How reliant are you on MLP?

[ManaMinori 4,145]

I got sucked into the show for its relatable characters, positive morals, and most of all, the fantasy elements and escapism from all the dark crap going on in the world. Needless to say, the reliance of the latter has grown for me, to the point that I need MLP as a near constant distraction, else I start allowing myself to think of things that shan't be spoken of, and fall into depression and anxiety. So much of my thoughts and time go into pony theories, pony art, pony merch hunting, pony OC creation/ Au world building, pony fanfic drafts, pony blog stalking. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it all, but deep down I know it's gotten to be an unhealthy distraction from real world crap, no longer a temporary escapism, but a near constant one.

 

So my question is- how dependent is everyone else to this show and/or its fandom?

Edited March 1, 2017 by Nightmare Muffin

[Guest]

I wouldn't call myself exactly dependent to the show since to me it's just a cartoon among many others I've watched. It does help me feel better at times though so if I'm feeling especially bad and in the mood of watching some episodes, it'll cheer me up, at least on some level; it won't make my problems disappear but it's a cheerful reminder that nice things exist.

The fandom however - this forum especially - is constantly around when I'm on the computer so I think I might be pretty much stuck here. In the good way.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,854]

Not exactly dependent or reliant on the show much per se, but these forums have become one of the only places ever that I have felt like I actually am worth something. Where I have done things that actually mean something important and can have an impact in some way. Without that I wouldn't have much in the way of worth in life. There's also the friends I have made here and of course I met my boyfriend here, so these forums are quite special to me and I come here on a constant basis.

[Techno Universal 2,575]

Well all I can say about it is that it's changed me a lot. It was the key to discovering my true potential as when I compered myself the the main 6 I found out that my personality was a universal combination of them like it's too complicated to explain. Now I know where I can go in the future because of the show and even my life goal was set by it. Even things and events in the show seem to explain universal mysteries to me. I've now got a feeling that I'm a part of the show in a way but it's just soo deep to talk about.

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

For the first 2 years i was watching this show, i think i was kinda reliant on this show, because i had mostly just MLP stuff in my head. These days, i am not reliant on it, because there are also other things in this world i am interested in.

[cmarston1 5,959]

I have other things and shows that I am interested in, to be honest.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

MLP:FIM is great, but there are several cartoon series I would say are better than it... Steven Universe and SvtFoE come to mind, and that's not even going into classics such as Invader Zim, ReBoot or Beast Wars... so I would say I'm entirely non-reliant on MLP... I still like it and will follow it, though. Just because I've spent enough time on it that it holds a place in my heart.

[Vulcan 3,255]

I'm more reliant on this forum than the fandom or the show.

 

I love the community here, They're all really interesting peeps. 

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

Not really dependent or reliant on MLP much really. I'm also not really reliant on the community anymore either, as you can see from my occasional week-long hiatuses. I do more other things now like play Paladins (though I've stayed away from it for a few days because it hasn't been on my mind too much lately), or watch YouTube videos.

 

3 1/2 years ago, however, I was extremely reliant on the community and the show (more the former back then), for emotional stability of some sorts. Was a fairly grim time for me I must say

(even though there really aren't any happy times in my life now). 

 

Though (probably in part due to the show itself and interactions with the coommunity) I've changed since then for the better I'd suppose. Less naïve (two ex-boyfriends, well if you can call one of them that), less self-centered (probably the show), and I deal with less (though there's still some that will probably never go away) emotional instability.

Edited March 1, 2017 by TwillyFSniper

[Deae Rising Shine~ 56,254]

Reliant, me? No way!

 

 

What you mean, this isn't Equestria? :-o

 

It means a lot to me, and I doubt my life - that thing that is absolute useless for me soon - would had been better without. Rather worser or annoying and stupid without ponies to cheer me up. Even tough I had "fandoms" before, I never really was "Part" of it. I watched Formula 1, still not hanging on motorsport sites discussing there. I'm a big fan of Metal Gear, I'm, nowadays, on a forum but as good as not active. But MLP? Has become so much meaning to me, that I even believe, if I die and there is some kind of afterlife, that i get to Equestria.

 

Or in short: I can't imagnate a life anymore without ponies. Because I barely see anything right now worth it except MLP. My life is a crisis, I doubt even living in a home at the end of this year. I probably rot in the streets one day, because I fail everything in life. I'm not the kind making suicide or stuff, no. But without MLP, I sure have less will continuing anymore in this war rotten world called Earth.

 

Heck, send me to a Equestria where I have to do everything Nightmare Moon, Tirek, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, whatever rules, still would it enjoy bit more then this life.

[Jeric 46,866]

On the show? Not at all. It is one of countless things that occupies my thoughts, and I find no significant issues in not watching it or thinking about it. The same can be said of the fandom in general. This isn't to say that I don't appreciate both, but I am not dependent on either.

 

That said, a not insignificant measure of reliance does exist with relationships I've cultivated, and people I have befriended due to the show and community. If they weren't in my life, it would feel less complete.

[Duskey 19]

I actually kinda rely on it quite a bit now, ive been going through depression I guess for the past two years and mlp really helps with that, and it never fails to cheer me up when im down, plus I love the fandom and making things for it. Also its a wonderful way for me to relax and relieve stress, ive been starting to wake up at 2am every single morning just to watch an episode and browse around doing mlp related things xD

[Steve Piranha 29,447]

Well, I'm not dependent, but it was the only bright thing in my life for years. Now, my life feels bright enough to not depend on it to bring happiness, but I'll keep watching ponies for what they did previously 

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

Absolutely not at all. Which is hilarious, because I used to be obsessed with MLP. I remember back in 2011 I dreaded the show ending.

 

Now I don't really care. 

[Cheval 61]

I picked up on this show during one of the worst times in my lives - parents fighting all the time, crushing anxiety, relentless school work, and an over-bearing existentialist resentment of the world generally. 

 

I know thousands, if not millions, of naive, angsty teens have drudged across the face of this planet, and I felt at that time, as most have, as though I was alone in the world, standing on the precipice of death or, even worse, apathy. 

 

When I found this show during yet another blazed, drunken night, I found something sincere and optimistic. It did not 'carry me through' or relieve my depression or any of that stuff. But it gave me something to mill around in my noggin during the day - even more so when I began to debate "anti-bronies" on all sorts of public forums. I could vent with assurance that people were on my side. And have even more fun destroying people when they were not.

 

To this day, I keep 80 pages of online mlp-themed arguments saved on my computer, and I consult it every now and then for research papers for my classes. I always blow away my professors with the degree of depth procured by such a seemingly simplistic form of entertainment. 

 

I found this forum when I tried to upload this little anthology. Got immediately blocked because of the gratuitous obscenity on the very first page   

But I'm still here.

 

And I still feel fairly independent in my preferred method of watching this show: I am not reliant, but I use mlp as an excuse to get high, pop open a bottle of wine, and laugh my butt off at the antics of a bunch of magical cartoon horses. It's one of my simple joys in life. And I will never forget it. 

[llamalauncher 84]

I mostly got into the show because how good the writing is and the animation, i want to get into animation myself but..... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucq18Y-afQY

 

Also i instantly became obessed with Applejack and Twilight, mostly applejack

 

I dont rely on mlp, ive gone days without mlp in my day, when im bored i just search fanart or watch mlp videos on youtube. Not reliant

[Scootaloo Is Best Filly 578]

I don't think I was ever reliant on the show itself. The fandom however and the conventions im very dependent on those. I really love the show and I love the episodes and when it gets cancelled I'll feel really bad but a new gen of ponies will come around or I will find another cartoon to love.

 

The convention and the fandom that's sort of irreplaceable

[Ganondorf8 11,404]

I'm not that dependant on the show or on Equestria Girls as I do have other interests aside from MLP. I won't deny that EQG will have a special place in my heart because of how it got me past a terrible time in my life with the show providing additional support in helping me cope with what happened, but I'm not obsessed to the point where it's the only thing that matters. I enjoy it for the characters, voice acting, world building, and references yet nothing beyond that.

[Monsoon 1,662]

I'm not dependent on it at all to be honest, I hardly watch the show now as well as I hardly interact with anyone in le fandom

[Johnny1226 14,674]

Mlp is what helped me get friends on this site and has given me new insight into things and increased my acceptance of things and people it also entertains me and gives me new reasons to exist but I don't think I'm dependent on it but it is extremely important to me

[digit112 89]

Not so reliant that I constantly indulge myself in pony, but reliant enough to worry absolutely non-stop about its fate.