race really needed was a little pink pony.

Keep a journal? Nope. Pretty much everything I've experienced about the show is on here in one form or another. As far as reading someone else's experiences though, isn't that why we're all here anyway? Of course i'd be interested-whip 'em out!

There you go. This community isn't going anywhere. The whole thing is built on friendship-there are always going to be conventions to go to and you'll have a blast. I know it sucks not being able to go, but believe me you're going to be better off not alienating your parents. You've got a lot of changes coming up after graduation, and you're going to need their full support.

Realistically though, you and everyone else involved are going to be better off if you come clean on it. If they say no, they say no. You've got maybe a couple of years left, and you'll be out on your own anyway. The fandom isn't going anywhere. Imagine how it's going to be going to the convention with this mess hanging over your head-knowing that at any moment someone could innocently post a pic of you online, tag it and sink you. It's just not worth it man-you'll blow their trust in you for a long time. There'll always be conventions to go to.

Here's the thing: If you set off down this road you're going to have a very hard time keeping all these balls in the air. The problems connected to lying about where you're going are many and complicated. In this day and age people are in touch with each other more than ever-it's only going to take one slip by someone for your parents to find out-and all their suspicions about you being in this fandom will have been proved right. I'm 42 years old by the way-probably similar to your parent's age and I'm here to tell you that they're worried about you going off the deep end into something they don't understand. You have to be honest with them-at least about going to an anime convention or you're going to be sunk. Guaranteed. They're immediately going to think "Cult!" and use whatever power they have to stop you from having anything to do with MLP or the fandom. Tell them!

There's no comparison really-the only link the mlp lot have with real livestock is the name and the general 4 legged thing. They speak, laugh and joke, sing and dance and basically act like humans-case and point is the moral lesson at the end of each episode-the whole "i'm sorry" bit. Don't imagine real ponies have too many moral conundrums to deal with. They're cute, have got huge expressive eyes and they probably don't stink . There are many reasons that clopping could be considered weird-but bestiality isn't one of them.

Yeah-as others have already said it's kind of a chicken and egg thing. If the fanbase disappeared tomorrow I would still enjoy the show-however I was only made aware of the show by the fanbase and the various memes that sprang up around it.

It's cool to find out you're not weird for liking the show, and that there's people from all walks of life in the same boat as you-a little self concious at first, but soon realising they're among friends. There's a simplicity and innocence to the show-as well as a positive message which seems to permeate the fandom. After years of discussion boards that consist of people arguing over everything, this is a breath of fresh air.

I must admit I have a hard time with all this-not for any other reason than that, you need to be careful who you share things that matter to you with. Love and tolerate is all very well, but it becomes progressively more difficult when things like your family and life choices are being attacked. I work in security, and as such, am used to playing things pretty close to the vest. I don't discuss my faith, my family or my choices of entertainment with people, as I have a tendency to get emotional about those subjects. Whenever you give people information about yourself, you're making yourself vulnerable to them. Choose wisely.

I agree-the original Star Wars series generated a huge fanbase also that abides to this day-with the amount of people actively involved in the community that's built up around this show it's hard to see it not continuing. Besides, it's making Hasbro a boat load of money-they're not leaving that on the table. As long as there's a considerable fanbase, they'll keep making the show.