mega thread The state of the Brony fandom (Numbers, Popularly, Future)

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

The fandom has gained unnatural long life from its exposure to the One Ring.

[CosmicSpark 2,120]

When I came into this fandom, I was worried It won't be around much longer I looked around and there are ponies still creating content, the youtubers may have stopped or taken a break, but the fandom is not dying, some of you ponies have put that to rest for me It is just slown down but it is still strong :)

[superdogz1999 551]

Our fandom is slowly dying down due to people leaving after Twilight became an Alicorn. But we are still getting new members into the fandom. For example I joined the Fandom in December 2014

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

And once again, we have proven that the fandoms not dying and there is no reason to panic.

 

[Grepper 3,192]

I'd just say that the fandom activity has plateaued.

Maybe some brony websites died because there were other more popular sites that served the same purpose.

[InfectedPone 1,550]

Well the show quality has definitely risen. But with the announcement of season 6 coming this year, they may be favouring speed over quality which can cause the quality to decline, thus, losing more fandom members.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

This fandom is not so much dying as it has been in transition, as it always has been. When you're dealing with a show that has changed as much in 5 years as this one has (regardless, even if a show stagnates for that long), people will come and people will go. I won't attribute that to the quality of the show, which is a subjective matter (considering the different times people jumped ship). It's only natural. The talents of people who come in and out of the revolving door will change, and with that, so will the makeup of fanworks and the nature of discussions about this show.

 

I'd say 2012 was the peak of activity in the fandom, because it was fresh and new, and Season 2 is when the popularity of the show and the appreciation of the fanbase first started to set in. Ever since then, some have left and some have stayed, but the fandom still is as strong and talented it should be. The faces changed, but the soul is the same.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Wind Chaser

[cider float 2,538]

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Yes, it's a joke.  The alternative would be that I genuinely think the fandom has become an undead, cannibalistic flesh-muncher.  That eats other fandoms.  This topic's come up often enough that I can no longer respond to it in a serious manner.

I know you're being sarcastic but what you said is really what does happen if you look at how bronies can be found literally in other fandoms polluting them with ponies.

 

I think all of you should understand a fandom being alive or dead is pretty subjective. For some they can only enjoy the fandom when it was at it's height and when it become lukewarm they go looking for something else, for others they can latch onto it no matter how little activity it has, to them it's still alive as long as there's just a blip on the screen.

Edited July 9, 2015 by cider float

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

Look at Star Wars. Look at Star Trek. Did those fandoms die?

[Nyan Neon 50]

Nope. *cuts to ending theme*

[Ninja(Pinkie)Midget 180]

Nothing lasts forever...just ask the Romans.  I don't know how long it will last, but I'm going to enjoy it as long as it does.  Who knows, I may eventually have grandkids that are bronies  

[ponylaces 1,870]

The show isn't really shoved in people's faces like it was when Faust was still around. The fandom isn't dead, it just calmed down a bit.

[TerribilisScriptor 107]

i'm really getting sick of these " OMG MLP FANDOM IS GONNA DIE !!!111!!!!!11!" posts

this is rediculous

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

i'm really getting sick of these " OMG MLP FANDOM IS GONNA DIE !!!111!!!!!11!" posts

this is rediculous

 

Naw, it's not that bad. If I was watching a fandom, and I saw it fluctuate like My Little Pony's does, I'd be concerned as well. People just tend to walk away when things aren't going on, and come back when they are.

[TerribilisScriptor 107]

Naw, it's not that bad. If I was watching a fandom, and I saw it fluctuate like My Little Pony's does, I'd be concerned as well. People just tend to walk away when things aren't going on, and come back when they are.

kinda, but im still annoyed by all these naysayers everywhere .-.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

It'll probably end one day, but not for a long time after the show is done.

[[NULL] 906]

The fandom may not be dying, but it's dignity certainly is.

[Morgoth Bauglir 14]

WELLLLL, obviously it will die someday, assuming that "fandom" means a group of fans larger than....oh, say ten people. Um...I forgot where I was going with this.

 

 

Basically, the fandom can die if:

1. People in the fandom move on to another fandom.

2. People in the fandom don't like where the show is going.

3. People start a chain reaction by saying the fandom is dying, leading to people leaving the fandom for fear that it will die. (doesn't make much sense though)

 

The only people who can kill a fandom are the fans.

 

On a side note, I like mlp by itself, regardless of fans or fan-worship. I think it is a gem among all the pointless shows out there.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Morgoth Bauglir

[Guest]

 

 

3. People start a chain reaction by saying the fandom is dying, leading to people leaving the fandom for fear that it will die. (doesn't make much sense though)

 

 

Strangely enough that works.

[Caliboom 219]

I don't think the fandom is dying. The fandom will live for a long time, even after the show ends.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Caleb Urn

[NightMare Knight 73]

there are ups and downs in all fandoms. to me it seems like a lot of  fans of Doctor Who jumped ship after Matt Smith left. if that is the case for MLP then so be it. There are many new fans everyday and true fans that will probably continue to the love the show for years to come. I truly think the growing popularity of the show has lead to an amazing new season, bigger and better conventions and great new merchandise like the power pony line!

[Br O N Y 382]

That's funny, because this Topic is over two years old, and this fandom has grown until now, but you can see this really good on the number of visitors of Bronycon,

100, 300, 850, 4000, 8400, 9607 and this year 10011, first it was an exponential growth, and now it's still growing, but the growing had slowed down, maybe it is at the peak, after the peak it will shrink exponentially, you can see this kind of development in many other things too, like the growth of the world population, and even in biology in the growth of a bacteria culture, but it will go asymptotically towards zero, that means, there will be some hardcore fans, years after the show ended.

[Guest]

That's funny, because this Topic is over two years old, and this fandom has grown until now, but you can see this really good on the number of visitors of Bronycon,

100, 300, 850, 4000, 8400, 9607 and this year 10011, first it was an exponential growth, and now it's still growing, but the growing had slowed down, maybe it is at the peak, after the peak it will shrink exponentially, you can see this kind of development in many other things too, like the growth of the world population, and even in biology in the growth of a bacteria culture, but it will go asymptotically towards zero, that means, there will be some hardcore fans, years after the show ended.

To be fair this year was a fairly small growth for BronyCon. Only about 400+ more people versus the 1,200 from last year and almost 4000 the year before that. I think we are probably closer to the time when the fandom will start shrinking.

[Scarecrow 44]

Nah I thinks there fine at least there not completley dying but there using popularity but like at the speed of a snail corssing the world

[frecklesareblooming 225]

I've heard this question time and time again and my answer will always remain the same: the fandom has not died, nor will it ever die. People will leave, but people will also join us. Even when MLP ends, like many other television shows, movies, books, etc. have, we'll still have a strong fandom. For instance, Harry Potter is just one example of a fandom still alive and well, even though the actual stories have 'ended'. There's really nothing to worry about, in my opinion.