Unrealistic expectations of the fandom?

[Shanks 10,816]

I have seen more unrealistic expectations of this fandom than any other I have ever been in and I have been in quite a few over the years. Fans of the so called "dark" sides of the fandom are often scapegoated with the bullshit excuse of "they make us look bad" as if a fandom is supposed to be some kind of cult or hive mind. I can understand the frustration of some finds finding out the hard way that google "safe search" isn't really safe but there are sites where this is the case like deviantart, derpibooru and fimfiction.

 

Alot of fans also have this unrealistic expectation that if everyone dosen't get along at all times with their often arbitrary ideas of "tolerance" than the world is coming to an end. A good example of this being a lot of the more virulent defenders of twilicorn who accused all critics of it of being "haters", I am not saying all supporters were like this as there were plenty of them that were reasonable but there was a very significant and annoying minority that was like this during the height of the controversy. It dosen't mean there were some opponents that took things too far, but still.

 

The bottom line is many fans take this whole thing way too seriously, like it is a religion or something when all it is is a bunch of people from various opinions, backgrounds ect who happen to share a common interest. I think it is a good thing that it is such a diverse fandom even if I think quite a few of its members need to take a chill pill and stop caring so much about what other people think.

 

I am very displeased to say that before I became a brony, made an estimate of how many bronies sexualized their interest, and found that my estimate was accurate. I would've been pleased if I had overestimated.

If it makes you feel any better there is a good chance you probably are overestimating, try googling Pokemon R34 sometime, there is considerably more of it than there is clop even if you only include the human characters. Yet despite this I am yet to hear anywhere near as many people complain about Pokemon fans sexualizing their interest so why the double standard? The only other fandom I have ever seen get criticized for large amounts of R34 is the furry fandom even though there are countless other examples I can give that also have quite a bit of NSFW material.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

If it makes you feel any better there is a good chance you probably are overestimating, try googling Pokemon R34 sometime...

 

I have qualms with all pornographic content whatsoever, if you don't mind.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Blue

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,301]

I've long since become disillusioned with the fandom and do not love it overmuch. x3  I've had numerous bad experiences and probably doled out my fair share of bad experiences to others.  I believe the fandom, as a whole, is disappointingly rife with hypocrisy and in-fighting and disingenuous "fans."  There are the hopeful newcomers who think it otherwise.  There are those who still idealize the fandom; regardless of how long they may have lingered.  And then there are those like myself.  I happen to think I've the right of it, but then, I'm me.

 

Were it not for the few irreplaceable friends and (at least temporary) allies I encountered along the way, I might say that I would have been much better off avoiding the fandom altogether.  I don't need it to enjoy the series.  If anything, the fandom more often interferes with precisely that.  And I certainly don't need it to love Rainbow Dash; though perhaps things unfolded exactly as they were meant to.  So, while I wouldn't undo all that has transpired, I've a surviving bitterness towards a fandom in which I never wholly belonged - and in which I would never be wholly welcome.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Ziggy and Angelbaby

[Breezeoverthewater 12]

In many places. Here, Fimfiction, Derpiboodu, Equestria Daily. Everywhere.

[Grepper 3,192]

I believe I did have unrealistically idealistic expectations of the fandom when I first became a brony.

I learned about bronies on the internet, and the sites I visited glossed over the "unsavory" parts of the fandom, portraying it in the most positive way possible.

 

I don't really think portraying the fandom that positively is wrong, though it didn't prepare me for the bad people in the fandom. (after all, it made me want to become a brony because the show and fandom is apparently that awesome.) I've never encountered any personally because this is the only brony community I'm a member of, but I've read about some creepy bronies* online, such as one who was harassing some on the cast of the show, asking to marry them.

 

*I'm not referring to cloppers, just those bronies who are jerks.

TL;DR: I realized that the brony community is composted composed of real people with human flaws.

[Kerberossz 1,929]

I have just became a fan recently and I don't really know a lot about the fandom like the veterans do. I don't even know if I can consider myself as a brony but I DO love this amazing show. It was mentioned that you don't need the fandom to enjoy the show. It's true but if you have 2 cupcakes, one with a cherry on the top, which one would you chose if both costs the same? The one with the cherry and why? Cuz it looks more delicious. You eat it, tasted good but the waiter informs you that the cherry was maggoty. What's your next thought? "Oh god and I ate it?"

 

I don't say that being uninformed about this fandom is good, but if the waiter doesn't tell you that, you won't be nervous about eating a maggoty cherry cuz until you split it open to see what's inside it won't be a problem. This is my opinion when I see that somebody say: "This fandom isn't that great as it looked like first." So? It's true, like all fandoms around, there are people who are rude, impolite, ill-mannered and so on but it's just one side of the coin. There is no "pure good", if something seems good, its bad in the same time. If you workout, you will feel exhausted.

 

I have negative experiences too, or rather I can say there are people who annoys me. Before I had became a part of the fandom, if somebody had brought up the topic from nowhere about colorful ponies and adult people who likes them I would have thought the same stereotypical conception as many people do but luckily I have worked on the right lines and became a fan. Still I don't judge the whole fandom beeing "overrated" or " disappointingly rife with hypocrisy and in-fighting and disingenuous fans". Maybe it's true that there are members like these but until people don't encounter with the mentioned judgements, let them eat that freakin' cherry in peace.

 

I'm sorry for my fervid note but it's just disillusioning to see these comments. Tbh, this is my first forum where I can consider myself as an active member. Call me overprotective, but except my irl friends and my family, this forum contains the most friendliest people I have ever met. I don't know others where encountered with these negative experiences but don't take away the joy from the newcomers. As far as I know the moderators do a very well job here too, when a new topic appears and it's not the in right place there is always somebody who deals with that. I can imagine that they can filters the inadequate things as professionally as they do the other tasks. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I'm not judging your opinion cuz every people has their own about things, but to bracket the whole fandom is just not correct.

 

To sum it up: Don't discourage people telling them the whole fandom is the same, maybe they won't even meet any or the same problems like your's.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Kerberossz

[Hocus Pocus 636]

As a hobbyist writer, I have high expectations for original characters. I expect them to be as good as the characters form the show, yet for some reason, it still hasn't gotten through to me that people who focus their skills in other areas may not be as good as the people who make MLP that are literally payed to write.

 

Ah well, not like bad OCs can affect the show in any way, right?

[Malinter 3,064]

 i didn't have any real expectations. I just joined so I talk to other pastel horse people in peace without someone's brain melting because they cannot comprehend why we like the show.

 

Its a cartoon, its silly and fun. Not rocket science XD

Edited June 23, 2015 by Malinter

[KatonRyu 1,033]

On the internet, each and every community is a clusterfuck, no way around that. Personally I think this fandom is one of the nicest ones out there. As with every other community it's more a matter of where you look and with who you talk. If you expect the brony fandom to be one big happy community, then yeah, that's unrealistic. Nothing against anyone here or anywhere else, that's just the way it is.

[Justin_Case001 4,873]

We're a completely diverse group.  People are going to have bad experiences here and there.  But my experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

[GeekySonic 1,150]

I didn't really know what to expect. I became a Brony just last year, and that was after I had been subject to another previous year's worth of pony content. I haven't had any bad experiences. On the contrary, I contrast the MLP fandom and StH fandom, seeing as how the former appears (to me at least) to be pleasant, friendly, and respectful. The latter, on the other hand, is composed of mostly immature people, savage and defensive of their opinions, and just complete nonsense (I speak from personal experience, although it is not always the case, to be fair).

 

And I wasn't surprised, or disgusted upon learning of MLP porn. To me, it's just kinda there. Like an ugly lamp. I have seen a lot on the Internet, being a 2000's kid, and this doesn't really stand out.

 

As good as my experience has been, I keep hearing about how divided the fandom is becoming, how Bronies ruin the show, how immature Bronies can be, etc. That surprises me. No doubt my young, undeveloped mind is just so oblivious, but seriously, this really is the nicest community I've ever been in. Admittedly, I've run into a couple nimrods, but nothing that would sour my mood.

 

I've only been a Brony for half a year, and maybe that's why I'm not getting the full message here, but I can't say I had unrealistic expectations. I was a little nervous to watch the show, even more so to be open about being a Brony, but this fandom has exceeded my expectations.

[Will Guide 21,357]

I've been watching the show since April 2013 and seen a lot of fan works based off this show. My rule of thumb when it came to all this is to "keep an open mind". I have seen stuff that many others wouldn't like, but I myself enjoyed.The show itself is meant to be made for little girls and their parents to enjoy. All the fan-made stuff: the expectations of all that stuff depends what types of fan works you love/hate.

[Commissar Alexer 763]

It's not that suprising considering how many throw stuff like "Love and Tolerance" around...

 

Nah, this fandom prides itself to be more 'tolerant', 'friendly' and even 'accepting' then other fandoms and the average human population but in the end it's quite the opposite.

 

I wouldn't be suprised if many 'anti-bronies' are in fact former ex-bronies...

[Kafooku 156]

As a hobbyist writer, I have high expectations for original characters. I expect them to be as good as the characters form the show.

 

That's what my expectations where when I first 'joined' the fandom, lol. I really didn't understand why people would make so many OCs about them being orphans and there past haunting them.

-------------------------------

 

 

But honestly, before I knew people from MLP Fandom, I would associate them with the "stereo-typical brony". I didn't care what-so-ever about those in the fandom because, hey, that had nothing to do with me. But now that I've actually joined the fandom and have met other bronies on these forums and previous forums, the stereotype that I automatically linked them with never really existed. It was pretty stupid of me to think this way..

 

Anyways, I guess if you've never interacted with the fandom or you rarely have, you really don't know what to expect. (imo.)

Edited June 24, 2015 by Kafooku