What does it mean to be a brony?

[Lockheed 45]

What does it mean to be a bony to you? Do you think that it is primarily about being a fan of the show or do you have to be more involved with the community? 

[Envy 6,178]

You are a Brony if - and only if - you appoint the title to yourself. I think it's more likely that people more obsessed with the show and fandom are more likely to call themselves by it, but really, the only criteria is that you decide you're one.

[Veritum 257]

As Envy said.

 

It's the same with other fandoms. For instance, take Doctor who. I myself love doctor who but I don't call myself a whovian (mainly because I'm not very invested in the community). I really do believe that only the person in question can really decide if they want to refer to themselves as a brony.

[SnuggleFiend 52]

Not a clue, I think it's just subjective. I guess you have to watch the show to technically be a brony, but I'm more in it for the fandom. You guys are all just too damn lovable

[MrMammal 157]

I think people generally might meet bronies, like on the forums for example, and it is safe to say "Hey look a fan and fellow MLP enthusiast. They are a Brony." And you would probably be right. But as stated about I agree that if some one doesn't consider themselves a Brony they aren't one.

 

That being said there is certain criteria (that will be different from everyone) one whether they consider themselves or others a Brony. For me personally I consider a Brony, at the most basic level, somebody who not only watches MLP but is enthusiastic about it, meaning that whether they are public or private about it, they are excited about watching new/old episodes and thinking about it. 

 

Some people might just like to watch the show but not give it second thoughts and consider themselves a Brony, which is completely fine, this is just what I think of when I think of Brony.

 

 

 

Then obviously all the different subcategories of Bronies which is a whole different story haha

[JonasDarkmane 19,787]

Being able to enjoy the show MLP together with other fans and communicating with other fans about the show . 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I'm going to give the unpopular answer but it is what I sincerely hold in my heart. To be a brony is to both enjoy the show and have been affected by it in a positive way.

 

At my first Bronycon there were marriage proposals, people who had never had friends in real life, and me, who had never dared to go to something social like that alone. To be a brony, your life doesn't have to change, but you are a part of something that has changed, so many lives for the better. 

[IDoNotSpeakEnglish 89]

Well, technically, I define brony as someone who is, somehow, involved in the brony fandom; if the person just watches the show, would be simply called My Little Pony fan. I think this is the most sensible definition, since many shows have fans, but only the ones with bigger fanbase have such specific name for the fans that actually catches on; therefore, the world brony associates to the fandom, and the world fan to the show. Well, that's the definition I'd advocate for, but I know it's not really used and there are others.

But, as others said, you must only be considered a brony if you define yourself as such; labels must not be forced upon others, even if they fit the definition. To say that you are a brony is enough to be regarded as one and, unless you don't like MLP, your use of the label will not be contested.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

Someone who just watches the show is a fan. Someone who watches the show, interacts with the community, makes original works, and more is a brony.

[LHfunk 422]

It's if you consider yourself to be one. You could only watch the show but consider yourself to be a brony. You could watch the show and interact a ton in the fandom, but not consider yourself a brony.

[Commissar Alexer 763]

To be a brony is to be spread love and tolerance through out the whole world, to fight the societal created gender roles and to free the world from the "pink is only for girls" tyranny.

 

To be a brony is to hunt down the haters, the trolls and the heretics, to bring friendship and peace into their rotten and corrupted souls.

 

To be a brony is to force the world into Harmony by fire and sword, to lead mankind into a new age of enlightment and frienship wheter they want or not...

 

 

Either this above or just being a fan from a show for little girls.