The Maturity Within the Fandom

[Afty 20]

It's safe to say that this fandom has been around for a while, (Not compared to many others, but, in my own opinion.)

And, as time went on I've noticed a big decline in how mature the fandom was, I still love this fandom even though I've become less involved over time, which may be the cause of me seeing many members of the fandom as immature.

 

     I think it is due to the fact that the fandom being around for so long, that it has passed its 'Golden Age' and peak in creativity, and that the fandom also has been around so long that it's gaining many members, and more members means more vocal members, more vocal members means more drama, then eventually everyone is yelling incoherently because no one can hear over other people yelling.

 

What do you think of the fandom now compared to when you first joined the fandom?

Edited June 24, 2014 by Afty

[Magical Anarchy 177]

Wouldn't this better suit a blog post? What are you asking?

[Evil Nightmares 552]

Sad but, i have to agree with you. While the fandom is great, not every member is. But i guess every fandom has it's "not so great" members and "not so shinning" moments. But fandom develops differently.

[Afty 20]

Wouldn't this better suit a blog post? What are you asking?

Thanks for mentioning this, I edited the post.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

What you're saying is "More numbers more bs". Same goes for crime and everything creative or not... Tell me something i DON'T know.

[Shanks 10,816]

I chalk it up to the fandom growing, in large groups you tend to have a lot of bad apples but I think that it only seems like they are the majority because those voices often tend to be the loudest. You also get more conflict with more voices entering the fray, differences of opinion are inevitable and there is nothing wrong with that so long as it remains civil but even under the best circumstances that will not always be the case. It isn't all bad though as one positive change I have noticed is that there are more people starting to realize how ridiculous it is to hate on an scapegoat the "dark" side of the fandom.

 

I have noticed on this site more and more people either admitting that they clop or saying that they don't but don't have a problem with people that do it for example. It is still a point of contention and probably always will be which is baffling to me but that is at least one thing that seems to be getting better. I think we all just need to stay positive, try not to let the jackasses get to us and just enjoy the parts about the fandom that we like.

[Magical Anarchy 177]

Thanks for mentioning this, I edited the post.

You're welcome

 

On topic: Yes, the fandom has changed from its early days, and yes, there will always be those Bronies who aren't mature, but every day, we get more and more new people who are some of the most mature people I've met. And thats only 1st impression! While the glory days are gone, our future still looks bright.

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

All fandoms pass their "Golden Age"...and will change overtime. XD

[Miles 2,512]

I actually don't think it has passed it's golden age just yet.  Think of it this way: Whether or not some newcomers to the fandom are "bad apples," there are still alot of good ones, too, thus, widening the potential extra amount of awesomeness that could possibly come from the good old fans as well as the good new fans...  Human nature has it that we subconsciously react more to negative stimuli as compared to positive stimuli, but if you slow down and analyze things more carefully, you'll see that there's a majority more good [fans] than bad.  I therefore believe that there really is still a good year, maybe even 2 years left of MLP fandom's Golden Age...  

[Justin_Case001 4,897]

I haven't been a part of that many online communities or forums, but I have to say that this one is the most mature, not to mention the most accepting and tolerant that I've found.  You're always going to have some immature folks wherever you go, but on the whole, I am proud to be a part of this community.

[Pinkamena-Pills 6,839]

I haven't been part of the 'fandom' for long,however i will say you guys are pretty darn mature compared to what i was use to in various anime fandoms ive followed.

 

I honestly don't feel the fandom is getting 'less mature' but more 'vocal' due to a lot of members,the more people just means more chances for drama. 

 

I don't know this 'golden age' you speak of,but i personally don't feel like im in a fandom that's past its glory days.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Honestly, aside from the the ocassional blowup on EQD over something, the bronyhood is really one of the most calm and positive.

 

Compare that to some soccer & IndyCar fans and I think bronies have a bit of an edge there.

[Afty 20]

Honestly, aside from the the ocassional blowup on EQD over something, the bronyhood is really one of the most calm and positive.

 

 

Compare that to some soccer & IndyCar fans and I think bronies have a bit of an edge there.

I'm with you when comparing it to sports, but, go to a popular YouTube video, look through some comments, you're bound to find someone saying something like 'Le 20% cooler xDxDxD'

You're not likely to see a soccer fan on a popular video not about soccer post about how they want their team to win.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Afty

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I'm with you when comparing it to sports, but, go to a popular YouTube video, look through some comments, you're bound to find someone saying something like 'Le 20% cooler xDxDxD'

You're not likely to see a soccer fan on a popular video not about soccer post about how they want their team to win.

 

It's not that hard to see fans of one sport invading the comment section of another video unrelated to their sport. Such as:

 

FOOTBALL SUKS

 

SOCCER IS GAY

 

WATCH A REAL SPORT

 

MESSI WOULDN'T LAST IN A REAL FOOTBALL GAME

 

RACE CAR DRIVERS ARE NOT ATHLETES

 

I HATE BASKETBALL BECAUSE OF BLACKS NOW, THEY RUINED IT

 

And so on. I have seen some negative things from bronies, but from my experience, extreme sports fans are MUCH worse.

 

Of course, we're talking about YouTube comment sections...aka, the cesspool of the internet.

[Afty 20]

It's not that hard to see fans of one sport invading the comment section of another video unrelated to their sport. Such as:

 

FOOTBALL SUKS

 

SOCCER IS GAY

 

WATCH A REAL SPORT

 

MESSI WOULDN'T LAST IN A REAL FOOTBALL GAME

 

RACE CAR DRIVERS ARE NOT ATHLETES

 

I HATE BASKETBALL BECAUSE OF BLACKS NOW, THEY RUINED IT

 

And so on. I have seen some negative things from bronies, but from my experience, extreme sports fans are MUCH worse.

 

Of course, we're talking about YouTube comment sections...aka, the cesspool of the internet.

I'm talking about sport stuff in places where sports are not related at all, I agree with you in it being the cesspool of the Internet, so let's just agree to disagree

[Banul 3,831]

I havent been here for long, but so far this fandom is miles better than anything that I've experienced. I don't see people fighting very often, at least on this forum. So, while we're sure to have som bad apples, I wouldnt worry about it too much

[baltoist 303]

This fandom will never be mature.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

Bronies have been around for roughly four years at this point. If they have passed their golden age already then that's just sad. The best times in the brony fandom should still be ahead of it. I think no matter that there are some aggressively immature people in the fandom, it is still overall quite mature to be able to overlook criticism of a particular program and still find enjoyment in it. To let others define ourselves and to acquiesce to conformity is what is truly immature.

[Carbon Maestro 1,003]

 

 

What do you think of the fandom now compared to when you first joined the fandom?

Been to a few conventions, and I do have to say that for the most part, bronies are more mature than college parties that I've been to (Not to bash college parties as well). There is this one instance at EQLA when a crowd waiting in line for a concert got a bit "rowdy," enough that Con security got a notice from the hosts (This convention is next to a hotel lobby, which is in a hotel, btw), but to be honest I learned that immaturity is spontaneous, can be nullified, and is just a symptom of society as a whole. I think if you're actively seeking stupid people (i.e., hanging out with them), you're bound to find stupid people.

[wowowowo 132]

I don't see what people mean by we have passed the golden Age. You mean when being a brony was taboo and all the news stations were potraying us as weirdos who live in thier moms basements and everyone was either a brony,didn't know about bronies or haters. This is the golden age now that people realise that if they don't like us we don't give a rats *** and more and more bronies are poking in

[Afty 20]

I don't see what people mean by we have passed the golden Age. You mean when being a brony was taboo and all the news stations were potraying us as weirdos who live in thier moms basements and everyone was either a brony,didn't know about bronies or haters. This is the golden age now that people realise that if they don't like us we don't give a rats *** and more and more bronies are poking in

I have to strongly disagree with this.

In the beginning it was about loving a show, not work, not anything but the show. In my opinion the Golden Age was when we were portrayed as losers, when it wasn't a common thing, but when nobody went around with shirts expressing their love for a show.

Back when the term Brony was a trigger for hatred because no one knew what it meant.

I liked it back when we were a nice little cult group of people no one knew about, because it made it more special to connect with someone who was a Brony in any community.

[Banul 3,831]

I have to strongly disagree with this.

In the beginning it was about loving a show, not work, not anything but the show. In my opinion the Golden Age was when we were portrayed as losers, when it wasn't a common thing, but when nobody went around with shirts expressing their love for a show.

Back when the term Brony was a trigger for hatred because no one knew what it meant.

I liked it back when we were a nice little cult group of people no one knew about, because it made it more special to connect with someone who was a Brony in any community.

I dont understand, you liked it better when bronies were universally hated? Or that it was better when nobody felt comfortable expressing their love for the show? That doesn't make sense, man. I get that adversity can bring about a certain kind of bond, bit I'm pretty sure it's better to be accepted and confortable with what we do. We can bond plenty in that situation too.

 

 

And besides, we're sill probably portrayed as losers.

[Eloquence 2,076]

I don't think any fandom has an overall "maturity level". A fandom isn't even a real group, all we're tied together by is mutual interest in a show. Whether fondness for that show indicates a certain level of maturity is hard to say. 

 

Since I don't consider there to be any real fandom community, I suppose all I can really talk about is communities within the fandom, which are quite varied. This community shows a very different maturity level from the 4chan community, which is in turn different from the tumblr community, which is in turn different from the reddit community. I think that's what people forget most in any discussion of fandoms, that the fandom community on a particular site is likely to be more influenced by the site than by the fandom's source work. 

 

I think that's my answer, convoluted as it may be

[Adorkable 2,737]

The difference between now and when I first joined the heard isn't too surprising.

 

When I first became a Brony, I had no idea what kind of fan base the show had formed, something told me it was a nice one though.

 

And it was/is! A very very nice one, so happy to be apart of it. ^^

[Midnight_Melody 75]

In our fandom there is a wide range of age groups. Just like in any fandom there will always be those who seem more mature than others.