Why is there such a push to get people to tell other's you are a Brony?

[SolyWack 482]

It seems most brony boards I go to, however relatively limited in number, bronies are pressured to tell others they are a brony so they don't need to hide it. Obviously if you feel your heart will burst like the sunshine on a summer's day, go right ahead and tell people.

 

But realistically, it doesn't really matter. I don't go around telling people I'm a fan of RWBY as well (except just now I guess). Is it like a brony pride thing? or is not as common as I'm making it out to be?

Edited January 16, 2016 by AppleJack_Wack

[Discordian 6,015]

Part of it is that a lot of bronies hide it out of shame or fear of repercussions. It's not the same as just not telling people you aren't a fan of something. Some people get so paranoid about it they have major anxiety attacks. It's really not good for them. Some people believe it's better for them to tell people so they don't have to deal with the stress of hiding it.

[Frostgage 7,976]

I've been a fan for 2+ years now and still never plan on telling anyone. Honestly I've always been surprised at how many open bronies there are. You definitely shouldn't feel compelled to tell people just because others are doing it

[Discordian 6,015]

I've been a fan for 2+ years now and still never plan on telling anyone. Honestly I've always been surprised at how many open bronies there are. You definitely shouldn't feel compelled to tell people just because others are doing it

Four years for me and though I don't hide it, I don't exactly go blurting it out either.

 

Sure enough it's not like there's any great need to tell people. You can go through life without announcing your every hobby to the world.

[Solid 1,327]

Four years for me and though I don't hide it, I don't exactly go blurting it out either.

 

Sure enough it's not like there's any great need to tell people. You can go through life without announcing your every hobby to the world.

4 years here too, and I agree with what you said, though being a brony is something interesting that you can bring up from time to time.

 

It's all about being calm and not getting too obsessed.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Solid Scorpion

[SuperBrony87 506]

    I was content with keeping it to myself too. I really don't think think there's a "push" to telling you're a brony. I think largely some people still find it strange and if you're a teen. Kids can be so curel! But I made up my mind that I wanted to go to Bronycon. But, first I had to tell my folks my plans. At first I told my Mom what I wanted to do. I was given quote the dilemma. Even if I was to undertake this "road trip", I'd need to come up with a good solid plan. I could simply get a pass, try and book a room pretty easy. I'd even say getting a costume for cosplay might work out. I can't say the same for the travel plans. I live in Arizona and it's held in Baltimore these days. I'd be up for the biggest experience of my life. Will it change it? I don't think so but it should be quite the eye opening experience... One way or another. So my big thing this year is to get more out of it. Work out to get into the desired shape before summer, get a decent costume together. That's not crazy expensive but good enough to turn heads. Then there's hoping my car will drag me all the way to Maryland safely I might add.

 

    It's really anyone's perspective of the matter. 

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

I no longer consider or call myself a Brony, but I don't think that anyone should feel the need to be a closeted one.  Excepting, perhaps, at the very start, I've never been especially shy about the fact that I watch the show.  Admittedly, it's all about Babe (Rainbow) for me now - and less about the series itself.  While I don't feel a burning, implacable need to tell people about MLP, I won't be persuaded to furtiveness concerning it.  That would be a big fat waste of energy on my part.

 

And yeah yeah: Some people - especially newly-minted Bronies - might see it as a demonstration of pride in the face of (arguably exaggerated) oppression.  Some members have seemingly drawn parallels between the general attitude towards Bronies and prejudice towards homosexuals.  Which is...  Ridiculous.  Bronies have not endured, do not endure, and will never endure anything resembling that measure of prejudice-fueled oppression.

 

If you like something that someone else doesn't like or understand, someone will give you flack for it.  The internet - a vast sea of anonymous animosity (I stand by this word choice) - is one of the worst places there is to openly enjoy anything.  Some people clam up when they get their first good smack from it, and other people raise their voices.  Bronies are no different.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Ziggy and Angelbaby

[Snake 516]

I never understood that either, though I believe people's intentions are good. They just want you to be true to yourself, I dont think they mean it like, "Tell EVERYONE you're a brony and be super annoying about it!" they mean more like, don't hide from it I guess if it comes up? It's normal, just treat it as such.

[Megas 27,821]

People think it's better to stop hiding it and to finally tell people. 

 

I can understand if people feel embarrassed about telling other people they're a brony, though I think people tend to overreact when they fear about what'll happen if they tell their parents that they're a brony(I highly doubt your parents are gonna disown you and kick you out of the house for liking a kid's cartoon, worse case scenario, they'll give you weird looks and/or your dad will probably tease you about it for a couple of days)

 

I'm kind of in a weird position with this. It's something so small that I doubt anyone would care, it's not some life changing revelation or realization. At the same time, no one should be forced to tell people if they aren't comfortable, and because it's something so small they can probably get away with keeping it to themselves

 

Basically, it's a such a small thing that in the grand scheme of things you don't have much to worry about going either route

Edited January 15, 2016 by TR-8R

[Bendy 1,821]

I don't know really. Seems to be a bit silly to me.

 

 

If you want to I guess. But expect people to raise some eyebrows at you.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Bendy

[Discordian 6,015]

4 years here too, and I agree with what you said, though being a brony is something interesting that you can bring up from time to time.

 

It's all about being calm and not getting too obsessed.

 

I say let people obsess all they want. It's all a matter of knowing who to obsess around.

 

it's all about Babe (Rainbow) for me now

The babe with the power? <.< >.>

 

Kinda off-topic but why don't you consider yourself a brony anymore? Just curiosity.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,316]

I never got the whole "How do I tell my family and friends that I'm a brony" thing. What makes people think others actually care what TV shows they watch? I'm a fan of procedural crime dramas, but I don't run around agonizing over how to tell people I like "Law and Order" or "NCIS".

[PiratePony 8,484]

I never got the whole "How do I tell my family and friends that I'm a brony" thing. What makes people think others actually care what TV shows they watch? I'm a fan of procedural crime dramas, but I don't run around agonizing over how to tell people I like "Law and Order" or "NCIS".

 

oh my...are you sure that's something that you just want to broadcast...out loud?

 

 

 

 

j/k i like them too

[cuteycindyhoney 13,316]

oh my...are you sure that's something that you just want to broadcast...out loud?

 

 

 

 

j/k i like them too

Abby on NCIS is my hero! In my headcanon, Ducky is really the Doctor, and he and Abby travel the universe in his TARDIS!

This also, I do not run around yelling in real life!

LOL!

[Discordian 6,015]

Abby on NCIS is my hero! In my headcanon, Ducky is really the Doctor, and he and Abby travel the universe in his TARDIS!

This also, I do not run around yelling in real life!

LOL!

I don't even watch Doctor Who and I can't unsee it.

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 3,015]

I never got the whole "How do I tell my family and friends that I'm a brony" thing. What makes people think others actually care what TV shows they watch? I'm a fan of procedural crime dramas, but I don't run around agonizing over how to tell people I like "Law and Order" or "NCIS".

I don't remember particular user, but the way he explained his situation made it seem as if he made the entire situation excessively dramatic. He said that he spoke with one of his close relatives saying something like he had some secret he needed to tell her. She responded by saying that no matter what it was that she would still love him. Then he admitted he was a Brony to her to which the relative's response was something along the lines of "Uh what? What is a Brony and why does this matter?" as if she was expecting him to say that he was a homosexual. And users response to his story was mostly congratulating him like other Brony admission threads I see. To me, these type of threads are absurd.

 

It's quite strange to me when people treat being a Brony like being a homosexual. For me, I most likely won't mention MLPFIM and Bronydom unless relevant to conversation or if I'm asked about it; no need to hide but at same time no need to broadcast it.

[Justin_Case001 4,907]

Well, even though it really shouldn't be a thing at all, and even though we should all behave as though it's not a thing, (which it isn't) since we all live and breathe, we know that there's controversy and hate towards bronies, and it's certainly not the same thing as being a fan of...some, like, Family Guy or something.  The fact is, ludicrous though it may be, often times the reactions of parents when they "find out" about their teenage son's interest are similar, and of the same magnitude, as those of an intolerant LGBT hater finding out that there child is gay...

Some members have seemingly drawn parallels between the general attitude towards Bronies and prejudice towards homosexuals.  Which is...  Ridiculous.

..which I think answers this.  And I agree, it is a bit ridiculous, but isn't it just as ridiculous when a parent "disowns" their child for liking MLP?  It may not be as common, but it does happen.

 

The fact is, due to the hate, it naturally makes people want to rise up against it.

Some people - especially newly-minted Bronies - might see it as a demonstration of pride in the face of (arguably exaggerated) oppression.

Exactly.  That is true, but at the same time, I don't really see anything wrong with that.  Isn't demonstrating pride in the face of (albeit exaggerated) oppression a good thing?  But I think it's sort of a...time and place thing.  That is to say it's really not necessary to go around singing to the world that one is a brony.  It's obviously not even remotely in the same realm as the oppression that, say, women or blacks have suffered in the past, for example.  Or LGBT as well.  To equate bronydom to such things is pretty ridiculous.

 

My ultimate feeling is that it's our duty to show the world that liking a frigging cartoon is completely and utterly inconsequential, and we do this by treating it the same way as liking any other show--we don't hide it, but don't need to purposefully announce it either.  If it comes up, then mention it.  No problem.  You wanna wear an MLP shirt?  Great.  Do it.  Just treat it as if you're wearing a Star Wars shirt, or announcing that you're a LOTR fan.  Show others that you don't think it's a big deal, and eventually, that mindset will catch on.  But there's nothing wrong with being proud of it, either.  I've been a brony for...a couple of years now, I think, and I still feel quite proud of it, and I think that's okay.

[Guest]

I noticed the longer people are in the fandom the less they start to identify as "bronies". A theory I have is because they start to realize that many who call themselves bronies are more or less excited about being a part of something, but a lot of people start to think "it's just a cartoon".

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

 The babe with the power? <.< >.>

 

Kinda off-topic but why don't you consider yourself a brony anymore? Just curiosity.

When I heard about David Bowie, I went straight to Youtube to watch that scene.  To me, he will always be the Goblin King.  Though Babe certainly has got power. x3

 

It's mostly to do with how I feel about the community as a whole.  I think that's all I can say without being overtly disparaging.  There are good individuals in most any group, but I've felt more like oil to their water for a while now.  I can't say that the show isn't still important to me (it's how I first encountered Rainbow), but my partner is decidedly far more important.

[Steve Piranha 29,447]

Nah, I only told it to my most trusted friends. I don't wanna go around shouting I like colorful horses because it's nobody's business. Besides, that'll make me a target of douches and I had enough for a lifetime  

[Discordian 6,015]

When I heard about David Bowie, I went straight to Youtube to watch that scene.  To me, he will always be the Goblin King.  Though Babe certainly has got power. x3

 

It's mostly to do with how I feel about the community as a whole.  I think that's all I can say without being overtly disparaging.  There are good individuals in most any group, but I've felt more like oil to their water for a while now.  I can't say that the show isn't still important to me (it's how I first encountered Rainbow), but my partner is decidedly far more important.

I can definitely say I agree there. I barely do anything MLP anymore. I love the show and still look at some fanart but I haven't really gotten along well with new members for quite a long time and almost never talk about MLP with anyone...including people on this site. Most of the people I agree with or have fun with are people who've been here for years.

[RyaN_ 292]

It's not easy telling something where you KNOW there is a large chance you will get shunned, bullied, singled out, or being thought to be sexually dysfunctional or has mental disorder, just for watching a show with much a younger target audience. Some people see it as normal, nothing to make a big deal about (and I appreciate that); while others take it too far just to show the world how messed up it is. For example: EVERY Youtube comments on a pony-related video.  :okiedokielokie: 

[Spanish In Physician 295]

I can't rightfully say I have ever stressed over telling people I'm a brony. I worked with a fellow Pegasister at my last job, and despite what some of my other coworkers said, I laughed it off. I never let other people get to me, so long as they are simply running at the mouth about me. That said, I can understand how difficult some people find it to tell their friends and family. I have seen cases both here, and first hand in reality of people's parents overreacting to their son being a fan of a "little girl's cartoon show." I have even witnessed one such family up and disowning their child over something so stupid. Believe me, when I tell you it is very difficult living with

 

DISCLAIMER: This is not directed at any particular religion or anybody specifically. The following statement is simply used to put things into perspective for you:

 

 

religious zealots, and bigots who actually take their dislike of what they don't understand or like to an extreme.

 

[Dark Qiviut 22,457]

I never got the whole "How do I tell my family and friends that I'm a brony" thing. What makes people think others actually care what TV shows they watch? I'm a fan of procedural crime dramas, but I don't run around agonizing over how to tell people I like "Law and Order" or "NCIS".

Your comparison makes no sense. Law and Order and NCIS are pop culture icons fervently watched by a general, older audience. Even to this day, FIM is hit with the sexist stereotype that anything related to ponies should be catered towards girls only.

 

Many of us here are lucky. I live in a very liberal city and have a very liberal family. My mom, dad, and friends don't care. But not everyone is, and it's ignorant to paint the situation so broadly. Some members here might remember how one brony from this forum came out of the stable and his family ostracized him and spewed homophobia at him. Near BronyCon three years ago, I remember talking to a brony from Kentucky who kept his bronydom in the closet because his homophobic family stuck to gender roles.

 

What everyone here needs to understand is closet bronydom is a problem. But the problem isn't the bronies themselves. The problem is a sociocultural fear of combating gender roles. In conservative areas, gender roles play a factor into how you live for the rest of your life. Closet bronydom is a symptom of the problem, and we need to treat it seriously.

 

Some members have seemingly drawn parallels between the general attitude towards Bronies and prejudice towards homosexuals. Which is... Ridiculous. Bronies have not endured, do not endure, and will never endure anything resembling that measure of prejudice-fueled oppression.

Agreed. You can't compare the two. The struggles the LGBT community face is a very real problem. The LGBT community is constantly oppressed every second of every day.

 

But that doesn't mean we as a community shouldn't treat closet bronydom seriously. There's still a sexist distaste towards males who like supposedly feminine products, and we've had bronies bullied over liking the show. An 11-year-old attempted suicide because kids bullied him for liking the show. Another brony was bullied for bringing his Dash backpack, and the school sided with the bullies by telling him to stop bringing it to school. Incidents like those are why closet bronydom exists, because they don't want to experience the pain those kids went through. You can't blame them.

 

Social justice and civil rights intertwine and each other. The real fear of being bullied for liking a product that doesn't conform to your gender — here, closet bronydom — is a symptom of a major feminist issue, and we should be sensitive towards it. To quote my post here:

We must endorse the idea that anyone (male, female, or minority gender) can love the show without fear of gender roles and the people who support gender roles bullying them. Why? Because challenging social and gender roles as a whole impacts communities vying for civil rights, including the LGBT. Trivializing closet bronydom tells us you don't care about not only challenging social constructs, but also addressing the civil rights issues the LGBT community faces.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[EverEverOn 346]

I'm very open about it, and not once has it caused me any trouble. I feel that people shouldn't hide things they enjoy, since nobody will care enough to make fun of you. Plus, people you're close to will have a better understanding of who you are as a person.