What do you think of closet bronies?

[Justin_Case001 4,857]

It always makes me sad when I hear that someone is a closet brony.  Everypony should be able to be who they are, be proud, and not let fear stop them from liking what they want to like, and doing what they want to do.  Do I need to post Fluttershy's speech from the end of Filli Vanilli?  Ok, ok, I won't.

 

But I certainly understand why some people feel the need to hide it.  I would never resent someone for hiding it if they are sourrounded by a circle of intolerant, closed minded people.  What blows my mind is that the brony issue often really is that big of a deal.  We all like to believe and say that it isn't a big deal.  It certainly shouldn't be a big deal.  It's just a harmless cartoon show.  But the fact is, it is a big deal.  Us being here right now is proof enough of that.  Every thread asking for advice on how to tell one's parents, or whether or not to wear a shirt is proof.  As completely insane, shocking, and utterly flabbergasting as it is, the fact is that the response towards bronies often seems to be the same type and magnitude as the responses to LGBT issues.  I mean, neither issue should be a big deal, but holy sh*t dude, it's just a cartoon!  But it is a big deal, and it often takes a lot of courage to be open about it.

 

Whenever possible, we should all try to be open about it, and show by example that it's not a big deal.  But this isn't always feasible for everyone.  I am very lucky to have wonderful, accepting friends and family.  My mom is even a pegasister now.  I'm very thankful.  Not everyone is so lucky.  I hope that one day there won't be any hate.  Just remember: every time you wear an MLP shirt, you may well be helping to inspire a closet brony out there.

[Deathstroke 1,564]

My mom and some of my friends accepted me as for the rest of my family some will make fun of me but we still love each other

Edited July 10, 2014 by Desert guardian

[Phosphorous 135]

It makes me sad how some people are very judgemental to other peoples favorite cartoon, before they even watched a segment of them.

As for my sister, she calls people who like MLP "creepy weirdos", despite her fascination with another kid's show, Pokemon.

Well, I've even seen people her age (26) that watch Boobah, which I watched a few years ago, and have to admit, has no content besides spherical monsters dancing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJvHrx1X-Gk

 

Well, I was raised into a family that shunned watched sexual content on television. When even the Simpsons kissed, that was too suggestive, so the TV was changed to another channel. 

 

I do not like violence, such as in Breaking Bad, or first-person shooters. And, I do not like "romance" which quickly becomes dirty on TV shows. So, that eliminates most adult shows, besides PBS documentaries, which I do watch on occasion.

But, for fiction, I have to turn to kids shows. I'm 17 turning 18, by the way. They're not filled with filler shooting or romancing.

The unfortunate fact is that many children's' shows lack content. It is a rarity to come by one which the writers have cared much about it enough to not it let it become a "Spongebob Squarepants". My Little Pony is one of those good shows.

[SparklingSwirls 21,261]

I guess you could say that I'm a closet brony, even though I've lost some interest in the show.

 

It's not because I'm afraid that I'll be made fun of if people find out that I like MLP, but rather that I just don't like talking about myself and my interests that much. :/ When I'm with my real life friends we usually just talk about other things. I'm not a very big fan of the show, so I see no reason to tell anyone. But eh, that's just me.

[Hovershy 3,812]

I'm not really hiding the fact that I like the show anymore, I just don't usually going around telling people i'm a brony. But if I hear someone talking shit about bronies or ponies, i'm gonna say something. 

 

Especially if they're talking bad about Fluttershy!

[(MARVEL) Blue Blood 991]

I used to be a closet Brony, until my dad barged into my room and saw my desktop, which had Twilight on it. Thanks, Dad. -_-
As for school, I didn't tell anyone about it, out of fear that I would be the laughing stock of the school, but then I found people who loved the show as well, and I started wearing dog tags to school, and nobody gives me shit over it. It's a good thing too. Then again, this is the same guy who wears a Sonic hat to school everyday.

[Pinklady 345]

I don't care what other people think about me being a fan, but I just don't feel the need to tell to annyone else. Only a few know.
 

[baltoist 303]

Some people just need time.

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,090]

It's their choice. I hid it for a while, but then I stopped giving a care and my life didn't change one bit.

 

I understand some folks might be concerned about family, and I wasn't sure how my would react, but I didn't care how they would react. I knew however they took it, we'd still be family afterwards. It's just a cartoon show, after all.

[MechanicalDoom 300]

Being a closet brony is a good thing. A lot of people you encounter will make fun of you and stuff for being a brony. I highly regret revealing me being a brony to people at school because people don't seem to understand why I'm a brony. Some people are mature and won't judge, but others just see it as a flashing beacon that says HEY MAKE FUN OF THIS GUY. I bring up the show sometimes and I know it annoys people, but I try to just not bring it up. There's literally only 1 brony and 2 pegasisters at my school that I know, and one pegasister isn't even a friend of mine. Some things are better kept to yourself in certain situations.

Edited January 23, 2015 by MechanicalDoom

[1111 1,284]

I as a closet brony can only say I dislike closet bronys that mess with other bronys to protect them selfs, I would be open but the family I have to live with would ridicule especially my grandma she'd call me queer. The town I live in I would get laughed at too much. 

\ 

[High Step 46]

To me, it is all personal choice, but if one were to chart the differances, one would see something like this:

 

1a) Likes to watch series

1b) Loves the series

2a) Has some merchandise

2b) Has wearable mercandise

3a) Tell others if asked

3b) Tell others unasked

 

 

It is all choices, I tend to fall into cats 1b, 2a and 3a.

 

Thus I am degree 1.33, or slightly above closet.

Edited January 23, 2015 by High Step

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

I dont find the need to tell anyone (esp. friends who dont approve, i mean if they dont like mlp why tell them about it? They obv. dont wanna hear about mlp) and none of the merchandise is desirable to me, so technically im a closet brony, but my electronics, save for my second phone, have mlp backgrounds, and my binder sports a pic i drew of sunset shimmer so i def. dont hide it.

 

So i totally understand why people do want to hide it, because i have a reputation that can ne tarnished by disapproving people (friends see me as a paragon of american patriotism and chillness)

Edited January 23, 2015 by NotoriousSMALL

[legionbrony 106]

I've never been in the closet, I just don't broadcast it.  So far, nobody I've told has been like "wow, that looks awesome!  I'd love to try it!"

 

In fact, about 80% of people have made fun of me for it.  But you know what?  I don't care.  And when you don't care, people don't make fun of you.  My parents asked me why I liked it, and were confused, and probably wondering if I was closet gay or something.  My brother tried to tell everyone he knew to embarrass me out of it, because I was embarrassing HIM by liking it.  My sisters tried to turn it into an insult.  Even my friends made fun of me, and apparently I 'lost 50% of my respect I had' that day.  But after about two weeks of not caring, they all gave up and laid off, and now nobody comments on it at all unless I bring it up, which I rarely do except to annoy my brother occasionally.  I'm still friends with those people, I still have the same relationship with my family I always did.

 

So there you go.  The problem isn't that people aren't accepting, because most people won't be.  The problem is that people don't know how to deal with bullies or people not accepting something about them.  If they wanna stop being friends cause you're a brony, good riddance.  I don't need friends that shallow.  And most of the time, people will only care for a week at most anyways.  Then they'll forget about it, the novelty of someone liking MLP will be gone, and you'll just be you again, just with the added trait of liking ponies.

Edited January 23, 2015 by legionbrony

[Snow Frostflame 3,567]

The Closet Brony/Pegasister need to stop hiding who they truly, are they need to embrace it and stopping being something they aren't. our fandom has existed for years it will come to little to no surprise to anyone to see another Brony/Pegasister. people will accept you for who you are and if they don't then ignore them, that's how I've been living and everyone still treats me the same

[Gearbox10mm 794]

I don't see the need to shout from the rooftops that you are a brony. Rubbing something in other peoples faces is more likely to turn them against you than not. 

 

I mean, it's nothing to be ashamed of to like a cartoon but do you feel the need to tell everyone you know about all of the other cartoons you like? In the end, MLP is no different than something like pokemon or anime. Not everyone is going to like it or even accept it, you've got to know how to pick your battles. 

 

If the subject were to be brought up I would do my best to defend it but until then it's a none issue to me. A cartoon dose not define me as a person and it should not determine how other people see me.

[legionbrony 106]

I don't see the need to shout from the rooftops that you are a brony. Rubbing something in other peoples faces is more likely to turn them against you than not.

 

I mean, it's nothing to be ashamed of to like a cartoon but do you feel the need to tell everyone you know about all of the other cartoons you like? In the end, MLP is no different than something like pokemon or anime. Not everyone is going to like it or even accept it, you've got to know how to pick your battles.

I wish everyone felt that way. People who are in your face about anything, whether it's ponies or their sexuality or their favorite football team, really get on my nerves. Edited January 24, 2015 by legionbrony

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,152]

Closet bronies are fine. I guess under that definition I MIGHT be a closet brony...maybe not.

 

I mean, it's not something I hide if I'm asked, but I don't really show it off IRL outside of my keychain. People really don't know my interests in general, so...does that make me a closet nerd or what?

[Tom Snyder 4,111]

I told friends and relatives about it, wasn't ashamed of it either. 

[Holiday Agnaktor 1,435]

Well, I'm a closet brony, but I'm trying to let my classmates know in a good way, but they just can't take hints. I've drawn a lot of pony related stuff, one time evn writing DJ Pon3 next to it, and they still have no clue at all... *sigh*

[ShadowPirateX 600]

As a closet brony myself, I really can't say anything negative about them. I can relate to not wanting to reveal something about yourself that will likely get you ridiculed. And thus, it really irks me when people say "Just admit it already". Yeah, because getting constantly ridiculed is something we definently want in our lives. Might as well start wearing signs that say "Kick me!".

[zombienixon 330]

Some people don't really like to draw attention to themselves, and seeing someone wearing MLP stuff or talking about it who isn't a little girl is going to get noticed one way or another. Since when exactly was it a bad thing to keep some parts of yourself from other people, especially when those people will have no interest in what you like and are more likely to mock you for it? Not to mention the inevitable explanations to people who have no clue what this fandom even is and why it exists. 

 

If you want to advertise that you're a brony and if it's worth the potential embarrassment to you, fine, but it's not worth it to others.

God knows I've made an ass of myself enough times to want to avoid the experience if at all possible.  Some of us just prefer to keep this info to people who have the same interest or people who are in no place to judge themselves.

 

Not to mention, in many school and work environments, you are likely going to be known by your most prominent trait. I don't think everyone wants to be known as "the pony guy/girl".  

[Mesme Rize 15,681]

I was never a closet brony, because i was pretty much open about it just a few weeks after i started watching the show.

 

The thing however is, that was in the year 2011 and i was already 21, meaning i was already out of school. School is not really a place of understanding. Many young closet bronies are in fear of being mocked at school, which i can very much understand. The other people who are my age and closet bronies, probably are just generally shy, have fear of their family and friends not accepting them and/or have fear of what the people in the street think of them (if they wear brony shirts for example.)

[Thunderlane 550]

My story is almost the same as yours mate

[CosmicMelody2112 209]

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Edited April 27, 2023 by CosmicMelody2112