Wishing Star

According to Miles' rating system, I'm happy to say I'm a 9.5 But by my own standards, I think I'm more of an 8, because I find the fandom more interesting to watch than the show. Still I thoroughly enjoy both the show and being a part of the fandom!

I think this says it all. And also this: I watched "Bronies" and I don't remember anyone referencing 9/11, but that's probably because people talk about our "post-9/11 world" all the time to explain the current trends in culture/politics/economy/etc. I'm pretty sure no one actually became a Brony in direct reaction to of 9/11, but that doesn't mean it hasn't influenced our behavior and lifestyles. I have a very cynical perspective on this world myself, but MLP is an surprisingly bright and happy relief from all the ugly.

First of all, I wish you all the best with your project! It sounds very interesting and a great way to explain Bronies to others. I'm not very deep into the world of fanfiction yet, mostly because I'm still relatively new to the fandom, and I haven't even watched all the episodes yet *gasp!* much less had time to delve into everything else the fandom has to offer. But I'll answer what I can! Also, I would be more than happy to do a Skype interview, but you'll probably find someone more involved with fanfic to talk to! 1. I enjoy writing, but I have yet to write an MLP fanfic. I have a few ideas, mostly alternate endings to episodes. 2. I really loved Aurora by PonyholicsAnonymous. It presented some great theories on the origin of alicorns as well as how their magic works. On top of that it was a great adventure story. 3. The presence of magic is a huge plus for me, as I've always been interested in fantasy worlds and stories. Also, the effort made to create a world where sentient ponies actually make sense and thrive is impressive. For example, the little vocabularly quirks like "somepony," or doing things like getting their hooves polished. 4. Although I haven't writing an fanfic, I have created an OC and I am starting to participate in forum roleplay. For me it's a way to feel like I'm part of Equestria, but also to practice writing. If I were to write a fanfic, I think it would be different. Most of the ideas I've had definitely bear my personal cynicism...I guess it's my way of reinterpreting MLP stories in the "real world." 5. I think anyone who enjoys watching the show and considers themselves a Brony is a Brony. Fanfiction contributes to the fandom. If nothing else, it brings together fandom members and provides a topic of discussion. I would say that people who create any kind of fan art are more likely to have a stronger sense of identity as a Brony. They are spending more time on the show and immersing themselves more deeply into the world. 6. No answer. 7. I definitely prefer stories that are different than the show in some way, whether they be dark, strange, or just highly unlikely. I guess I feel that if I want to see something like the original show, I'll just watch the original show. When I go looking for fan creations, I like finding people's unique perspective on the world. 8. I don't have an answer for this, but I'm very interested in what others have to say. I've tried to explain the fandom to a few different people, but mostly just got a blase response. Maybe they just weren't the right people?

I stand corrected about his growth, I mis-remembered Zecora's explanation of that. About his egg, I've always been curious about how the ponies got his egg to begin with. Does the school regularly raid dragon nests for their exams? Do they have a dragon breeding program? Or a foster dragon program? I know the relationships between different species in MLP is usually pretty friendly, like the cows that live on Sweet Apple Acres. It's just too easy to interpret the ponies as humans, in which case using the egg of a sentient being for an exam and subsequently adopting without any mention of it's parentage seems wrong. I agree that Twilight and Spike love each other, but that doesn't mean she's always aware of his feelings, if only because she tends to get overly wrapped in her own projects.

Hear, hear! Thanks for your point of view!

@@BronyNumber42, Ah, ic. But I'm sorry to hear that, and sorry for just tossing out frivolous platitudes without thinking.

Hm... you raise a good point. Do we need a new term to replace "Feminist?" Something that doesn't sound like it's just another kind of extreme?

On second thought, after rewatching a bit, it seems that they Twilight giving them their Elements was essential for their return to their true selves. Makes sense since magic changed them in the first place, they would need some magic in order to revert back. Through the process Cape described they could have realized what their real strengths and talents were, but the presence of the incorrect Cutie Marks would still have confused them and left them in doubt. Of course they would make it to Twilight Sparkle eventually, but the whole process would take much longer.

Interesting! I think this is a very probable outcome, considering that the Magic of Friendship is already strong among all of them.

I take that to mean you're 20? Give it a few more years! I think I was about 22 when I finally made it out of adolescent hell <3 <3 <3

I appreciate that you support gender equality and support women. However please be careful of how you define feminism. It is a movement that was vilified early on, and thus people tend to believe all feminists are bra-burning, lesbian man haters (as I was taught and also believed for much of my life). Try reading some of the posts in the Pro-Feminism thread on this site, and you'll see most Feminists only want equality and tolerance just like you.