Have you ever been ashamed of being in the fandom?

[iLegovideo 152]

 I was instantly hooked. In my head, I'm not ashamed because I don't see it as a children's show. It has aspects that make me laugh a lot, that are meant to appeal to older people. From an artistic standpoint I love the colorful ponies, and animation style.

 

I'm lucky I never had to akwardly explain to my boyfriend my brony-ism, he accepts me even though he tolerates the show and strongly dislikes most bronies.

 

However, I was once incredibly embarrassed by a boy at school about being a brony. I just ordered a small MLP backpack and I was self-concious about wearing it to school, but I needed a new backpack and I bought it to wear it, daggnabbit! So, I brought it to my first period class, and this one boy just looked at me and said "What a stupid fucking backpack...you a brony or something?" he never talked to me until I brought my backpack which was the most rediculious thing! I just stood there, embarrassed and pushed my backpack under my desk, luckily my close friend talked me into not caring what he thinks and he was just a jerk anyway. 

 

....Aaaand my boyfriend who's a brick-house went off on him and made him apologize, he's too scared he'll get beat up to say anything but he still scoffs at me. That was the only time I was really mortified about something like that. I forget some people really don't like bronies, but some people very much do not like bronies...

 

 

Well, to say I never met a hater of the show would be a lie. I can totally understand all of this. The animation is absolutely perfect. You're lucky to have a boyfriend who understands and does not pass judgement. I wish that my friends could actually WATCH the show before passing judgement. Of course I know it's a bucking show for kids! It's not like I'm blind! Sure, I have friends that dislikes the show, but does not automatically start hating me. Ironically, the first bronies that I met were the first people that I said that I was a brony because I mentioned a pony (Twilight, Doctor Whooves, etc.) that they like. I found that to be ironic because they are the FIRST people, besides my family, to know and they are BRONIES... major "yay" moment. Though I do not have an MLP backpack, I do have a nice selection of MLP duct tape wallets I made. So, the second brony I met was in my math class. I accidentally dropped my wallet, so he went down and picked it up for me, and then he looked at the cover. It had Dashie on it   . The second I expected to feel the pain, something unexpected happened. He COMPLEMENTED on my wallet. I was confused for a few seconds, but I had that warm fuzzy feeling that he was a brony. The third brony I met is a violist in my orchestra. On Halloween, he dressed up as The Doctor from "Doctor Who", so I accidentally addressed him as "Doctor Whooves" instead of "Doctor Who". I knew that he was a brony because he said I was the only one to make that connection. There are a bunch of other bronies, such as two others in my first hour, and I overheard a few guys talking about MLP. I was going to say something, but I was already running late.

 

 

Wow, this has turned into a legit brony experience... well, I wish you the best of luck! 

 

~David.

[Dusty Soul 2,613]

Nope, I always was different, why should I have stopped then.  Generally people have been very accepting, other then a few people that are all against it.  

[Champion RD92 8,658]

Well I wouldn't say I'm ashamed of it, but I don't going around telling everyone that I'm a brony. I also don't wear any brony t-shirts in public because i don't want people judging me and looking at me weird.

[Forsooth 18]

It was easy when I started because my two friends already were bronies. But when I started to tell people outside my circle I quickly realized that Bronies are no accepted at the university level. What I remind others and myself is that person for whom I watch My Little Pony is myself and not them. If I watched it for the sake of others then perhaps I would feel shame, but as that is not the case I am a brony and the entire program knows it!

 

I would like to note that it took a while to get to this point.

[Discordian 6,015]

See that guy kicking your ass in Street Fighter IV? Betcha he's a brony.

 

How about that father over there?

 

The mechanic working on your car?

 

What people don't realize is that bronies are FAR MORE than bronies. They were many things before MLP ever came to it's fourth generation. Being a brony doesn't change what they've already done.

 

The moment I came to the realization that MLP is the same as any other fandom was the moment I felt a bit of shame. Not in myself, but the fandom.

 

What I mean by that is: Just like any fandom that grows to a certain size people start to become elitist or far too opinionated to the point that it causes major arguments and blowouts. I left the forums for a while because I started getting into more and more arguments and had to take some cooldown time to adjust to the fact that MLPforums was just like any other forum.

[Twiliscael 3,961]

Nope, I live life the way I want, and like the things I like.

People give me shit for still liking Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z (DBZ IS TIMELESS). I don't care, and most people wither leave me alone or try to suck up to me about it.

 

Being a fairly large guy has it's advantages

 

@@Champion RD92, haven't we talked about this before? DO IT.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Twiliscael

[angels_gal 204]

He's right you know RD!   I know   you're hesitant  but you ought not give a buck about what people think of you and  JUST DO IT! trust us.

Edited December 7, 2012 by angels_gal

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

Nothing I do shames me. If I found something shameful, I wouldn't do it. Anything I do is somehow related to who I am as a person, and I'm not fronting for anybody. If somebody thinks something I'm into is weird, that's their problem, not mine.

 

My position has nothing to do with the "Screw other people, I don't care what people think." perspective a lot of others seem to espouse (not necessarily here, but in the entirety of the fanbase). That's just as childish and petty as those who give us grief. I'm only being true to myself, nothing more.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Artemis

[One 498]

How can you be ashamed of such an awesome show?

 

(S2 Ep3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMzn2WerB_4

 

What's there to be ashamed of if you like that?

 

 

But yeah, people can be mean but it's best to ignore them. I've had some people make fun of me so I just acted like they didn't exist and walked right past them. Problem solved.

[DoctorWhovian1902 596]

Ashamed at first? Sure. Right now? Brony and I know it. I was defiantly a Level 99 Fluttershy at first. Heck, I was to the point where I had to go INCOGNITO on my browser so I can look at ponies. I was especially afraid if my parents found out and what they would think of me. Plus, my reputation at school would be affected by this. Come to think of it, I kind of wished I was a brony last year instead of a hater. I probably wouldn't have lost a friend. Yeah, I was pretty mean to his other friends, and I never gave in. MLP has made me who I am. It's not WHO I am, but what CONSTITUTES me, and that's the part that confuses people and they start to hate.

 

Wow. That was pretty powerful stuff. I'm assuming all's well now, with the reputation and your parents. How did that go over, anyway? I'm curious.

 

You also mentioned you lost a friend, was it over your constant hatred of MLP? Did you make fun of him for it?

 

You don't have to respond if you don't want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can you be ashamed of such an awesome show?

 

(S2 Ep3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMzn2WerB_4

 

What's there to be ashamed of if you like that?

 

 

But yeah, people can be mean but it's best to ignore them. I've had some people make fun of me so I just acted like they didn't exist and walked right past them. Problem solved.

 

 

I don't know why, but as soon as I read your post, my first thought was this:

 

But seriously, though, that's excellent advice. Thanks.

Edited December 7, 2012 by whoovesfan7698

[Shanks 10,816]

Although when I first started watching it I did have a few moments of "really I am watching this" for the most part no. Why should I or anyone else be a ashamed of a really good show that just so happens to be about cartoon ponies which society has arbitrarily decided is for "little girls"?

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Been ashamed of certain people in the fandom? Yes. Been ashamed of being in it? No. I see no reason why liking a cartoon should be shameful. 

 

I'm a borderline redneck(the good kind, like Jeff Foxworthy), and went through high-school that way in the class of 2011, so I've learned to not be ashamed of who I am. I rather have one friend that likes me for who I am, then 1,000 morons kissing my flank for who I pretend to be.  

Edited December 8, 2012 by Shoboni

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

 

 

@@Champion RD92, haven't we talked about this before? DO IT.

 

 

 

He's right you know RD!   I know   you're hesitant  but you ought not give a buck about what people think of you and  JUST DO IT! trust us.

 

They're both right, RD92. Take it from a guy who just spent all evening wearing a new Derpy hoodie around campus...

 

The key is to not make a big deal out of it! Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself by giving off a sense of insecurity in your clothes. Insecurity makes a MUCH bigger statement about yourself than your clothes ever will.

 

Just be confident in yourself...have an overall "yeah, whatevs" attitude, if that makes sense (hope that isn't paradoxical). It worked for me...I found a new brony on campus tonight because of it. I was in the dorm basement playing BF3 with a few guys, and one of them noticed by new hoodie. He asked if it was My Little Pony, and I confidently said that it was...and he admitted that he watched the show, too!

 

Confidence. Is. The. Key.

 

Take a word of advice from the SoCo liquor commercials: Whatever's comfortable!

Edited December 7, 2012 by Sky Nomad

[Gone for good 1,593]

I don't think I've ever felt ashamed for being part of the fandom. Sure, there are wackjobs who kind of tarnish the reputation, but I'm not one of them and every freaking fanbase on the planet has people like that.

[Flicker 141]

I know that people are more likely to accept a pegasister than a brony, but for the first four months I was seriously embarrassed. I work hard to keep up a tough chick techie tomboy reputation and ponies don't help. I mentioned it to my parents eventually and I've converted my brother and closest friend. I think my dad is warming up to the idea.  

When watching it I had several "what am I doing with my life?" moments, but then I'd watch more episodes.

But most of my friends don't know because most of my friends are guys. It's kind of funny, I get along better with most guys than girls because I like the stuff they like (LOTR, Avengers, etc.). I lost a bet and was forced to watch a "Love Comes Softly" marathon. I hated the name and contrary to my friends expectations I didn't enjoy them. They don't know that I enjoy good romance secretly. That is another embarrassing secret. People say I should be who I am, but I like what other people think of me better.

Also I was ashamed when I learned about cloppers.    Those were all the faces I pulled.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Amber Sands

[Champion RD92 8,658]

They're both right, RD92. Take it from a guy who just spent all evening wearing a new Derpy hoodie around campus...

 

The key is to not make a big deal out of it! Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself by giving off a sense of insecurity in your clothes. Insecurity makes a MUCH bigger statement about yourself than your clothes ever will.

 

Just be confident in yourself...have an overall "yeah, whatevs" attitude, if that makes sense (hope that isn't paradoxical). It worked for me...I found a new brony on campus tonight because of it. I was in the dorm basement playing BF3 with a few guys, and one of them noticed by new hoodie. He asked if it was My Little Pony, and I confidently said that it was...and he admitted that he watched the show, too!

 

Confidence. Is. The. Key.

 

Take a word of advice from the SoCo liquor commercials: Whatever's comfortable!

 

As much as I would like to follow your advice, nothing you say could possibly change the way I am. I am not confident and I do not have a "whatevs" attitude. So as much as I would like to, I don't think I will.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Champion RD92

[SrFrog 927]

Not personally, but understandably some of the stuff that comes from within the fandom is cringe worthy. I'm used to that stuff by now, and it's not like I personally care of what people might think of me.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

As much as I would like to follow your advice, nothing you say could possibly change the way I am. I am not confident and I do not have a "whatevs" attitude. So as much as I would like to, I don't think I will.

Oh believe me, I felt the exact same way the first time I wore something pony-related in public. I started with something small - a lanyard - which most people would probably overlook or not notice unless they had the keen eye of a brony, but the fact that nothing bad happened gave me enough confidence to move up to a brony belt. Again, most of the time it's not visible, under a shirt, but sometimes visible at the right angle. When nothing bad happened again, I got enough confidence to move up to a "manly" MLP t-shirt, Dr. Hooves (at which point I began getting compliments...that was a real boost), then I am where I am now, a Derpy hoodie.

 

I guess you could call it immersion therapy. In fact it's helped my confidence as a whole. Not pressuring you or anything, just giving my personal experience with this matter, so as such YMMV.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Nope, I have been ashamed of the actions of certain people within the fandom but I have never regretted becoming part of it.

[Brave Hooves 113]

Maybe at one point where I discovered cloppers, but really they're only seen as stand outs because of their name. Every single fanbase out there has a R34 minority, this fanbase is just extremely active, that combined with the name makes them stand out more than in other fanbases but my only issue is when people assume that it's a problem exclusive to this fanbase. I mean is it just an over attentionized section or it really a big problem about us moreso than other fanbases? I vote for the former.

I've been in a club at my school for about 2 months now and we've never gotten any haters at all, though it's probably just because we were in a group, I know they exist out there somewhere though. The only thing I noticed was these 2 guys that passed by the group and heard us talking about the show and to themselves they go "bronies lol what fags" ...however those 2 could easily be seen as the class nerd and the class fatty so whatever lo and then In one of the meetups I've been to, I met a guy who is a big muscular security/body guard with a motorcycles and a helmet with a half naked chick, not exactly the type of guy you'd think is a brony but he was lol

[GrumpyMcfart 16]

nope, but then I don't have any RL friends, and I'm the type who enjoys telling people that I watch this show so I can see their reaction (the face my uncle made was pricless)

[Toa of Ponies 259]

No, I'm not ashamed of being a Brony and never was, Hey my art book for school is practically full of ponies and my classmates look at it all the time.  Sure I might get picked on for it a little bit but I honestly don't care about what people think of me. 

 

Wait no thats not true, Same as Prince Solaris when I discovered clopper I was a bit ashamed, but those peoples prefrences are their own and I'm not gonna hate on them for It. 

Edited December 7, 2012 by Toa of Ponies

[iLegovideo 152]

 

Wow. That was pretty powerful stuff. I'm assuming all's well now, with the reputation and your parents. How did that go over, anyway? I'm curious.

 

You also mentioned you lost a friend, was it over your constant hatred of MLP? Did you make fun of him for it?

 

You don't have to respond if you don't want.

No, it wasn't my constant hatred of MLP. In fact, he was also a hater along with me. I suppose the reason why he left me is because I kind of obsessed over hating it...either that, or because he just wants to be away from me for a while. I'm not a bad person or anything, but I can't force him to spend time with me. (That means no handcuffs)

 

Although when I first started watching it I did have a few moments of "really I am watching this" for the most part no. Why should I or anyone else be a ashamed of a really good show that just so happens to be about cartoon ponies which society has arbitrarily decided is for "little girls"?

Well, the reason why we are ashamed and huddle around here  is because we are a misunderstood group. Society takes one look at us and says we are abnormal. Why? Well, society likes to base their opinions on first impressions. That's the main problem. MLP had a rough past with Gen 3 and Gen 3.5. If society hates us because they hate Gen 3 and Gen 3.5, then society has lost their purpose. The main reason society hates us is because when we say "My Little Pony", they automatically assume that we enjoy/play with MLP dolls, which, in my opinion, looks like crap. I really don't know. What I said is an ASSUMPTION, so I could be horribly wrong...but that's how I see it.

[Forsooth 18]

They're both right, RD92. Take it from a guy who just spent all evening wearing a new Derpy hoodie around campus...

 

The key is to not make a big deal out of it! Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself by giving off a sense of insecurity in your clothes. Insecurity makes a MUCH bigger statement about yourself than your clothes ever will.

 

Just be confident in yourself...have an overall "yeah, whatevs" attitude, if that makes sense (hope that isn't paradoxical). It worked for me...I found a new brony on campus tonight because of it. I was in the dorm basement playing BF3 with a few guys, and one of them noticed by new hoodie. He asked if it was My Little Pony, and I confidently said that it was...and he admitted that he watched the show, too!

 

Confidence. Is. The. Key.

 

Take a word of advice from the SoCo liquor commercials: Whatever's comfortable!

 

I agree completely, this being what I did. When ones hidden bronyhood is brought to light one is made an object of ridicule. But, if when anypony asks me what I am planning over the Winter Break and I say "I am going to rewatch MLP:FIM from episode one" they (usually) will keep their snide remarks to themselves. Why? Because I have shown to them that I don't care what they think anyhow (regarding snide comments). Also, due to this new-found confidence a coworker of mine said he wants to try out the show, stating that ‘if I am so open about it it must not be adequate cause of shame.’

[Shanks 10,816]

Well, the reason why we are ashamed and huddle around here  is because we are a misunderstood group. Society takes one look at us and says we are abnormal. Why? Well, society likes to base their opinions on first impressions. That's the main problem. MLP had a rough past with Gen 3 and Gen 3.5. If society hates us because they hate Gen 3 and Gen 3.5, then society has lost their purpose. The main reason society hates us is because when we say "My Little Pony", they automatically assume that we enjoy/play with MLP dolls, which, in my opinion, looks like crap. I really don't know. What I said is an ASSUMPTION, so I could be horribly wrong...but that's how I see it.

I have a mild form of Autism called Aspergers so I have been unfairly judged over ridiculous bullcrap many times in my life because I am "different" so in order to survive I eventually developed a much thicker skin about it than most people have. By the end of high school I just said "I don't need to gain the approval of shallow imbeciles" during middle school I liked to think that I didn't care what people thought but I actually did so not caring for real is a very liberating experience. I will admit that when my friend first told me about My Little Pony I had several assumptions about it myself, I wasn't a full blown hater but I was a little shocked and confused that so many teenage and adults males including my friend was into that of all things. I sort of cheated and watched the Discord two parter first as this friend wanted to know my opinion on Discord of course after that I started watching the other episodes in order, got hooked and my buddy had a "see I told you so" moment later that night.