Okay, so I'm starting to think we put out a little too much content

[Mzukiller 233]

Fanart, Fanfiction? Every fandom does that, no problem. Making and selling T-shirts, dolls and sculptures? We're large enough for that to work, so why not? Hosting over 5 Cons and meetups per year, producing/creating/funding our own animated spins on MLP....I'm starting to grow concerned.

 

I've always enjoyed the better half of the fan content we put out, but now I'm starting to think that it's getting to be a little much. Won't be long until a group can make another show in the shadow of Hasbro and DHX and keep that going far past MLP's inevitable end. Now, I've been in fandoms where animations have been made, they're bound to happen. But they've never been so numerous and so perfect, so seamless. Add that to this growing mindset running rampant in the brony community that fanon ≥ canon and they(Show people) be twisting around to please us and I'm starting to feel a threat of rampant fan of the fandom elitism creeping across the interwebs.

 

So yeah, anyone else sharing my dread, or is it all unfounded?

[Luriel Maelstrom 253]

I think that we put too much stuff also. Now people are getting called faggots everywhere, on TV shows and stuff. We could've been more quiet enjoying MLP FiM, not telling all the world about it. Now when someone says that bronies and faggots or horrible creatures, it feels awkward being one that I want to stop. It's too much. 

[fishboyliam 28]

I think that we put too much stuff also. Now people are getting called faggots everywhere, on TV shows and stuff. We could've been more quiet enjoying MLP FiM, not telling all the world about it. Now when someone says that bronies and faggots or horrible creatures, it feels awkward being one that I want to stop. It's too much.

 

They where bound to notice us at some point :/. We're grown men who like ponies for crying out loud! I still find it a bit crazy!

 

So. In my opinion, it's better to have too much rather than too little. Would you prefer we had very few good fan works?

[Sugar Pea 2,681]

It's not how much content we put out, it's the kind of content I believe is why they say, what they say. 
I love the fanart and the fanfictions, i'm even guilty of looking up things a girl my age shouldn't look up. But honestly, probably some things should be kept quiet and left alone.

[Luriel Maelstrom 253]

They where bound to notice us at some point :/. We're grown men who like ponies for crying out loud! I still find it a bit crazy!

 

So. In my opinion, it's better to have too much rather than too little. Would you prefer we had very few good fan works?

I'd prefer to have little fan works, but that are good! I'm not the one to put my nose in others fetishes but grimdark fanfics make me think that we're blood sucking creatures. Or a few animations, like Double Rainboom, the animation was good, but the story didn't make me think it was so high art no. Also grimdark drawings and such. I don't mind, but, for crying out loud, there are 9year old kids watching MLP, and what do you think will happen if they find grimdark or pornography?

[Wonderbolt_Spitfire 235]

The only thing that I believe is too much are the Cons I feel that there are just too many and honestly they are lackluster. I have no problem with the amount of content coming out from the fandom though. What ever people are inspired to do they should do (Just make sure you do it well so I can enjoy it and not cringe at it).

[An Old Head 4,815]

I have the feeling that back in the early days of the fandom (before I became a Brony, or for that matter even knew about it) were more intimate and light-spirited. As if everyone knew each other and Equestria Daily was just blooming, and the amount of fan content was very little. Compared to today with the vast amount of content being put out and how widespread Bronies are now as a whole, it seems like Bronies would have a better rep.

 

Not that I love the content this fandom creates, of course, there's just too much of it to keep track of I guess EqD helps!

[MichaelxXxTrixie 433]

I would go so far to say that we aren't just a little Fandom discussing just episodes but now a cultural shift. We simply have to much content and to much creativity not to change everything, and with the exploding amount of Bronies we could begin to affect the way many things are made and produced.

 

I guarantee if we really amassed together and all focused on it we could change lots of the ways people think of things... that or we will be called a bunch of fags (Which is more likely to happen xD) 

[Durandal 623]

I've always enjoyed the better half of the fan content we put out, but now I'm starting to think that it's getting to be a little much. Won't be long until a group can make another show in the shadow of Hasbro and DHX and keep that going far past MLP's inevitable end. Now, I've been in fandoms where animations have been made, they're bound to happen. But they've never been so numerous and so perfect, so seamless. Add that to this growing mindset running rampant in the brony community that fanon ≥ canon and they(Show people) be twisting around to please us and I'm starting to feel a threat of rampant fan of the fandom elitism creeping across the interwebs.

 

The only limiter there is, and the only one there should be, on content is how much people are willing to pump out.

 

Also there will be fan elitism, there always is. However, I think you greatly exaggerate how much there will be. It's a non-issue, simply put.

 

 

I think that we put too much stuff also. Now people are getting called faggots everywhere, on TV shows and stuff. We could've been more quiet enjoying MLP FiM, not telling all the world about it. Now when someone says that bronies and faggots or horrible creatures, it feels awkward being one that I want to stop. It's too much. 

 

 

MLP was bound to reach the point of being acknowledged by public news, the phenomenon was simply too peculiar to not be acknowledged. It matters not how much content we had pumped out, the size of our fanbase would have spoken for itself.

 

We're challenging social conventions, you practically agreed to undergo some level of social shaming by associating yourself with the fandom to begin with.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Durandal

[MuniMoose 489]

We feel most of this problem of bronydom overloud has to do with it origins we mean for the most part this all started on the Internet basement 4chan as told in this video..

we're not saying that everything about us as brony's came from 4chan here but most of what makes it something to be trolled or over used we guess is that it is from there we are a meme of the Internet that has for some become life because they had no life before MLP and so with some peoples lives revolving around this this feeling of over doing it from brony's like you and us is kind of a draw back from it 

[Gears of Halo Duty V 394]

I like to think the this whole MLP thing was a damn good storm. Maybe or maybe not a perfect storm, but a damn good one to say the least.

 

The rise and mainstreaming of social networking has made it infinitely easier to have one's work or message spread and be seen or heard around the world than ever before. This whole thing took off around 2005, give or take, and MLP took off in 2010. By that time, we already had a firm grasp on social networking. We integrated it into our lives and made it easy to access and easy to use.

 

Technology has also quickly advanced for the common man. Hurdles and obstacles of the past were quickly becoming moot, be it from creating a painting through digital means or utilizing instruments or animation tools to make something out of almost nothing. These tools may have been around a while, but time has allowed such tools to easily disseminate among the masses. 

 

Now, the reboot of MLP brought in a lot of people, more so than anyone ever dared to expect. Whatever one's reason, the show drew in large numbers of people from all walks of life. Some are writers, some are artists, some musicians, and some are everything else.

 

So you've got the means to create works of art on a quicker and easier (?) scale, the people to create these pieces of art, and the means to quickly spread it to others. Sounds like a good storm to me.

 

So we have the how, but what about the why? Well, that's for another day.

[Friendship_Cannon 1,676]

I would go so far to say that we aren't just a little Fandom discussing just episodes but now a cultural shift. We simply have to much content and to much creativity not to change everything, and with the exploding amount of Bronies we could begin to affect the way many things are made and produced.

 

I guarantee if we really amassed together and all focused on it we could change lots of the ways people think of things... that or we will be called a bunch of fags (Which is more likely to happen xD) 

 

Oh my god, I laughed so hard reading the end.

Don´t get me wrong, I´m not making fun of you, I just actually agree with you, kinda.

 

Bronies are a part of the "pop culture", to give it a name, and there shouldn´t really be a limited amount of fanwork, that would mean to limit creativity, and that´s not really a good thing.

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

My problem is trying not to confuse fan stuff with canon stuff. I prefer only the absurd fan made stuff like the slhrpg that is being made (hurry up Bobby I been waiting for that game forever  ) http://ponett.tumblr.com/

It's not how much content we put out, it's the kind of content I believe is why they say, what they say. 
I love the fanart and the fanfictions, i'm even guilty of looking up things a girl my age shouldn't look up. But honestly, probably some things should be kept quiet and left alone.

To be fair the 'dark side of the fandom' is quiet and left alone for the most part. So we do have some things that are kept out of the public eye for the most part.

[Luriel Maelstrom 253]

MLP was bound to reach the point of being acknowledged by public news, the phenomenon was simply too peculiar to not be acknowledged. It matters not how much content we had pumped out, the size of our fanbase would have spoken for itself.

 

We're challenging social conventions, you practically agreed to undergo some level of social shaming by associating yourself with the fandom to begin with.

Really? ... I just watch the show, I don't go around yelling I am a faggot, I stay quiet here. While others create "art" that makes me ashamed of watching the show

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

We're challenging social conventions, you practically agreed to undergo some level of social shaming by associating yourself with the fandom to begin with.

Social Shaming. Jesus, it's this kind of extremist attitude that stops me from going around wearing a pink shirt with twilight sparkle on it or something. There are people who have genuine hatred directed toward there community such as gays, lesbians etc. All we get is a few weird looks and people who think 'fag' is the most original insult on the internet.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Gamer Twilight

[Scootalove 10,685]

Well, there was a time when the fandom first started where we had less content and now we just have things that we wouldn't show to the public. I just feel that, when we stayed quiet we weren't able to express ourselves a lot. The people that insult us, know that we've been through it all but we don't simply care about what they say anymore.

[Shanks 10,811]

I think the fact that this show has inspired so much creativity is a good thing, sure not every fanwork is going to be good or meet everyones personal tastes but the great thing about it is there is something for almost everyone. You have people that do confuse fanon with canon and what have you but well fans are going to do what they are going to do so I really don't see why anyone so get in a tizzy about that. I am a lot more concerned about how some people treat the show like a religion and get butthurt because some people like gorefics or R34 or *gasp* have a different opinion on something.

[GhostPony750 958]

Thinking about this, this is pretty exaggerated for a tv show.

But well, it's still MLP, so I'll continue what I'm currently doing: watching the show, posting on MLP forums, buy pony goods.

[Durandal 623]

Really? ... I just watch the show, I don't go around yelling I am a faggot, I stay quiet here. While others create "art" that makes me ashamed of watching the show

 

Associating yourself with the fandom =/= 'yelling I am a faggot'

 

You unironically enjoy a show for little girls, this challenges preconceived notions of what a man should like. Doesn't matter how quiet you are about it, the fact you watch it at all lumps you in the same category as the most vocal bronies out there. People still don't understand it.

 

And really, why would art make you ashamed of watching a show? It doesn't reflect on you, it reflects on the authors of said content. Furthermore, it is not anyone else's fault that you are insecure about what you like, and it's becoming a tired line of argument. Don't project your own shame onto others just because they wanted to draw ponies.

 

Social Shaming. Jesus, it's this kind of extremist attitude that stops me from going around wearing a pink shirt with twilight sparkle on it or something. There are people who have genuine hatred directed toward there community such as gays, lesbians etc. All we get is a few weird looks and people who think 'fag' is the most original insult on the internet.

 

Did I say all minority positions are made equal? Nowhere did I imply that what we face is anywhere near similar to that of the LGBT community's plight. Being homosexual myself, I would prefer if you not put words in my mouth.

 

However, you'd have to be blind to believe that liking a show for little girls doesn't question current social conventions. And what do members of society do when social conventions are questioned? They either accept the change, or attempt to maintain the status quo. The rules of society don't simply fall apart because you consider the issue trivial.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,833]

There's never too much fan content, because the more fan content there is, the more varied the people we appeal to can be, if you dislike certain fanwork it goes without saying just to ignore it, it's not like anybody is forcing you to view anything. I don't think fanon is drawing love away from canon, I think it's actually enhancing the love of canon.

[ReGen 1,466]

I don't think there's too much fan content, but that there's too many mediocre fan content. I have never read or even heard of a good fanfic, most Brony music is dubstep (And it's not even the good kind) and fan animations never hold my interest.

 

Overall, I think the fandom's standards have gone down, where even the most average content will get so much praise.

 

There's never too much fan content, because the more fan content there is, the more varied the people we appeal to can be, if you dislike certain fanwork it goes without saying just to ignore it, it's not like anybody is forcing you to view anything. I don't think fanon is drawing love away from canon, I think it's actually enhancing the love of canon.

 

This too.

[Stoney Pony 100]

One thing i dont like is that on Deviant art every third picture is a pony even if you put in something on the complete opposite of the spectrum like silent hill for example. I can handle people ponifiying Batman. I can handle them ponifiying Naruto and Bleach characters. I cant handle them ponifiying Pyramid Head. I WONT STAND FOR IT!!!

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

I cant handle them ponifiying Pyramid Head. I WONT STAND FOR IT!!!

A line has to be drawn gosh darn it. I don't mind ponyfied versions of pratcially everything else. But classic games like Silent Hill 2...that is too far...

[Mzukiller 233]

Well, there was a time when the fandom first started where we had less content and now we just have things that we wouldn't show to the public. I just feel that, when we stayed quiet we weren't able to express ourselves a lot. The people that insult us, know that we've been through it all but we don't simply care about what they say anymore.

 

 

I have the feeling that back in the early days of the fandom (before I became a Brony, or for that matter even knew about it) were more intimate and light-spirited. As if everyone knew each other and Equestria Daily was just blooming, and the amount of fan content was very little. Compared to today with the vast amount of content being put out and how widespread Bronies are now as a whole, it seems like Bronies would have a better rep.

 

Not that I love the content this fandom creates, of course, there's just too much of it to keep track of I guess EqD helps!

That's another thing. I feel like a lot bronies stopped making big content about the show out of love, or fun. I feel like now it's starting to become a popularity contest, or just constant attempts to cash in on other fans. It's not "Do your best", now it's just "Pander or be ignored" like how so many people are starting to latch onto the popular background characters. For example, Vinyl and Octavia and keep propagating that really dumb idea that they're the best of friends for no other reason than that they're both muscians. Because everyone with an instrument magically knows each other. I digress. Original content isn't original anymore. It's just building off of other peoples ideas. And before you ask, I'm aware of the whole "Every idea is already taken" thing

 

Obviously, not all of them, maybe not even most of them. But enough that it's noticeable.

 

 

I don't think fanon is drawing love away from canon, I think it's actually enhancing the love of canon.

I think that it's getting to be where people just can't tell the difference. Fanon isn't constrained by anything like the real show, that's its greatest strength. But I think more than a few bull headed persons are staring to expect too much from FiM to keep up with what we're putting out. I love MLP, let's get that straight, but I know that there are things they can't do. Things that can be done by fanimations.

 

Now, my personal belief is that the fandom and it's works should always be secondary to the actual show. Nothing disgust me more than people putting us on a pedestal and forgetting why we're all here to start with. Being lost in their own egos. Surely, we can all agree with that.

 

 

 

if you dislike certain fanwork it goes without saying just to ignore it, it's not like anybody is forcing you to view anything.

Okay, I never said anything along the lines of "All fan content is bad"

Edited August 12, 2013 by Mzukiller

[FoxyCryptid 4,328]

I kinda like it, we've essentially created a new type of media that makes the viewers just just as much a part of the system as the studio. The fact the staff are such nice people that enjoy just jumping in and being "one of us" is the whole reason this thing has thrived.

 

Think of it this way, the show has a expanded universe, just like Star Wars, but us fans are the ones who make it. Meaning the entire universe of the show covers a far larger scope than anything only worked on by a limited team of writers ever could. I personally think that's awesome, thousands of people working together to craft something bigger on the shows building blocks and giving birth to a huge and rich universe full of characters and stories.

 

We've given birth to writers, artists, singles, musicians, animators and programmers who all found their talents because they wanted to pay tribute to this show. I know everything sadly comes to a end, but I hope if this ever does these people take that spirit and create things of their own that follow in the shows footsteps and publish them. Imagine a world full of media with FiMs sense of humor, full of it's spirit, 

 

We're truly showing(maybe even reaching such a massive scope for the first time), the power the internet and fandoms have to unite people under a common banner.  

Edited August 12, 2013 by Shoboni