What defines a Brony?

[Agent505 661]

So long question short, i've been watching MLP with my little sister for a while now, and this question came to mind...what "defines" a Brony? Do we have to be a certain age? Do we have to NOT be a certain age? Do we have to fill certain requirements? 

 

Would my 6 year old sister be considered a Brony, or just a kid who likes MLP? 

What age would she be considered a true Brony? Of course im not asking seriously, im just wondering what does define us? The general internet term for Brony is - male fans of the show My Little Pony. So by that respect would my 5 year old brother be considered a Brony if he where to watch the show, or would he simply be another child fan of the show? You know what im asking, for whatever reason i'm not quite sure, let me know what you think.

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

What defines a brony you ask?

Well what defines a Brony is someone from the MLP fandom

That's all there is to it.

a brony can be any gender

Any age

Anything that watches MLP and associates his/her self with the fandom

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

Well, the gender issue has been discussed elsewhere, and most people seem to agree that Brony can apply to either gender. It's my opinion that the term Brony refers to any active member of the MLP:FiM fandom.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I consider anyone who likes the show and or the fandom a brony regardless of age, and I don't like to say who is one and who isn't just because it always leads to meaningless infighting and butthurt between people who could be enjoying their common interest.

[Luurilka 325]

A brony is generally considered to be a fan of My Little Pony, who is outside of it's target demographic. So you're 6 year old sister would generally not be considered a brony, since she is within the target demographic of the show.  

[Haven Celestii 9,385]

Id say any male or female outside of the target demographic that has an interest in the show, the fandom itself, and participating within said fandom.

Not participate as in actually making art or something, but choosing to associate with it.

 

Little kids are meant to like the show, even if they are boys. So I would not consider anyone within the target age range a brony.

[Agent505 661]

A brony is generally considered to be a fan of My Little Pony, who is outside of it's target demographic. So you're 6 year old sister would generally not be considered a brony, since she is within the target demographic of the show.  

 

That's a pretty good way of putting it, actually. Never thought about it like that, but it does make sense. 

 

And I wasn't making this thread to cause anyone any butthurt, just something that occurred to me recently and, well, where better to discuss it? 

 

To me, the whole "target demographic" side of things has blurred. What exactly is the target audience these days? 

G1 to G3 was targetting little girls, and then Lauren Faust had the idea of making the show gender neutral...what about age though? 

 

Obviously, the show isn't aimed at 20-40 year olds, but the messages the show gives off can even be of benefit to the older audience (I myself have learned a thing or two, not directly, but just learning to look at things from a different perspective has helped) 

[RosenRot 5]

I'd originaly understood that a "brony" was a fan-given term for non-target male fans... I know the term has become unisex, but don't quote understand how or why... as "brony" was, far as I understood, a mix of the words "brother" and "pony" or rather "brother pony"..

 

As for the topic in question, that is, the original question, I'd just call her a "new ponyfan"?  Or a filly?  *^.^*

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

We have to enjoy MLP, technically it applies to the entire fandom, I suppose. Kids are automatically excluded because unless their parents are irresponsible I assume the intended demographic can't participate in a fandom.

[Dev 251]

Well, the term "brony" is coined from two words - "Bro" and "Pony", reffering to older males who enjoy the show. I don't see how that applies to everyone, because Bronies are older guys who like MLP and Pegasisters are older girls who like MLP. That's all there is to it.

 

There ARE of course many different types of bronies, but I really don't want to go into detail on that, for obvious reasons @ . @

[Scootalove 10,689]

I'd have to say what defines a brony is, someone who dedicates himself to the show. Whether its drawing or making art, and watching the show.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

Brony is a male fan of the show, usually high school or college age

 

 pegasister is  female fan of the show, same age bracket. But young boys and girls can still enjoy the show as well of course

[ArtStreak 12]

For me, they must meet the following requirements:

 

13 years or older

Actively participates in the brony community

Enjoys My Little Pony.

Edited January 23, 2013 by ArtStreak

[MagicalStarRain 599]

Personally, I think all you need to do is watch the show and find enjoyment in it. Whoever told that guy that you have to be artistic to be a brony must be either an anti-brony or a really stupid person.

[Mars Caramel 319]

Is this person Thunderlight?

 

But yeah, all you have to do is just like the show. I don't think age actually matters, though. In fact, I don't really like how you have to be a certain age, just as long as you're male.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

Nothing.

 

I don't consider myself a brony - I only consider bronies to be MALE fans that are not of the target demopgrahic. Because the phrase is quite masculine (bro + pony), it really makes little sense to apply it to females. It makes even less sense because it was designed to refer to an anomaly in the first place - a subculture that is considered beyond the norm. Telling people you like MLP and being a girl? Even if you're 20-something like me? They go: "Eh, must've liked it since she was a kid or something." (I did not, but that's the general reaction) Then they don't care.

 

To me, the definition is quite simple.

 

I think what OFFICIALLY makes you a brony though is if you yourself think you're a brony. If you do not want to apply that label to yourself, then you are not a brony. Ultimately, labels like this can only be applied by you and you only. Even if there are fans who fit my definition, if they don't want to be called bronies, I will respect their wishes. It's a term loaded with a million definitions, with a million different views on what it could mean that no sole one could really be correct.

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

If you consider yourself a brony, you're a brony.

If you watch the show and love the fandom and want to be a brony, than you can be a brony...its pretty simple.

I have met a few people who say that they're not bronies because they're not creative...and that's just poop talk. You're a brony if you want to be one...and if you watch the show...

[Steel Crescent 841]

I agree.All you have to do is like the show.I feel like there might different level's of being a brony like just watching the show or collecting and making tons of fan stuff.

Edited April 3, 2013 by Steel Crescent

[DJRainbowDash 724]

The only requirement for me is basically liking the show. If you like to watch the show and enjoy it, no matter what you might say, you probably are a brony. 

[Gears of Halo Duty V 394]

When you see the things people put out, from professional stories to pieces of art that can stand on their own, it can be a bit daunting. Here are people with such great talent and skill and passion, continually putting out creations that help drive this fandom to do things we may not have thought possible.

 

A brony is someone who like MLP. You're gonna get some different variations, but at the end of the day this is what it comes down to. You may not represent the creative aspect, but as long as you support not just this fandom, but the people who make up it, you're good to go.

[DusK 1,264]

Well, if you're posting on MLP Forums, you're a brony.

 

Unless you came here to troll or argue, of course, but people like that don't count.

[Righteous Fury 344]

there's no official criteria other than loving the show and hanging out with people who love the show

 

never understood the whole 'girls can't be bronies' thing - who cares about your gender? I'll call a girl a bro if she's a bro. Sexism is so 2012.

[Savato 23]

In my opinion, if you like the show, you're a fan of the show.

If you like the fandom and willingly associate yourself with it, you're a brony.

[Coffee Cream 74]

I say, if you like the show then you're a brony. If you don't want to be labelled as a brony but you still like the show, you can just be an average joe who enjoys the show. There's no science to it. You don't have to be creative or anything and heck, you don't even have to be a part of this forum to be a brony. Being a brony is a more individualistic thing.

 

*Edit: I like what Savato said better. It better explains the point I wanted to get across

Edited April 3, 2013 by Coffee Cream

[Gone for good 1,593]

Personally I'd just say if you like the show you're a brony, but if you really want further into who I am considering that I own a little bit of merch and have ponies in my youtube suggestions every time I log in I think that's enough proof.