At what point does obsessing about ponies become "unhealthy"?

[XrosOver 613]

Well look what we have here. Another question to be answered. Well this time I am asking you people, when does a person reach the point where it is considered either physically or mentally unhealthy?

 

During the first weeks of my pony discoveries I was intrigued to dig in deeper into the subject and the fandom surrounding it. 2 months later I found myself making many references to the show and memes completely out of subconscious habit.

 

Skip forward another month and I catch myself using the shows lingo and say occasionally "Holy Celestia"! Another month passes by and I'm listening to brony made songs while falling asleep, much like a lullaby. In the current time I have read over 200+ fanfiction, (I almost never go under 80000 words in my searches) constantly make random pony jokes and draw (poorly) anything pony related, and on top of all that I can't seem to stop fantasizing about going to equestria or performing some of my favorite songs to the mane six and other ponies!

 

To restate the question, where does this become unhealthy? I'm guessing I have reached that point. Anybody have a idea what the scale is for unhealthy obsessions?

[be my waifu 2,842]

Is this "obsession" having a negative effect on the rest of your real life?

 

If not, then you're fine

[Ethan Pow 332]

Well only yourself can make it unhealthy, know to understand your lines and where there is a time to break away. I find this important when I have done nothing but watch one show, I will watch another or hang out with my friends in RL and get some fresh air. Walking around the mall to get some exercise and seeing how the prices for games are going .

 

If you know you might need to take a break, then do so, find another series and watch that. Turn off the computer or device and get some fresh air and walk around. It help clear the mind and maybe can find more enjoyment from a story or the show because you noticed something new.

 

If you get obsessed... then you are, if you know you are then you should be a step ahead to keep yourself healthy without going cold turkey.

[nonee 130]

I don't think that what you do could be considered unhealthy really. I mean what is it really hurting? I think your in the same boat as everypony on this site. Until it begins doing physical harm that is. And I don't believe obsessing over a show and community that celebrates the ideals of love and friendship is ganna do you much mental harm And as far as the fantasizing about going to Ponyvill goes everyone here has at least once even if they don't want to admit it lol

Edited July 30, 2012 by Broken Image

[ToridAkbolto 170]

Consciously note what you are doing. Note why you are doing what you are doing and for how long. When the intent seems trivial (when you "want to") and the result seems harmful (skipping class to post on forums), that is when obsession becomes unhealthy. If you must ask yourself whether or not this action is harmful, assume it is. You will know if it is innocuous.

[ThatGuyWhoAteTheCookies 51]

Since nobody else will, and it obviously needs to be said I am just going to go ahead and say this one thing:

 

You can never, EVER have too much My Little Pony, no matter who tells you otherwise or what it may cause.

[Starshine 16,334]

Reading lots of fanfic and listening to brony song daily is not that bad. I got over 10 millions words read on fimfiction and I got like twenty five MLP songs in my playlist, but I'm fine.

 

But if you start to forget about your supposed job and simply couldn't stand an hour without contact to anything pony related, I got a bad news for you.

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

Well... I'd say when it starts to take a toll on your performance in other things, like... school, work, and even relationships. Or even your health itself.

[Titan Rising 2,156]

I'd say at the point when you start to question whether or not it's becoming unhealthy. But that's obviously not the case here so you're good.

[Nanniro 39]

Well... I'd say when it starts to take a toll on your performance in other things, like... school, work, and even relationships. Or even your health itself.

 

*nod*

 

If it's not hurting you or slowing you down, it's going to be okay. Though, one might say we shouldn't grow far too attached to anything, even life itself. Honestly though, the show and it's fandom isn't slowing down any day soon, so pony on!

[Batbrony 16,055]

Question; have you become this guy?

 

If so, then yes, it has become unhealthy.

-_- ...

OK, OK, I'm kidding!!! Honestly, I do agree with what a couple of other ponies have said on this thread; if your love of MLP: FiM starts negatively effecting your life in any way (i.e. takes up too much time, deteriorates relationships with family or friends, hurts school or job performance, etc.), then it will have become an unhealthy obsession. Most forms of fandom love exhibited by any brony prior to that stage is for the most part harmless ( even if some of it is weird... really, really weird)

But seriously, don't be this guy...

Just... don't.

[Cupcake Ice Cream 436]

Is this "obsession" having a negative effect on the rest of your real life?

 

If not, then you're fine

 

Right here is the perfect answer. If you aren't doing a detriment or harm to your life or the life of another then fire on all cylinders and go pony crazy!

[Moon Rat 4,772]

Now if you start to lose interest in real human ladies and start wanting to date Cartoon horses instead then we have a problem

 

 

 

I'm slowly developing that problem -_-

 

Edited July 30, 2012 by ds8

[Hawk 100]

This has been something I've asked myself at times. Having become a brony 8 months ago I'd say I'm still fairly new to the pony phenomenon, but I can assure you that your obession is not unhealthy. In fact it's perfectly healthy. It only becomes unhealthy, like others said, if it begins to consume other aspects of your life and causes problems. As long as your able to go through your daily life, you are fine.

[KakeiTheWolf 652]

If you legally change your name to one of the characters of the show, it's unhealthy. Most things short of that... you're fine.

[Twi Rubix 726]

Unhealty? HA! You can NEVER have too much pony!!! HAHAHAHAH!!!

 

...*Ahem* I'm completely fine! ...STOP STARING AT ME!

[Kodiak 431]

I've honestly asked myself the same thing. I have other activities and interests I pursue, but Internet-wise it's all pony. It's a tough call, but I say that if someone asks you, "Hey, what do you do in your spare time," you better have more to say that "hit F5 on Equestria Daily."

 

In the current time I have read over 200+ fanfiction, (I almost never go under 80000 words in my searches)

 

Really, that's you improving your vocabulary and expanding your range of thinking. Most non-bronies I know can barely hold their attention for a 2,000 word count story. Personally, having read long works like Fallout: Equestria and The Immortal Game, I've learned so many new words and ways to construct sentences. So, nah, I say you're not doing yourself much harm.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Kodiak

[Scatterbolt 15]

I think it only becomes unhealthy if it starts to disrupt your every day life and make it hard for you to function normally.

[Homura Akemi 974]

When if effects your work-ethics, ruins your social life, your relationships, humaneness, and all that great jazz.

[Jokuc 8,174]

Well I guess it starts to get unhealthy when you stay up all night on a my little pony forum and sleep like four hours.

...Like me.

[KPM 288]

 

I am sorry, but I didn't catch your point.

This man here is ridiculously awesome.

 

Anyway, I dunno about unhealthiness. I guess it's something when you do something pony-related, listening to ponymusic and whatnot and conciously wonder "Why am I doing this and not something else"

That's what's bee happening to me lately

[Dr Manehattan 17]

I'm new to the forum so I don't know if I'm not allowed to mention it... but I'm going to say it anyways... (sorry if I broke any rules)

 

Lyra Plushie

[Early Morning 6]

Well, in short, it sounds like you are a fan of a show. Granted, some stages of obsessing over a show can be very problematic, merely quoting it and listening to fan music is hardly unhealthy. Besides, it's good to be able to enjoy things.

[Filly Pinkie Pie 208]

Unhealty? HA! You can NEVER have too much pony!!! HAHAHAHAH!!!

 

...*Ahem* I'm completely fine! ...STOP STARING AT ME!

 

I'm not staring at you! I'm staring at the cartoon pony standing behind you!

 

Okay, on topic, it starts to get unhealthy only when you like the show so much that you start randomly clicking fanfics without a thought and suddenly changing your perspective on the characters.

 

Which probably shall never happen.

[Rizoel & Crepuscule 491]

Now if you start to lose interest in real human ladies and start wanting to date Cartoon horses instead then we have a problem

 

 

 

I'm slowly developing that problem -_-

 

 

Ah... so... I'm not the only one? ...I mean, I do go outside quite a bit, but... I don't know.

 

I often feel like this:

*Sees smexy real life woman on the internet in lingerie clothing*

My reaction = ...Eh, whatever.

 

*Sees fan art of cartoon pony in smexy socks and saddles*

My reaction = *Gasp* Oh my... I... Uh... Slight megusta.

 

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?! *Starts pulling at hair*

 

Until it's R34. That's when I say "Ok. Ok. Seriously now, No."

 

If you legally change your name to one of the characters of the show, it's unhealthy. Most things short of that... you're fine.

 

I dunno about you but, that doesn't really seem like an unhealthy thing in my eyes. In my opinion, it would need to be hurting people for something to be considered 'unhealthy'.

 

I don't think legally changing your name to a character from a cartoon about pastel coloured ponies learning about friendship is really hurting people. I mean, yeah, people would be all weirded out by it, but at the end of the day no ones frothing at the mouth raging because of it. (Unless it's a MLP hater, in which case I say let him rage.)

Edited July 31, 2012 by Crepuscule