Why do someponies fear this?

[Fluttershy_babe 53]

Hay everypony!

Ok, so maybe this isn't the most exciting topic. And I don't blame you if your not interested. But today I want to talk about WHY WE DONT EXPOSE THAT WE ARE BRONIES. Why? I dont know. Thats why I want you to answer. What stops most bronies from exposing to their friends or family that they are bronies? Why dont we strut around with MLP shirts and backpacks?

I used to be scared to tell my bff that im a brony. But The OLD MLP is the babyish one for little girls. We don't have to be afraid anymore.

Millions of teenage boy/girls watch MLP. But the world doesn't know that. So why not let it? xx

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I think that part of it is that there isn't an easy non-obnoxious way to "proclaim" it.

 

I mean, if we go around wearing a pony t-shirt, unless you go to a gossipy high school where you're not invisible, no one is going to care enough to ask you about your shirt to let them know that you are a brony.

 

I think that there is a legitimate fear among many many bronies that they will be socially rejected for liking the show. But that's because it takes a long, long time for society to accept certain things as normal. To them, it is better for people to not know now but to wait to tell them until it becomes more normal for them to like the show. Of course this involves more bronies actually taking the risk and letting people know, but you know, sometimes people don't look at the big picture.

 

Now, as a woman, it is more socially acceptable for me to like ponies, even though I am still outside the target audience. I have some of the PVC figures in my cubicle at work. I own a few t-shirts. At home, I have a ton of brushables on my window sill and a binder full of trading cards, as well as the tin and the Pinkie Pie box. I have ponies everywhere, but very very few people know that I love the newest TV show and that is why I collect them, even despite mentioning that it's the new show that I am a fan of. People just forget or they don't pay attention. Or it is not important enough to them which incarnation you are talking about because, to them, it's all My Little Pony, and it's all the same.

 

It takes years for these sorts of things to be normal. It's not like if we all decided to "come out" of our closet broniness that the world would finally see the light. Hundreds if not thousands would still be clueless, perhaps even more judgmental, if they knew more about bronies. To change the world, we are gonna need to do more than be open about the show.

[Zygen 6,066]

Well I'm going to try and spare my usual long explanation(Mostly because I'm tired) but I am a closet brony, its mostly because I either find it will only cause troubles and make it so everyone in school hates me(Making my small pool of friends even smaller) And or it just seems like there isn't a real good time to bring it up.

 

I don't bring it up to my parents because I'm pretty sure they won't be very accepting of it, and theres no opportune time for it really either. Same with my brother except even if he accepts it he'll tell my parents.

 

Its got alot to do with fear, not wanting to be totally shunned by people and sometimes even parents, and the fact there just doesn't seem to be a point or a time to bring it up.

I'd only really consider it right now if there was a really good reason to bring it up, otherwise it just doesn't serve any benefits to me.

[Phoenix237 353]

The main reason is the fear of social rejection. There is a fear among those that hide that they will be rejected by society, their freinds, and even their families if word got out that they love my little pony.

The reason for it is that society wise it's uncommon. You don't normally see an older generation going to buy merchandise ment for little girls. It's been put into societies minds that an activity like this is unnatural, and for that reason it is normally rejected.

Bronies that keep it a secret, tend to do so because they are afraide of how others may treat them. This can be a new fear or a recurring fear based on past experiences. Some conquer this fear after a while, but others don't, and that's okay.

 

If others are afraid to show their love for the show, then I can't say anything. I can't force them to no longer be afraid. I can help them, but ultimately it is they who must conquer their fears if and only if they wish to do so.

[CamRad18 337]

For me, personally, its all about the fear of social rejection. I've dropped subtle hints and references to MLP and I can tell my friends aren't exactly accepting of that sort of thing. One of my friends thinks I'm a total weirdie because he sees ponies on my computer all the time and I haven't explained it to him (which wouldn't help anyway).

[cuteycindyhoney 13,332]

Frankly, just because I don't run up to people and shout in their faces that I watch it, doesn't mean I'm afraid of people finding out what TV shows I like. I don't run around yelling at people to watch NCIS or Doctor Who, either. I still don't understand this weird compulsion people have to "Confess" that they like one particular show or another.

 

People are making it sound like telling people that they watch a cartoon, is somehow a traumatic emotional ordeal like coming out to your parents that you're gay. As someone with bisexual tendencies, I just find that insulting. Lighten up already, it's just a cartoon. Nobody really cares if you watch it or not!

 

Who cares what people watch on TV? I have friends who watch Bridezilla and other reality shows, but they don't try and force me to watch, while I don't care if they're watching it. Acting like you need to confess is sending the signal to the people you're confessing to that you're doing something wrong. My advice is to just shut up and watch what you want to watch. 

Edited January 16, 2013 by cuteycindyhoney

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

I'm a fairly open brony. I wear a Derpy hoodie on a daily basis, have a Derpy pin in my backpack, have a brony lanyard, and I have a few pony-related items peppered around my dorm. Sometimes I'll wear my Dr. Hooves shirt, and more recently, the Trixie "Have You Seen This Wizard?" shirt. The key is confidence. Don't draw attention to yourself by being insecure. And getting those first compliments about your merch (even from non-bronies!) helps a lot.

 

I treat it like any other franchise. Because ideally, this is no different from wearing sports paraphanalia or merch from movies or other TV shows. Saying otherwise is to knuckle-under to society's double standard rather than fighting it.

 

On the subject of fear of societal rejection, here is my take: If someone is going to judge me that much by the clothing on my back alone, then those are extremely shallow people that I really wouldn't want to associate with anyway.

Edited January 16, 2013 by StratoPegasus

[Aaramus 450]

The same reason that most of us don't go around proclaiming to everybody that we enjoy other shows or hobbies. If it comes up in a conversation then I'll say "oh, yeah! I like that show too, have you seen last weeks episode" or something similar. While I see no reason at all to be ashamed of it I also see no reason to "expose" it to the world.

 

However, on being afraid I'm probably just repeating what everyone else has said. It's the fear of being rejected by the people you tell, that your friends will suddenly turn around and not what to be involved with you any longer. The same goes with your parents. I haven't even told them, they probably wouldn't mind in the slightest because I know they're very accepting but that's more due to the fact I don't need to tell them because it's MY interests not theirs. In fact they probably do know because my brother bought me a few of the bling bag figures for my birthday as a joke, but I keep them on my desk with my Daleks.

 

Don't be afraid of what people may think but at the same time don't go around shouting about it. If it crops up in a conversation then you talk about it to your hearts content but don't irritate people who aren't interested.

[Fluttershy_babe 53]

Frankly, just because I don't run up to people and shout in their faces that I watch it, doesn't mean I'm afraid of people finding out what TV shows I like. I don't run around yelling at people to watch NCIS or Doctor Who, either. I still don't understand this weird compulsion people have to "Confess" that they like one particular show or another.

 

People are making it sound like telling people that they watch a cartoon, is somehow a traumatic emotional ordeal like coming out to your parents that you're gay. As someone with bisexual tendencies, I just find that insulting. Lighten up already, it's just a cartoon. Nobody really cares if you watch it or not!

 

Who cares what people watch on TV? I have friends who watch Bridezilla and other reality shows, but they don't try and force me to watch, while I don't care if they're watching it. Acting like you need to confess is sending the signal to the people you're confessing to that you're doing something wrong. My advice is to just shut up and watch what you want to watch. 

 

 

Yeah, excatcly. Thats what I'm trying to say. Like, I saw a topic once called 'Should I tell me parents i'm a brony?' and I'm thinking, What the heck?! Loool.

[Aerial~Shot 177]

I tell my friends who are gonna find out anyway. Like, my friends who have gone to anime conventions with me know 'cause I bought badges and fanart, one knows just 'cause she asked if I knew about it, I assume a couple know from seeing my likes and favourites on YouTube.

 

But the problems I have are these two:

 

My parents would understand me liking a cartoon, it's just that my mum gets a little annoyed when I watch things for "little kids". She is getting more understanding as she learns more and more about fandom, so I plan to tell them ASAP, but still.

 

I don't want to let most people at school know because I've always been bullied, mostly for liking things they say I shouldn't like at my age. I'm honestly not bothered by what they say, it's just the fact that they have always felt the need to bring that kind of thing up whenever they see me. It's mostly stopped since I started Sixth Form, 'cause I very rarely see those people since I don't have any lessons with most of them, but I have had a couple people say certain things just walking past me.

 

So, basically, I'll tell people if they're gonna find out anyway, but I wanna avoid people finding out if they don't know how to drop a subject <_<

[Leatherbehlt 465]

People at my school already don't like me, but it's mostly in good reason. In 4th 5th and 6th grade, when I finally understood what "that's what she said!" meant, I became "that kid" which is a part of my life I don't want to repeat. Generally I'm not too good at making conversation face to face unless I'm talking to someone as nerdy as me. All that good stuff. At least half the people I know (Friends, jocks/stoners I hate, other nerds, etc.) that know anything about me, know I'm a brony. I know they talk crap behind my back, and they think I'm a pedo(does that even count with minors?) and what not, but they don't come face to face and say "AHAHAHA! YOU WATCH MY LITTLE PONY! AHAHAHA!" to me, which I'd prefer over gossip and rumors. I'm a 190 LB Puerto Rican with a ton of leg hair and some kickboxing training, so not many people want to bother with that. *insert cocky derp face here* My parents know I watch MLP, I'm not sure if they care or not though. My friends don't judge me (completely) for it, and anybody I meet outside of school that knows I'm a brony (not too many people) doesn't really care too much. Well, that's enough ranting for now. I'm gonna go and get ready school *rips off clothes and exposes superman outfit then falls out the window in an attempt to fly*

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

Like, I saw a topic once called 'Should I tell me parents i'm a brony?' and I'm thinking, What the heck?! Loool.

 

I wouldn't say that that's exactly as funny as you're making it out to be.  Some people have very legitimate reasons as to why they won't tell their parents.  For one, many of us still live with our parents, and some parents aren't so accepting of their children breaking social norms like this.  If their parents were to find out, they are afraid that it would severely strain their relationship with them.  To use myself as an example, I know for a fact that my father is homophobic.  I'm sure that you know that one of the most popular misconceptions about bronies is that we're all gay.  If my father decided to believe that, I can't see that working out for the better at all.

[Pinkie D Pie 1,036]

Yeah, excatcly. Thats what I'm trying to say. Like, I saw a topic once called 'Should I tell me parents i'm a brony?' and I'm thinking, What the heck?! Loool.

 

 

It's not as funny as you are thinking telling your parents this. I personally made a topic about it when I first joined because at night I would be watching the shows and my parents would be thinking I would be looking at porn. Another reason some people might have a hard time telling there parents is because they want pony merch but do not have the money to buy it so they have to ask there parents. Now what do you think some parents are going to do if there kid walks up and asks for money to buy a shirt about ponies. My thoughts at that much at least.

 

Now on to the second part, the actual topic.

 

I am a closet brony, will be until more people find out. Why do I not show it off, because of where I go to school at. I have next to no friends, the ones I do would leave me if they found out that I like MLP. The school I go to, news gets around in about 10 seconds flat. I would be bullied, harassed, and all of that for liking the show in probably a weeks time. That is not something I want. This is not to say I care if people find out. I wear a shirt to school every now and then to see if anyone notices but no one does when it is covered up in a jacket. I guess my point of this is that I am saying that some people are afraid of getting harassed and bullied for watching a show meant for little girls.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,837]

The number of ways to proclaim it without making yourself looking like a fool isn't very large. We don't have much reason to proclaim it anyways. We don't "need" to say it because it's not a big deal.

[Betez 1,735]

Well, I'm open to my friends and family about it, but I'm not gonna walk around school with an mlp shirt. I think it'll give all the people who aren't bronies more reason to hate us, since their stereotypical brony is some kid with Autism walking around with an mlp shirt saying "Love and tolerate."

[Sky Warden 2,243]

For me it's very simple. I love the show. That's all. I don't think I need to show the world that I'm a Brony. I guess I'm just too lazy for that. I mean, why shall I? I love the show and enjoy ponies, so? If I like eating noodle, do I have to tell people that I like noodle? No, right?

I love ponies and I won't say that I'm not a Brony. If people know about it, so let it be. There's nothing to show literally to people. If we do so, the world will be a very noisy place. Just let them see what they want.

Also, by seeing people these days, I think they won't be open-minded enough to let people enjoy what they really like. Social status is the thing I don't fit most.

[Jymm 49]

One reason that some bronies are reluctant to reveal to people that they are bronies is that we're a counter culture. We're challenging social norms by enjoying a show that society tells us is just for little girls. A lot of people see us as social deviants, hence why they jump to conclusions about us. They don't understand us or the show. They just stick to their preconceptions. 

For the record, I'm an open brony. I just got my first 2 t shirts in the post yesterday (a Fluttershy "Haters gonna hate" and a Derpy "I just don't know what went wrong") and when I next leave the house, I will be wearing one of them, regardless of what anyone may think of me. I will admit, it's easier for me than it is for most people. I am what a lot of people would call a goth, I'm used to getting verbal abuse for wearing an ankle length leather trench coat, or having black nail varnish on. I used to get a hell of a lot of abuse for having long hair in a all boys school. But I don't care what others think of me. I am who I am, I'll like what I like and I'm not going to let narrow minded people change who I am.

[Twilight86 6]

Well telling people would most probably make them look at me differently. "He watches ponies! Oooh.." 
I don't feel the need to tell everyone about what show I watch anyway.I do tell some of my closest friends,I know they won't make fun of me.I've even started convincing one of them to watch. 

Even if I tell most of my friends,they'll probably just laugh at me for sometime then it's over.No one remembers anymore.
 

My parents know I watch ponies.It doesn't seem to bother them though.

[Unique Pinkie Pie 173]

there is no such thing as a fandom without haters 

 

i say haters have "evil" traits and they enjoy the pain of others the thing that really bothers me with haters is the fact that they are always suspecting every possible bad thing about bronies 

[HailthornX 47]

I wouldn't say I'm afraid to admit it. Well, I was at first. I'm far more open about it than I was at first.

 

But if you've bothered to see what people say, it's quite insane. I've seen people call Bronies brain-dead, pedophiles, weirdos, ect. simply because of them liking MLP. That's the sort of thing that keeps me from telling most people. I mean, when I was a kid, I watched the Powerpuff Girls, Totally Spies, and didn't give it a second thought. If I think something is good, I'll watch it. Target audience is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

 

What bothers me is how judgmental people can be. But I think the fear is there because there are people who take their hatred beyond petty words.

[Syrchalis 40]

I don't tell my mother because it's none of her business and I do not want to hear her comments about that. She would do stupid comments, no serious ones like "are you gay?" or something like that. She would probably call it cute or ask me why I like the show. I really can save my nerves for something else.

 

Friends? I tell them all pretty early. It's part of me and they have to deal with it.

[Zacharias 191]

We've gone through threads like this several times and I'm going to say it again. I'm never going to be open about it. Some friends know on skype, but that's it. (And even they probably can't remember it anymore) I am almost completely silent at school (not counting one guy who's fine to talk to, although he's really hated on by the school behind his back) because I don't have friends, nor do I want to be friends with stoners and alcoholics who gossip about everything they can find about you to make fun of you.

If they found out, I'd either leave that school or oops! Too bad, cause the rest that are within a reasonable distance are even worse!

 

So I'd either commit suicide or stand up for myself so much that I'd try to beat them up and then they'd get their stoner gang army and their all muscle-no brains relatives to kill me, and humiliate my corpse.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think someponies don't want anyone to judge them when they like a certain show.

 

MLP is like one of the best shows, but ignorant people always find a way to judge someone.

[kirbyboi 588]

Mainly because of the supposed consequences:

 

-People assuming your gay

-People assume your not strong, tough, or 'normal'

-Having everyone think your weird

-What your parents will say

 

Some people don't admit it 'cause they'll get bullied and whatnot. I have a brony pin on my backpack, so I'm not really a closet-brony, but some people are just really self-unconscious when it comes to that. But honestly, whether I'd get bullied or not, I wouldn't be afraid to proclaim my love for MLP. If a bully comes up, I'll just punch him right back. Who's the bully to decide what I watch?

 

Some people are just plain shy about it. But, I think that you shouldn't be afraid to at least show your a brony through a small pin, or something. 

[CloudsdaleCompanion 343]

I'm not afraid of telling others, though I don't shove it down their throats.

 

So why are some ponies scared? Well, my friends call me gay and stuff like that, so that could be a reason.

 

Other than that nobody cares. My parents don't care, my friends don't care, I would walk to school with a Fluttershy hoodie any day.

 

Usually, there's no reason to be scared, I have found that hardly anybody cares. However, there are always some extreme cases, but if you're in that kind of situation, you'd know anyway and it would of course be the best thing to keep it a secret.

Edited January 16, 2013 by CloudsdaleCompanion