I'm new here, but I already have a question.

[Pokelord5000 10]

  Ever since my father found out about me being a brony, he's been ridiculing me, making fun of me, even going far enoughto yell at me and make statements like "I'm embarassed that you would like something like that".

 

  Some of his little "jokes", or as some call them, Hurtful Insults, include some of the following, not counting the fact that he thinks I'm a homosexual.

 

-"Here, I'll ask mom to buy a rainbow leotard for you to watch it in!"

-"Why don't I get some tights for you too?"

 

  Why he hates ponies so much, I don't know. I tried to convince him FiM is not like previous pony generations which drift more to the girly stereotype, but he won't listen to me, and won't even give the show a chance. I have no idea what to do, how to fix this, and get him to accept that I have my own likes and dislikes, and so does he.

 

  My question to all of you is: How do I fix this? What do I say to him, and what should he be doing in this situation?

[Level3rd 128]

My didn't approve of my desire for the show either.
I stopped mentioning my affiliation with it to anyone because it just wasn't worth it.
Although my dad would never call me names or make fun of me for something, I feel your pain.

I think it's best for you to just never mention any of it ever again to your family, and if you have to, just say  you "don't like it anymore" and leave it at that.  It's really not worth trying to prove to your dad otherwise.
It sounds like no matter what you do or say, he won't believe you anyways.

[Pokelord5000 10]

  Thanks for your response, I'll try to keep it quiet, but considering I got my mother, who is willing to accept what her son likes and dislikes, kind of let me buy some brony t-shirts... and I'm not just gonna let 50$ go to waste.

[Danze 15]

It's really a bummer to hear about stories like this. Mildly teasing someone for liking MLP is perfectly understandable and should be expected. I mean, we do watch a show about a group of multi-colored ponies. It's pretty ridiculous, so when not everyone understands and thinks that it's silly for you to like the show, I think that's honestly okay.

 

On the other hand, getting angry or aggressively harassing someone for liking a show that they've never seen is undeniably, unquestionably, uncool. Particularly for a parent, I think your Dad should strive to be more understanding. Even if he doesn't approve, it doesn't seem like he should go out of his way to heckle you about it. 

 

It's great to hear that your mother is accepting, so it's not like you're fighting a completely one sided battle. But yeah, I think you've got the right approach. Just avoid the topic around your Dad and ignore him if he brings it up. Eventually he'll probably forget about it and it'll blow over, and then you can enjoy colorful ponies in peace  .

Edited June 20, 2013 by Danze

[Ģōffēŗmąʼn99 5]

Most bronies go through this, but some parents are more accepting than other so yea, my dad he just laughed and didn't care, my mom is a sort of critic and makes small jokes here an there that i don't find offensive at all. so i wish you luck on that.

[sibonny 18]

Ignore it, haters gonna hate. People sometimes,well lets just say that I'm embarrassed that I'm a human. Humanity and it fail.

And those haters are everywhere, inoring them is the best thing to do  

[Level3rd 128]

If your mom is cool about it, why don't you just tell your mom about what's going on?  Certainly if she knew what he was saying, she'd be like "Oh wait, he's teasing my son?"

[Zygen 6,066]

Hey there, first of all welcome to the forums! I think you'll find that people here will be very accepting .

 

Also about your parents, I think that if your dad doesn't accepts it, but your mom does, then just tell her about your dad's behavior towards it, see if she can talk to your dad and help the situation.

 

Otherwise just try your best not to bring it up to him. 

 

Anyways, I hope you have a good time here, and hopefully your dad gets to be more accepting!

[Pokelord5000 10]

  Thanks for all the help, and I actually got him to watch about half of "Return of Harmony, part 1", so I'm glad he's (somewhat) giving this a chance.

 

  I know most of you said to leave it alone and don't being it up, but I felt it best to do this - but considering he'd be "embarassed" at liking this stuff, I think I'm just aiming for him to accept it, not go crazy and buy a bunch of shirts and take me to BronyCon.

 

  Thank you all for offering you help and support, and giving me a warm welcome into the forums!

 

EDIT: Also, my father's a Trekkie, so that's why I tried to ease him into it using an episode with John de Lancie.

Edited June 21, 2013 by Pokelord5000

[Danze 15]

Yeah, John de Lancie is a big fan of the show, so maybe that will help! Good luck.

[PlatinumNeptune 0]

Welcome to the Forums. Hope you enjoy your stay and feel free to create some posts.

[daflyinskwirl 12]

if the insults continue, sometimes the best way to counter them is a deflection.

 

it can make it a bit more humorous, make you feel better (possibly) in the process, and give you a thicker skin.. something that's really good to have as a brony.

 

example:

dad: "Here, I'll ask mom to buy a rainbow leotard for you to watch it in!"

you: "make sure it comes with a cutie mark... white cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt"

-or-

you: "no no, get a pink one. with yellow and blue balloons"

 

also, your dad is a person too. my dad has said plenty of crap to me that he didn't really mean. 

if he won't let up, try explaining to him that it hurts your feelings, and that generalizing is the way of ignorance.

 

if he still won't listen, just tell him Picard is a brony. that'll shut him up.

I'm sure he already knows Q is a brony.

[Pokelord5000 10]

  Thanks for the reply, daflyinskwirl.

 

  I think those just might help a bit in my battle against my father... Espiecially the Patrick Stewart bit. That'll certainly get me somewhere if he decides to say crap again.

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Tie him to a chair and make him watch it.
FOR HIM TO DISCOVER HOW MAGICAL IT IZ!
lol nah I wouldn't pay no attention to it. He is your father, tell him to grow up.

[Krys9 456]

That is a bummer. Hopefully over time he will learn that it isn't that big of a deal. lol To like a TV show makes you a terrible person? I mean c'mon be real now.

[deleted1 117]

Helllo there! Welcome to MLP forums, make your self at home. Don't forget to smile 

[Dark Horn 430]

That's pretty sad... anyhow, dafly is right. Especially if your father is just joking and teasing, not ridiculing you and still accepts you as a son.

[Apple Bloom Bot 47]

Damn, that sure was a sad story for me to here though.

 

I felt sorry for you

 

Anyway, welcome to the Forums tho'

 

I hope that you would enjoy your stay here! (Cheer up, stay positive and stay awesome!)

[Rainboom Dash 7669 1]

I feel you, man! My dad is exactly the same. He even tries to tell me to stop liking the show, even though we both know that is never gonna happen. He believes that FiM is to blame for all the mistakes I've made this year.

 

If you want to solve this problemo, i would recommend just talking to him. That's how my dad and i came to a truce. I carry on liking MLP and he goes back to focusing on his own interests. If you want, you could use one of my lines i used on my dad: "I don't tell you to stop watching {Insert His Favourite TV Show Here}!"

[Queen_and_crusader 8]

Welcome to the forums and I'm so sorry to hear that you are ridiculed for watching. MLP is freaking awesome. As a parent I can't understand how someone could ridicule their child for their likes. My daughter was obsessed with heavy equipment and tonka trucks but I didn't complain. She got a Chuck the talking tonka truck for her birthday two years ago. Now she's MLP obsessed so it's something we can obsess about together lol. Anyway, back on point, Either your dad will accept it or he won't. You can't force him to accept your likes anymore than he can force you to like his. The point is you just need him to accept you for you. Talk to him and be straight with him. "Look, this is what I like and no matter how much you hate it, it ain't gonna change. Accept it and move on"

 

P.S. My husband personally thought the pony phenom was ridiculous until he was actually forced to watch it with our daughter.... He's now a closeted brony. Loves the show but won't admit it in public lol. 

[lighting flash 207]

Sometimes. Hurt people, Hurt people. No matter how bad the G1,2, and 3 of the show was; a few boys watched them. Maybe he was picked on for watching it before and moking people who watch it could be the thing they think is right. I talk from experience from my uncle.

[POW 384]

I've had similar problems. Except with retards at my school. They stalk my youtube channel and found out about it, despite the fact that I'm the shyest, quietest, most anitsocial green eyed freak you'll ever meet. They called me gay and whatnot but honestly I could care less what they think. They can sit down and play xbox all night all they want so long as they leave me alone. So I continue to just keep my mouth closed.