Where does the brony draw their line?

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

So this topic came up in the "Brony Art Destruction" thread. The basic jist is that some hater destroyed a bronies art project, made a video for it, and put it up on Youtube. This caused some, shall we say, heated responses. Many of us, myself included, began to attack the video with flags, downvotes, and negative comments, despite how many of us probably knew that that was exactly how the hater wanted us to respond. I like to imagine that he saved all of our comments, copied them into a Word document, and now uses them as a bedtime story, but enough with my imagination.

 

Anyways, while the destruction of someone else's art is most certainly abominable, several of our comrades (who I now agree with) pointed out that perhaps we reacted a little too harshly, considering we claim ourselves to be based on 'love and tolerance'. But how far is that motto supposed to take us?

 

Does 'love and tolerance' require complete pacifism? Are we never supposed to fight back against the hater? Is a brony supposed to draw a metaphorical line, and if so, where is it?

______

 

TL;DR - When is a brony supposed to get in the face of the hater and say, "This is not okay"?

[Sks_Burns 730]

i draw my personal line at cosplay, the R34 shit, and the fanfiction. ill buy the toys and wear the tshirts, but i wont dabble in in the 3 things i mentioned. no offense to the ones that do the fanfic though. it takes talent to write a decent story, its just not my thing.

Edited November 24, 2012 by sks_burns

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

I don't draw lines. As I hardly get angry when people do things. It does make me sad to see some of the things the fandom does, and the what anti-bronies do, but honestly it's nothing to get mad over.

[Starshine 16,333]

Why should we even pay attention to the haters in the first place?

 

Your regular haters do what they're usually doing because they want some attention, and it will make them happier if you are angry to them. While there are some haters out there that can do some serious damage to the fandom, lots of them are merely some random boys with too much time on their hands. Ignoring them will do a much better good rather than retaliating with force.

 

Besides, the motto "Love & Tolerance" never even exist to begin with, it was just a reaction image from /co/ that draws up too much attention

[Champion RD92 8,658]

Any hater that is a complete immature, ignorant prick should not be tolerated in my opinion. Some people are complete scum and don't deserve to be tolerated.

[NavelColt 22,880]

Anyways, while the destruction of someone else's art is most certainly abominable, several of our comrades (who I now agree with) pointed out that perhaps we reacted a little too harshly, considering we claim ourselves to be based on 'love and tolerance'. But how far is that motto supposed to take us?

The book definition of love and tolerance is the pacifist approach, but the reality is many bronies have no interest in being pacifists. If morons decide to ruin things for us, the last thing I want to do personally is sit there, smile and 'accept' them. No, they'll get what they deserve, maybe not a stoop to their own level, but certainly not a punching bag that will sit there and take it.

 

Even Ghandi said violence is sometimes necessary in self-defense. Which boils down to 'how far do things need to go before you deem violent reactions justifiable as self-defense'?

Edited November 24, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I think the line is at someone being abusive to you face-to-face, even then you have to learn the fine-art of standing up for yourself without stooping to their level.

 

As for online, ignore them and move on. Those kind of people feed on hate and conflict, if you don't give in they'll pack-up and move on.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Shoboni

[Betez 1,734]

I try to draw my line at just watching the show. I try to, anyway. I have never bought any pony merchandise, but I am planning on hopefully getting season 1 and 2 on dvd soon.

 

I probably would be pretty pissed if someone made a video like that. But haters are haters, and you just have to live with them.

[Pinkie D Pie 1,036]

I don't draw a line. I don't go out of my way to try and find the haters. Sure if there going to get all up in my face about it, I might do something, but otherwise, I really just don't give a shit. Let them do what they want, I'll do what I want, and enjoy what I want, if it makes them mad, so be it. Besides, it's so much better and funnier to take the pacifist way because then everyone is like, Oh my god he aint mad, what the hell is wrong with him. That is all I got to say on that subject.

[Nixter 180]

This is the real world, therefore not everyone is going to hold hands and be happy, I tried to talk sense to a hater once with a very calm mindset, but obviously they don't have the brain capacity to hear one another out and only desire to instigate, and why would you want to associate with those types of people? So I just stray away from those people, as they degrade my quality of life should I talk to them, which is their goal, but I won't let them have it sine they're all fuckheads. However I don't mind people that don't like the show but don't take arms to annoy the fanbase, which I respect immensely, now with bronies that spam it on random videos and whatnot I actually are indifferent about, I mean they could be doing it to start a flame war or they could actually mean well and want to share ponies with others and possibly find a fellow brony in the crowd, harmless, I say. I don't ind the content bronies make, either. Infact I love r34 ponies, but that's another topic. (Hahaha) And bronies that are anti-cloppers are just fucked in the head, they're hypocrites, however, again, I don't mind bronies that aren't cloppers but don't start wars. Uhhh so yeah just don't be a fuckhead in my eyes and I approve. And that's that.

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I don't go out of my way to fight against haters, but honestly, what that guy did in his video deserves some sort of punishment.

 

When I was in 5th grade, I drew and colored a picture of all the Sailor Senshi in their uniforms, including the senshi from the outer solar system, which when I was in 5th grade hadn't been released in America yet, so I was excited to draw them. Anyways, I finished drawing it, and I left the drawing on my desk while I went and did classroom chores at the end of the day. Well some jerks took my drawing off from my desk and they ran it under running water and tore it to pieces! They got in trouble with the teacher, but there was no getting that drawing back.

 

So anyone who goes out of their way to make a video about destroying pony artwork is an immature asshole who SHOULD be downvoted and flagged. There is absolutely no use in arguing with the guy, so leaving comments is out of the question. But hatred is just one of those things that shouldn't be tolerated. Maybe the guy did only make the video to get attention, but if you're so desperate for attention that you'd rather have lots of negative attention than no attention at all, then you need to get a life. It's perfectly fine to dislike the show, in fact you are more than free to think that bronies are losers! But some haters go so out of their way to bash bronies and MLP that it makes me wonder who the real loser is...

 

At any rate, where do I draw the line... I don't make MLP my religion. I am a pretty big fan of the show on the outside. I collect the toys, the trading cards, and I have dressed up at Rarity a couple of times. But MLP is an involved hobby. There is so much more to my life than ponies. If ponies were taken from my life, then I could still go on pretty much unscathed.

Edited November 24, 2012 by RockinRarity

[AnonBrony 1,468]

Draw a line? idk where i would. If its something small and online then you don't really have to draw one. Just ignore it. But if its some kind of attack in real life or some major attack online then ofcourse i wouldn't just sit there. Thats when we can use self defense heheh. It kind of really depends on what it is really. In real life i would act if i see somethin' unjust. I rarely get upset unless i see something that is truly unjust. But if its something minor, then we could ignore it. But if you are being bullied and physically harmed for being a brony you shouldn't just be some dumb punching bag. My belief is that you should only act in violence for defense. So if you are being hurt you should do somethin'. But you shouldn't go out of your way to go and find haters and do crap to them. Thats just stupid.

As for the thing with that Art destruction. The kid that happened to should of done something to stop those guys who destroyed the art. In that sort of instance you should be some bystander. But as for going and spammin' on that stupid video, thats just idiotic. Who cares its just some stupid hate video, you don't have to cross the line for that. I doubt many people are gonna see it.

Edited November 24, 2012 by AnonBrony

[Zygen 6,066]

Honestly even though I know for a fact that really most of the things you do to react to a hater, such as hating them back or debating with them or getting angry doing whatever you want to do to react. Even knowing all of those things will never do anything we are all human, so we're going to make mistakes.

Some of us are better at controlling the urge to fight back, but really in the end the only way to win a fight is to walk away. Sure you may get some satisfaction in winning a fight, but does it really matter in the end?

 

I'm not going to stand here and act like I'm a perfect person, I'll be perfectly honest when I first saw that video i wanted to smack that hater through a wall, but really what is that going to do? (Obviously I wouldn't actually be able to do it.) And really whats getting mad going to do other then make me feel bad and have the hater obtain his satisfaction?

 

I dunno, I mean sometimes my brain justifys actions against haters, sometimes it just acts like it is now and just asks me"Whats the point?"

 

I don't specificly know where I draw the line, but under rational though I don't think I'm going to beat up someone over being a hater to bronies. I may do it out of anger I guess, but I wouldn't do it as long as I had the control.

Not thats not to say i wouldn't exchange some debate or words with him, and even to be honest I may not even do that. Because really being the timid person I am I don't know if I'd really have the guts to react.

 

I'm honestly really bad with predicting my actions. I do know I reacted with anger that was really pointless feeling after seeing that video. It solved nothing in the long run really other then waste my time being angry.

 

Just my thoughts though.

[Dark Qiviut 22,402]

I have a rather strict creed. If you cross any of these lines, I'm not afraid to loosen stern words. Some examples include:

 

1. Any brony-bashing, whether this person is a "fan" of the show or not. (Quite honestly, if you bash the fandom, you're NOT a fan MLP:FIM!) Bashing the fandom equals bashing the staff, who has strong ties with the bronies. The destruction of artwork from the aforementioned video example is absolutely disrespectful to the person who worked hard on the piece. I draw the line at something like that, too, much less ANY brony-bashing.

 

2. Homophobia. Even before entering this fandom, I had absolutely NO tolerance to homophobia of any kind. Today, I still don't. Any homophobic "brony" artwork or text is likely going to face some rather stern words from me.

 

3. Bashing of fanon. One big reason why fanon exists persistently in this fandom is because this universe is loose enough to introduce unique fan-based ideas, such as worlds, histories of characters, building of personalities for background characters, names for background characters, and tandoms. (Thank fandom for giving the once fanon name Octavia enough momentum to make her name official.) Fanon and canon have been able to coexist quite well, and it deserves that respect! Bash fanon, and you disrespect the creativity the community gives for these ideas.

 

4. The claim of MLP:FIM is "for girls." That's a bunch of crap! My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is a family-friendly show that bridges gaps in gender, age, and ideals despite its cheery exposition. It's a show that kids AND adults can adore and learn because it appreciates this universal audience and doesn't attempt to insult them. Claim it's only/dominantly "for little girls" now is a major insult to Lauren Faust and the creative team.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Dark Qiviut

[Meirno 550]

Well, I always figured the love and tolerate thing can go as far as a post that shows an IQ larger than say... 40? If anything below that, it's fair game. Honestly I can get heated when some punk has the audacity to personally attack me for what I enjoy. At that point, my blood boils, my fists ball and I take it out on him any way possible. Now if I were to be insulted in real life for being a brony, I hope that it would not become physical but there are times I get beyond angry.

 

But if someone is showing a bit of confusion, or actually sounding reasonable with their distaste toward Ponies, then I may ring up the discussion to see where it will go while showing intelligence (love and tolerance) while at the same time combating his beliefs (That he has probably been fed by haters and media[Fox News you low lifes!]) with truth and facts.

[iLegovideo 152]

Hmm, I think drawing the line would be the point where one can relate to a character and be offended when the show portrays him or her poorly or is offended when being called a brony in a bad way.

Edited November 24, 2012 by iLegovideo

[Bronium 512]

No line here for me. Well, maybe murder and rape of bronies...that's probably my line. I mean, who cares what a hater does. I mean, I haven't seen this hater video so I don't know if the art is on the computer and he defaced it there or if he printed it out and did stuff to it.

Either way, it didn't change the art, so why should I care?

[Party Cannon 876]

Oh man, this stuff is on the surface simple yet so deep in reflection.

 

Life is conflict. It is naive to think otherwise, as every breath you take is conflicting with your ultimate demise.

 

I don't support any extreme, per discussion on vegetarianism. This includes complete intolerance, as well as complete tolerance, for they are fueled equally with reflective rationale. By one's complete tolerance, you become yourself intolerant of the intolerant. ("You become what you meant to destroy.")

 

If one thinks in dichotomies, there will always be someone out there that has the complete opposite opinion that you have. If you have a balanced opinion, which is made up of qualifiers as well as exceptions, you will be a supporter of peace.

 

I hope that gives perspective, and supplies you with something the next time you feel such hate.

[DeiStar 248]

I have a rather strict creed. If you cross any of these lines, I'm not afraid to loosen stern words. Some examples include:

 

1. Any brony-bashing, whether this person is a "fan" of the show or not. (Quite honestly, if you bash the fandom, you're NOT a fan MLP:FIM!) Bashing the fandom equals bashing the staff, who has strong ties with the bronies. The destruction of artwork from the aforementioned video example is absolutely disrespectful to the person who worked hard on the piece. I draw the line at something like that, too, much less ANY brony-bashing.

 

3. Bashing of fanon. One big reason why fanon exists persistently in this fandom is because this universe is loose enough to introduce unique fan-based ideas, such as worlds, histories of characters, building of personalities for background characters, names for background characters, and tandoms. (Thank fandom for giving the once fanon name Octavia enough momentum to make her name official.) Fanon and canon have been able to coexist quite well, and it deserves that respect! Bash fanon, and you disrespect the creativity the community gives for these ideas.

 

1: Bashing the fandom does not equal bashing the staff. You can hate certain parts of the fandom, and that won't mean you're bashing the staff. I dislike the term brony for what it has become. Most bronies annoy me, and I just refer myself as a MLP fan.

 

3: Bashing the fanon isn't disrespecting the community. I loathe most of the fanon stuff because I find it to be extremely stupid and horrible. I hate people that go around claiming that you shouldn't hate on the fanon, because that's part of our "creativity". That statement is nothing but trash. I'm sick of the wubstep obsessed Vinyl, the human obsessed Lyra and plenty of other stupid fanon characters this community has given to them. It is not creativity, it's beating a dead horse.

Edited November 24, 2012 by DeiStar

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins." This community's standard bit about love and tolerance is fine, but only a fool will follow it to exclusion of his own dignity.

[Rockabilly Wingtips 57]

what line i dont see it. i dont think it exist. and if it does then its probably invisible. but when you guys find it tell me. Okay?

[khaine21x3 789]

Extremists on both sides are always a small minority, I don't think that you can convince any extremists to stop what they're doing.

[CloudFyre 848]

TL;DR - When is a brony supposed to get in the face of the hater and say, "This is not okay"?

 

While I don't necessarily like the video, we need to address something: the video uploader is claiming that he's received death threats from so called "Bronies". That is NOT okay. Ever.

[khaine21x3 789]

what 4 chan did to some presumably jewish guy named goldstein

 

") Constant phone calls to his home, cell, and place of business

2) Black Fax copies that have successfully murdered his home and business fax ink.

3) His personal website has been shut down.

4) The Provider of his website has been shut down.

5) Misc. Porn mags are now being delivered to his home.

6) Has had dead animals thrown at his house (evidence: testimony by Adam on phone)

7) over 9000 Pornstars contacted to meet at his home.

8) Myspace account hacked/shut down.

9) Local pizza parlors delivering tomorrow morning and afternoon.

10) At least 25,000 UPS boxes shipped to his home and place of business for the next 4-12 weeks.

11) 2000 sq ft of maple hardwood samples sent to his home.

12) Condoms & Lube for the next 4 - 6 weeks.

13) Bibles, Korans, and Jehovas Witnesses scheduled to come by his office.

14) Various free samples/products/literature/brochures addressed to his home.

15) Gay Newsletters.

16) Constant harassment and billing charges due to excessive cell phone messages.

17) Streams of Islamic bibles and DVDs with conversion tips have been constantly shipped.

18) Male prostitutes have been sent.

19) Posters of H1N1 virus posted around his house.

20) Posters calling him a child molester have been posted around his house.

21) 2 sites down"

 

There is no line that people won't cross in today's day and age.

Edited November 24, 2012 by khaine21x3

[Whimsical 24]

I really don't have the time (or the energy) to get angry at haters online because one; there's a 99% chance that I will never ever meet them in real life and two; I don't care if others don't like what I like. That's their opinion.

 

Yes there are times where people do say horrible nasty things, but it's not worth getting mad over. They are probably very sad individuals without a life, so I feel sad for them instead. Creepy trolls will always exist on the internet - the best thing I would do to prevent them is to silently report them online.

 

If anyone is recieving death threats online, then this is very serious! Those trolls sending those kind of asinine messages definitely need to be reported, and the police need to be involved.