Still feel uneasy about the term "brony"

[SpiderDiscord 145]

Thank you so much everyone I feel so much better!!! 

 

_________________

 

Asking for some sort of reassurance to help calm me down

 

I seem to have jumped into the fandom when the bad streak was just ending I suppose

 

But it is still engrained in my head what people who called them selves bronies have done

(as opposed to people who just call themselves mlp fans)

 

(for what I mean by that)

 

 

During the first season I decided to try out mlp
I liked the show, thinking it was really cute with wonder valuable lessons

But I made the mistake of looking at the fandom

I am a tumblr user, so first i searched the mlp tag
I was greeted with disgusting nsfw images, that were untagged (no warning)
Saw lovely comments and asks involving them harassing, sending death threats and r*** threats (uncomfortable typing the word sorry) to people who were just asking them to keep their nsfw interests out of the mainstream fandom

It was terrifying!
Mostly what scared me was that every person I saw who called themselves a brony where extremely hostile towards woman, treating us like we are things for them to posses and use for their pleasure when ever they wanted, not regard for consent

 

I refused to watch more of the show for years after

I really did not want to be tied up in that mess, and knowing me I would be so desperate to join the fandom, but knowing everyone will hate me or harass me....

Or even threaten me to the point of me fearing for my life!
I knew they would too since... I am into social justice
I believe in treating differences with respect

 

I did dip my feet back in when feminist ponies and body positivity ponies became a thing, but they died out due to over whelming threats from bronies

For posting positivity and self respect messages vs the r*** and murder crud filling up the mlp fan base

 

But now, I recently just gave up on denying my interests, watched the whole series, then went searching for a safe friendly environment... which was sadly hard to find

 

But here I am
This place seems great
I mean you guys diligently hold true to your keep things sfw rule

Where the others didn't

They still were all about r*** and taking advantage of the female body

 

And no, I did not have to dig for these, nor was I looking for them
I was just lurking on the first page of topics in each section

 

 

 

-sigh-

I just feel bad that because of the rotten eggs
I get defensive and tense when I see the word brony

 

So idk what may help me, but idk if you guys could tell me some reassuring stories, or if there are videos or whatever else...

 

Please don't post rude or insensitive comments
I am putting a lot of energy and trust into posting this...

Edited May 28, 2015 by SpiderDiscord

[Little Red 1,529]

I got super lucky. I looked up My Little Pony on Youtube and found things like Jan Animations and Silly Filly Studios...

I dunno, there's a good and a bad side to everything. But I do find it sad how a lot of people put negative connotation to the word "brony", just because a few... not the greatest people called themselves bronies.

And if that was your first experience with what brony culture is, then hey, I don't blame you for being nervous about bronies. XD I would've reacted way worse, I know.

[Time Shield 402]

Every fandom has people like that.  EVERY fandom.  There are NO exceptions.  So if a few rotten apples actually spoil the bunch, that would essentially be saying that no fandom is worth joining at all, which is just not true.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

I got super lucky. I looked up My Little Pony on Youtube and found things like Jan Animations and Silly Filly Studios...

I dunno, there's a good and a bad side to everything. But I do find it sad how a lot of people put negative connotation to the word "brony", just because a few... not the greatest people called themselves bronies.

And if that was your first experience with what brony culture is, then hey, I don't blame you for being nervous about bronies. XD I would've reacted way worse, I know.

Thank you... but it doesn't seem to be just a few, that's the problem (at least in the greater portion of the online fandom)

Like I said, even recently those were the first types to show up in my searches, I had to be careful with my wording in google for this forum to finally show up :/

-shrug-

Every fandom has people like that.  EVERY fandom.  There are NO exceptions.  So if a few rotten apples actually spoil the bunch, that would essentially be saying that no fandom is worth joining at all, which is just not true.

I know that, there are good and rotten of everything

It's just that those types seem to be dominating in this one

or at least speak way louder

 

EDIT:

That sounded harsh sorry :c

All I mean is that

One can sniff out a fandom community of something they like that they feel safe in relatively easily

But this one took me about a week of playing with how I worded my search :/

Edited May 28, 2015 by SpiderDiscord

[MoltenKitten 342]

I feel as though what you stumbled upon were either

1)Attention seekers

2)People that actually think this way

3)Anti-bronies trying to make us look bad

 

Keep in mind that as with all fandoms it is always the loudest (and more often the dark shroud) that get noticed.

[zombienixon 330]

You don't have to call yourself a brony if you don't want to.  I was introduced to MLP with Friendship is Magic as well, and I've never called myself one.  If you like the show, you like the show. You don't have to take on some stupid title just for watching a cartoon.  And I know that the fandom can be pretty craptacular, but it is worth sticking around, you just have to find the right places to stay around, and which places to avoid.  

 

I can't say if this is a place you'll want to stick around, but I'm sort of like you in keeping away from... undesirable parts of the fandom, and this place seems alright.  Not perfect, but I'm still here.

 

If you want to avoid all of the drama and stupid arguing, you may want to find a forum for people who collect MLP toys. It's focused mostly on the toys (of all gens) and there isn't much show discussion, but it's the most mature part of the MLP fandom, since most are in their 20s and 30s.  It's also predominantly female, as well, so not much objectification there.

 

If I may also make a suggestion, I would also recommend avoiding large parts of tumblr, because that place gets really ugly, really fast.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

 

 

If I may also make a suggestion, I would also recommend avoiding large parts of tumblr, because that place gets really ugly, really fast.

Yeah I know

People can be super rude if you're not careful

Like now we have to obscure potential searched words since any text in a post is now searchable :/

 

Thank you for the toy topic tip! I did not know that!

I feel as though what you stumbled upon were either

1)Attention seekers

2)People that actually think this way

3)Anti-bronies trying to make us look bad

 

Keep in mind that as with all fandoms it is always the loudest (and more often the dark shroud) that get noticed.

Oh god, I forgot about those jerk like people who tend to be in the anti-whatever groups

Super annoying when people do that and pose as what they don't like to manipulate others who are on the fence

Thank you

Edited May 28, 2015 by SpiderDiscord

[Unikitty 1,212]

>being triggered by words

 

Look, as has been said above, the word 'brony' carries a lot of weight. It's not a fresh fandom anymore and has been through plenty both good and bad. But the word can still be as big or as little as you want. It can be used to identify with the fandom as a whole, it can be used to identify with the show alone, or it can be used to identify with certain sectors of the fandom at your leisure. But the point is that whether or not you take up the label, and how much weight you allow it to carry, is all up to you.

 

Personally, I see it as a way to identify people who enjoy the series, or have enjoyed it in the past and are still connected via the fandom. I don't split hairs between what is or isn't a 'true brony', or whether people like 'cloppers' or generally distasteful people can also be bronies. To me the label simply refers to somebody who is or has been involved in the show and/or fandom.

[Jackie Snack 1,498]

Heeeey, no need to label yourself if you don't want to. I refuse to call myself a 'brony' as the term is kind of ridiculous and I don't wanna associate myself with the bad side of the fandom. You can always just say that you are a fan of MLP. : P

 

And you don't have to stay away from Tumblr or the fandom in general, hun~ I still enjoy many parts of it without backlash.

 

As for the toy forum, here's this one: http://www.mlparena.com/ It's very active from what I've seen.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

 To me the label simply refers to somebody who is or has been involved in the show and/or fandom.

 

Sorry did I trigger you! can you let me know where if you can!

 

But that makes sense, it just has been drilled into me head that that is what brony means :c

and just feel super bad that I feel I may be a bit tense/on guard around here at times cause of it

guess will loosen up in time c:

[Banul 3,831]

Tumblr

 

I found your problem. 

 

 

I don't want to generalize too much because Tumblr has a large userbase, which surely contains some sane people.. However, that place has become a hotbed for drama and general ridiculousness, especially for this fandom. If you want to avoid that aspect of the fan base, I'd recommend you avoid Tumblr altogether. 

 

Regardless, if you don't want the brony label nobody here is going to force it on you. I've seen plenty of users here decided not to use it.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

Heeeey, no need to label yourself if you don't want to. I refuse to call myself a 'brony' as the term is kind of ridiculous and I don't wanna associate myself with the bad side of the fandom. You can always just say that you are a fan of MLP. : P

 

And you don't have to stay away from Tumblr or the fandom in general, hun~ I still enjoy many parts of it without backlash.

 

As for the toy forum, here's this one: http://www.mlparena.com/ It's very active from what I've seen.

Oh thank you so much sweetie!

And no I'm tumblr addicted, did find clean mlp blogs for me to follow with the other fandoms i'm into

So all is content and calm on my personal dash at least... sometimes... less something big happened one fandom

[Jackie Snack 1,498]

Oh thank you so much sweetie!

And no I'm tumblr addicted, did find clean mlp blogs for me to follow with the other fandoms i'm into

So all is content and calm on my personal dash at least... sometimes... less something big happened one fandom

 

It'll happen one way or the other, pray that it's a long way from now. xD I'll have to pm you later for those blogs cuz I'm having trouble find good ones.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

I found your problem. 

 

 

I don't want to generalize too much because Tumblr has a large userbase, which surely contains some sane people.. However, that place has become a hotbed for drama and general ridiculousness, especially for this fandom. If you want to avoid that aspect of the fan base, I'd recommend you avoid Tumblr altogether. 

 

Regardless, if you don't want the brony label nobody here is going to force it on you. I've seen plenty of users here decided not to use it.

haha!

I realized that in tags I used to follow becoming more of a drama breeding ground

I have been a member for years so have nice blogs I follow already

It'll happen one way or the other, pray that it's a long way from now. xD I'll have to pm you later for those blogs cuz I'm having trouble find good ones.

definitely hun! most were suggested from others, and then found some more through those

[Daring_Do 552]

Not too long ago, I found another MLP forum that I think would be right up your alley. Sadly doesn't seem to be as busy as this one, though (or I would probably be there *all* the time )

 

Might still be worth checking out, though - roundstable.com.

[Unikitty 1,212]

Sorry did I trigger you! can you let me know where if you can!

 

But that makes sense, it just has been drilled into me head that that is what brony means :c

and just feel super bad that I feel I may be a bit tense/on guard around here at times cause of it

guess will loosen up in time c:

 

No, I was just pointing out that you seem quite sensitive towards words and labels. No harm.

But anyway, a label is what you make of it. I consider myself a brony, and whilst I'm not the perfect human specimen, I think I do alright morally. I'd be more concerned about people judging me negatively, purely based on what labels I choose to give myself. I've met plenty of good and bad people who'd also call themselves bronies. This is partially why I don't connect it with any one circumstance. It makes much more sense for it to relate to something all have in common. That common ground being the show.

[SpiderDiscord 145]

No, I was just pointing out that you seem quite sensitive towards words and labels. No harm.

But anyway, a label is what you make of it. I consider myself a brony, and whilst I'm not the perfect human specimen, I think I do alright morally. I'd be more concerned about people judging me negatively, purely based on what labels I choose to give myself. I've met plenty of good and bad people who'd also call themselves bronies. This is partially why I don't connect it with any one circumstance. It makes much more sense for it to relate to something all have in common. That common ground being the show.

true c:

thank you

And I do have high social anxiety so fear being repelling just for this interest -shrug-

 

Also I am touchy with certain things

It's a flaw I know I have

that and have a hard time telling if something is serious or not :/

 

-breaths-

[Aleh 481]

psh.In terms of the porn its not really  to do with sexism though. Literally every character is sexualised, men and women.

Guess there are a lot of cunts though (Both in and out of the nsfw side of the fandom >.<) xD but the same types of people appear in every fandom, gaming, comic books etc. Just something that happens in fandoms >.<

Also psh, just don't use the label, simple as that. If you don't want to be associated with the cringeworthy parts of the fandom and feel not referring to yourself as a brony helps then go ahead, nobody is forcing you to take the label.
Either way a label is just a label, there will be twats who use the label, and there will be nice people who use the label , don't get so attached to it, defining yourself through labels is a terrible way to go through life xD

 

(Also for the love of God don't randomly talk about triggering outside of tumblr, nobody takes it seriously unless you've legit got PTSD or something)

Edited May 28, 2015 by Aleh

[SpiderDiscord 145]

psh.In terms of the porn its not really  to do with sexism though. Literally every character is sexualised, men and women.

Guess there are a lot of cunts though (Both in and out of the nsfw side of the fandom >.<) xD but the same types of people appear in every fandom, gaming, comic books etc. Just something that happens in fandoms >.<

 

Also psh, just don't use the label, simple as that. If you don't want to be associated with the cringeworthy parts of the fandom and feel not referring to yourself as a brony helps then go ahead, nobody is forcing you to take the label.

Either way a label is just a label, there will be twats who use the label, and there will be nice people who use the label , don't get so attached to it, defining yourself through labels is a terrible way to go through life xD

 

(Also for the love of God don't randomly talk about triggering outside of tumblr, nobody takes it seriously unless you've legit got PTSD or something)

Triggering can just mean it triggers a negative emotion/thought

 

It is way more woman than males sexualized in fandoms (other than homestuck from what I know), lets be honest

But that's not the point of this

same with me labeling myself as such

 

I simply feel really awful about how my mind auto jumps to think brony means some insensitive jerk is all

 

Labels can help people feel less alone

Not everyone needs one to feel that way tho

[Aleh 481]

Triggering can just mean it triggers a negative emotion/thought

 

It is way more woman than males sexualized in fandoms (other than homestuck from what I know), lets be honest

But that's not the point of this

same with me labeling myself as such

 

I simply feel really awful about how my mind auto jumps to think brony means some insensitive jerk is all

 

Labels can help people feel less alone

Not everyone needs one to feel that way tho

There's more straight porn because there's more straight people.

Rest assured there is a tonne of gay stuff.

Nothing to do with sexism and everything to do with the fact people like niche porn.

 

Also I'm sorry but this is what I was talking about with "triggering". It's a legitimate psychiatric issue which causes major problems. Using it to describe stuff that makes you feel bad makes it a joke, because nobody will be able to tell if you're talking about PTSD triggers or " I didn't find that particularly nice " triggers.

(Is just something that gets on my nerves is all)

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@SpiderDiscord,

 

I believe we talked about this.

 

Those wretched pieces of human refuse were not bronies. Bronies are welcoming and practice what the show preaches. Any person failing in those qualities is not a true brony, just a fan of the show, even then they shouldn't be because it stands in direct opposition to how they act and the Mane Six would be ashamed of them.

 

The term brony truly means: adult fan of Friendship is Magic, who is passionate about the show, its characters, and its messages.

[gyashaa 252]

LOL! In my experience, bronies are NOTHING like what that woman described. Her first mistake was using tumblr. I only use this forum and read the comments from Equestria Daily and with both I have seen nothing but respectful people. (with the exception of the rare troll)

 

p.s. I don't really know what tumblr is like.

Edited May 28, 2015 by gyashaa

[Aleh 481]

@@SpiderDiscord,

 

I believe we talked about this.

 

Those wretched pieces of human refuse were not bronies. Bronies are welcoming and practice what the show preaches. Any person failing in those qualities is not a true brony, just a fan of the show, even then they shouldn't be because it stands in direct opposition to how they act and the Mane Six would be ashamed of them.

 

The term brony truly means: adult fan of Friendship is Magic, who is passionate about the show, its characters, and its messages.

lol no. . Anybody can be a brony. Its not a cult, it just means you like the show.

 

Its a fandom not a lifestyle : P

Edited May 28, 2015 by Aleh

[SpiderDiscord 145]

lol no. . Anybody can be a brony. Its not a cult, it just means you like the show.

 

Its a fandom not a lifestyle : P

hahaha

 

so this is not blood in and blood out... in the wrong forums then (joking)

[Steel Accord 6,660]

lol no. . Anybody can be a brony. Its not a cult, it just means you like the show.

 

Its a fandom not a lifestyle : P

 

Says you. The show and fandom changed my life and many have expressed exactly what I just said, so in my experience, anyone failing in those categories is not a brony and I would not understand what a vile person sees in a show so much about positivity.

 

Plus, "like the show" and "cult" a fandom is somewhere in the middle socially.