Why bother?

[Crystal Sparkle 344]

Okay, I'm just venting a little here, but ever since I've came a member of these forums, I've seen a lot of threads where people want to tell friends, or introduce them to MLP.

 

My question is: why bother even telling them?

 

I've seen people get dumped, tortured, beat up, teased, etc. ect. just because they decided to tell them about it. I'm not faulting the fans to do tell them here, it's just seems like their setting themselves for heartbreak when they break the news to them. If you know your friends are going to treat you differently, why bother telling them? I've seen people who try to get their friends into in, when they clearly are close-minded to the idea of males and females watching the show when they are older than the target audience. Are they really worth introducing the show to with that state of mind?

 

Now if they found out about it, then I'm really really sorry!!!

 

I'm sorry if I offended you, but I'm just going off by what I've seen

Edited June 1, 2012 by Crystal Sparkle

[Proailurus 214]

Hmmm, true.

I can't really relate because I never really talk about MLP with anyone irl except with the guy who used to be my friend that originally introduced me to the show. But, good point ^^

[Crazy Misty 653]

I agree, let people find the show themselves, they'll enjoy it more.

[letterone 1,204]

Here's my philosophy: tell them to NOT watch the show. They'll have more of a chance of watching it AND liking it. Reverse psychology, baby.

Edited June 1, 2012 by <letterONE>

[murkyx 904]

One of my strategies that I tell my brony friends is to test the waters with someone they know they can trust with a secret. If the reaction is better than expected, then their willingness to be open about the fact they like the show comes to them a lot easier.

 

If not, then it's probably best to keep it hidden.

 

But if anything, a combination of shallow behavior and self-confidence issues are what usually lead to these negative consequences. Being openly embarrassed is usually the fastest way to get enemies.

[Victoria and Co. 782]

I told my friend I watched the show and then I gave him his birthday present. Worked like a charm.

 

But I agree with you, if you know that people are going to be cruel to you, and/or nothing good will come of the situation, why force it?

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Do you really wanna be friends with someone that will dump/torture/beat up/tease you because of a cartoon anyway? If you like something then you should share it with people, if you believe your friends will treat you differently and believe you have to hide it then guess what - they're not really your friends.

 

But I would say just as much fault goes to the fans who make such a big deal about it anyway, because if you'd stop making such a big deal about watching a cartoon then so will the people who don't watch it.

 

And just because someone might think cartoons are for kids doesn't mean they're ignorant or somehow not worthy of trying to be convinced otherwise. I would actually say many of the fans of the show are less worthy of watching it then the people who don't simply because it's "for little girls"..........

Edited June 1, 2012 by Titan Rising

[Flow 1,629]

I may be a brony, but I don't like pushing my views towards other people.

[Lord Sprixx 261]

I personally just told my friends and said "give it a chance" but then again I don't exactly fear my friends, or anything they can do. We've been through a lot so I doubt they would have just left me because I watched a kids show >.<. I guess I am saying I see where you are coming from and can agree with it, but it varies from person to person really, everyone has different situations. Look at it this way, if my friend didn't just say "I watch my little pony, you watch too maybe" I wouldn't be here.

[NavelColt 22,881]

I have a couple points to make, but before I do, I'll just say that 'I agree'.

 

First of all, there are people who can be converted, and there are people who just never will be. The difference between them is some people dislike it based on false judgements alone; i.e believing it's a girls show. They think of the toys and other things, and believe it's going to be something horrendous like G3. But then they watch it, and suddenly, they're like:

 

Then there are some people who just have closed minds that will never ever budge. They hate it because of a whole multitude of reasons other than just falsely judging it, and it's those people whom you should be leaving alone.

 

My second point is, I believe there are right and wrong ways of trying to convert someone. When you straight up tell someone how awesome the show is, trying to get them to watch it, etc, it's really not the best course of action in my mind. Being subtle is often the better solution, because you kill off the risk of annoying the person. If the person get's annoyed, you're hurting your own cause. Instead of directly walking up to people and talking about it, trying to convince, or other straight-forward methods, I'd do things like wearing pony merchandise. Why not wear a pony shirt that breaks the ice about ponies for you in a non-invasive way? If they read it and ask you about it, then it changes the game. It's no longer you trying to convince, it's a casual conversation that they started from seeing said shirt or merchandise.

 

In all I do agree, I don't see the point in trying to go out of your way to convert people. Religious groups and other organizations do it all they time and they too receive tons of hate for it alone. Bugging people gives them more of a reason to hate it, so I believe that:

A: You shouldn't feel compelled to convert people to begin with, but only when opportunities rear themselves.

B: When those opportunities do rear themselves, maybe try some subtle tactics, and avoid having any pushy, invasive, etc qualities to your methods.

 

Jeez, long post is long.

[Phoenix Dirac Wright 121]

I ever bothered telling them about my bronydom. They just only take notice of my likes about MLP: FiM on Facebook or other social websites and just call me gay anyway. I seriously hate it when they tease me about it. They only keep telling me how bronies flaunt their bronyness and tell me I should stop being a brony all together. I just hate those type of so called 'friends' who keep telling me that. They're just judging me as one sole group of people but who gives 2 flying feathers about it. I am who I am. Nothing is ever going to change that and if they're just going to tease me about it, so be it. Since before and after I watched MLP: FiM, I have never changed much at all and yet they tease me for liking it. Only my true friends stay with me and actually don't bother about my bronydom. I just hate people like that in real life...

[Inky Milk 78]

I also don't quite understand the desire. True, I did tell my sister about it, though it wasn't really a huge shocker or anything as I've loved ponies since I was little, and the main reason I "formally" told her is because I wanted her to watch it with me. We've lived together the past 4 years and share a lot of our dorky interests, so when one of us becomes immersed in a new series or hobby, it's pretty usual to tell the other about it.

 

But as for my friends? Um...I just don't see the point. I know them well enough to know their general tastes in television and movies and I know ponies aren't up their alley, just like a lot of things I watch. It's no big deal. Our friendship isn't so shallow that we'll have nothing to talk about if I don't bring up ponies, so it's just something I keep to myself for the most part. I'm not "hiding" it, they can plain well see my pony collection in my room, but it's not something I'm aching to discuss 24/7 either.

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

You shouldn't "not bother to tell them" for fear of being ridiculed. A true friend wouldn't judge.

I guess telling them about MLP is a test of their friendship, more than anything.

[Starshine 16,334]

For some bronies, MLP:FiM is a religion, and this fandom is a cult. They think that converting others and showing the world that FiM is the greatest thing ever grazed the Earth are their holy duties.

 

Can't really blame them tho.

[JhonHipster 124]

But what fun is the show if your the only one you know that enjoys it. I've only told my bestest friends.

[JhonHipster 124]

But what fun is the show if your the only one you know that enjoys it. I've only told my bestest friends.

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

It's a good way to find out if they're truly your friends or not. If they're gonna stop hanging out with you just because you watch a little kids show, despite all the time you've had together and all the things you've been through as friends, then they were never your friends, so at least you know you don't have to waste anymore time hanging out with them. I mean it makes sense for them to find it weird, but to go overboard with it and ditch you, or worse, become violent toward you? That's not a friend, and you should be glad you're no longer affiliated with such scum. A true friend may or may not find it weird, but they'd at least be accepting of it, even if they have no interest in the show.

 

That and, I really doubt they're gonna beat them up or torture them for liking MLP, at worst they'll call them mean words and ditch them. And if you think they will do something horrible to you for it, then with in the bloody hell are you friends with these people?

 

But what fun is the show if your the only one you know that enjoys it. I've only told my bestest friends.

 

You double posted.

Edited June 2, 2012 by Pegasus25

[GrooveBroove 680]

I've noticed a lot of that attitude is more common place with the younger fans of the series.

Middle School and High School type.

 

I see no reason in not trying to introduce some people to the show.

Sometimes people end up enjoying it.

 

Or in the case of my friends they don't get it and just let me enjoy it.

Though not all friends are created equal but personally if your friend or whoever you show ends up disowning you because you watch the show then something is wrong not with you but with them.

[BetaWolf 97]

I told my friend I watched the show and then I gave him his birthday present. Worked like a charm.

Exactly as Pinkie Pie would've done it. Brilliant!

[CapnKrunk 307]

I agree.No point if you know they're going to treat you like crap.

[Raspberry32 226]

I have told my friends, because they are my friends. I can hardly keep anything from them, basically because I have a big mouth, but also to see what kind of reaction they get out of anything I say. They tell me anything I say is "random and unrelated" to anything they are talking about at that moment, and that it is funny. So, me being me, I try to impress them. They seem to enjoy my off-topicness.

 

Now, back to this topic. My friends and I, if we aren't currently busy, will tease each other about anything we can. It is sort of just our way of being friends. That is how we show gratitude, I guess. We all know we are never really serious about it, so we easily shake it off as play. Unless it is a really big decision, such as dropping out of school (completely nothing to do with any of us. Honestly), then we try to help each other through the situation, and try to get them to do what is right. We can be the most loving, caring, and helpful people at the right times. We know our limitations.

[pinkie pie agent of random 8]

I think that being able to legitimately talk about a show that you really enjoy should be something you can do, but everything is context. I guess the big thing for me is I really do not give a buck what anyone thinks when it comes to my interests, and if they are going to treat me like crap because I enjoy video games, tabletop gaming, nerdy humour or ponies, then they really aren't of any use to me.

[Otter 1,942]

But what fun is the show if your the only one you know that enjoys it. I've only told my bestest friends.

 

I think being the only one in your area that enjoys the show is part of the charm of brony-dom. For me, a big part of being a brony is the exclusivity factor. If everyone was a brony, it would be just as mundane as sleeping or breathing. Sure, people will discriminate, but that doesn't bother me. It's an adventure! (And I'm sounding like the script to some namby-pamby 90's feel good flick.)

[Raspberry32 226]

If everyone was a brony, it would be just as mundane as sleeping or breathing.

 

I can't agree more with this sentence. I have never thought of it that way at all.

[Batbrony 16,055]

Okay, I'm just venting a little here, but ever since I've came a member of these forums, I've seen a lot of threads where people want to tell friends, or introduce them to MLP.

 

My question is: why bother even telling them?

 

I've seen people get dumped, tortured, beat up, teased, etc. ect. just because they decided to tell them about it. I'm not faulting the fans to do tell them here, it's just seems like their setting themselves for heartbreak when they break the news to them. If you know your friends are going to treat you differently, why bother telling them? I've seen people who try to get their friends into in, when they clearly are close-minded to the idea of males and females watching the show when they are older than the target audience. Are they really worth introducing the show to with that state of mind?

 

Now if they found out about it, then I'm really really sorry!!!

 

I'm sorry if I offended you, but I'm just going off by what I've seen

 

I willl say that this is a good bit of advice, mostly because I think many bronies, especially younger bronies (i.e. 13-17), become a little too optimistic about how their friends will take the news that they are bronies once they join this forum and find all these other bronies online. Now, I'm definitely not worried about any kind of bullying if my friends do find out, but that's only because I'm in college, at a small college, and don't have any friends who would ever bully me if they found out about my bronyhood, even if they thought it was weird, but I will say that other bronies, especially those in high school, should be careful and reserved when deciding who to confide in about their bronyhood, if they tell anyone at all that is. Remember everypony, just because our community is so friendly and accepting, that doesn't mean by a long shot that everybody will be accepting of your bronyhood, so always be cautious and only tell those whom you are certain will not react in an overtly negative way.