The term "Brony" and why I dislike it it.

[WildCard 1,037]

I like the term "Bro" and use it quite often, but "Brony" sounds extremely silly to me. It just sounds awkward to me. In my opinion something like "colts" and "mares" would be a cooler and better term

[Arcanel 3,041]

Alright, I've read this entire thread...and oh my Celestia, we got a bit of a serious conversation in here! But seriously, dude, chillax! But I'm not just however say that, oh no. Imma gona explain like I normally would for any kind of..."controversial" subject, because... that's kinda like how you're putting it (if it's not, I'm sorry, not really my intention, but make it seem so bad that well...I can't really help it). And I'm also sorry in advance for the MEGA wall of text. I'm sure not many that read the thread will even read the whole thing altogether

 

First, you, my friend, are TOTALLY forgetting people from other countries. Some of us couldn't care LESS if it came from Jersey Shore or whatever the buck it is. Hell, the only reason I know about it is because people speak out how much they friggin hate it. And besides, the word "bro" and "sis" ("hermano", "hermana" respectively translated in Spanish, as I come from Argentina) have been used WAY before anything else. I use them myself and it refers to as companion, friend, what you might call it. So honestly, saying that the word refers to something that is pretty much hated mostly in USA or whatnot, is a bit forgetful of other countries. Every person that I know that likes the show likes to call themselves bronies. That's not to say there won't be people who will think the word is silly, bad, etc. That's anyone's OWN opinion. Normally, I'm not useually this aggressive, but honestly, some of the stuff you mentioned is really only a more USA thing than anything else. Sorry if it came as slightly too ofenssive.

 

Second...let's see...the word brony, is a label. AKA, you can consider yourself like it, or not. "Brony" is a word that has now evolved into representing the whole community of MLP: FIM fans. Which in my opinion, is not exactly a bad thing. Hell, we can at least acknowledge ourselves as big enough fandom to have a label ourselves. Yes, this was not the original intention of the word, but hey, things change you know? Are there things made by bronies that aren't too nice like flaunting the heck out of the show or that they are a brony? Yes. Does that mean the grand MAJORITY does it? No. It doesn't at all. Because right now, you have seen almost everyone in here NOT flaunting that same thing you say everone does. And I'm sure most of the MLPForums would disagree, if not the majority of the brony community itself. Besides, it's a short way of describing the community. WHAT word could you come up with it, that doesn't come out of your own preference, and that it represents better the community than brony does, does its job of letting people know we like MLP:FIM AND doesn't represent ANY of the bad things you said? Because I'm sure the idiots who look at us bad without having a single idea will probably somehow warp it.

 

People here have also said things that, honestly, in my opinion, is just a grand generalization of certain subjects that AREN'T as big as they probably are. Do sometimes people take being a brony so far they compare it to being gay or bisexual or whatever other sexual affinity that might cause controverse just for BEING that? Yes. There probably are. And some DO exaggerate it. But some others are SERIOUSLY afraid when they reveal it. There has been another thread that explains why some other people feel the need to reveal it, and another that explains why others are afraid of revealing they are a brony. But one simplified is, there have been stories of bronies KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSES just because they said they are a brony. That alone should be enough to warrant slight fear. Am I saying that being a brony can cause MORE "controversy" than being of a "controversial" sexual affinity? Hell no. Because people haven't been killed because they are a brony, or at least not that I've heard of.

 

Another thing they generalize is the bad things the fandom has. Honestly, there CAN be bad things in this fandom, and there WILL be bad things. Yes, we let ourselves get caught in the "fantasy" so to speak. I did too. Until I found some of the drama that could have go on. Is this a reason to stop labeling yourself as a brony or even hate the fandom? NO! Or at least not so quickly! Because that's just biased opinion out of personal experiences, rather than an evidence that the fandom is bad. First of all, there's a bit of a problem out there that puts bronies in a, how I call it, "saint" light. AKA, most think we should be perfect. When we are not. We are people. We are humans. AKA we have flaws. And when to some people their "fantasy" breaks, BOOM! no longer do they want to be affiliated to it. As far as I know, this community is one of the most productive and mild there is out there. Generalizing something out of bad experiences of your personal life is just...too much. I CAN understand if you just had NOTHING more than that. Everyone probably would after some time and they say "Gah...no more". And I can respect that. I respect anyone's opinion if they don't like the fandom a lot because of the bad things, but...at least don't generalize it. We're not all like that, and I'm still believing the majority ISN'T like that. That's my opinion though. It could all be a misunderstanding (from either view) due to how HUGE the fandom is.

 

Shirts?...Seriously?...Okay, that's kind of a silly point dude. Some of us are PROUD of being fans of the show, and because we're not afraid of showing it. Which isn't exactly a bad thing. Am I saying we should all just flaunt it as much as we can? No! I'm not saying it is the right thing to do or whatnot, but at lesat don't deny them that pride. Is it true that this is one of the reasons why people hate the show and fandom, because some "shove it down their throats"? Probably. But again, that's not to say the problem is as BIG as some make it look like, nor that there are SO many bronies that do it that it is THAT bad. It's true also, that some people will consider themselves "bronies" just because they want to participate in what they think is a nice community, or hell, even because it's the popular thing! There will ALWAYS be people like that. But once more, is it really that big? As far as I know, I don't think so. And besides, do you really think that people who like the show are so warped, and that of this there are so many, that there isn't people out there that just buys the thing because it's cute, or even, because it's the first thing they found of MLP and they want to celebrate it, instead of like you said, flaunt? Because I only have the 6 pins of MLP on my backpacks, because I think they are cute and were the first thing MLP: FIM related I ever got the chance to get, and are proximate to getting a Fluttershy WeLoveFine shirt, because I think it's SO FRIGGIN CUTE! Hell you yourself said you have the toys (which is cool ), probably because they're cute and I'M SURE many others do the same.

 

Then, some of us consider liking the show as PART of ourselves, not as a whole. Do some of them? Sure. Either becaue they changed their lives or because they really, REALLY like the show and the fandom. That's not to say we ALL do. We all have our lives. And I'm pretty sure most of us do. Especially when the apprent majority is in college. And they have their own personalities. Don't go around generalizing it.

 

And if someone wants to use ponyspeak, let them! Who is anybody here stopping them? I myself haven't used it (yet) on real life, because I didn't find the need nor occasion to. Do you really think it corrupts the word brony as a whole?

 

Honestly, I'm sorry if I made it look too much, and I'm not saying we should ignore the bad things. We shouldn't. But a ) I don't think they overcome the good, and b ) You are making the bad things look SO bad it almostlooks like we are more bad than good! Especially the word "brony"! It's like you're taking away the credit to ALL the haters who have done everything they can to actually warp the meaning of the word brony, when they know nothing at all.

[sqwisgaar.sqwigelf 16]

I don't know I someone has brought this to attention yet but the term brony comes from 4chan... From the board /b/ . Me thinks that you are over thinking the problem.

[Xanthous 44]

Someone who understands me.

 

I don't need to label myself. I like MLP, but i don't feel like i have to call myself a "brony". I enjoy rule 34, but i don't feel like i have to call myself a "clopper". I like metal, but i don't like to call myself a "metalhead". I don't see why you have to label yourself, really.

[sqwisgaar.sqwigelf 16]

You don't , and that's what's great about it, you can like the show an not label yourself an be just as accepted as everyone else, just as people have the choice to wear brony shirts, personally I only wear mine around friends and don't go around preaching how great the show is, if people ask, I tell them it's a good how an they should try it, not "you have to watch the show or be sodomized".