Titan Rising 2,156 April 26, 2012 Author Share April 26, 2012 (edited) "Deviant is a term used by an individual or group to label another person or group does as inappropriate or unnatural. I could call anyone a deviant if I believe what they do is inappropriate or unnatural. If someone sees bronies as deviants changing what you phrase yourself won't make any difference. They will still see you as a deviant but with a different name." It is true that they may continue to see you as a deviant anyway, but I think that acknowledging that deviance only reinforces the barrier that seperates people who like the show from the ones who dont. Let me try putting it another way: if someone says "you're weird because you like mlp" and you say "yeah i'm weird, brony and proud!", you're not only acknowledging the barrier he puts up, but you're putting up one as well by suggesting that if they do decide to eventually try watching mlp they will in fact be weird. "I believe it best to acknowledge both of those aspects. If we didn't acknowledge them then we could be deemed ignorant for choosing to ignore what the show actually is. We shouldn't have to explain ourselves for what we like or try and make it more socially acceptable. It would be nice if society understood us better, but I don't need their approval to be myself." Aren't you kind of trying to explain yourselves and make it more socially acceptible by labeling yourself as a brony though? It comes off to me as saying you're part of a big group of people that acknowledges the age/gender discrepency but proudly watches it anyway and doesn't believe there's anything wrong with that. I think most MLP watchers would agree that breaking social barriers is more of a side effect rather than our objective. Even if it wasn't socially abnormal to watch it, I would still like the show. Let me put your logic in another situation: Feminism. Should they not label themselves as women because some people view women as inferior creatures(I personally do not believe women to be inferior) and that label would work against them? By labeling ourselves, we can work to make that label stand in a positive light. If we were to be a mass of individuals who watch MLP, people wouldn't think it any less strange. By using the label "Brony" we can work to show that even though our community may have an odd interest, we are good people that value and cherish love, kindness, generosity, tolerance, loyalty, honesty, and making people happy. Our societies need these qualities and people who uphold and understand their true values. I am sorry if I came off a bit rough. I became a little irritated as I thought about how people are so quick to judge others. I get what you're saying with this and while it might be true for some bronys that just consider themselves part of the fanbase, however I feel like the whole purpose of the term brony is simply to acknowledge that gender/age barrier and declare that theres anything wrong with adults watching little girls cartoons - I just can't see any other reason for the term to exist. I would also say that the label is not standing in a positive light at all for the most part in my opinion... I think by having that label you group in all the really bad fans that make memes out of every line of dialogue and sick art/fanfics etc. with the good fans as well. If the fans were acknowledged as individuals instead of part of a group I also think people would be a lot less quick to judge I'm not sure your feminism example is quite the same thing unless I'm reading it wrong, sorry it confused me a little lol. I hope you don't think I'm judging anyone, there are plenty of great fans that call themselves bronys and I acknowledge that but honestly I'm really just one of those people that hates labels. Also I like your Lightning Pony profile picture thing ^^ at least I'm pretty sure it's Lightning lol Edited April 26, 2012 by Hollowshield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyfox 65 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 It is true that they may continue to see you as a deviant anyway, but I think that acknowledging that deviance only reinforces the barrier that seperates people who like the show from the ones who dont. Let me try putting it another way: if someone says "you're weird because you like mlp" and you say "yeah i'm weird, brony and proud!", you're not only acknowledging the barrier he puts up, but you're putting up one as well by suggesting that if they do decide to eventually try watching mlp they will in fact be weird. Aren't you kind of trying to explain yourselves and make it more socially acceptible by labeling yourself as a brony though? It comes off to me as saying you're part of a big group of people that acknowledges the age/gender discrepency but proudly watches it anyway and doesn't believe there's anything wrong with that. I get what you're saying with this and while it might be true for some bronys that just consider themselves part of the fanbase, however I feel like the whole purpose of the term brony is simply to acknowledge that gender/age barrier and declare that theres anything wrong with adults watching little girls cartoons - I just can't see any other reason for the term to exist. I would also say that the label is not standing in a positive light at all for the most part in my opinion... I think by having that label you group in all the really bad fans that make memes out of every line of dialogue and sick art/fanfics etc. with the good fans as well. If the fans were acknowledged as individuals instead of part of a group I also think people would be a lot less quick to judge I'm not sure your feminism example is quite the same thing unless I'm reading it wrong, sorry it confused me a little lol. I hope you don't think I'm judging anyone, there are plenty of great fans that call themselves bronys and I acknowledge that but honestly I'm really just one of those people that hates labels. Also I like your Lightning Pony profile picture thing ^^ at least I'm pretty sure it's Lightning lol 1) I understand and it does make sense.(too lazy to make individual quote sections lol) 2) It seems I did contradict myself. Let me try to more accurately express myself. To me it's more, "This is what we are and what we do. Take it or leave it." 3) Every group has a part that is not as accepted as others(I don't want to single out a group as being 'bad' because that would just be an opinion). I see what you're saying, but even if we were individuals, people would still categorize us as "Those people that watch ponies" which would include those that you don't want to be associated with. Last paragraph) Perhaps feminism was not the best analogy I could have used. I was just trying to show that a label is what the group makes it(even then society may still focus on the small negative aspects of the group). The bit about judging wasn't directed towards you. I was speaking about society in general. I kind of figured you didn't like labels lol. I think it's suppose to be Lightning. It can be found on google images by searching "final fantasy fluttershy". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Chaos~ 3,967 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 I'm a 19 year old male that watches MLP: FiM , and i am part of this wonderful community, therefore I am a brony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELRealBoredmario64 24 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 Thats just how the world works.I'am a brony cuz thats just how i work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mare in the Moon 173 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 I really don't call myself a brony... I just tell people I like MLP:FIM, brony is kind of a "blanket" label to me. ^ Same as that. I just tell people I like MLP, and THEY call me a Brony. I have only used the term for myself once or twice. 1 Finally committed my first name change. TURKEYS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broccoli 127 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 I call myself a brony because I think Equestria is my home! And also I'm a bro pony fan--> bro+pony=brony. -"My little pony, not yours!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 its because im a fan of my little pony the word brony and pegasister is what most fans call themselvs boys call themself bronies. Bro-pony and girls call themself pegasisters. Pegasus-Sister its as simple as that^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic 1,186 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 i call myself a bronie just because thats how the fans are called. and i am proud to be one of the more adult fans. Inspired by myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar15 231 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 Um..cause i watch my little pony friendship is magic and like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic 336 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 Thing is, I don`t. In my personal opinion, anyone who labels themselves as anything is just looking for attention. I`m a fan of the show My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, nothing more, nothing less. I see no reason to attach a tag to myself because of a show I watch. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupcake Ice Cream 436 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 (edited) Welcome...I haven't been here all that long. I'd agree that I call myself a brony because bronies are guys that like MLP: FIM Though I guess I'd have to agree with Cynic on the labeling thing Edited April 26, 2012 by Cupcake Ice Cream 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proctra Music 335 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 Calling myself a brony feels awkward. I don't mind the term, I just can't really say it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Rising 2,156 April 26, 2012 Author Share April 26, 2012 Yea it feels awkward to me too. Not because it's like mainstream or any dumb reason like that its just because I hate being classified into a group for anything. I feel the same way about words like Nerd/Jock/goth/etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arylett Charnoa 4,919 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 I don't call myself a brony. I hate that term with fierce intensity, first of all. It makes me think of the likes of 4chan and I dislike the way it sounds. And secondly, regardless of what others may think, I do not think that it is gender-neutral and should be reasonably applied to a female. All I call myself is a pony fan. That's it. I refer to others as that to; regardless of gender and age. I only take on the word brony sometimes to refer to males because it is what has become common on the internet. Like some others, I also don't really like labeling myself because I watch a show. I feel pony fan far better describes my interests. As I am indeed a fan of ponies. 1 Aether Velvet is the name of the OC in my avatar. Drawn by me. Deviantart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ingster 16 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 Well the makeing of the name is from 4chan, where peaple would post mlp pictures in the b section, so the name brony is a fusion of b and pony, becuse after all, the fanbase did start on 4chan dispite how some of us likes it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Rising 2,156 April 26, 2012 Author Share April 26, 2012 I agree.. It's pretty obvious it's not a gender neutral term I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's an unnecessary label and dislikes it as much as I do though (not to say I don't like people who do refer to themselves as a brony), but the term sometimes does make me feel like the only reason a lot of other people watch it is because of some 4chan thing even though I know it's not true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthous 44 April 26, 2012 Share April 26, 2012 (edited) I'd rather call myself a MLP fan, but i guess i do count as a brony. The community is generally nice (except for the hypocrites), and the fanstuff is impressive. AFAIK, being a brony is entirely up to yourself, and only yourself. Edited April 26, 2012 by leictreon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flutterash 41 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 (edited) I hate 4chan with all my heart. But I don't have problem with being called a brony, though I don't refer to myself as such all the time. Friendship is magic fan (not pony, that leads to generalizations) is too long Edited April 27, 2012 by Flutterash Fluttershy's Fan through and through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batbrony 16,055 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 Friendship is magic fan (not pony, that leads to generalizations) is too long What about FIMF? Yeah, FIMF... I think that's gonna catch on real soon. What do you think medic, think FIMF's gonna catch on? Eh, what do you know... from this moment on, I am a loud and proud FIMF!!! .... .... .... .... Ummmmm.... fine, brony it is (party-poopers ). 1 "You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes... cupcakes aren't good enough. Sometimes ponies deserve more. Sometimes ponies deserve to have their faith rewarded... with muffins!!!" -The Muffin Mare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flutterash 41 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 What about FIMF? Yeah, FIMF... I think that's gonna catch on real soon. What do you think medic, think FIMF's gonna catch on? Eh, what do you know... from this moment on, I am a loud and proud FIMF!!! .... .... .... .... Ummmmm.... fine, brony it is (party-poopers ). There, there Fluttershy's Fan through and through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Rising 2,156 April 27, 2012 Author Share April 27, 2012 Yo crickets are awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraznor 33 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 Is it going too far to bring in the comparison "Why do Christians call themselves that? Aren't they essentially just big fans of the story of Jesus Christ?" Think about it. Gather once a week to get a new lesson to mull over. Discuss it with other like-minded people. Write songs and stories celebrating that central story. The many Brony meet-ups could be compared to church services in a sense. Just an observation I've been thinking about since shortly after joining the herd. According to some survey somewhere, most like Rainbow Dash. Was not expecting that result but I suppose it makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batbrony 16,055 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 There, there *sob* I JUST WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT AND STAND OUT FROM THE REST OF THE HERD!!! "You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes... cupcakes aren't good enough. Sometimes ponies deserve more. Sometimes ponies deserve to have their faith rewarded... with muffins!!!" -The Muffin Mare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flutterash 41 April 27, 2012 Share April 27, 2012 *sob* I JUST WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT AND STAND OUT FROM THE REST OF THE HERD!!! Get back there Fluttershy's Fan through and through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Rising 2,156 April 27, 2012 Author Share April 27, 2012 Is it going too far to bring in the comparison "Why do Christians call themselves that? Aren't they essentially just big fans of the story of Jesus Christ?" Think about it. Gather once a week to get a new lesson to mull over. Discuss it with other like-minded people. Write songs and stories celebrating that central story. The many Brony meet-ups could be compared to church services in a sense. Just an observation I've been thinking about since shortly after joining the herd. It's funny, I read that whole paragraph in Spike's voice subconsciously because of your picture lol. As for the analogy... I would say it would be fair to say that if the word Christian itself was being used as a way to address some discrepancy the way that the word brony addresses gender. Someone calling themselves a Christian simply suggests that they are a follower of Christ and nothing more. Someone calling themselves a Brony on the other hand not only suggests they're a follower of the show, but suggests that they are a male follower of the show [and also carries the connotation that they're older than its "intended age group"] as well in an attempt to address that gender/age barrier that so many people who aren't fans of MLP associate with it. If the label was just "MLPFan" or some variation instead of Brony I would say that it would be a fair comparison because labeling someone an MLPFan only implies that they're a fan of the show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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