What the heck did I just walk into...?

[Pixel Stick 927]

First, I just want to say I'm not an angsty, depressed teenager looking for affirmation or anything of the sort.  I'm a grown man with a wife, a house, a successful career, and a love for nostalgia and good TV shows.

 

As I said when I introduced myself to the forum one week ago, I just recently discovered MLP:FiM and the community that had grown around it.  When I decided to embrace the show and the concept of being a brony, I realized that, to me, it was something beautiful.  It made me feel like a kid again.  It was something I wanted to share with others, to be a part of, because I realized it had had a profound impact on me.

 

I referred to discovering this forum as feeling like I'd moved to a new town, with new, friendly neighbors to meet and get to know.  (Thanks, Sesame Street. )

 

But over the last few days, I've read at least a dozen topics over Hasbro shutting down Fighting is Magic, people claiming the show's going downhill (particularly because of Alicorn Twilight), and that the community is fracturing and dying.  I'm seeing a ton of negativity, bitterness and drama.  And like with all such things, it's not just much ado about nothing, but it feels like a big blow.  I understand people poured their hearts into Fighting, and I understand people are concerned the show will change drastically with Twilight's apparent ascension.  But at the same time, the backlash on both these fronts is turning fans against each other.  And I apparently happened to walk right into the middle of it.

 

Did I just choose a particularly bad time to join the fandom or something?  By all indications, things were going pretty well even just a few weeks ago.  But honestly, it feels like half the topics on this forum (that aren't just fluff) are turning quite bitter.  It feels very hostile to a brand-new brony like myself, who really just wants to make friends.

 

I'm a pretty reserved person, emotionally, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm emotionally and mentally stable.  But when I discovered this fandom, I was elated - it really did feel awesome and wonderful.  And less than a week later, I feel like crying.  I hardly ever have this happen.

 

I hope it passes.

[Phoenix237 353]

Don't worry this kind of things happens all the time.

 

People are just overreacting like always.

And this wasn't the first time this happend nor will this be the last.

 

all fandoms have their moments where things seem to be bad.

Plus this is nothing like the Derpy incident that happened in 2012. That was a huge storm.

 

In any case don't worry we are not all aggressive. I know I'm not. I am usually calm and collective and only become enraged when it's something to be angry about.

There are people in this fandom who are also tired of all this panicking and angry topics.

So don't worry.

Just like a real storm it will eventually end.

 

In any case I welcome you to this fourm and I hope you have a great experience.

[PoniesPlease 365]

Yeah no, this 'Apocalypse Brony' thing is done on a week by week basis.

 

This fandom will be here for years, and that's something you can count o n.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

You did in some ways pick a bad time to join. People are overreacting, things will revert back to normal in a little while, just give it some time.

[~Lawful Sturdy Wing~ 522]

Don't worry man, you just entered an era of big change and things that are shaking people up. We are still a good fandom filled with great people who love the show completely. Ignore the negative nancies, giggle at the ghostlies and smile smile smile 

[hawkflame 3,310]

This will subside. Believe me, I know how you feel. I first joined right around the time the whole Derpy/Last Roundup fiasco hit last year. That subsided over time.

 

As strange as this may sound from someone who just argued with you the other day about Twilicorn, I think this will subside too.

[A Glimpse of Everything 129]

I joined the forums a few months ago, and became a Brony last winter. I've noticed a lot of complaining and separation lately as well. I've seen some of my fellow Bronies trying to label other Bronies by what their beliefs are and what they do in the fandom. 

 

I, for one, do not contribute to this forum site that often. As, I cannot draw or make music at the moment. And, for that, I feel as though people label me as a lesser Brony.

 

Labeling is a bad thing to do anyway. Here are the labels I've seen; Noob Brony, Dark Side of the Fandom, Mega Brony, Uber Brony, etc.

 

The fandom will have a downfall if we can't get passed our own ignorance to think of our fellow Bronies and Pegasisters as equal. You're a Brony or you're not. There's nothing else to it.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Just ignore it, this happens all the time. There's still people that refuse to acknowledge season 2 exists, everyone once in while it just hits the fan and has to be cleaned up.  

[NavelColt 22,881]

Don't worry about it. Every fandom has drama. You picked a turbulent time when Hasbro has been releasing info on lots of future things, and has done a few actions here and there, that's caused people to run around with 'the end is neigh' signs strapped to their butts. This is pretty much fandom-wide. It's not something to worry about.

[Shanks 10,816]

There is alot of drama right now and there is no telling how long the copyright thing will last as it seems to be an ongoing problem made worse by the lack of understading with most fans in regard to copyright and trademark laws. I think the twilicorn incident will calm down if Saturdays episode goes over well which I think is about 50/50 I have had my concerns about that from the begining and make no apologies for expressing them though I know I could have chosen my words a bit differently. When I say that she could become a Mary Sue if this is done wrong I mean it but since that has such strong negative connotations alot of Twilight Sparkle fans get upset and take it personally by thinking I am bashing her when that is not my intent at all. Last night I came to a bit of an epiphany and it is that Twilight Sparkle is now tied with Applejack and Luna for who in my humble opinion is best pony, seriously my best pony list is really getting crowded.

 

What I find completely and utterly ridiculous though is the over reaction to the rumors about the humanized pony spinoff which even if it somehow dosen't work out will probably not have much of an effect aside from a massive case of butthurt. Drama's come and go but so long as the show stays good and the fans keep churning out great fanart and fanfics and other works then I think everything will be fine.

[H.P. Lance 138]

What's happening is that people are afraid of change.

 

If you look closely at all the topics which, at first glance, appear to be bitter and argumentative, what you'll actually find most of the time is the OP simply expressing a concern they have about Alicorn Twilight or the shutdown of Fighting is Magic, and then the majority of replies consisting of members simply reasoning that there's no need to worry. Most of us trust the writers and what Studio B and Hasbro are doing. 

 

Besides, it's not all bad news; we've recently found out that season 4 has 26 episodes, a fact which many members (including myself) are all the more happy about because we feared there may not be a season 4 at all.

 

Oh, and there's no bad time to discover ponies. After all, you said yourself that the show makes you feel young and rejuvenated. Relish in the feeling while the show is still airing!

 

All of these arguments are just quiet storms whipped up by a minority of bronies, and most of those mean well. They're just concerned. And, like all storms, this will all blow over eventually, regardless of what happens.

 

 

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I'm very sorry about the drama. Coincidentally, you picked a very chaotic time to join the fandom. We've recieved a lot of bad or at least very divisive news recently and it's certainly less comfortable for me than it was a month or so ago. I can only hope that this will die down and we can return to less dramatic times less fraught with arguing.

 

I promise you, it hasn't always been like this and hopefully it won't be for much longer.

[Fluffy Pinkie 417]

I just think it's more the news and rumors were hearing that have everybody turning against each other. While sometimes there are Bronies that fight i feel that mostly this is a fairly peaceful place and most Bronies are good people(At least i try to be). I hope that the bumpy road were on doesn't make you leave as i've heard quite a few people claiming there leaving the fandom and no longer calling themselves Bronies.

 

As long as you enjoy the show don't cause the troubles were having make you leave it's always good to see our fandom growing. It's just that many Brony's are forgeting the motto "Love and Tolerate" if you have any questions for me send me a PM.

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Y'ello!

 

I've been a brony for quite a time now, nearly 2 whole years.

 

Our community used to be reallly accepting when something new came along, but with our fanbase increasing everyday, we've gotten to a point where the old folks, like me, are complaining because the show is turning into 'fan service' even though I myself don't truly believe that. I can see the show's quality, somewhat lowered, along with our fanbase.

 

Still not worth all the people who got their jimmies in a rustle x)

Edited February 13, 2013 by Pinkazoid!

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

i'm not used to change. i also dont like the idea of the show one day being over, thats how much i like the show. i dont want it to end. In my opinion people(including me) need to let things play out a little before jumping to conclusions.

[dekutree64 713]

Did I just choose a particularly bad time to join the fandom or something?  By all indications, things were going pretty well even just a few weeks ago.  But honestly, it feels like half the topics on this forum (that aren't just fluff) are turning quite bitter.  It feels very hostile to a brand-new brony like myself, who really just wants to make friends.

Yep, this is sort of a localized panic... things should calm down after this weekend. Some people will leave the fandom in rage/depression, most will stay, new people will join, life will go on

 

I don't think it will leave a major scar like Derpygate (pun on the Watergate scandal). Long story short, Derpy was a mostly fan-made background pony, she got a speaking role in The Last Roundup, fans rejoiced, but a few people complained about her seeming retarded, and Hasbro nixed her for good despite a massive fan movement to keep her. I didn't even join in until after the whole thing was pretty well over though.

 

The Fighting is Magic C&D is definitely sad, but I've never seen a high-production-value fan game like that survive to completion before so it doesn't surprise me at all. Hopefully they'll re-skin it with original characters and keep going.

 

Welcome to the herd, BTW. Sounds like you appreciate the show in the way many/most of us do

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

Indeed, you did pick a rather turbulent time to join the fandom. I can kind of associate with what you are feeling. I'm rather new myself (I've got a little over 2 months on you, but in terms of the whole fandom's existnce that is still quite new), so I'm a bit uneasy, and a bit pissed that I've found this amazing community and people are willing to throw it away.

 

What's important to remember is that the brony community is a leaderless fandom, meaning we effect the fandom at it's core with each of our individual actions and thoughts. I think people sometimes forget that and they feel like they can take their hooves off the wheel. Negativity begets negativity and drags the community down. While on the other hand, positivity begets positivity and lifts the community up, and by positivity, I mean look at the kind of joy that came from things like BronyCon. I have a feeling that the community really needs to get it's spirit back. Hopefully convention season will help reinvigorate things a bit.

 

But we will prevail. We've gone through turbulence before, we'll get through this. We just can't allow ourselves to succumb to fear, regardless of how we feel about changes themselves. After all, in the words of Will Smith in his new movie After Earth:

 

 

Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.

 

We can choose to succumb to the negativity, or we can choose to be brave. I'm choosing bravery, won't you?

Edited February 13, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[silvadel 1,393]

Yes you joined at probably the third worst time if not the second worst time.  Hasbro has been putting their foot down and they were always very lax until recently and there have been significant changes to the series lampshaded for the future.

 

Things will calm down a lot after another flurry of activity when alicorn twilight becomes reality.  I mean it will then be many months before new episodes again.

[Zygen 6,066]

Everythings gonna turn out fine We're just going over a bump in the road for the fandom. We've got alot of news and drama going around so everyones a bit more stressed at the moment.

 

All fandoms as all people go through bumps and stuff, we're no exception, I'm sure it'll be fine things are already starting to simmer down compared to when most of this news first came up.

 

So yeah don't worry, we're just getting over a bump, I imagine after things calm down a bit more we'll be back to the more normal. Its not like the fandom's dieing, I imagine theres been worse anyways .

[Acoustic Cloud 2,202]

Ah, no. While yes, you did see the things are are coming up that have divided people, they always mend in the end (no rhyme intended).  It usually blows over, kinda like Derpy, and Discord's return.  Those both had major divisions in the community, but once they pass, everything pretty much comes back to normal.

 

Though this time in particular of which you speak of just happens to look really bad.  That's two major topics that are going on at once between FIM and Twi' Alicorn, not to mention that EQG spinoff-rumor that is floating around.

 

All that aside, I wouldn't fret about this situation in particular.  I'm sure it will be over by season 3's end.  I'm just personally hoping the FIM C&D get's resolved :/ 

[Jemboi 127]

First, I just want to say I'm not an angsty, depressed teenager looking for affirmation or anything of the sort. I'm a grown man with a wife, a house, a successful career, and a love for nostalgia and good TV shows.

 

As I said when I introduced myself to the forum one week ago, I just recently discovered MLP:FiM and the community that had grown around it. When I decided to embrace the show and the concept of being a brony, I realized that, to me, it was something beautiful. It made me feel like a kid again. It was something I wanted to share with others, to be a part of, because I realized it had had a profound impact on me.

 

I referred to discovering this forum as feeling like I'd moved to a new town, with new, friendly neighbors to meet and get to know. (Thanks, Sesame Street. )

 

But over the last few days, I've read at least a dozen topics over Hasbro shutting down Fighting is Magic, people claiming the show's going downhill (particularly because of Alicorn Twilight), and that the community is fracturing and dying. I'm seeing a ton of negativity, bitterness and drama. And like with all such things, it's not just much ado about nothing, but it feels like a big blow. I understand people poured their hearts into Fighting, and I understand people are concerned the show will change drastically with Twilight's apparent ascension. But at the same time, the backlash on both these fronts is turning fans against each other. And I apparently happened to walk right into the middle of it.

 

Did I just choose a particularly bad time to join the fandom or something? By all indications, things were going pretty well even just a few weeks ago. But honestly, it feels like half the topics on this forum (that aren't just fluff) are turning quite bitter. It feels very hostile to a brand-new brony like myself, who really just wants to make friends.

 

I'm a pretty reserved person, emotionally, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm emotionally and mentally stable. But when I discovered this fandom, I was elated - it really did feel awesome and wonderful. And less than a week later, I feel like crying. I hardly ever have this happen.

 

I hope it passes.

I appreciate your thoughtful post. I think many have noticed this epidemic but it's important to realize this is par the course any time there is change. It doesn't matter what the subject matter is, human beings always fear for the worst. Alicorn Twilight could end up being the best thing that ever happened to the show, but we won't know until it happens. Freaking out doesn't help anyone at all. Try to ignore the negativity and concentrate on the positive. MLP is still a great show and has one of the best fan bases EVER. We aren't dying, we aren't fractured, we're just going through the motions. It's always a little rough but the bumpy ride is worth it for the eventual embrace of change. Hang in there everypony! *hug* Edited February 14, 2013 by Twi-Shy-Pie

[Pixel Stick 927]

Thanks everyone.  I appreciate your replies.  Wanted to respond to one in particular:

 

This will subside. Believe me, I know how you feel. I first joined right around the time the whole Derpy/Last Roundup fiasco hit last year. That subsided over time.

As strange as this may sound from someone who just argued with you the other day about Twilicorn, I think this will subside too.

 

Hey, I love a good debate.  The big difference between the argument you and I had there, and the complaint that prompted this thread, is that we have differences in opinion over this topic, but we're still able to respect each other's opinions and we're not attacking each other over them.

 

Incidentally, I'm an admin and a dispute resolver over on Wikipedia, and one of the absolute core policies for admins (really, all editors, but particularly important for admins) is: "Attack the CONTENT, not the CONTRIBUTOR."  In other words, it's perfectly fine to disagree with someone's opinion or their contribution, but it's not okay to start calling them names or being uncivil to them because of that disagreement.

 

Like I said, I think good, honest debate is great and healthy.  We obviously feel differently about Twilight's potential and the show's direction.  That's perfectly fine, so long as we can debate this civilly and we don't end up with hard feelings toward one another.

[Hansel 1,512]

Did I just choose a particularly bad time to join the fandom or something? 

 

 

Unfortunately, you did. I've been a fan of the show since 2011, and whilst there's always been a bit of drama regarding something in the show, the fandom seems to be on some sort of communal period at the moment. It's because of a mixture of reasons, really, and whilst you could argue that it's because of the whole Twilicorn thing, I've seen this fandom go cray-cray (Gravity Falls reference buck yeah) over similar things in the past.

Whilst Twilicorn might be part of the reason, I think it's also because of the fandom's "timing". The fanbase has been growing none-stop for about three years now, and it's grown a lot in that time. When a lot of fanbases, subcultures and cliques get to the stage that we're in, this "drama" thing starts to occur, and it's pretty normal. There usually seems to be two main reasons for that, and I think it's true for this fanbase as well.

On one end, you have the people that will take the fandom way too seriously. I've lost track of how many threads I've seen pop up about the "true meaning of being a Brony" and "who is and who isn't a true Brony" and "girls shouldn't call themselves Bronies" and so on. Yes, this has always been around to some extent, but it's grown a lot in recent months, particularly on this forum.

On the opposite end, you have the cynics. You have cynics who expect more from the show itself then they did in the past, because now that it's a new season, IT WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE TERRIBLE NO MATTER WHAT. Even if the show changes for the better, they'll complain because it's changed. You also have people who are cynical about the fanbase itself, and refer to themselves as "ex-members" even though they still watch the show and buy all the merch. They'll criticise the fanbase because it's "changed for the worse", when they themselves are usually part of the problem. (That's not to say that every criticism of the fanbase is wrong, I'm just talking about a specific group of people).

I think these, timed with the whole Twilicorn thing that everyone’s taking way WAY too seriously, along Hasbro cracking down of fan-made stuff is why everything's going topsy-turvy.

I kind of try to stay out of these types of things. I watch the show, I make some art, I buy some merch. I think people just need to calm down and stop taking everything so seriously. Just enjoy it, that’s the whole point of being in a fandom… because you enjoy it. It's the main reason why fandoms exists, It’s not meant to be taken so seriously. 

Edited February 13, 2013 by Hansel

[Phoenix237 353]

I, for one, do not contribute to this forum site that often. As, I cannot draw or make music at the moment. And, for that, I feel as though people label me as a lesser Brony.

 

Labeling is a bad thing to do anyway. Here are the labels I've seen; Noob Brony, Dark Side of the Fandom, Mega Brony, Uber Brony, etc.

 

The fandom will have a downfall if we can't get passed our own ignorance to think of our fellow Bronies and Pegasisters as equal. You're a Brony or you're not. There's nothing else to it.

Well I for one do not do any labeling. Also as one that dosn't contribute as much I have to tell you that you shouldn't let pople make you feel like what you say a "lesser brony".

I haven't really contributed to this fourm as well, but that doesn't stop me from having my fun.

 

When I think of a brony, I think of a fan of Frendship is Magic, and nothing else. The range of what you do with that fandom is yours alone, but I never lable anyone.

 

So yes there are people out there who treat others as equals as well.

And I am one of them.

[Pixel Stick 927]

 

When I think of a brony, I think of a fan of Frendship is Magic, and nothing else. The range of what you do with that fandom is yours alone, but I never lable anyone.

 

And that makes you awesome, IMO.  Labeling a brony by whether or not they make fan art would be like telling someone they're not a Trekkie if they don't write Star Trek stories, or a Whoovian if they don't knit rainbow scarves.  Every fandom is going to have more fans who just enjoy the source material and have nothing other than their enthusiasm to contribute.  That doesn't make those people any less valid of fans, IMO.

 

However, the tendency toward that kind of labeling is part of what's got me down about this fandom - just after my somewhat euphoric introduction, I saw a LOT of that all at once, and it kinda hurt.  That's why I've been so outspoken against it.