Krosp I

@@Dark Qiviut I don't wish to argue. In the least, and especially because I don't have the post count to continue following my threads into the Debate Section. But unfortunately I do not believe in the least I'll be able to explain myself to the exacting standards someone of your caliber no doubt expects. You've not only confused me for someone who advocates "Brony" as a blanket term, but you've completely twisted what I said around twice now into some sort of insane justification of bullying. For the third, and I assure you final time I'm going to explain it. When I mention masculinity, I did not: Under any circumstances, value of x, in any other language, syntax or archaic spelling compare masculinity to femininity. Bolded for emphasis, because clearly there's a disgusting school of thought that automatically equates a lack of masculinity with an increase in femininity or vice versa. I do not like assumptions being made of me. I enjoy accusations even less. Stubborn refusal to step down off the soapbox and explore the crowd is downright intolerable, especially considering I can tell you're incredibly passionate about LGBT rights. As I've said, I've spent more time than the last two and a half generations of My Little Pony working to advance the basic right for myself and the rest of the LGBTalphabetsoup in no less than four different groups. But... Let it be known that to continue to suggest otherwise will be regarded and responded to as character attacks.

I've read your entire post and I agree with it, despite the fact I've done such a poor job of explaining myself in a medium that gives me all the time in the world to do so. Please, under no circumstances, believe I am a homophobe. I'm a contributor to both GLAAD and PFLAG. I lost one of my better paying jobs supporting the defeat of Prop 8. If you were to cut me, I'd bleed rainbow. What I talk about isn't masculinity versus femininity, but what boys step into from boyhood to manhood. I firmly believe Friendship is Magic touches on many, many important values that all boys and men should look up to. But my argument is that the vocal portion of the fandom I mentioned before has this distinct habit of not recognizing this and acts in a manner wholly unbefitting of men. Edit: There's actually a better representation of what I mean in Gender and Sexuality Shouldn't Matter in the Debate section. Unfortunately the thread was moved there and my post count is too low to follow my own posts anymore.

This. This entire thing. Right here. That right there is the purest example of the zero-sum tribalism I made mention of in a previous post that completely ruins the perception of both the fans of the series in general, and fans who don't wish to be lumped in for whatever reasons (if any) they desire. This train of thought refuses to let us enjoy the colorful ponies in peace. You refuse to let us be us because to you it's Us versus Them and your side cannot win unless we're Bronies as well. If it were a question of pride, I'd say you're completely pretentious to simply up and assume we're part of your group just because that's what you want. If it were a question of pride, then I'd say it's completely justified in being proud enough to not let others make decisions for them. Edit: Minor grammar changes.

Since when did you need a hard reason to be lonely? Or even lonely at all to cherish having a sibling? Something, and story-wise—it doesn't need to be anything at all, brought Scootaloo to tears because she wanted a big sister. It didn't really matter to the audience or, at the time, Rainbow Dash. She stepped up to the starting line and joined the race with dat filly. That's honestly all that matters.

I'm having a difficult time gleaning any sense of pointlessness you're trying to make about the relationship between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. But I do, however, have a bit to share that does, and I hope sheds some sense onto those who just don't get the idea of having a sibling. I have an older brother. He is far from pointless.

I'm not at all a fan of the term due to the confusion it elicits in both the fandom, the non-fandom, the "Brony" in question and the potential listener. I find it likened to what some call tribalism. As it stands, the current consensus from those who ascribe to the term "Brony" are those who play along the lines that by watching and or being a fan of the show automatically includes you as a Brony. As an aside, I believe the actual group of Bronies are those who choose to be so, as I also believe one can be a fan of Friendship is Magic and not be a Brony at all. After all, we don't call people who watch Foster's "Imaginary Friends", fans of Dexter's Lab "Lab Assistants" or fans of Samurai Jack "Ronin". As if one cannot not be a Brony if they watch the show. Automatic inclusion against the consent of the supposed Brony in question. So this leads me to believe "Brony" is a term used by a tribal group engaging in a zero-sum game, perhaps to justify their enjoyment of a faux-controversial series or perhaps simply to stave off loneliness. You're either us or you're them. And I don't like it at all. I just want to watch ponies ponying pone.

If I may, I'd like to purport that the perception of watching, or even enjoying the series as being "gay" (not literally homosexual) is slightly incorrect. Instead, I believe it's the manner in which it is lauded, coveted and defended that brings about the accusations, insults and "faggot" being thrown about more than at a PRIDE parade. The enjoyment of something feminine, in this case Friendship is Magic isn't the attack on/lack of masculinity but rather the beta-masculinity that, unfortunately, seems all too common. (For the sake of brevity, I'd like to sate that when I use the term masculinity it is done so in the sense of separating boyhood from manhood and not bare-chested testosterone poisoning, no matter how awesome.) An inability to accept criticism. An unwillingness to accept that others don't accept our subjective taste in toons. A woeful lack in number of those willing to step up to the plate in a mature manner and be okay with leaving their interest as an interest and not as the driving force of their personality. I see the series as a children's fair in a park, open for all to enjoy, but a great many of us are all too willing to claim all of the festivities as their own in spite of those with little recourse. Assaults on another's sexuality, mostly though "gay" and "faggot" have long evolved from a direct slur to homosexual men. The roots are still there, obviously, but those that resort to this ammunition aren't insisting that you're gay for watching the show or being part of the fandom. They're insulting one's lack of masculinity. That the insulted is less of a man. Unfortunately, given the manner as to how a vocal portion of our fandom acts, I cannot with all honesty intact, say that questioning the overall masculinity is not unwarranted sometimes.