First thing i've heard about bronies (bet you've never heard THIS before).

[Declen 118]

I read some blog about TV series. The author and her audience - mostly russian women - discussed "Game of Thrones", "Supernatural", "Hannibal" and so on.

Then a question came: how does it happen thet women watch such stuff. Somebody responded: there are men outthere, who watch "My Little Pony", thet's interesting! That's how I first have got aware about MLP and bronies.

So, they started to discuss bronies then, and one woman sayd:

- They must be so confident about their masculinity, that they allow themselves to watch "My Little Pony".

[Stargazer Nights 226]

- They must be so confident about their masculinity, that they allow themselves to watch "My Little Pony".

Don't want to stomp on your parade or anything, but a lot of intelligent public people who have discussed the brony phenomenon have said things relatively similar to this, so I'm sure a lot of bronies have heard this idea before. :s

[techno915 408]

@@Declen that last line. i completely agree with the wording. watching mlp:fim proves that i am brave. i am brave enough to venture into the uncomfortable. "ponies are for girls" tell that to the girls fighting in the armed forces. those were supposed to for men. women challenged that. why is it weird when guys challenge a social norm?

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

There are self-proclaimed US Marines bronies. I've even heard of a tank crew that had their operating callsign changed to "Fluttershy". [citation needed]

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think men and males in general proving that they can be masculine while watching a show called My Little Pony, has a lot of guts.

[Fridge 382]

It is something that isn't often said but I have heard it said about us before. Still it's always nice to be told that others think that way.

[Maerchen 38]

I totally agree with you. I also heard something like that, I think it's very interesting.

Also - there are some politicians who think the same way.

I just jumped to wikipedia..

"Innerhalb der deutschen Piratenpartei werden Folgen der Serie genutzt, um bei hitzigen Diskussionen eine Beruhigung herbeizuführen, die Teilnehmer zu entspannen und sich statt der Austragung eines Konflikts auf die Lösung eines Problems zu konzentrieren. Dazu hat sich der Begriff Pony Time etabliert. Nach Abstimmung wurde diese Auszeit in die Geschäftsordnung der Piratenparteifraktion in Berlin aufgenommen. Bei ihrer Beantragung wird eine für die aktuelle Thematik angemessene Folge ausgewählt und abgespielt."

 

To say it in english, there's a political party called Pirate Party in Germany, where the members watch mlp to be calmed down when they debate too heavy. It's called "Pony Time" and even got written down in the standing orders. Awesome in my opinion.

Edited September 8, 2013 by Maerchen

[Declen 118]

Innerhalb der deutschen Piratenpartei werden Folgen der Serie genutzt, um bei hitzigen Diskussionen eine Beruhigung herbeizuführen,

Yes I've heard about them, They were mentioned in ZDF Heute Show couple of times. 

Still, Piratenpartei looks like a marginal political movement with some excentric ideas and practics.

If one of the Volksparteien (major parties) had such a habit...

Edited September 8, 2013 by Declen

[Radiance64 7,053]

Ha, yeah, I don't think I've heard that one before.

I guess that's a nice theory though, thinking we 'allow' ourselves to watch it- but really, most of us genuinely enjoy it because it's awesome.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Haven't heard of this one before.

 

But yes, it takes a lot of guts and will to admit to like MLP and anything girly in general to the audience.

[Fender 1,283]

Meh, I personally still think that feminism and masculinity are oppressive social constructs. I think a TV show is just that...entertainment. I think that make up is just...material. So on, so forth, it all comes down to- "Why should my gender matter in what I take interest in?"

[Smarts 1,622]

Well, I do admit that's the first time I heard that. Kind of interesting when compared to the usual things people say about us. So, I'll give it credit there. On that note, I don't care about masculinity and feminism. I just watch MLP because it's entertaining not just to children, but to adults as well. It's genuinely funny, colorful, and charming which makes it appeal to many people.

[Krys9 456]

I never heard someone say that guys are brave for watching MLP but that's what I believe though. All of the stigma that society gives us about how you should be a certain way and how certain things are for certain genders is not always true. Whenever I hear the general public talk about Bronies it's mostly in a negative light so I like how these people put a positive spin on this. Makes me a happy person.

[Hiram32 20]

"Allow"...what an interesting way to put it.

 

Personally, I love masculinity.  One of my favorite websites is The Art of Manliness.  I like watching sports, lifting weights, shooting guns, putting wax in my moustache, and smoking cigars...all things typically associated with masculinity.  However, that doesn't stop me from being myself.  I think it's funny how "gender bending" always gets brought up by non-bronies, whether in a positive light or a negative one.  I feel like it has more to do with blatant individualism than anyone trying to break down stereotypical gender roles.

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I have heard this claim before in some way before.

 

I agree with it to a point. It depends on the brony, but I think that it's fair to say that your average brony would fall into that category.

 

Masculinity and femininity have become so shallow in modern society... there are fundamental biological, psychological, and spiritual differences between men and women, yet all people can think about to differentiate between the two genders is to look at people's hobbies and interests? Sure these things can get a glimpse of a person's personality, but a man liking MLP doesn't cancel out all masculinity in a man. It is ridiculous how much weight a TV show holds in determining whether or not a man is masculine.