Brony General Questions-please help I'm doing a college research paper

[kdmjorgen 3]

Hello! I am trying to learn more about the Brony fan base. I love my little pony, I have since I was a child. I am new to the Brony culture and wanted to write about it for my research paper. I am here to learn more about this amazing group of people, not to judge! If you are able to could you answer any of the following questions?

 

Also please state your gender and age if you would like.

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

 

All answers will be anonymous and only done so I can get a better and more appropriate understanding of the fans. I only know things that I hear or read, not anything directly from the viewers themselves. Please help me if you can!

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

@@kdmjorgen

 

Just to let you know I moved your survey from the Fan Clubs section to Sugarcube Corner; which is a more fitting place for briny-centered topics.

 

Also in regards to this question:

 

 

 

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

 

Let's keep this answer to the point and not let it expand to a full-on debate. All clop-related discussions go to the proper thread in Debate Pit.

 

Thanks.

[Odyssey 5,716]

1. The refreshing spin compared to most shows is what I find the best about MLP:FiM. Normally you have to put up with how cynical real life can be, but MLP:FiM instead makes Equestria utopian-like without forcing it down your throat. Other things I like are the stories and the character designs.

I am not sexually attracted to ponies. However, I do not have a problem with other people if they are attracted to ponies.

While I don't think that MLP:FiM is the best cartoon, I do love how relaxed of a show it is. Rather than going for grand stories that are poorly executed, you instead get episodes based around slice-of-life, and most of the time slice-of-life stories tend to be more better as it allows characters to be at their very best.

The brony community is a community that I'm glad to stick around with. Although I am aware that not all of them are perfect, I've never seen a community as welcoming and sociable as the brony community. I also love the amount of content this community has made, whether it be music, animations or plush dolls.

That you can be yourself without being judged. Of course they'll be people that'll judge you, but from my experience it doesn't happen at all. It's another reason why this community is more sociable.

It was around August/September 2011 when I've first heard of MLP:FiM and bronies. At first I was sick of seeing it everywhere, but a few months later I decided to check out what the fuss is all about. Since May 2012, I wasn't afraid to call myself a brony.

[Bendy 1,821]

1) The story line, the characters and the beautiful animation. 

 

2) Ponies got big, nice.... uhhh never mind. Also being a Mass Effect fan, I consider them sapient aliens. So I would date them.

 

3) Well, I don't any show similar to it. So I can't really answer that question.

 

4) Some are cool, some are nice. And some are real jerks.

 

5) Being part of a large fandom.

 

6) Crossovers of Futurama fan art.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Bendy

[Magnum Flare 553]

(well this is a coincidence, I'm doing a college research paper too)

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

The best thing is that I like them, even if it's a kids show as people say. I've been pushed down by my family to not like it, but I'd still watch it, as long as they don't see it. The show gives a lot of happiness that I needed.

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

No. As much as attractive they are, I'm not attracted to them. They are hnnng material though.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

I can't say anything about this, since I barely watch other cartoons (except Legend of Korra).

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Friendly. Outgoing. Fun. Pretty much a good friend.

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

The fact that a man like me can like something like this is in my opinion, the best thing. A lot of people hate it due to THAT kind of brony.

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I heard it from a high school friend of mine who left my high school after 10th grade. Sometime after that, whenever I checked FB, I found him posting cute ponies. I kinda like it. Then when I arrived in Seattle, USA. I caught wind and then watched from Netflix my big brother shared to me. About 8-10 episode in and I'm hooked.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Definitely Not Udyr

[alpinefroggy 451]

1. I'd say it's a show that a grown man can love but is meant for a much younger audience. It's the writing, the story the characters they are simple enough for younger audiences to understand but make the show feel much more sophisticated for older audiences to enjoy as well without feeling shallow. Its is happy light and fun and fantastical. Exactly what I want

 

2.oh god no. I wouldn't ever consider liking them in that way

 

3. More deep and thus interesting as a show designed for a young audience than just about any other show I have encountered

 

4. Friendly and conscientious of other bronies and their problems that are sometimes mutual

 

5. The fact I can confide in other people in something so outside of the demographic the show was designed for and not feel weird about it

 

6 heard about bronies in 2012-13 and had some friends involved in the show. Never really payed attention until this December and I downloaded and tried the show for myself on whim and then became a brony.

Edited April 17, 2015 by alpinefroggy

[Qliphoth 28]

 Everything for science my friend!

 

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

Many things: Deep characters, great history lines, good animation and great music. However, when all of this is together you get a great show and that's what i would say is the best thing: It's good and not many shows have the thing MLP has these days.

 

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

 I wouln't lie about this, believe me, but to me that's not the case... however there are many people who do and that is none of my bussiness. (however they're cute, but cute isn't sexualy attractive).

 

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

 It does what it has to do and some more, it's simple yet deep when you think about it, it's funny, yet it's also very touching as i say before, there are many things that make this show great.

 

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

People whom like a show, that's it. There are many kinds of people in this world, i can't say: "All bronies are..." so let's leave it at that.

 

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

 Hmmm...  You can enjoy many things coming from other bronies and be a part of something huge... 

 

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

 A friend on the phone told me about it and i gave it a shoot a few years ago.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Qliphoth

[MLG4Ever 876]

Male, 14

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

The life lessons/ morals in it!

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

...yes (do not ask me why)

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Awesome!

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

Probably everything that this fandom has to offer and they do accept everyone no matter the reglion, race, sexual preference and other things like that!

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I 1st herd about them when my friend WickedWiz (BronyLauren) was tweeting about her experience at a pony con in Australia! then one of BronyDanceParty's PMVs poped up on my recommend section on YouTube!

[Thorn O Discord 118]

Wow, awesome to see some interest in mlp for once. (It's a very small fandom, you see)

 

1st) I love how cohesive the community is, it's unique to mlp. It's also very, open, friendly and diverse.

 

2nd) Not any more than a burnt cheese sandwich. The porn you find on the internet is produced in a way that gives ponies the genitals of people, something many people overlook. Besides, most of it is made to be a joke anyway.

 

4th) The show references hundred of...adult shows and movies. Like Blazing Saddles, rated R for extensive use of the N word.

 

5th) I've run some calculations, based of polls and found about 2/3 brownies to be an appropriate level of fan-ness, meaning they own a little merch, and don't hide themselves, without flaunting their obsession. Statistics aside, a lot of bronies are just normal people tied together by the idea that friends are good people to make, and people should be kind for no reason.

 

6th) Well, telling people your a brony is fun, they never see it coming. It a joy to see a warm community stand against haters and have a common thread.

 

6th) Back during drain one, I heard a ton of weirdos were watching a little girls show, but they said it wasn't half bad, so I had to see what the fuss was about. I got sucked in by the colors, and the characters, so I watched episode after episode, and hit up 4chan/MLP, and left on tears. (Because it 4chan still). I stopped participating, and let a couple seasons acrue. I met my best friend, and he urged me to do what I enjoy, (he's a hater, sadly, but he and I are too good of friends to let that be important), so I hopped in just in time to start the hiatus. (We went a whole year without a new episode, we got restless). I began participating in the community, and it's helped me grow and resolve some stuff I did in the past I still wish i could undo. I don't plan on stopping, and am grateful for how great of a community this is.

 

I also thank you random researcher, for letting me remember the good about this show, hope you make a stellar paper!

[SombrasCourtMusician 55]

I am a bisexual 20yo male.

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

In my opinion, the best thing about MLP is the community formed around it. When I first started watching the show I found it entertaining, but less so than other shows or animes I could be watching instead. What really got me into being a brony was how the music and fanfiction eclipsed that of almost every other fandom (only homestuck has been comparable).

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

For anthro or humanized ponies, sure. For their in-show representations, I'd rather cuddle them than clop to them for the most part. However, I'd have no problem with dating one for a similar argument to Bendy above. That is, IU they are no less intelligent than humans and the difference in our shapes is a more extreme case of feature imposition which has been applied to angels, demons, and other fantasy creatures.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

I don't often watch shows similar to it, so I cannot effectively argue this front. What I've noticed in comparison to the shows I usually watch is that the show (in its most recent generation) strikes a good balance between story line and character development, and attempting to appease its fans, whereas many shows lean too heavily in either direction.

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Anybody who watches My Little Pony and enjoys doing so. More often than not, the bronies I've met have happened to be both friendly in personality and interesting in pursuits.

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

The best thing about being a brony is that the fandom houses such a wide demographic of open-minded individuals.

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I was introduced to the show in High School hanging out after class at a friend's house. She flipped on the first couple episodes while we were cooking, and we would watch them during our breaks.

[JonasDarkmane 19,785]

1) What is the best thing about my little pony? It is the music and the plot line

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them. No, I am not (however, I find some ponies to be adorable  ).

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it? I don't know about any other shows similar to it 

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies? They are fun and happy 

5) What is the best thing about being a brony? You feel so... welcomed 

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony? I was watching the TV in Florida, saw an episode and watched for like 2 minutes before and pressed the next channel. I didn't really hear much about it until I saw a NMM video and decided to try and watch it 

[Idris 241]

1. I love the Tex Avery esk bits and the songs. Charectors are well set up.

2. No, but they have the classic markers of cute.

3. So much room in it to fan fic. It's like it was built as a start point to draw and write and generally fill in the gaps.

4. A group of poeple looking for a better world.

5. Being allowed to be creative. It's got me into writing. Every one seems nice. Bronies are welcoming.

6. I watched a panel, heard Tara and heard the word brony. Never heard it before? was intrigued and eventually I am one !

[Justin_Case001 4,889]

1)  A refreshing show that challenges and breaks many stereotypes.  A wonderful cast of well-written, dynamic, lovable characters, and great stories.

 

2) Of course.  As for why, it's exceedingly simple--the same things that attract me to humans.

 

3)  See answer 1.

 

4) On the whole, a group of very nice, welcoming, open-minded, tolerant people.

 

5) Sharing so many wonderful thoughts and ideas with like-minded people.  Also experience and contributing to all of the fan art, music, and fiction.

 

6.)

 

[SoGxTrixie 116]

Age:20-30 Gender:Unicorn

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

The characters, they are well defined and better than most anime

 

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

No, not sexually. but they are cute and adorable.

 

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

Same reason as number 1. The characters are better.

 

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Kind hearted, warm, friendly, accepting, loving, caring.

 

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

Being yourself.

 

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I had a dream of a pony one night.

[Sceethe 704]

Male, 19

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

The songs, i guess.Good voice-acting and fun characters are also reasons to like the show.

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

No.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

I don´t know, i dont really watch many other cartoons.

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Everyone is different here,by a huge amount. at least, that is what i am getting from just stalking random profiles.

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

Being a part of a big communty in which you can communicate with people that are most likely as open-minded as you.

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

Got curios by seeing how many fans it had already.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Sceethe

[Lisa 5,553]

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

 

Female, 14.

 

1.) The interesting and sometimes plain awesome stories.

2.) No I'm not.

3.) Well I'm guessing 'shows similar to it' would be little girl cartoons like Littlest Pet Shop? If so, I'd have to say again the interesting stories.

4.) Friendly and sometimes odd.

5.) The best thing would probably be the welcome feeling of the fandom, when I first became a brony I instantly felt welcomed into a community.

6.) Back a few years ago in a game I noticed someone's avatar was Rainbow Dash so I asked them about it and they explained how the show has thousands of adult fans despite it being directed towards little girls.

[SL4MT 51]

Male, 15.

1) Best thing about it would have to be the immense detail and effort put into the show and the massive amount of content the fandom puts out.

2) Yes. They have human body traits so it's easy to understand why.

3) The animation is smoother and just looks better than most other shows (especially 3d animated ones). Also the others have really boring stories sometimes.

4) The kindest people I know.

5) Not being judged within the fandom. I can easily state my likes and dislikes without being hated on for it.

6) I was looking through the comments of videos and noticed people arguing over My Little Pony. I watched a couple of episodes and instantly became hooked on it.

[catnet 9,356]

Male, 18~

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

It offers a lot of positivity and optimism that is actually believable, which is pretty rare to find nowadays.

 

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

I'm not attracted to them- I find them more cute, if anything- though I can see why some people are.

 

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

I don't really watch any shows similar to it, but MLP seems to have more relatability in regards to characters and the dilemmas they go through. The lessons from each episode are valuable to anyone and everyone, not just the intended audience.

 

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

Generally speaking, they're the nicest group of people I have ever known, and remarkably friendly too.

 

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

Being yourself, in a community that can accept and appreciate you for that.

 

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I discovered MLP after randomly finding this video-

There were a few other related videos of short clips like this, and this one seemed cute enough, so I checked out a few more of them... Eventually, I became interested enough to start watching the show properly, and a while later, looked into the fandom and joined these forums.

[Complexity 181]

Male, 14.

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

 

The fandom! Other bronies produce AWESOME fan works!

 

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

 

Nope.

 

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

 

I haven't tried any similar shows.

 

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

 

Well, they are great people to be able to talk to about whatever, and I love discussing the show with them. And of course I love fan content creators! They keep the fandom rolling!

 

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

 

Being able to connect with the rest of the fandom.

 

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

 

I came into the fandom by myself in early 2013.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Complexity

[[NULL] 906]

I'm a 20-year-old male.

 

"What is the best thing about my little pony?"

 

I'm usually not good at answering this question, because I don't usually like something for being really good at just one thing.

If I had to pick, I would choose that the show has sincere effort put into it.

 

I know that could just as easily apply to many things, but the reason I chose that is because it's My Little Pony. It could have easily been a lazy cash-in like the previous adaptation from the 2000s. In that version, all of the characters were one-dimensional girly stereotypes, and there was little to no conflict. The worst part is, that was considered acceptable because of the "It's a little girl's show." excuse.

 

However, that wasn't the case with the 2010 adaptation. The people who made this version aren't fulfilling a checklist for Hasbro's target audience. They made it for themselves. There was effort put into the writing, acting, animation, and the music. Hell, they even went through making the lore during pre-production. And even when Hasbro wants them to feature their new toy, they still try to somehow cleverly make it part of the story. The show would be nothing like that if there was no effort or sincerity put into it.

 

"Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them."

 

If they were drawn by porn artists who tailored them to people who are attracted to other humans, (i.e. drawing them with human features,) then probably.

If you're asking if I'm attracted to them the way they are in the show, then no.

 

"Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?"

 

The only show that I can think of that's similar to FiM is Gravity Falls, and Gravity Falls (as of today) is the better show.

 

"How would you describe your fellow bronies?"

 

I can't answer that easily, because there's no one answer that would describe every fan of MLP. They can be friendly, they can be annoying, they can be insecure, optimistic, cynical, hipsters, fanboys, casual fans, overly attached fans, etc. There's no one answer that I can describe everyone with.

 

"What is the best thing about being a brony?"

 

There aren't really any perks to liking MLP, (or anything for that matter,) besides enjoying the show.

 

"How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?"

 

One of my friends on Steam had a Rainbow Dash avatar. I didn't really think much of it.

[SkullcandyPegasus 603]

Hello! I am trying to learn more about the Brony fan base. I love my little pony, I have since I was a child. I am new to the Brony culture and wanted to write about it for my research paper. I am here to learn more about this amazing group of people, not to judge! If you are able to could you answer any of the following questions?

 

Also please state your gender and age if you would like.

 

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

 

All answers will be anonymous and only done so I can get a better and more appropriate understanding of the fans. I only know things that I hear or read, not anything directly from the viewers themselves. Please help me if you can!

1) Rather than showing non-human characters, My Little Pony represents a non-human culture.

2) Certainly not.

3) The universes of other "girls" shows lack the complexity of equestrian society.

4) Bronies are people of ethical conscientiousness and honesty. (Yes, we're all AJ )

5) I rather love the clothing.

6) I was reading YouTube comments and saw a pony icon. I simply decided then and there to watch My Little Pony, not knowing it was popular.

 

Best of luck on your paper!

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Alright, I'm male, 27. I don't think I can nail down one thing that makes FiM great. It has good writing, good characters, a pleasing art style, and is a representation of an ideal society without the drawbacks of the neoliberal world we all live in. It's a much darker and more interesting show than a series called My Little Pony has any right to be, yet it still refrains from getting too dark, if that makes sense. It's got good action, good music, good comedy and even good slice of life episodes. I don't know if I could say that I favour one element of FiM over the others, because they're all just part of what makes this series so entrancing, and I think it's not just the right combination of elements, but how they all come together that's the key.

 

I do not find ponies sexually attractive, I just watch the show because I enjoy it.

 

I do not have much experience with watching children's cartoons this late into my 20s, so I won't presume to try to compare FiM to similar shows that are out now, but it does resonate with me like some of my favourite shows from the 90s did. I guess I like it because it gives the audience credit for their intelligence, and actually tries to do something interesting with its formula, rather than simply being background noise for kids. Sure, they're still the target audience, but I think even kids deserve better than some lazily written excuse for animation that exists solely for marketing, and I think that's why FiM has had more success than all other My Little Pony series combined.

 

I've observed Bronies as embodying all of the elements of harmony. They are beyond charitable, and respect one another for their differences. In my firsthand experience, I have come to know them as intelligent, caring and above all else, welcoming. I remember going to BronyCAN last August, and despite being a new fan who hadn't really gotten super deep into the fandom yet, and in some fanbases I have been a part of, I wouldn't fit in at all. I didn't wear anything pony related, and at first I felt I stuck out like a sore thumb, especially when I was standing next in line to a guy who travels the continent to attend every Brony can he can.

 

However, I can say without a doubt that I felt welcome at Brony CAN, and did not get even a hint of elitism from any of the other people there. I think it's not about how long you've been a fan, or how much merchandise you own, or any other superfluous factors. I think the fact that I was there with other fans to apprectiate the same thing as they were, was grounds enough for them to welcome me as just as much a part of the herd as everyone else, and I for one am glad to be a part of a fandom that's like that. I would say it makes Bronies at least 20% cooler than some other fandoms out there.

 

Being a Brony means being part of a great community. I don't think I have any more to add to that.

 

I've come across Bronies in other online communities, particularly in videogame forums, but even though I've known of their existence since as far back as season 1, I didn't get it, at all. It wasn't until a friend and I checked out the show together as part of some kind of random dare back while season 4 was airing, that I began to understand and actually get into the series myself. Needless to say, FiM is nothing like I was expecting it to be, and I mean that in the best possible way.

 

I recently wrote a paper on Bronies myself, and I know how difficult it can be to conduct a study(mine was qualitative). Best of luck, and I hope our answers help.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Tross

[The Pink One 595]

I am a 16 year old male.

1) What is the best thing about my little pony?

I like the story, but as an artist (not that good) I like the art style as well.

2) Are you sexually attracted to the ponies? If yes, please explain what attracts you to them.

No, (I am asexual so not sexually attracted to anyone, if that helps) but they are cute.

3) Why is My Little Pony better than other shows similar to it?

It has a good story, unlike other shows aimed at young girls.

4) How would you describe your fellow bronies?

The most friendly and welcoming people that I have ever met.

5) What is the best thing about being a brony?

The community, I've made so many new friends because I am a brony (but I did only have 4 friends before I was a brony)

6) How did you first hear about bronies or my little pony?

I saw about them on the internet and thought, meh, why not give it a try if other people like it? (this was in 2014) and now my life has been completely changed.