Do older Bronies have it better?

[Wonderbolt_Spitfire 235]

Unfortunately yes I would have to say for the most part we 'older bronies' do have it better off than you younger ones. We have a lot more freedom to do as we please. Where as the younger bronies are handicapped by what their parents or gaurdians want for them.

[Throwaway19573639385 763]

You may be right about the fandom not being as strong as it is today by the time you get old enough to be on your own. The "Golden Years" of the fandom are long gone; I even missed them myself, becoming involved in this fandom in late 2012. Good art pieces seem to be few and far between these days compared to earlier on, and don't even get me started on how broken the music scene is right now.

 

That's completely bogus, I've been a brony since 2010 and every single year has been a frickin' golden year. On all fields, be it fanfiction, music, art or animation and videos. Every single year has been totally awesome. Though you might missed a few events (4chan war, beyond her garden craze, tumblr drama etc.) it certainly isn't true that you missed anything important. If anything, a true golden year still has to begin.

 

--

 

Anyway, I'd have to agree with having it better because I can finally buy my own things and not give a damn about what other people think. I'm completely independent of everyone as my finances are going pretty good and I do whatever the heck I feel like doing. Besides having stupid responsibilities as an adult I wouldn't want to trade away the freedom I have now for being a child again. I can buy merch and travel to places by myself or with friends without all the hassle of being accompanied by an adult. Not to mention the ability to buy stuff online, which is wonderful.

 

So yea, besides perhaps being out of luck and not finding a job, being an adult feels pretty good.

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

That's completely bogus, I've been a brony since 2010 and every single year has been a frickin' golden year. On all fields, be it fanfiction, music, art or animation and videos. Every single year has been totally awesome. Though you might missed a few events (4chan war, beyond her garden craze, tumblr drama etc.) it certainly isn't true that you missed anything important. If anything, a true golden year still has to begin.

I'm so glad to hear that, I hate when bronies constantly tell me that the golden years of the fandom is long gone. I agree with you, it has probably yet to come and every month since I have been a brony has been awesome. I have decided to just stop following this brony drama nonsense.

 

 

So yea, besides perhaps being out of luck and not finding a job, being an adult feels pretty good.

Wish you the best of luck finding a job, it isn't easy. My father is the only reason I even have a job. So good luck to you. 

[Rain Dance 131]

Well, i would guess. Yes they short of have it better in a way. But at the same time, older bronies/pegasisters have more of a problem with the surroundings, i mean people will find it harder to accept that you are actually a grown adult and like as other people would call it, a "Kids Show" So in that way it makes it harder for adult bronies. I'm 14 tho and my mother won't let me travel any further then out of sweden. And she's extremely over-protective in my opinion. I have some sort of income tho. About 70$ A month. But that's my opinion. Yep! )

[Onylex 2,837]

Well, me being 17 I guess Im kind of in the sweet spot between still having some of the benefits of a younger brony and being old enough that I can also get some of the benefits that an older brony might have. Id also say because Im in this sweet spot I may see a lot more of the pros and cons for both sides. When you're a younger brony you've got all the time to enjoy everything about MLP but, no money to go out and do stuff with. When you're an older brony you've got the money but, you also may not have as much time on your hands to do what you want. Im stuck right in the middle of both of these cons but, I also get some of the pros from each side.

 

The lesson that needs to be learned from this is enjoy what you've got now because, its likely that you're not going to have it all at once. And as for the fandom not being in its prime when you're older I wouldn't worry to much about, there are always going to be increases and deceases in popularity with any fandom.

[Freewave 1,145]

We have it easier in that we don't have to go to high school and have to deal with peer pressure and idiot bullies giving us crap about it like younger bronies do. However i haven't shared any of my passions with my RL friends or my music because in all likelihood they could find it all a bit weird. People on steam and on the internet i don't care if they scoff so i can be more relaxed there.  

 

However having a mortgage, kids, and a busy life means that no i don't have money to fly out to a bronycon unless i want to jeopadize the finanancial stablity that i luckily have going for change. It does mean I juggle making music between spending time with my kids and i hate that you can't get it all done on a week off. There is never enough time when you are an adult. Being bored isn't an option but being uninspired can be.  I am also constantly aware that I'm in the older side of the community and yes that makes it a bit hard to relate with some people which frankly sucks a bit.

 

But it is nice that get to watch the show with my kids (i guess i am part of the target demographic afterall) and I am very lucky to have a job where i can also surf sites like mlpf and mlr when its slow (as in right now) and make a good living. I'm also glad my wife gives me all this freedom when she could have given an ultimatum or told me how stupid i was being into this show. I guess I'm a bit luckly.

 

I will say enjoy college and your 20's as that's the best parts of being an adult and still being young at the same time. Having that freedom is a hell of a reward for making it through high school but in the end you still need to get a job and a career going if you really want to have a good rest of your life. No one will hand that to you. You have to build it yourself.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Freewave

[spikepie 22]

Yes they do have it better and I fear the flame will die out I might not certain may make a team set to keeping the flame strong what do you think

[tranglam 28]

Being older doesn't completely help really. Yes we are old enough to have an income, but we still have to get the income. Also, once you get to that age (I'm 19) you don't really have a reason to do anything that were against your parents rules much. It's true that I stay out all night some times(rave, party go out with friends to their places or mine, camp just about anything), but never more than twice a week, and normally not more than once a month. Other old rules fit, a human body doesn't very well hold up to finding extra time or fun. Work takes up enough time and energy that you really don't need the extra stress on your bodies. Most of my friends are Bronies so that is a huge amount of our time spent anyway, music art watching or even just talking.  Also work takes more than school ever did.... 

 

Also, I don't even have kids, which take more time and energy.

 

So really there is a draw, you have no money, but it is the time of your life where you have the time. 

[Budding Night 1,043]

Quite.

 

With freedom and jobs, that come with money, they can do almost anything. I myself am one of the younger bronies and I understand about you older bronies get stress with jobs and such, but me being younger, when I tell people I am a brony they think its "Adorable how I'm holding onto my childhood" :|

 

But still, I can fairly say in my mind that older bronies get the better. Being independent is a good thing (I guess) when your in something like this.

[AdrianJames 26]

For me, my mom doesnt mind me watching My Little Pony. I think she is happy that Im happy. If you want to get somewhere like a meetup you can take a bus (though Ive never went to a meetup, that is how I could get there). My mom is taking me to BronyCAN, but I do have to pay the $50 to go there and also for a part of my costume. Im14 btw. Even if you are older you may be too busy to go, because you are working.

[Fridge 382]

I'm thirteen. I can't get a job, therefore I have no income. I have no money so I can't buy what I please. I also have to live under the rules set by my mother, which means I have to get her OK for going anywhere, and she never gives the OK.

 

Now, I would love to go to BronyCon. But as I mentioned, I have no money to pay for it. My mother certainly won't pay for it, that's an expensive trip. And I don't think she would like the thought of me being around with (usually) much older people than me. Most of them men.

 

So this brings us to the question: Do older Bronies have it better since they have more freedom to do whatever they please? 

 

I ask this 'cause by the time i'm old enough for stuff like that, i'm afraid that the fandom won't be as strong as it was today. 

There are pros and cons to being an older Brony. Just because you're older doesn't gaurentee that you'll have the spare income (or even time) to go to a convention like Bronycon.

Sure we have the freedom to do as we wish, but that freedom comes with a price. That price being responsibilities, bills, rent, etc. that's assuming that your one of the fortunate ones with a job and spare income.

Me I'd love to go to Bronycon but I can't justify the money or time as I run my own business and as much leeway and freedom as that gives me I still have to make a crust at the end of the day.

 

True, the fandom may have died off a little. But it's also possible that it will have strengthened. Besides if it has died off a bit then that means that all the people there will be "hardcore"... Make of that what you will.

[~Lawful Jordo~ 2,066]

If I'm being brutally honest, then yes; we do generally have it better. Some may disagree, but this is my opinion.

 

I am currently 20 years old, and I'm happier than I've ever been. I have steady income of my own, a place of my own and perhaps the best part about being older; I can do whatever the hell I want.

 

Nobody can tell me I can't go somewhere, or that I shouldn't buy that, or I can't do something. It's the greatest. 

 

Now, there are some downsides too. First off, there is much more responsibility when you're older. More is expected of you and you generally have a lot more on your plate.

 

Still, the benefits outweigh the work in my opinion. 

[Scrumpy 159]

Well, I can see where we'd have some advantages, but it's not always the case, depending on circumstances.

 

I myself am 25, but I can't go to any cons because travel is expensive and I can't get time off work for them. I have to get lucky and try to go to any local ones. Whatever money I do earn has to be prioritised for bills and rent and I rarely have anything left to spend on toys and whatnot.

 

And one must consider that although teenage bronies do catch a lot of flak for liking ponies, the stigma is much nastier for grown adults liking it, and we are usually first in line to receive labels like "paedophile" and "man-child". It's also a lot harder to find fellow bronies our age, and the ones that are out there are usually the ones who hide it.

^This^

 

@ OP

I'd say yes and no, there are pro's and cons and basically you just have to weigh it on an individual basis. While you do have the freedom of choice being older, you don't necessarily have the luck and/or means to exercise that choice, ie just because you are an adult doesn't mean you are guaranteed a job, and just because you have a job doesn't mean it will pay enough to cover basic bills AND have enough left over for luxuries. (or your kids luxuries) I'm 24 and sometimes I still need to ask my mother to support me if my budget falls short. Just one of those things you realise as you get older, maybe your parents don't give you what you want, but try be grateful they give you what you need regardless. Nobody is made of money... Well most people aren't.

Maybe you could bargain with her and exchange work like extra chores in exchange for the trip as a form of pay. It sucks I know but if you were older you'd just be doing more or less the exact same set up with an employer for cash, so it's no different in principle.

Goodluck though, hope you get to go.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Scrumpy

[K31 0]

The person that made this post is my new hero...Why? Because I feel this way a lot. Always am I under tight rule by my Mom or Pa. I agree, I do think The older the better. But this may not be the case all the time, there are the Bronys that get kicked out on the streets, that don't have food or..anything. :3

[Deactivate Me 24]

Well I have to say yes and no, Yes becuase they do have more freedom to do what they want because they aren't under a set rules, and no because some of them have jobs so they couldn't goto the events if they wanted and don't have time to participate in the fanom as much.

[Sylentmana 271]

Yes and no. Yes because we have access to income to and can go to events when we want (if we can get the time off and the money).

 

No because as you get older it becomes more socially difficult for other people to understand why you would watch a show about ponies for little kids.  People are more likely to challenge you on it if you try to express your fandom in public.  We also have a lot more responsibilities that we have to prioritize.

 

Your at that age when your considered old enouph to take on more responsibilities, but too young to pursue your interests without your parents approval. It's difficult.  I wish I had some sage advice for you, but the best I can say is try to make the best of it.  I know that's not too helpful and I apologize.

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I think that being older in general is just better.

 

I mean yes, you have more responsibilities, but those responsibilities are more than a fair price for the freedom you have in being an adult.

 

Yes, older bronies do have it better. But I would also never be a kid or a teenager ever again if I had the choice, brony or not.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I'm going to say that's a double edged sword. On one hand as you get older the people around tend to me more mature and not give you shit about it(i have a friend much older than me and he thinks nothing of, even if I but stuff right in front of him).

 

But on the other hand, being in school means a chance to make a few friends that way(even though I graduated in 2011, things are slow in my town and the whole thing never hit while I was still in school and I didn't know about it until late 2011, a part of me wishes it did)

[Jokuc 8,173]

Well that depends on what you mean with "have it better" there are different aspects to discuss around that question.

 

Though I suppose you mean just about buying merchandise and going to conventions as you mention. Well since many of them do have some money to spend on whatever they please. (I know you're not millionares here, but you have enough you spend money on a couple of small things so don't argue with me >:0  jk, jk) So yeah they can probably buy more mlp related things and more easily travel to different places and such to meed other bronies. Though you could do this if your parents are willing enough to take you there.

 

But you have to remember that even if they are older and adults, not all old bronies has a job and can therefore not do such things. Especially not those who live in other countries.

 

I am 17 myself so I can't really call myself 'old' but even if I were like 28, it does not matter since where I live, (in this particular part of Sweden) there are almost no mlp merch at all to buy, and it's like 1000 dollars for a one-way ticket to fly to USA. Though I guess I could buy stuff on the internet.

 

MLP aside, adults has a hard time sometimes dealing with all other sort of things so you should be happy to be young and have fun with being so while you still can. I for example, miss the times when I was 8.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Jokuc

[RockinRarity 1,605]

 

 

No because as you get older it becomes more socially difficult for other people to understand why you would watch a show about ponies for little kids.  People are more likely to challenge you on it if you try to express your fandom in public.

 

I don't think that it's necessarily harder for older bronies to explain why you like MLP, mainly because the younger bronies are still in high school, and I know for a fact that there are bronies on here and other places on the Internet that have complained that people at school will make fun of them for being a brony, and have even lost good friends over being a brony.

 

I find that when you are older, people don't stop being your friend for bullshit reasons like becoming a fan of a cartoon. In fact, one reason why I could never be a kid again is because people are far less cruel to me now than they were when I was even in high school - and the cruelty was worse when I was younger.

[Sylentmana 271]

I don't think that it's necessarily harder for older bronies to explain why you like MLP, mainly because the younger bronies are still in high school, and I know for a fact that there are bronies on here and other places on the Internet that have complained that people at school will make fun of them for being a brony, and have even lost good friends over being a brony.

 

I find that when you are older, people don't stop being your friend for bullshit reasons like becoming a fan of a cartoon. In fact, one reason why I could never be a kid again is because people are far less cruel to me now than they were when I was even in high school - and the cruelty was worse when I was younger.

 

You make a good point.  High School was a pretty hellish experience and that was pre-Brony. Though once you turn 18 life starts to improve.

[Champion RD92 8,658]

I would say no, older bronies don't have it better, because the older you are, the weirder people are gonna think you are for liking MLP:FIM. When you're younger, it doesn't seem as weird.

[fluffpudge 148]

Eh, depends on what you're going to consider as 'having it better.' Plenty of younger bronies can have the same opportunities as older bronies. If I asked my mother if I could go to a con if I paid my way, she wouldn't necessarily have reason to say no (and I have already mentioned it and she didn't have an issue with it). 

 

I earn all my money off of commissions and have for about two years now (more frequently now, however, since my talents have been stretched further), so it's not impossible to make money. You're also forgetting that older bronies still have to pay for other, more important things, such as food and costs of living where they do. So it's not necessarily as if they can do whatever they'd like to, tossing money around on pony merch.

 

I'd almost say younger bronies have it easier. If your parents are understanding of your love of the show, you can ask for things as gifts (sometimes just to have- I'm getting school supplies with MLP characters on it) and my mother doesn't see issue with it. I understand that's saying a bit since I'm a girl, but I know plenty of bronies who are guys that have supporting parents who don't exactly care about the fandom their child is delving into.

 

Every situation is different- age doesn't exactly mean too much about having anything 'easier' or 'better', I think.

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Sometimes, but not always. An older brony is more likely to have more money than a younger one, but that money might not necessarily being going to conventions and merchandise. There are bills to pay, food to buy, and plenty of other responsibilities that may not allow much money for ponies. It all depends on income. Some kids may have parents willing to spend money on ponies. I wouldn't be able to go to a con this year without my parents paying for it. I don't know if I'll be able to go back later down the road because I'll probably have to get the money for it myself. So being older won't help me there. Of course the reverse could be a true given different circumstances.

 

The social stigma is always going to be there, no matter the age (except for the target demographic =P). How someone is treating for liking the show depends more on their environment more than anything, with their attitude also factoring in. 

 

So I'm going to say that someone's circumstances are what make it better for them, age sometimes being a factor.

[Fhaolan 4,483]

Being one of the oldest bronies on this forum, and apparently the oldest currently active poster, I think I can answer this one.

 

No, it doesn't get better, not on average. It usually just gets *different* but not better. You gain a lot, and you lose a lot. And depending on how your life goes, you might even lose more than you gain, or vice-versa. But probably it just gets different.

 

Instead of being laughed at by your schoolmates, you get laughed at by you coworkers. Instead of being punished by your teachers, you get punished by your employers. Teenage males in the pink aisle get sideways looks and get called gay, middle-aged males in the pink aisle get the cops attention as potential pedophiles.

 

Yes, you can say you don't care because you're oh-so-much more mature than you were then, but that doesn't mean anyone else around you is.

 

And teenagers technically have more spendable cash on-hand than adults do, because adults have more expenses. The house, the car, the children, the spouse, etc. The cost of living as an adult is a lot higher than a teenager, and debt gets a lot worse because you can defer the cost for a time using loans. But eventually those loans come due.

 

I do have an advantage because my friends and family are just as weird as I am, given that most of them are actors, musicians, artists, etc. But that has nothing to do with my age, and more to do with the kinds of people I make friends with.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Fhaolan