What were you doing before MLP?

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

There was no life before MLP. All my life I had been told of how I was generally beneath everybody else and never had a place with other people. I was very reserved and filled with self-loathing. Couldn't even speak to somebody to ask for the time of day because I didn't feel like I deserved to talk to them. Going to work or to class were terrifying thoughts and caused me to underperform, which in turn made me feel worse about myself. I was sad every moment of every day and even had a period where I hardly got out of bed.

 

 

After becoming a brony and being shown some kindness with nothing expected in return by other bronies, I began coming out of my shell. After Bronycon, I actually liked myself for the first time ever, and now I can see myself as the equal of any other human. I'm a completely new person.

[Samrules350 179]

Oh dear Celestia! NOT LIFE FROM BEFORE! Well I felt like my purpose in life was very small and I was overall an angry person...

 

But now after learning the magic of Friendship I have learned to love an tolerate everyone and be a better person in general!

[Tdroid 234]

My life haven't changed much after I became a brony(I don't even use that title much outside of the internet, seeing as it is just a small part of who I am). I am a bit more open to others than I used to be, and I have an easier time making friends, though that might also be because I am finally out of high school and the idiots I detested are no longer all around me.

 

However, there are two things that did change: The first one is that the brony community inspired me to start drawing(still pretty bad, but I am making good progress I think, having only done it for about 6 months), and it indirectly inspired me to start writing a novel(which again turned into a trilogy where the first book is finished and the second is underway).

 

I'd say that what effect it have had on me is positive though, and I am very pleased with how open this fandom seems to be compared to a few(which shall go unnamed) I have been a part of.

 

I haven't been a brony for a long time as I was introduced to the show around february this year, but before I checked out the show for myself(about a week after I first heard about it I think) I didn't have a problem with others liking it. I read a bit up on it, just to see if it was popular like Twilight is popular, but the only conclution I could come to was that people had good reasons to like it. It could be backed up by important things like the humor in the show, good animation, good writing, good characters etc.

So, from the get-go I had respect for the bronies and a short time later I found myself "in the Herd" as it were.

[longgone 873]

Before: Very antisocial, only hung out with a small group of close friends. Found happiness in material items and wasn't happy all that often.

After: Some what antisocial, hanging out with more people. Found less happiness and material items and more happiness in friends, happy 95% of the time. When people say it only takes a tad bit of kindness to make a person's day, they aren't kidding lol.

[Spatsi 151]

Exactly the same. Really, ponies haven't changed my life at all. I'm still the same antisocial, cynical guy who dislikes 90% of people who surround him, and I'm fine with it. To be honest, I don't understand how TV show can change somebody's life.

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

Life before mlp? There was none...

 

Nah, I was depressed, suicidal, and vey antisocial. Basically I was the opposite of what I am now.

[Misguidedbrick 2]

My life used to be a very sad mess. I had been so depressed on all the stuff that happened in my life it was horrible. I would hide my emotions from everyone that I came in contact with as to not be a burden on people. Before I became a brony I was the stereotypical hater but then one of my friends got me to give the show a try.

 

I watched, and loved, the first two episodes and I hated that I loved them so much and I wondered why I loved them. Then I watched the whole first season in one night and realized that I loved the show not just because of the music, animation, characters, plot, and voice acting. It was because it made me happy made my heart smile, I finally had a good way to escape my life.

 

Since then I have made more friends, I have learned how to draw better, I have been writing fanfiction, and learning the show's songs and singing along. This show has made my life better, because of it my life is no longer depressing and sad, now it is cheery and glad!

 

And that was my story.......

[Wubsie 1,123]

It was weird, boring, depressing, and oh did I say BORING AS HELL!

One night I was watching Epic Meal Time and BAM! A colorful happy pony making cupcakes. I knew this was another pony video that was gonna be all happy and junk like the other ones I've watched. (I wasn't that much of a brony then)

But it turns out it was Epic Cupcake Time. Which was hilarious.

I wondered why ponies were trending and why they are EVERY FUCKING WHERE.

But then I got curious and watched the show and bam I considered myself an actual brony.

[Nixter 180]

My life before was a drab and wrenched hollow shell filled with nothing but void and blandness.

 

 

Now it's full of amazing people and content, ponies has made my life a one worth living.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

I was like what's up with all of these ponies all of a sudden. I hated the theme song, 'cause it was way to girly. I saw soooo many pics of ponies on deviant art and was like "what is this? Is there something going on?"

[hgugyughvhjvhjbhjb 22]

uoop koop voom looloo jimper bean teelz

Edited June 24, 2015 by hgugyughvhjvhjbhjb

[Tuxedo Kamen! 114]

Everyone seems pretty depressing before the show. My life wasn't changed much. Then again I am different. I had always liked girly things, but inside, I'm more conflicted than before. I love the whole goth thing, and love being dark and depressing. after embracing the show though, it's harder to express my more morbid side.

[~Asuka <3~ 867]

>Implying there was life before MLP:FiM

 

Nah, I'm joking. I guess life was meh. I'm kind of the same as I was previously. The only difference is, I now have a little obsession that I need to keep under control.

[Solace 407]

Before

morbid possibly insane deppresed antisocial rude negative 12 year old

after

morbid insane( ) manic social polite positive 13 year old

(turned 13 a few months after becoming a brony, in august)

 

you can see the improvment

Edited October 30, 2012 by lightning strike

[AegisReflector 886]

Heh, about the same really. While I am a big fan of the show it didn't really change my life around or my views on society.

 

It'll take a lot more than television to do that, that's for sure.

[Flying Whales 311]

I love threads like these because every once and awhile I like to get all sappy haha

 

Before FiM I was much less confident. For some reason this forum and fandom have made me overal more confident in myself as a person. I didn't really judge Bronies too much before I got into it but I did think it was a bit weird and seemed a bit off.

 

I'm really not afraid to be myself anymore and it feels so liberating and I have this show and fandom to thank for helping me to get there.

 

Much love to all you Bronies who make this fandom what it is.

[Starbolt Moonshadow 11]

Before MLP? Well my computer was a lot less cluttered with ponies for one! Heck my desktop was always so orderly back then...

But seriously, after I watched MLP:FiM I had a profound change with pretty much everything about myself.  I'm strongly against war, but I still acknowledge that we need the military to protect our family and homes. I'm more open to change and less afraid to challenge social barriers our society has established because I feel that's what creates the rifts between people.

Life is a lot less dreary, and I do my best to open up to strangers on the street. It's not like me to be like that, but I feel that it helps break the disconnect people have with each other. I always try to greet everyone with proper courtesies and tell them to have a nice day with a smile. I've heard plenty of stories that a stranger being genuinely open and acknowledging a persons existence can have an effect on someone who's had a rough day, and I like to think that I help out in that capacity.

I don't have a political affiliation anymore and I don't think in terms of nationality, but as a species. I see every person as an extended family member, and through that view I handle issues closer to my heart. People get scared when I tell them I don't believe in national lines, but I see it as a barrier from hugging my brothers in Russia or Afghanistan and sharing with them a bond of friendship that transcends everything that has ever separated us as a species. People make fun of that way of thinking, but I won't change that. Never.

Spiritually, I've changed a lot. I've been leaning more spiritual than atheist as time has past, but now I fully acknowledge that everything in nature has a spirit. We can't measure it scientifically, but we can see it when a man gives his change to a homeless man, when someone risks their life to save a stranger, or when a human cries for another because they sympathize with their pain. These things contradict our primal instincts as it doesn't benefit us or ensure our survival in any way. It's unique and it's as beautiful as the night sky.

I could go on, but to sum it up MLP has changed my life for the better. I don't know what I would do without it. It's returned some innocence in my life and for that I am forever grateful for Lauren Faust. I could care less if people think it's silly that I think and feel this way, but I love it and I will gladly take it to my grave.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Starbolt Moonshadow

[Driz 1,552]

The thing that changed me wasn't exactly the show itself, but the fanbase behind it - like these forums. :3

 

It's hard to put in words what I feel for this fandom. I can only say that I love being around here. You guys have been teaching me so much stuff and I feel like I've became a better person. Way less shy, way less introvert, way less scared of people... I'm truly thankful to MLP:FiM for having opened me this door. <3

[Steve 290]

before i discovered the show, i thought it was silly that guys would watch MLP

 

after i discovered the show, MLP has taken up 60% of my day, i dream about MLP every night, i also have a much more appreciation for friendship, plus i eat more apples.

[chaoticpony 12]

I actually was a hater. Also very aggresive and angry to other people. Heard good things about the show so i watched it for a bit got hooked and became apart of the fandom. And now i am not agressive to other humans whatsoever.

[Guest]

well before i was an annoying twelve year old with no respect for most others, i generally kept to myself and a select group of others. now i am friends with the vast majority of my year group, I take it upon myself to make youtube videos, i have become more of a friendly person, i look at things from others perspectives and i have friends online so it has made quite a difference

[GoneForeverBye 184]

I can go on and on about how much of a terrible person I was in the past. People annoyed me? "nag nag just drop dead naeyh!!!" but they usually didn't. I wasn't really gritty or emo. I simply had some kind of minor god-syndrome of some sort hoping that if I concentrated enough, I could make supernatural stuff happen.

 

Then I came across this show, and I still was all gritty and hate. Then I randomly realized what a terrible person I was, and then everything became better... now I don't hate and instead love and tolerate. Yeah, i don't really know.

[Retro*Derpy 3,186]

I was usually just at some type of meme site or watching funny youtube videos. My xbox was also being played a lot more. I was a lot more bored without ponies, I just didn't find that much stuff on the Internet entertaining. Then, ponies.

[Lord_sm 20]

Before I started watching Mlp a few weeks ago, I didn't really hate the show, i just disliked the fandom. I wasn't a very nice person to people who were always causing problems at school or on the internet. Now, being a brony, the show and its community showed me how to take the phrase "Love and Tolerance" and make it work. Ignore the haters, don't feed the trolls, and try to keep your cool around people being rude and disrespectful

[MeowLord Noraasha 135]

Before:

I was pretty positive, energetic, nice to people, confident.

Now:

More positive, way nicer, more confident. Besides I try to spread love and toleration and I practically stopped swearing