Are Haters Sexist?

[SBaby 660]

Recently, I saw the topic here about a video called 'Are Bronies Changing the Definition of Masculinity?'.  It was a generally positive look on the brony culture, and really hit the nail on the head with alot of the subject matter.  However, there was one issue he mentioned that actually got me thinking a bit.  And I'm almost afraid to mention this, because I have a feeling this is going to get around.  But I already mentioned it on the other site I frequent anyway, so I'll bring it up here too.

 

When he started talking about haters, he mentioned that alot of people that hate bronies actually hate us because of the fact that we like a show that was originally marketed for little girls.  Basically, it almost sounded like he was implying that haters felt that girls should watch 'shows for girls' and boys should watch 'shows for boys'.

 

Initially, I didn't think much of it, until I started encountering haters on youtube, and it occurred to me that there almost seems to be a pattern.  It seems that alot of haters (not ALL of them; some of them are just trolls) actually DO believe this to be the law of the land (girls should watch 'shows for girls' and boys should watch 'shows for boys').

 

So that brings me to the point of this topic.  Do you think that haters are sexist (or at the very least, do you think they act like they're sexist)?  Also, what kind of situations have you encountered to confirm (or refute) this theory?

Edited December 1, 2012 by SBaby

[Descant 1,897]

That's an interesting theory; I've never thought about it that way myself. In a way, I agree that it is sexism, but the haters of which you speak would just as surely disagree. If it is sexism, it's of a vague sort; which sex would the haters be discriminating against? Male, which most haters are, or female, who the show's audience was originally intended to be?

Edited November 30, 2012 by Descant

[lardbobobo 1,593]

Well, crap. Out of all the actual haters that I've talked with, they've all been bigoted jackwagons. I'm sure that this won't apply to every hater out there, but uh jeez I'm surprised I didn't notice this before.

 

There's also the haters who just hate it because it's everywhere, which I would sympathize with that but the fact that they're usually fine with every 4chan meme in the planet being posted everywhere kind of makes me question their claim...

Edited November 30, 2012 by Lord Bababa

[khaine21x3 789]

The haters seem to hold the traditional view of masculinity and they tend to be religious homophobes from what i noticed so I guess yea.

 

I mentioned this in a post last time but it was deleted and I got a warning because I threw in the part comparing them to a certain WW 2 german political party.

Edited November 30, 2012 by khaine21x3

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

That is a interesting theory. My parents actually said something about it being ok for my little sister to watch it but i cant because im apparently too old to be watching it. Although i really think it's because of the age the show is targeted towards not the gender.

[GuillermoGage 246]

The haters seem to hold the traditional view of masculinity and they tend to be religious homophobes from what i noticed so I guess yea.

I accidentally hit the back button but was typing something such as: "I think that the PBS Ideas Channel video is actually really pretentious".

 

And I missed my chance to say "inb4 someone says homophobe".

 

Yeah.... and I was also gonna say, Howard Stern. People can still be describably "liberal" (in a sort of social commentary sense)  and still mock the adult/teen male fanbase.

 

And you know what, let's probably throw in Daniel Tosh/Tosh.0 while we're at it. Mainstream raunchy comedian usually means not the type of group that others are thinking when it comes  to the haters or skeptics. 

Edited November 30, 2012 by GuillermoGage

[khaine21x3 789]

I accidentally hit the back button but was typing something such as: "I think that the PBS Ideas Channel video is actually really pretentious".

 

And I didn't get a chance to say "inb4 someone says homophobe".

 

Yeah.... and I was also gonna say, Howard Stern. People can still be describably "liberal" (in a sort of social commentary sense)  and still mock the adult/teen male fanbase.

 

Well it's true, 9 out of 10 times they would call us gay or fa***** and most homophobes tend to be religious.

[GuillermoGage 246]

Well it's true, 9 out of 10 times they would call us gay or fa***** and most homophobes tend to be religious.

What does that bolded part specifically have to do with what I said? Just a friendly neighborhood reminder?

[khaine21x3 789]

What does that bolded part specifically have to do with what I said? Just a friendly neighborhood reminder?

 

I thought you disagreed about them being homophobes since that's what people imply when they use "in b4" .

[himanuts 165]

Surprisingly the haters I've come across are more of the leftover geek culture that don't like the show because it's becomed such a popular thing. Sort of the trenders who sometimes act like hipters? Really just hating on something because they probly find it overwhelming and kind of alien to them.

 

No brony can say they wheren't surprised they started likeing this show about pastel colored ponies at one point. So it's really natural to find it odd at first.

 

When you get over the initial reaction, one's brain sort of starts analizing. Why should I like/dislike this? Why love/hate this? And all I can come down to for haters, is either being overwhelmed by how alien it may seem or falling back on the prejudice concepts drilled into our brains by society over the course of generations.

 

 

So I agree, that atleast, some of the haters base their opinion of bronies on rather sexist ideals. Even if they aren't really sexist individuals. I know many men who are all for outgoing women who are productive individuals in society like men, but do find it odd for children to play with toys relating to the opposite gender.

Edited November 30, 2012 by himanuts

[GuillermoGage 246]

I thought you disagreed about them being homophobes since that's what people imply when they use "in b4" .

Well, I think inb4 literally means "I'm putting this comment in before someone says something, because I anticipate someone will use a certain word or bring up a certain phrase".

[Akemi Homura 7,680]

"Sexism" implies misogyny. I highly doubt this is the case when speaking of people who dislike bronies just because they find it weird for them to be watching a show that was originally marketed for little girls.

 

Truth is, it isn't even close to sexism, unless it becomes completely apparent. There are beliefs which are plain outdated and it's confusing to comprehend that people actually hold onto these sort of thoughts even at the turn of the 21st century. Just dress up "as a girl" and go back to the 50s, and see how much people are understanding of your appearance. Most likely, you will get a bunch of shit hurled towards you simply because it was simply how society functioned - that it was abnormal for males to be wearing "female clothing".

 

Notice how I put in quotations - see, if you cling onto a line of thinking which is considered highly controversial, it is easy to assume the worst of even the simplest of shows called My Little Pony. It is not really any different than going to school and wearing a frilly dress. Sadly, you'll most likely get funny looks and perhaps even some snickers. Learning not to be judgemental of one's cover is difficult, and it becomes that much easier to amplify that prejudice without putting in any consideration into as to why people enjoy certain things or do what they do.

Edited November 30, 2012 by Alfonzo Dennard

[Starshine 16,333]

Implying you can't hate MLP:Fim without being either idiotic or sexist

 

Why can't you people just accept that there is a whole lot haters out there that hate MLP:FiM simply because our fandom itself?

[Zygen 6,066]

Most of the haters end up being quite obsessed with just hating the show, however I dunno how Sexist this would be, I really just think of it as they're stuck in their ways of gender roles.

 

I dunno, I'm not 100% sure on what the definition of sexist is, but I dunno if this would be an example.

[lardbobobo 1,593]

If somebody really wants to make an argument that people hating others for watching a cartoon made for girls is somehow linked to misogyny and is therefore sexist I don't think I could argue otherwise, although I would admit that it's a bit of a stretch. In reality I'm sure that most hate towards us is more so directed at how simply obsessive we can get with our beloved pink and colorful horse cartoons and how often we post pictures of it everywhere on the internet.

[NavelColt 22,879]

I think our culture as a whole has geared people to think 'girls should watch girly things and boys should watch boyish things', I don't think it's an issue that can only be talked about on a case by case or individual by individual basis. I use the following quote by Lauren a lot, but it's very useful:

 

Honestly?? I feel that people who call them that are ignorant a-holes. That's how I feel.I didn't create this show for little girls, I created it for little girls and their parents--including male parents. It only stands to reason that adult animation fans without children may like it, too.The belief that boys shouldn't be interested in girl things is the main reason there's hardly anything decent for girls in animation--- or almost any media, for that matter. It's a backwards, sexist, outdated attitude.

 

Once again, society's retarded stereotypes and preconceptions are at least partially to blame. Collective decisions by people that things should be a certain way.

[Batbrony 16,051]

I'm sure there's some who are either sexist or may have sexist preconceptions, to an extent, but really most people who'll say they don't watch it because it's a girls show, at least from what I've seen, tend to fall into the "indifferent attitude toward the show" category, rather than the "hater" category.  Don't get me wrong, those who are indifferent toward the show have plenty of other reasons for not watching it, and that's just one of many that I've seen them cite.  Maybe even in the early days of this fandom, a majority of the haters would've disliked it because it was a "girls show," but I think these days most actual haters (who have, at least online, significantly declined in number it seems) dislike the fandom simply because of bronydom in and of itself, rather than any legitimate or illegitimate reasons pertaining to the show.

Edited December 1, 2012 by Batbrony

[angels_gal 204]

Partly there are some who are and some who have misconceptions or just flat out refuse to care.  I think it's also partly a case of.

 

"this show is for pansies like you" meaning real men don't watch my little ponies. (which is just  outright not true if you ask me)

 

If anything I think the bronies of the world  are making everyone re think (if they haven't already)  "gender roles" it's not blue boys over here and boys much play with boys stuff and pink girls over there and  girls must play with anythink pink!"

[MagicalStarRain 599]

I kind of agree with this. Though, I think there are others who think some people are too old regardless of gender to watch this type of show. I'm a girl, but I've had people who told me I shouldn't watch this because I'm too old and that it isn't ladylike(this coming from my mother).

 

I think one time I was drawing some fursonas and some girls came up and said they looked like ponies from MLP. This got me excited so I told them I actually watch the show. This made them look at me all weird and they told me that show is for little girls, not a middle scholar like me.  My brother even came into my room one day and saw my pony figurines on top of my dresser and called me a baby.

[mycarhasaMoustache 449]

I personally dont think haters are specifically sexist I think they are everythingist they are haters and will hate from any angle if you have a flaw or a weakness or a reason for them to hate you then they will hate for that reason.

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I think our culture as a whole has geared people to think 'girls should watch girly things and boys should watch boyish things'

I disagree. Our culture says that girls can do all of he boyish things that it wants (well, to a point, but barely anyone sees the problem with a little girl watching Transformers or something) but oh man, if a boy wants to watch something for girls, that means that they're gay!I think that we have become a society that is extremely insecure about our masculinity and femininity. We have relied on our secular culture to give us the answers to those questions, but the truth is that you cannot expect our shallow secular culture to answer that deep question within us through toys and TV shows. It's fascinating, because the media tries to defined e masculinity and femininity in these ways, but political movements like the feminist movement proclaim a lot of the opposite (although in my opinion, the feminists don't get it completely right either). Yet BOTH of these worldviews coexist within society despite how contradictory they are.As for whether or not haters are sexist? Not all of them, but some of them... definitely.There was a hater video posted here some time ago. Someone was concerned about the number of views that it had. I became curious and watched some of the video itself. I could only watch a small chunk of that 15 minute "Let's say fuck every 3 seconds cuz I'm a badass who doesn't watch ponies" ridiculousness. He said something about how bronies don't get any pussy and he started "mimicking" one who wonders why he doesn't get pussy in this horribly whiny voice.As if "getting pussy" is something that all men need to strive to do? As if men are only supposed to see women as sexual objects, and if they would rather watch a cartoon with strong female leads, then somehow they aren't being manly enough?Why does your masculinity depend on whether or not you can "get pussy"? Why does your masculinity depend on stripping women down to their body parts?This world disgusts me sometimes.

[NavelColt 22,879]

 Our culture says that girls can do all of he boyish things that it wants (well, to a point, but barely anyone sees the problem with a little girl watching Transformers or something) but oh man, if a boy wants to watch something for girls, that means that they're gay!

I find both of them to hold truth. Both stereotypes exist, and show themselves in all sorts of media situations, especially.

[Obsidian_Winter 1,159]

Recently, I saw the topic here about a video called 'Are Bronies Changing the Definition of Masculinity?'.  It was a generally positive look on the brony culture, and really hit the nail on the head with alot of the subject matter.  However, there was one issue he mentioned that actually got me thinking a bit.  And I'm almost afraid to mention this, because I have a feeling this is going to get around.  But I already mentioned it on the other site I frequent anyway, so I'll bring it up here too.

 

When he started talking about haters, he mentioned that alot of people that hate bronies actually hate us because of the fact that we like a show that was originally marketed for little girls.  Basically, it almost sounded like he was implying that haters felt that girls should watch 'shows for girls' and boys should watch 'shows for boys'.

 

Initially, I didn't think much of it, until I started encountering haters on youtube, and it occurred to me that there almost seems to be a pattern.  It seems that alot of haters (not ALL of them; some of them are just trolls) actually DO believe this to be the law of the land (girls should watch 'shows for girls' and boys should watch 'shows for boys').

 

So that brings me to the point of this topic.  Do you think that haters are sexist (or at the very least, do you think they act like they're sexist)?  Also, what kind of situations have you encountered to confirm (or refute) this theory?

Honestly I think its more of people hate change and hate whats different. I read one article where the writer thought that since grown men watched a show for little girls, they secretly were wanting to Molest those same little girls the show was targeting. I mean what the F*CK?! Thats a pretty big damn conclusion to make. Frankly, I am sick and tired of the "Manly man" Stereotype of guys. I would rather have a guy that was as big as a house, was a lumberjack and wrestled bears in the wild for fun but then game home and was just a little snuggle bunny I could watch MLP with then some ass hat who let his "manliness" forbid him from showing compassion, caring, remorse, fear or any emotion that didn't involve him hitting me on the head with a club and dragging me to his man cave for his pleasure. Basically, thats how guys are portrayed.....Hardasses that are sex driven and never cry.

 

Well damn it, I want to see some damn emotion. I don't want you getting all blubbery over spilled milk but its OKAY to be a hardass protector type AND have a soft side.....This reminds me of a Randy Travis song..:

 

"A man ain't made of stone.

A man ain't made of steel.

The way I feel right now I thought I'd never feel.

Sometimes all it takes is facing a night alone.

Thats when you know, a man ain't made of stone."

[rainbow_hearts 148]

I was hater like them once. I was never sexist. I hated the show back then because I thought it was stupid to look a show that was titled "My Little Pony" cause I had memories of g3 My Little Pony from my childhood. I imagined it stupid and girly and a normal little girl show. 

[SBaby 660]

I was hater like them once. I was never sexist. I hated the show back then because I thought it was stupid to look a show that was titled "My Little Pony" cause I had memories of g3 My Little Pony from my childhood. I imagined it stupid and girly and a normal little girl show. 

 

Again, I'm not saying that all of them are.  I imagine there are some haters out there that are just trolls or have other reasons for hating bronies.  I was merely making an observation based on the ones I've encountered.

 

Either way, it doesn't really sound like you were a hater at all, because let's face it.  Most G4 fans couldn't stand G3.  And it's nothing personal against the franchise itself.  G3 was just horrible.

 

Look at it this way.  People that love Bomberman as a franchise still hate Bomberman Act Zero.  That doesn't necessarily make them haters.  They simply hate that particular title, because many of them agree that it was the worst one (and it was; it was horrible).  This idea carries over to pretty much any franchise that you could think of.

Edited December 4, 2012 by SBaby