Question : Does a fandom name help determine if you join the fandom or not?

[Envy 6,169]

I've never referred to myself by fandom titles. However, I will say I was always very adverse to calling myself a 'Brony', and, yes, originally just because of the title (aside from the fact that I don't refer to myself by fandom titles). Although it may be minor, I've never liked masculine terms being set as gender-neutral. It's just one of many ways that society still hammers it into our heads that masculinity is supposed to be the default.

 

However, either way I would have come to be bothered by the fandom in the end, and disassociate myself with it anyway.

[Argumedies 1,748]

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

 

Its called Shakespeare, one of the original super fan based mega stars for whom would be just as popular had they called it "Bill's Poetic Plays"

Edited August 18, 2014 by Argumedies

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

It's ironic because the originators of the term brony don't call themselves that anymore.

I think we should refer to ourselves as '20% cooler' that way we don't even have to associate as a community unless we choose.

 

Like saying 'I'm a christian' instead you could say 'I'm 20% cooler'

When asked about your religion you could also say 'do you even praise the sun?'

[Stuffy Hooves 143]

I don'think so.. as long as the fan's passion for the media doesn't change.. I think it pretty much depends on the producers and creators and the quality of the media.. yup.. 

[Sceethe 704]

it definitely affects wether someone becomes interested in a fandom or not.

 

ponybro sounds incredibly dumb, i wouldnt like to label myself as that.

but i dont think much better of the word "brony" either, but that at least doesnt sound like it was invented by a 5-year-old

[Satsuki Kiryuin 1,155]

Like saying 'I'm a christian' instead you could say 'I'm 20% cooler' When asked about your religion you could also say 'do you even praise the sun?'

 

Hah, I could see that as a good joke, but it may be quite the issue if you were to take it seriously. Would you have been more interested in the fandom at first if it was called '20% Cooler'?

 

 

 

You are not alone. Many share this opinion. Maybe something can be done of this.

 

Do you suppose a fanbase name-change could work out even when this fandom is as massive as it is currently?

 

 

 

It would be a balancing act. If you did have a fandom name that was to extreme it would negativily effect how the fandom is perceived in the social sphere and thus how large it becomes. Anyone that argues otherwise just doesn't have experience nor schooling in basic sociology. So a fandoms "name" can certainly affect your perception of said fandom, since your reality is only just your perception it would have an effect on if you partake in the fandom or not. As for ponybro, it sounds just about as juvinille as brony so I doubt using that name would have much if any mesurable effects on the size of the population. However, had the fandom stuck to its 4chan roots and called itself something like "horsefuckers" (inb4 ban hue) then such a extreme name would carry negative conotations and thus adversly effect the size of your fandom. Anyone who says that is fandom would be as big as it is regardless of name is wrong as to extreme or forgin sounding a name can give the group negative conotations.

 

The fandom should have been named after you. :DDDDD

 

 

 

It's ironic because the originators of the term brony don't call themselves that anymore.

 

The name was never meant to be taken seriously, after all.

 

(I want to be cool and have my own colour like Chikorita sooooo.. :3)

Edited August 18, 2014 by Otty~

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

Hah, I could see that as a good joke, but it may be quite the issue if you were to take it seriously. Would you have been more interested in the fandom at first if it was called '20% Cooler'?

 

Yes approximately 20% more interested.

Beats 'Brony' which sounds creepy to me.

[Oblivion 20,267]

Speaking from my own experience in this whole thing, I would say that if someone joins a fandom just because the name sounds cool then they are just trying to be "trendy" and might not be getting the most out of the fandom. But then again it's the same when you go to buy headphones, or most technological items, if the packaging looks cool then people are going to be much more likely to give said product a shot. The same can be said about the brony fandom, some people might join at first in an attempt to be "trendy, or cool" but then later become a genuine fan.

Hah, I could see that as a good joke, but it may be quite the issue if you were to take it seriously. Would you have been more interested in the fandom at first if it was called '20% Cooler'?

 

 

 

 

Do you suppose a fanbase name-change could work out even when this fandom is as massive as it is currently?

 

 

 

 

The fandom should have been named after you. :DDDDD

 

 

 

 

The name was never meant to be taken seriously, after all.

 

(I want to be cool and have my own colour like Chikorita sooooo.. :3)

Yea, pretty sure that the term now is mostly used outside the fandom to describe us. Or it is sometimes just easier to ask "Are you a brony?" rather than "Do you like ponies?".

[Shadowking58 1,137]

I dunno. I think "Brony" was a term chosen because it sounded the best. Going by that logic, regardless of what title was chosen, it would have been decided as the best title. So I don't think there would have been much impact on that side of things.

 

However, when it comes down to the individual, it's entirely up to chance. Some may like the term "Brony" because it's more subtle or interesting than "Ponybro". However, considering the fanbase is more about the content, rather than the title we go by, I doubt there'd be much of a difference in its popularity.

Actually, the term brony comes from the /b/ Forum on 4chan.

It was a combination of /b/ and Pony. Not Bro and Pony. Surprisingly.

[WindShear 543]

The name of a fandom isn't very important to me. If it was I might not have joined this fandom, as I don't particularly like the name "Brony".

[LostButterflyUtau 780]

Personally, I think fandom names are ridiculous and can be kind of stupid. Like, WHY do you need a name to prove you're a fan of something? Can't you just say "I'm a fan of...[insert thing here]." Because, personally, I don't like to be labeled based on my fandoms...not until someone really gets to know me as a person anyway, because sometimes, people hear certain fandoms names and just run. (I tend to do it with Whovians and Potterheads, because I had a really bad experience with an ex-friend who was both of those things, and scary-weird. Plus, to me, both those fandoms are kinda scary...)

 

For me, the name of the fandom doesn't matter in terms of whether I'll be active in it or not (because you can be a fan of something and not be active in the fandom), rather, I put emphasis on the actions of the fandoms AND how invested I am in the programme. Personally, I stay away from ANYTHING that has one of those BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG fandoms (especially if the fandom is full of stupid, teenage fangirls (You know the ones!)) because it's often just too much and kind of scary... For example, I like Game of Thrones, but the fandom is too big and crazy for me as a casual viewer, so I tend to stay out of most of it and just look at the graphics and read the fanfiction I like with the ONLY pairing I support (I'm not big into shipping in general...but...Robbaery for life, son!), especially since I haven't bothered to figure out the politics of that world in any way because I choose not to. I'm also not BIG into fantasy. Now, I'm not saying this is bad. If someone wants to be really into something big, go on ahead, I just don't. I'm more of a quiet fangirl most of the time.

 

However, on the other end there's the cult fandoms that I'm in, namely the one for BBC's Silk. There's not a lot of us and we're kind of small, but we're fiercely loyal to our show and characters. (At least, I am. The rest of the fandom hates me.) It's a little less crazy here and I'm more invested, so I'm more active and have spent hours in watching the show and really digging into the characters and their stories. I've picked them apart and put them back together with elaborate back stories and spent HOURS reading up on the British legal system. But, there are even parts of this fandom I have to stay out of, because I don't feel like fighting with the schoolgirls who fail to understand and listen to my POV despite my research.

 

In short, I think it's the investment in the show and the actions of the fandom that are more important. People who are more invested tend to be more active and people who are less invested (like me) are a little less active, but we're still here and we count too. However, if I'm less invested, I'm not going to pretend like I understand something when I don't/haven't done the research and end up starting stupid internet fights like many fangirls do. But if I do know what I'm talking about...you might want to watch out. (Especially if it involves Anne Boleyn. I can write circles around a good handful of people on this subject.)

Edited August 19, 2014 by LostButterflyUtau

[Tao 7,846]

When it comes to any of the fandoms

I love or have a interest in like Anime/Manga

or TMNT or such things,  I never went

by a label if anything at all.   I liked MLP

before I knew what a brony was and the

slang that pops up and all.   Personally

I just like the show and the souls I have

met along the way and love sharing

things from making OCs,  the light humor

and the deep talks about the details of

the show itself!   Dont get got in a label,

just have fun in the fandom!

[Satsuki Kiryuin 1,155]

 

 

Personally, I think fandom names are ridiculous and can be kind of stupid. Like, WHY do you need a name to prove your a fan of something?

 

I find it's more of a way for people to identify fans of shows, not in anyway intended to prove you're part of a fandom.

 

 

 

In short, I think it's the investment in the show and the actions of the fandom that are more important.

 

Well said, but if a fandom was terribly named, would you be hesitant to join it?

[Oblivion 20,267]

Actually, the term brony comes from the /b/ Forum on 4chan.

It was a combination of /b/ and Pony. Not Bro and Pony. Surprisingly.

That's exactly what I wanted to say, just forgot how I Was going to word it!

[LostButterflyUtau 780]

I find it's more of a way for people to identify fans of shows, not in anyway intended to prove you're part of a fandom.

 

 

 

 

Well said, but if a fandom was terribly named, would you be hesitant to join it?

No. Like I said, choosing to be part of a fandom or not part of it based upon a name is stupid And I never know fandoms have names until AFTER I join them. Plus, since a lot of my fandoms are not a BIG part of pop culture, they don't have names. Because, in case you haven't noticed, it tends to be the BIG, loud fandoms and celebrities who have fan names. In fact, I know of very few who actually do.

 

Anyway, ever heard that actions speak louder than words? Well, they speak louder than names too. I mean, I'm a HUGE fan of Natalie Dormer (As in, I'm IN LOVE with her! She's a goddess!), and a handful of her fans have recently decided to call themselves "Dormerists," which I personally think is stupid, so I don't use it. However, that DOES NOT mean I'm going to stop being a part of the community! Why? Because, from what I've seen, it's a good place to be fandom wise. I don't see a whole lot of hate. People who just wanna fap? Yes. But, that's expected when you're fanning a pretty, female actress. But no big, outlandish haters or any of your typical fandoms fights of who's a better fan than who...Or people who will legitimately threaten people who do not "bow to our queen" or some stupid stuff like that. We're all just part of it to appreciate Natalie and her acting and I like that.

 

As I said (And thought I made clear), I don't like fandoms names in general and I don't use them, but I'm also NOT turned off by them. If someone wants to call themselves by a stupid name, they can go ahead. But, as far as I'm concerned it's the actions of the fanbase, not the name that need to be considered. A fandom could have the dumbest name ever, and I could still be in it because I like the community, but on the other end, another fandom could have no generalised name and I'm not involved much...Because I'm not as invested in the show.  

[Satsuki Kiryuin 1,155]

 

 

No. Like I said, choosing to be part of a fandom or not part of it based upon a name is stupid

 

It's true that choosing to be a part of a fandom or not all because of a name the fandom is identified as is rather silly, but would you not agree that it's possible the name of the fandom helps influence a person's decision? Like Maiq said earlier, names truly can impact a person's choice.

[LostButterflyUtau 780]

It's true that choosing to be a part of a fandom or not all because of a name the fandom is identified as is rather silly, but would you not agree that it's possible the name of the fandom helps influence a person's decision? Like Maiq said earlier, names truly can impact a person's choice.

 

Yes, depending on the view of the individual person, the name can affect their decision. There's really no, overall generalised answer. I mean, personally, I don't let names determine my fandom status, but maybe Joe down the street does and that's okay. It's his life and his fandoms.

Edited August 19, 2014 by LostButterflyUtau

[Unikitty 1,212]

Actually, the term brony comes from the /b/ Forum on 4chan.

It was a combination of /b/ and Pony. Not Bro and Pony. Surprisingly.

I know this. I wasn't stating where it came from. Just that the reason it became the chosen term was because it was preferred over others. In fact, if memory serves correctly, the thread actually suggested "PonyBro" beforehand, only to lose place to "Brony".