How Do You Try to Convert Others to Bronydom?

[Zach TheDane 234]

The longer I am a brony, the more I wish I had brony friends.  I have been trying to convert a few of my friends by convincing them to just watch through the first two episodes, but they are extremely reluctant and suspicious.  One of them is slowly moving over to the brony side, and hopefully the two of us will spread the magic of friendship to everyone around us! (Insert evil laugh here).  Anyway, I wanted to know how you guys try to get others to watch the show and if you have any funny stories about people's reactions.

 

[~Lawful Sturdy Wing~ 522]

The longer I am a brony, the more I wish I had brony friends.  I have been trying to convert a few of my friends by convincing them to just watch through the first two episodes, but they are extremely reluctant and suspicious.  One of them is slowly moving over to the brony side, and hopefully the two of us will spread the magic of friendship to everyone around us! (Insert evil laugh here).  Anyway, I wanted to know how you guys try to get others to watch the show and if you have any funny stories about people's reactions.

 

Quite simply, I don't. "Conversion" is never a very good idea when considering friendships. If somebody doesn't want to watch the show, don't push it. If somebody is interested just show them episodes you think will be enjoyable for them,

[marlyly 186]

I tried only once, with my BFF.

I kinda forced him to watch the canterlot weeding but when I saw that he wasn't paying attention I tried another method, more adapted to our relationship: love and tolerate the shio out of him with my bare fists.

 

Now, he still doesn't like ponies and cant see why bronies exists. The diference is that I have now a few friends in common with him (DOTA and LOL players) that also happens to be bronies.

 

ps: the "adapted method" might seems kinda brutal but we usualy have a couple of fights just for fun (yeah, it's realy immature and totaly stupid, but friendship can also work this way).

 

EDIT: I totaly agreed with Sturdy

Edited January 5, 2013 by marlyly

[z11011 16]

normally I bring up that it was made by Lauren Faust, or I find a crossover piece that might work for them. For instance, one of my friends is a sonic fan, so I showed him Sonic vs Rainbow dash by Megajamesstudios.

[The Stranger 812]

Okay first off the reason why so many people are anti-bronies is because some of us bronies try to convert them (like it's some sort of religion) into the fandom. 

 

Anyway, I've gotten one person to become a fan of the show in my life but It wasn't on purpose. I was on skype with this guy who was a furry. We had all sorts of conversations going on until he started asking me about MLP. He wanted to know what was so good about the show. I told him my view on MLP and next thing I knew he had watched a few episodes and became a fan. 

 

Simple as that. I didn't even need to convert him. All I did was give my opinion of the show not the fandom. 

Edited January 5, 2013 by Data Void

[KaryDactyl 26]

Convert is such a strong word. I prefer assimilate. >8D

 

But really, a lot of my friends already like MLP. I only have one friend who I really want to watch the show, and her resistance stems mostly from not having a good way to watch it. I got her to download the game app, and slowly she is becoming obsessed with ponies. It is only a matter of time... *maniacal laughter*

[Envy 6,163]

I don't. If I even let them know that I watch and like the show, I stop there. Well, there was one I went a bit too far with... but I wasn't trying to get her to like or even watch the show (I went too far in another way lol). I don't care if people like or watch the show. I actually don't even care if they flamboyantly hate it. It's not of my concern.

 

That's part of the reason why I feel so distanced for this fandom I really don't understand this need or want to "convert" others. I have tried to get others to watch shows before... Like One Piece. But that was 1) Because One Piece at the time had not even been licensed for Season 4 to be dubbed, and I wanted American support to grow to increase the chance of a Season 4 dub, and 2) the friend(s) were fans of One Piece-like series like Dragon Ball. Most shows I have recommended to others fit solely into the second category. I don't recommend shows to others if I don't see it being the kind of thing they would watch. MLP:FiM is not the kind of thing most of my friends would watch, so no reason.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Envy

[PonyPowaX1000 69]

I don't why?

 

1) Why should you force someone into something?

 

2) I have friends who aren't bronies and I'm fine with that, I mean its just a fandom, not like the wold's gonna end if the don't join.

 

3) @, I agree with pretty much all that you typed.

Edited January 5, 2013 by PonyPowaX1000

[Zach TheDane 234]

Okay, so maybe "convert" was the wrong word. I don't mean FORCIBLY try to make them bronies; I just wondered how you tried to get them interested in the show. I know some people won't touch anything MLP related with a ten foot pole without encouragement, so I just like to point out all the great aspects of the show. Haha, maybe that's a bit clearer. I try not to beat up neighsayers when they don't like the show... Usually.

[Jessper 735]

You know, just present you are a brony and that the show is great, even tho it might look scary to some. Maybe drag a friend to the MLP corner on anime and comic cons. But that's about it, if you keep on going about it, chances are people will start to hate the show and possibly you too.

[Wingnut 6,992]

What is the average number of episodes to get someone hooked on MLP anyway?  For me it was about 4 or 5.  Anyway, I have a roommate who sometimes joins me to watch new episodes on Saturday mornings.  I'm glad that she's cool with me being a brony.  But she says she'll never be a fan of the show herself.  She may be too preoccupied with Transformers to develop strong feelings for another cartoon. 

 

But she has watched about 4 episodes with me now.  There's always a chance the next one she sees could push her over the edge right? 

 

I'm sorry I don't have anything specifically to help you here, Zach, except to say that gently exposing them to MLP may be the way to go. 

[Zach TheDane 234]

Actually, it's not help I need. I was just curious how your friends react to your bronyness! Being a guy, my friends are sort of split between "What's My Little Pony?" And "Are you gay?" It's just fun for me to see their reactions when I get them to try the show. It would be dumb of me to run after them shouting "YOU. WILL. LOVE. MY LITTLE PONY!" Like a deranged Fluttershy.

[FireFox 82]

Don't actively try to convert them.  Use a more passive approach i.e. wear pony tee's, if you are in school put a pony sticker on your notebook, throw in the occasional anypony, everypony, brohoof, etc. in your conversations (just occasionally, not all the time).  If you do this your friends will ask you about it.  You can then show them a starter episode like those mentioned in http://mlpforums.com/topic/44620-think-i-just-told-my-mom-i-was-a-brony-really-wrongly/?p=1054649.

Actually, it's not help I need. I was just curious how your friends react to your bronyness! Being a guy, my friends are sort of split between "What's My Little Pony?" And "Are you gay?" It's just fun for me to see their reactions when I get them to try the show. It would be dumb of me to run after them shouting "YOU. WILL. LOVE. MY LITTLE PONY!" Like a deranged Fluttershy.

 

My friends don't think anything about it.  One of them likes Powerpuff Girls, One is a brony, some only like the 1950's merry melodies/looney tunes, and a few don't watch cartoons at all.  I also like Transformers Gen 1, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Animaniacs, Futurama, and The Simpsons.  In my opinion, if your friends say "Are you gay?", they haven't matured yet. 

[Yourmomsponies 444]

I start referencing the show and such. If they seem open minded enough I'll bring the topic up or if they catch my references.

If it seems like they might like it show them a gem of an episode like 'Last Roundup or 'Luna Eclipsed'.

[PonyEcho 1,610]

well its very simple...... i don't, if you feel the need to brag about a show being good in order to get more people into the fandom, its not rely a good so then is it.

i did have a friend come up to me about MLP and asked me about the show, and i told him the truth that MLP is an average show with a goodandbad fandom, and that if he wanted to he should check it out, he did, he enjoys it, end of.

Edited January 5, 2013 by PonyEcho

[Zach TheDane 234]

 

My friends don't think anything about it.  One of them likes Powerpuff Girls, One is a brony, some only like the 1950's merry melodies/looney tunes, and a few don't watch cartoons at all.  I also like Transformers Gen 1, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Animaniacs, Futurama, and The Simpsons.  In my opinion, if your friends say "Are you gay?", they haven't matured yet. 

Well there is a signature lack of maturity in someponies at my school. On the other hoof, others are very open! My main reason for trying to get my friends hooked on the show is so I can actually make Pony references and jokes without them being totally wasted. For example, someone in my class the other day said "I don't understand what went wrong". I almost died from trying to hold in the Derpy references!

[Jordan Dash 31]

Here's my patented guide to converting my friends into bronies (I converted about 80% of the people I tried this on.

 

1. Play some brony-made pony music that isn't too obvious to them that it is pony music. If they like it, play like... 5 more songs for them, then admit that it is pony music, this will peak their interest.

 

2. If you are on your iPhone or Android or what ever device or a computer, look up some pony fan art that looks REALLY epic, if they see this, they will realize that there is an artistic side to the fandom.

 

3. Begin to show them some clips from the show, like some Hub teasers for the newest episode. (My favorites include the Pinkie Pie's plan from "Spike at your Service" the mustache part always gets them) 

 

 - I suggest some "Funny moments" videos, when that comes to mind, I suggest the "My favorite moments of Rainbow Dash"

 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3Ic7sL-18 

 

 

 It's great for non-bronies since it has what everyone likes.... someone (Rainbow Dash) making fun of others, of course I mean that in the nicest way, like playing around.

 

4. If this all worked for you, then this "soon-to-be Brony" will be at home on day, all bored and say something like "Hmm... I wonder what the MLP:FiM is all about that [insert your name here] is always talking about" 

 

 - this will lead to curiosity which will lead him to watching the first episode, then the cliff hanger will lead him to the second. This will continue through the season.

 

 - If he says he's not a brony then this is only the first stage of the fandom, it's usually denial because he's trying to hold onto his "manliness" but really he has a favourite pony just like the rest of us.

 

Hope this helped, it has for me

[Zach TheDane 234]

  - If he says he's not a brony then this is only the first stage of the fandom, it's usually denial because he's trying to hold onto his "manliness" but really he has a favourite pony just like the rest of us.

 Hope this helped, it has for me

Haha, that was exactly me when I first started watching! I was close to shutting the episode off and running away for fear of getting my man-card revoked. It took a few episodes, but about 5 into it I realized just how awesome it was!

[Shanks 10,816]

Hard to say as everybody is different do be careful not to push too hard though as it could backfire, we know that My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is not just for little girls but it still has that reputation attached to it. The friend who got me into it started out slow, mentioning a few things about it here and there and then gradually started mentioning it more and more. During some of those conversation I will admit I was thinking "we are really talking about this" but what got me curious about the show is Discord and that it was created by Lauren Faust the wife of cartoon legend Craig McCracken. I have honestly never heard of Lauren Faust before that but I was a big fan of Craig McCracken for quite a while and Discord seemed like an interesting villain. And he showed me some fan art and I was pretty stunned with just how much of it there was. My natural curiosity got the better of me and I watched the Return of Harmony two parter and then for the next week or so I watched the rest of season 1 and 2 on youtube.

[MineLikeAPony 14]

The longer I am a brony, the more I wish I had brony friends.  I have been trying to convert a few of my friends by convincing them to just watch through the first two episodes, but they are extremely reluctant and suspicious.  One of them is slowly moving over to the brony side, and hopefully the two of us will spread the magic of friendship to everyone around us! (Insert evil laugh here).  Anyway, I wanted to know how you guys try to get others to watch the show and if you have any funny stories about people's reactions.

What I did was have a few friends over and say "Hey you should watch this show." I looked it up on Youtube,not telling them what it was. I made sure that they weren't looking when the title scree came up, and that I muted it so it would be a surprise. They watched, loved it, and now I've got a bunch of little bronies as friends

[Zach TheDane 234]

What I did was have a few friends over and say "Hey you should watch this show." I looked it up on Youtube,not telling them what it was. I made sure that they weren't looking when the title scree came up, and that I muted it so it would be a surprise. They watched, loved it, and now I've got a bunch of little bronies as friends

Sneaky... but I like it! I think that if people would only get over the whole "little girl" stigma, we would have a lot more bronies! The animation alone is fantastic and original!

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

I'm getting tired of threads like this.    You don't "convert" people to like MLP! Being a brony isn't a religion or  something that's going to change the world forever. It's a tv show, a bit of entertainment. The bronies are not a sect or anything like that so there is no conversion taking place. It's nice to have friends who enjoy the same entertainment that you do. Specially  when it's something that you haver a passion for. So sure introduce them to it, but if they don't want to try it don't be pushing it in their face. They will eventually get annoyed with you and not want to hang out with you much any more.

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

I don't convert people, if they want to watch the show they'll do it in their own time, if they don't it's their choice, not everyone has to watch the show.

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

If someone asks me about MLP, I'll tell them about it.  Otherwise I don't really try to convert people.  I don't really see a point in attempting conversion when the chances that ignorance and irritation will win them over are far greater than them actually watching the show.

 

 If they do show interest though, I funnel them straight to Youtube so they can watch masterpieces like Epic Wub Time, Doctor Whooves and Assistant, and Knights of Time and Space.  I basically converted my sister with Knights of Time and Space alone, the rest just helped.

[Sks_Burns 730]

i dont convert, i dont even try to. i greatly dislike when people do that with religions, so ive learned to never push my interests on others unless they show interest without me bringing it up. however, if a friend came to me looking for episode suggestions, id point them in the right direction and let them make up their own mind as to whether they want to be a part of this or not. 

 

the point is to bring people into the fandom without force. let them make their own choices and dont discriminate if they choose not to join the herd. we only do more damage to our group if we push people into the fandom and try to preach the good word of Ponyism.  i know the show is great, but they have to make the decision to be a part of this on their own account, not by having us push it on them.