What would you define as an overzealous fan?

[Toastypk 927]

Here's a thinker.

I watched a Silver Quill video, and in it he talks about the spectrum of types of fans. (in particular, he's talking about the Alicorn Twilight reaction.) On one end is the Rager, and on the other is the Zealot, while both being opposite, they're presented as being problematic. This very much applies to more than just the Alicorn Twilight thing. But I started to wonder: I'm definately more toward the zealot side, but how far is TOO far? What would be too far?

Cases in point:

1. I started a thread once saying that I didn't dislike any episodes in the show, even if some had issues. I wouldn't give any episode less than a 3 out of 5,

And although I wouldn't be in a hurry to see every single one again, I never had one that gave me a bad taste in my mouth. 

But that's fine, right?

 

2. Stygian is probably my favorite side pony in the whole show, and most definately the redeemed antagonist I'm most attached to. (even an  owner of one of a few known custom plushes of him!) As such, I've actually replied to a couple of posts from people who don't like him or said negative things about him, trying to see if I could defend him or throw some points across.

But again, that's fine, right? You can reply to seeing someone say something ugly about somepony you really like, right? Without being obnoxious?

At what point does all this heavy liking become problematic?

It's like the Zealot is incapable or unwilling to listen to something negative related to the show or a character or something. I'm definitely more on the side of loving things, but I'm not going to just blindly say everything is flawless. (and hey, that was a song!)

It's like at the end of Fame and Misfortune, where all the complainer types were treated as being just as bad as  the ponies holding signs in support. What is the level to which this would be bad?

 

[cuteycindyhoney 13,334]

I lean just a little towards Zealot. I don't run around crazy about it. I just love Princess Twilight.

48 minutes ago, Toastypk said:

1. I started a thread once saying that I didn't dislike any episodes in the show, even if some had issues.

Sadly, I downright hate two episodes. I know people liked them, and that's fine. I'll just NEVER watch "Flutter Brutter" or "Applejack's Day Off" again.

[They call me Loyalty 1,952]

The main problem is fanaticism. Over-association can lead people to become polarized to dangerous degrees and react with the opposite spectrum. The base problem is polarity, seek balance when you notice over-dependance. Temper your reaction. Observe for any form of over-association with politics, society, beliefs, media and any other form of dependency. The key is to balance the polarity.

If you were in balance. You could still enjoy the show, and not be bothered by what others think. Become an observer to watch the conflict from outside the bias of polarity.

That you bought plushies, and are willing to engage on an internet discussion over this character, is enough of a warning sign to inform that you have become polarized as to over-associate. For example. I like RD, but I have not problem mocking the character. Because, I don't perceive this fictional character as a part of my being. It does not matter what people think about the character.

[SharpWit 2,844]

Too far is when a fan tries to own the character. Others are pointing out not seeing a fault, but then there are those who claim a sort of ownership and have created an emotionally dependent relationship with a fictional character, and half of what they say is a sickening amount of the lovey dovey adoration they have for their hooved waifu.

[Goat-kun 2,530]

When you stop regarding haters and complainers as "true fans".

[Toastypk 927]

10 hours ago, They call me Loyalty said:

That you bought plushies, and are willing to engage on an internet discussion over this character, is enough of a warning sign to inform that you have become polarized as to over-associate. 

I think the main difference is the attitude about it. Being a giant adorer of somepony is fine in and of itself, but adding to someone's discussion is different than going after someone with a head of steam.

I don't feel like I have to do that. I can easily ignore that enough.

For instance, there's a user on derpibooru I notice sometimes, who is a massive Lightning Dust supporter, and frequently will show it on a lot of art of her, call Spitfire and the Wonderbolts garbage compared to her, and nothing you can say or bring up about Lightning being an antagonist or a jerk will sway him, and he'll go after every comment that tries to explain it to him.

That's the sort of level I'm concerned about.

I'm not like that at all.

[Adorable Lovestar 243]

They're overzealous when it starts to cause them significant harm, probably? Like if it's actively making their own life worse.

[AppleButt 8,682]

I’m probably a bit overzealous lol. 
 

I get a little sad when someone criticizes the show or a character I really like. 
 

But I mean it’s not like I express that publicly.  

[Adorable Lovestar 243]

4 minutes ago, AppleButt said:

I’m probably a bit overzealous lol. 
 

I get a little sad when someone criticizes the show or a character I really like. 
 

But I mean it’s not like I express that publicly.  

I don't think being sad makes you overzealous, just normal. That said, remember that no matter what anyone says, the value you find in the things you love is always real, because you found it yourself<3

[Toastypk 927]

I have an update. I almost posted this in a new thread but it fits this one too.

I was watching a review of Shadow Play by these two pony reviewers, and it turns out they didn't like it. Well everyone has different opinions, that's fine.

But this time I felt pretty... ruffled.

One of the reviewers had this real... snide attitude for the episode, and some of the characters. She referred to Starlight as "Barbie Bitch", had this annoyed snide attitude for Stygian being another villain who had a friendship related or misunderstanding incident, and even called him a "crybaby" and a "fucking idiot".

With this combination, for the first time I felt a sort of revulsion at someone else's opinion. Which obviously, not everyone will like the same things you do, that's ok. But I found myself wondering about this reviewer, "Wow, what's your problem?"

Seeing someone just being snide at a character I have huge affection for really elicited something perutrbed in me that I don't experience.

I mean, it's days later, and it's not on my mind now, but the whole thing just felt uncomfortable. I'm not some crazed fan or anything, and I'm not bothered that someone didn't like the episode or him. But the feelings I felt were something different for me.

[Tom Gallagher 33,625]

If being an overzealous fan means being somepony who's constantly defending every little thing about FiM, then I am one.  I won't stand for anypony who says anything offensive towards the show.  Even the things that others consider bad I'll defend to the grave because that's how much I love this show. 

Edited August 17, 2020 by TomDaBombMLP

[ExplosionMare 21,254]

I always thought self-insert shipping was considered “taking it too far”, but I guess it’s moreso the people who take it too seriously and get offended if their favorite character is shipped with someone else in the show or in the fandom.

[Landi 602]

I would say that I kinda started watching the show as a bit of a zealot. Although, when Twilight became an alicorn I moved more towards the middle of the spectrum. After the introduction of the school of friendship I started to go more on the hater side. Although I'd still say I'm somewhat towards the middle.

It can be hard when you grow an attachment to things, to accept criticism of those things. Same can be said about the other side. When you dislike something so much, it irks you to see others praising it. But at the end of the day, It's all just opinions.

[Will Guide 21,371]

This is why I actually love S7's Fame and Misfortune. It shows the dark side of the fan Dumb. There's always going to be some overzealous fans in every fandom and we just need to learn not to let their criticisms detract our enjoyment of what we love.

15 hours ago, Toastypk said:

One of the reviewers had this real... snide attitude for the episode, and some of the characters. She referred to Starlight as "Barbie Bitch", had this annoyed snide attitude for Stygian being another villain who had a friendship related or misunderstanding incident, and even called him a "crybaby" and a "fucking idiot".

Well I wouldn't use words like that. I understand that there are people who still hate Zephyr breathe even though he clearly learn to be a better pony and after that suceeds that something. Rainbow Dash only really hates him when he tried to hit on her; other than that, she actually wants him to succeed as much as Fluttershy does

[Splashee 28,593]

Don't know what the word means, but I think fans that buy or even look at the exposed CMC body pillows at BronyCon 2019 should be in the "worst" category. 

[ExplosionMare 21,254]

1 hour ago, Splashee® said:

Don't know what the word means, but I think fans that buy or even look at the exposed CMC body pillows at BronyCon 2019 should be in the "worst" category. 

Yikes! Yeah, that is pretty bad 😬

[Vefka 1,502]

I'm in the middle but closer to Rager. I learned from game industry that if you don't criticize things you like, creators become lazier and less motivated to make quality product because "Hey, what's the point of this? They'll love it anyway". I'm not raging at the show, I didn't care when Twi turned into an alicorn or when they added the school. But I don't overwhelmingly like the show either, a lot of episodes seem just average for me, some even straight up boring and repetitive (seriously, the only character I saw growing is Fluttershy, others just slightly changed their behavior and maintained their main flaws which became sorta part of their personality)

[Splashee 28,593]

Maybe that fat cheese "Brony" stereotype from the college humor video? 

[Goat-kun 2,530]

On 8/18/2020 at 2:07 AM, Splashee® said:

Don't know what the word means, but I think fans that buy or even look at the exposed CMC body pillows at BronyCon 2019 should be in the "worst" category. 

Then let Goat-sensei bestow upon you the knowledge about fanboy zealots. These aren't creeps that you described. They are the "I like everything" fans that attack anyone who dares criticize the show or reject any form of criticism citing their own irrational feelings as the reason for why it's the best thing since sliced bread. Zealot=fanatic, usually with a religious connotation

[Splashee 28,593]

Here you go, the best MLP fan:

 

[Dreambiscuit 11,131]

An overzealous fan is someone who takes his/her passion over the line from harmless fun to annoying obsession.

A person can hate everything or love everything as they wish. But they should know where the line is drawn as far as interacting with others. No matter which way you tend to lean, being caustic, or abusive to the material, should be kept to one’s self and public interaction shouldn’t become overly confrontational or irritating. It’s fine to have an opinion, but state it and move on. Or if it can be discussed/debated in a friendly or civil way on a calm middle ground, that’s fine too. But if it gets too combative it should be left alone altogether. Some polarities can’t interact comfortably because they’re just not compatible. But to each his/her own opinion, in the proper context, by all means!

[Splashee 28,593]

Also we have the NSFW fans that are willing to mix FIM with all kind of weird stuff. I just saw a topic here at the forum and it looks like a few are into that stuff 

I was surprised so many were willing to be outspoken about it at this place where anything NSFW is kinda censored or against the rules

[Ittoni 538]

I mean, I love changelings, there's no denying that. But I always try to make sure that what I say about them is backed up with evidence in my theories. If it's not I try to remind myself to what extent it's canon, theory, especulation and headcanon. There's definitely things I don't like about the show like twilicorn's unnecessary ascension to alicornhood but there's things I do like more than just that so why would that be the definitive factor of my enjoyment of the entire show? I'm still salty that Luster Dawn got a friend of every race except changeling because they are not popular with the general audience post reformation but some things are what they are and I have to accept it because I can have them still around as a race and they had their proper time and love and care. Other things I'm so mad about that I prefer to not acknowledge their existence in the show even if they are canon like Anthro-Cat and Bird people and Sludgetown or Kludgetown (I don't remember), or the entire humanverse. But i acknowledge that that is a personal issue because regardless of what i think there it is and is canon I want it or not, and if other ppl like it then fine for them but I don't have to like it or agree with it just because it exists, call me specieist but maybe that's just part of my sense of logic of what makes sense in the pony world and what doesn't since all of this is written by people that may or may not have story and world building logic in their view while making the show that is primarily for a company whose only real interest is sell toys for children. Doesn't make me attack others that do enjoy the inclusion but if i want it can ignore it for my works taking in mind to never get into that can of worms to avoid being inaccurate with the show canon and unnecessarily mean. Sometimes i do forget though because I obviously care about what I like and if I'm suddenly being attacked or overwhelmed by the other type of fans for whatever their motives be then yeah it does hurt when they are being so closed minded to ideas that they can't accept others, just like with everything.

I don't even know what could I be considered by others in the fandom because I'm a show only person that doesn't like the movies, the spinoffs, the comics, doesn't read fanfictions, or anything else other than theories from the show and the show itself so I don't want other extra material and if it makes it's way into the show because of "we gotta make it canon so it's in the show and the fans have to watch the other media now because it's official"... NO! Hasbro! you are bulling me into it  and the people that think that i'm being intolerant for having my reservations are doing the same too! 

It's tolerance what's important and reason. Which none of the over zealous fans nor the ragers have the capacity to have towards others either by aggressive positivism or aggressive negativism which results in close minded individuals which only accept their version of the story and only if you accept their version as the only truth, or that mock others for either getting mad or liking something, for having different opinions. It's more of an attitude. You can like or not whatever you want, you can have your own version about it if you want, just don't be an asshole about it.

Edited September 1, 2020 by Ittoni

[Landi 602]

19 minutes ago, Ittoni said:

I'm still salty that Luster Dawn got a friend of every race except changeling

Yeah, she didn't have a pegasus in her group either. That was a bit of a bum to me being the big peggy fan that I am.

 

21 minutes ago, Ittoni said:

Other things I'm so mad about that I prefer to not acknowledge their existence in the show even if they are canon like Anthro-Cat and Bird people and Sludgetown or Kludgetown (I don't remember), or the entire humanverse.

There are things I don't like to acknowledge. The whole Equestria girls human-verse like you mentioned is a big one of mine. The school of friendship is another one. Plus, in my head-canon, only pegasi and batponies can control the weather, not griffons, dragons or hippogriffs. That being said, I don't hate people who do acknowledge these things. Everybody has their own opinions and head-canons, and that's cool.

[Ittoni 538]

On 8/16/2020 at 11:17 PM, Toastypk said:

One of the reviewers had this real... snide attitude for the episode, and some of the characters. She referred to Starlight as "Barbie Bitch", had this annoyed snide attitude for Stygian being another villain who had a friendship related or misunderstanding incident, and even called him a "crybaby" and a "fucking idiot".

I've encountered ppl like that too and I think that yes maybe everyone has their own style for conveying an idea or an opinion but some are really overly unnecessarily mean in how they say it that it feels more like an attack to the ones that could possibly like that aspect of the show or a character, or what have you. There's some things that should be tolerated and some things that shouldn't. This type of attitude shouldn't be tolerated precisely because of the excessive meanness. 

Edited September 1, 2020 by Ittoni