FluffyGoat13

How would I rate the Mane Six in order of attractiveness? Simple, I wouldn't. Don't get me wrong, I can see why people would, but I never pick favourites. Among people who know me I'm famously relaxed about everything and quite indecisive unless I view the decision as important, or simply blatantly obvious. For example, if I had the choice between a 1.6GHz quad core processor and a 1.8GHz quad core processor, with a negligible difference in heat output and function, other than speed, the exact same way I'd choose the 1.8, as would anyone else. However, a choice between two foods that I both like is quite hard, as I can't choose between them, and I don't deem the decision important. However if I had to choose between blowing up one of two places in order to end a war I would get as much information about the two places that I could before making the decision.

I've once described equestria's government as a Merito-Hereditary Feudal Diarchy with hints of Vassalage, due to the lack of a better name. If I wanted to I could squeeze Patronage and Semi-Democratic in there too. Here's why: - The Merito-Hereditary is because you can seemingly be born into Royalty as well as earning it. Merito being derived from Meritocracy, which is a system in which power is earned through merit, and Hereditary as it's passed down the family tree. - Feudal for obvious reasons, there's strong evidence to suggest that Equestria follows a more flexible form of feudalism when it comes to social hierarchy (Princesses being the key bit, but until someone mentions the words Lord, Earl, Duke, Count, Viscount, Baron or their female equivalents, it's still speculation). - Diarchy is because Equestria is effectively ruled by two Diarchs (Celestia and Luna), which is a monarchy, but there's two of them. - Hints of Vassalage/Patronage is due to the example of the Crystal Empire. It is governed by Princess Cadence on behalf of Celestia and Luna, and is counted as part of Equestria, but the details of this agreement are largely unknown. The simple explanation is as follows; if Cadence has official ownership of the land (though it would still be part of Equestria) then it can be counted as Patronage, whilst if the Diarchs own the land then it's Vassalage. - Semi-Democratic is because there are still hints of some form of democracy, for example the Mayors. We don't know how they appoint Mayors, but it is quite plausible that they are chosen by the public, rather than someone in a higher office. I still need to come up with a better name for this type of government. I see why you'd think that, but I politely disagree, as it's far more complicated than a simple Monarchy. The lack of a clear monarch is an example of that.

Research? Sweet. I come here (along with other sites on the net) to monitor social change, along with the evident entertainment, it's just intriguing to watch as I'm a sociology student myself. Nothing's better than watching theory in action. Now onto your questions: What has been your personal experience as a brony? My personal experience has been a rather turbulent one. See, originally I was one of the original haters when bronies were first becoming a thing in 2010-2011. I just hurled the generic verbal abuse. Why? I was very aggravated by all my favourite sites being plastered with ponies. Then after the dust from mlp's rather explosive entrance onto the internet had settled down I basically forgot it was even a thing. It wasn't until June 2013 that I was reminded of its existence by finding out 2 of my friends were actually bronies. I didn't really care much. Eventually one convinced me to watch the show. That was the greatest (in all senses of the word; good and bad) mistake I have ever made. I binge watched every episode. Then season 4 was released, so I watched that. It wasn't until several months later that I found this place. I started talking to people, applying my questionable insight, and had a good time. Weirdly, I've rarely experienced anything I consider to actually be an at least half-hearted attempt at insult; I've only experienced the generic "You're gay", "Fag", etc. hate. I've kept watching the show, and there isn't really much more to say other than I've noticed a decline in hatred towards bronies that has correlated with a decrease in fandom output, as well as an increased hatred towards real world issues (radical feminism, radical Islam, the gender debate, a resurgence in racial tension). What do you like about the show and the fandom? The fandom is great. Unlike many other fandoms it's not highly judgemental and doesn't possess a toxic attitude like some other fandoms. It's essentially a rather large friendly group of weirdos who are okay with being weird. As for the show? I've got no idea why I like the show. There are a lot of things about it that would normally make me hate it, yet I don't. It's really quite strange. How open are you about your dedication to the fandom IRL? I don't actively let people know that I'm a brony, but I don't deny it if it comes up in conversation, and occasionally I use it as an example when explaining how society functions to my friends. Basically I tell people if it's relevant. What drew you to MLP and got you involved as a brony? As mentioned above, nothing drew me to the show, there's nothing that would, It just so happened that one of my friends "convinced" me to watch the show. I say convinced, but really it was a clever play on our mutual rivalry. See, this friend and I were very competitive back then because I had never failed a single challenged he had issued me. Knowing this, he challenged me to watch every episode that was released at that point in time (seasons 1 - 3) without becoming a brony. I accepted the challenge. This remains the only challenge that he issued that I've failed. That also marked the ending of our competitiveness. And there you go. Feel free to ask me any more questions as I'm happy to help with research into a subject that interests and involves me. I have made some amendments to my original response as it contained several errors. Although, in my defence it was 11:23 PM when I posted that.

I have some MLP stationary that I don't actually use. They'd be more portable that way.

My record is 2.5 weeks. Not that much. My friend, however, still hasn't seen from Episode 11 SEASON 4 onwards. He has been intending to catch up. But due to his procrastinating nature he has so far not done it because he started something else, that he probably also hasn't finished. Season 4 aired in November 2013.

In the words of my friends older brother (both not bronies); "It's okay to like or dislike something I dislike or like respectively, what's not okay is waving your opinion about in my face." This has always been my philosophy; if someone doesn't like something, and there's no legitimate reason that they should know or see this thing, then don't tell or show them. Keep things need to know. This was, in fact, the main reason I hated bronies in the beginning, before becoming one myself. On a related note; hatred towards bronies has significantly declined over the past few years, to the point that most people don't care. This decline has correlated with the decrease in production of fandom material, and particularly the stopping of bronies plastering ponies all over the internet. So, part of the reason this fandom accrued such hatred towards it was because of the fandom's explosive release onto the internet. It was, essentially, collateral damage.

One thing no one likes to admit, but is very very true; The fact that we watch and like this show is really quite weird. I'm not even sure why I, personally, like the show. I just do.

I'll be honest. I see no point in trying to escape reality, you're stuck in it whether you like it or not. So, I personally don't use the show as a means of escapism, but others may. On a sort of related note, not everything is doom and gloom. Most things aren't. It just happens that depressing and frightening news stories sell better than happy ones. If you want some positive stuff look up the research into CRISPR and CAS-9. Kurzgesagt (In a Nut Shell) did a good video on this: https://youtu.be/jAhjPd4uNFY Their videos often have a tendency to make you think about things, and they often end up making grim things a little better, although some might cause an existential crisis of Gummy proportions.

Well, doing whatever the Diarch's of Equestria (Luna and Celestia) ask of me, as well as swearing to protect Equestria makes sense, in effect I'd be swearing Vassalage, which if I went to Equestria without having any limitations imposed on me I would do anyway. There's no better way of gaining a non-elected ruler's trust. I'd also happily talk to the historians about Earth, I'm a historian myself, so it's only fair if information is shared. I'd also willingly give Fluttershy a hand.

That's a power you should never give me. I can be quite malicious. I'd like to say I'd turn someone who asked into whatever they want, but I wouldn't. I'd either turn myself into an Alicorn and immediately start abusing that power, or I'd turn someone who's quite strongly wronged me into an earth pony, but only if that's exactly what they DON'T want.

Alright, I'm not the kind of person who chooses best pony, so it doesn't really matter if I concede. So, yeah Trixie is best I guess.

We should team up, because the past 300 years is my weak point, except for WW1, so you'd cover for about 70-80 years of that.

Well.... I don't like theme parks. At all. So there's your answer.

It's the same answer that I would give if you asked who's your irl crush; I don't have one. I am quite lacking in emotional range, so the most you'll usually get from me is my attention and if you're lucky, friendship. WARNING: VERY major show Spoiler for Season 5:

A brief history of mankind, because all the other things I'm good at would be useless. That way we could establish what's different between a society of evolved pack hunters and a society of evolved herding herbivores (minus the whole magic thing).

She's not British, she's from Trottingham. Different places in different worlds.