Well I have been a brony now for almost a whole week! I have to say when I first debated the idea of watching the show and more importantly attempting to join the subculture I was trepidatious.
My previous encounters with bronies I knew were not pleasant at all; on more than one occasion when with friends I had, there would be friends of theirs with us that were bronies. When talking with others about the show it led to tables being flipped or chairs being thrown in public places due to the current conversations about the show. I also heard heard the phrase; ""Oh I was too busy marathoning ponies and lost track of time so I skipped my shower today."
To quote Rarity...
So I stopped hanging around them when the bronies were about because well...yeah.
Upon finally getting into the show, while all my friends are cool with me being into the ponies all the bronies I knew of laughed at me when they asked which pony was my favorite and I answered Fluttershy.
Well I thought to myself forget those guys, I am going to a convention this weekend let's just focus on that and well I will find new friends who are also bronies. Not all bronies could be like that, I mean I am going to assume that the vast majority of you will choose showering over rewatching a cartoon you can easily watch later.
I go to the convention and one of the vendors has cutie mark buttons, and I think to myself; "You know what? Just take the plunge."
I go to buy it and the vendor is more than happy to sell me a Pony button, ponies are great, etc., etc. but when I pick up the Fluttershy pin he rolls his eyes and goes to sit back down. His friend or coworker or whatever has to elbow him to 'not be like that' and take my money.
I have worked conventions before, when there is something on the table we don't like we always hoped it would sell fast so we don't have to look at it any more.
Perhaps artist alley would be better? No, it was worse. Though I did find a very cute Fluttershy pin that made me happy I was told the following:
"Really? No I didn't bother with Fluttershy stuff, why don't you like a popular pony?"
"It wouldn't be worth my time to bring stuff for people like you, but if you want I have some Trixie stuff instead."
Well...I had my two pins and the one pin is just adorable. Find "RedPawDesigns" on DeviantArt then look for 'Fluttershy Chibi Badge' in their gallery. I decided to go looking for more Pony stuff at stores like Hot Topic, Toys 'R Us etc. Where I got disdain from non-bronies, and mocked or insults from brony employees who took it person that I didn't want one of the Rainbow Dash plushies.
It's a 'wonderful' feeling to have a staff person look at you, look at the button on your chest that's roughly the size of a quarter, and walk off to help someone else while you ask if they can help you.
Fine, fine, apparently the city is full of Brony haters and Dash snobs...whatever I can log onto the forum...*sigh*
Some of the biggest trending topics at the time; "What is the worst OC you have seen?", "Why do so many people dislike Rarity...", and "Alicorn OCs..are they really that bad?"
These topics range from intentionally meaning to insult and run people down to, easily trick people into getting into flame wars, insulting and running each other down.
Yes this is the internet, and yes you shouldn't log on unless you are made of at least 66% asbestos but still in all my years of fandom surfing I have never seen such malicious intent and under currents to so much being said. There is just so much random venom spraying occurring just for the sake of spraying venom everywhere.
Has it always been like this? r am I just exceptionally unlucky when it comes to my interactions with the MLP:FIS community?
Don't get me wrong I have met some nice people but that is really hard to accomplish when everyone is up to their ankles in venom and negativity and deciding to splash it around.
- Read more...
- 2 comments
- 631 views