Enlighten me!

[Matthew_Cole 2]

I am just here for information. I do not for the life of me understand why grown men are so obsessed with My Little Pony. Liking a cartoon is fine no matter what age you are, of course. I am in my late 20's and still watch cartoons on a regular basis. However, I do not understand a 25 year old man's fascination with a cartoon that was created for 8 year old girls back in the 90's. Being a fan of something is great, but when I walk into my 25 year old friend's house, I see My Little Pony stuff EVERYWHERE. There's even a shrine to ponies in his bedroom. A shrine? Really? It's kind of creepy to be honest with you. Grown men who wear My Little Pony t-shirts every day, watch the show constantly, and are always talking about the show and making references to it makes me feel like they have some sort of mental illness or something. Not to mention I accidentally came across a picture of ponies having sex with each other on his computer. It makes me kind of sad that a grown man would waste his life away being obsessed with a cartoon. To top it all off, he even steals My Little Pony merchandise from stores if he can't afford to buy it. Seriously? You're going to risk being arrested over some My Little Pony action figures? I don't get it. Someone enlighten me.

[Sig Hoovestrong 838]

Your friend is wired, nothing wrong liking MLP in it's self. But then of course always going be the people go over-bored. But this nothing new too me, there people like that ever fandom, then again it would be lie. If disclaimed i ever got wing boner from seeing some r34 pony pictures. But i knowledge's it's wired! Some time imagination just go's plain wild. But yea, I think you should help out your friend as best as can. And tale him that might gone bit over-borded with his fandom of little ponys.

 

Is sad, but some bronis are just little bit too crazy. Well i hope this was helpful and bit informative.

 

Sig, out.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Sig Hoovestrong

[Matthew_Cole 2]

It's not even just him that acts this way. His whole group of new friends do too. He even stopped hanging out with me as much as he used to because I'm not a pony fan and refuse to constantly obsess over the cartoon. I've known the guy since he was 11 years old. This is why I feel like there's something wrong inside his brain.

[Sig Hoovestrong 838]

Well surely something, going on. You should tale him what think, and that your friendship is suffering. I don't tale go along with anything that he do. There always line bet-vine a friendly free time hobby and straight right out obsession, And when hobby turns to obsession, well i don't need explain that word obsession do not apply something good at all. 

 

However might just be too far gone for you help him out. And maby is best for your own sake late friendship go. Is not easy, but if you can not be with him because of what he do, and he not willing be with you either as friend. Well than is for best.

[Matthew_Cole 2]

I just can't see our friendship ending over his obsession with a cartoon. I wouldn't ever abandon him because of this, I just want to understand why he focuses all of his attention on My Little Pony now. It's almost like nothing else matters. He doesn't even acknowledge all of the other stuff he was into before he started with this pony stuff. I was hoping maybe someone here knew someone like this and could help me understand.

[Emperor Posh 360]

I just can't see our friendship ending over his obsession with a cartoon. I wouldn't ever abandon him because of this, I just want to understand why he focuses all of his attention on My Little Pony now. It's almost like nothing else matters. He doesn't even acknowledge all of the other stuff he was into before he started with this pony stuff. I was hoping maybe someone here knew someone like this and could help me understand.

I know how you feel, my grandfather thinks I am gay because I am a Brony and he almost never talks to me anymore because of it, he basically said he wants nothing to do with me until I stop watching shows for 5 year olds and some other things but they are not important. I don't think your friend has just ditched you for MLP, maybe there is another reason why he took off.

 

On a side note, I have no problems with people who are gay, or have different sex appeals than my own, just wanted to make that clear.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Xelphos

[Sig Hoovestrong 838]

Well am all out of wisdom to share for you. But hope some else will see this post and hopeful don't be to scared to respond cause is as serious topic, however vise best of luck to you. And hope all can turn out well in end for you and your friend. And you should know we are not all obsessive people, some of us just like show find it relaxing watch cartoon show abut little pony's. I thought first, when started watching the show. Well lets see whats all this fandom is abut. After few episodes, i was hooked, i was confused at first. Cause i never thought like me would never be to enchanted by show staring freaking pony's! I was like what, hu, why, i can't comprehend! But eventually just accepted that i simple like show. And that like humor, art and stuff came out of it fandom.

 

Best of luck with you.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Sig Hoovestrong

[Matthew_Cole 2]

I know how you feel, my grandfather thinks I am gay because I am a Brony and he almost never talks to me anymore because of it, he basically said he wants nothing to do with me until I stop watching shows for 5 year olds and some other things but they are not important. I don't think your friend has just ditched you for MLP, maybe there is another reason why he took off.

 

On a side note, I have no problems with people who are gay, or have different sex appeals than my own, just wanted to make that clear.

He didn't necessarily ditch me, he just wants me to be all about My Little Pony like he is. He's not interested in anything else anymore. Not even the things we have done together since we were kids. We used to go skateboarding together, not anymore. We used to write music on our guitars together... not anymore. We used to travel together... well, now he won't travel unless its to something brony related. It has totally taken over his life and his identity.

[Emperor Posh 360]

He didn't necessarily ditch me, he just wants me to be all about My Little Pony like he is. He's not interested in anything else anymore. Not even the things we have done together since we were kids. We used to go skateboarding together, not anymore. We used to write music on our guitars together... not anymore. We used to travel together... well, now he won't travel unless its to something brony related. It has totally taken over his life and his identity.

How long ago did he convert? Normally Bronies are nuts for the first month and a bit, atleast that is my experience, but who am I to say that applies to everyone.

[NavelColt 22,882]

Some effortless snooping about in topics in Sugarcube Corner can actually help you get a whole list of reasons for why people enjoy the show and the fandom. Like this topic, for example.

 

He didn't necessarily ditch me, he just wants me to be all about My Little Pony like he is. He's not interested in anything else anymore. Not even the things we have done together since we were kids. We used to go skateboarding together, not anymore. We used to write music on our guitars together... not anymore. We used to travel together... well, now he won't travel unless its to something brony related. It has totally taken over his life and his identity.

 

Sounds terrible Truly am sorry to hear that. It might be hard to see the fandom in a positive light from one person and their group of friends, but it's certainly not a lie when I say a large part of fandom does not do bug, avoid or irritate others like this. The issue simply is, the kind of behavior you're experiencing is an unfortunate occurrence when a fandom grows this big, this fast. Lots of people take it way too seriously, and let it engulf their lives. I was slightly like that for a while upon my initial few months, and I've seen others fall out of that level of hype after say half a year. But the bottom line is, I/we grew out of it. How long has your friend been into this, exactly? For all you know, he'll eventually calm down, too.

 

As far as this topic goes, as you're not actually introducing yourself, I'm going to move this over to Sugarcube Corner, since it's addressing the fandom.

[AwesomeRainbow 473]

yeah i'm a brony and i'm a girl and one of my friends is a brony but i always thought girls like my little ponys i did not know that boys iked my little ponys lol

[LittleRawr 679]

@@Matthew_Cole,

 

It might just be the initial obsession, the type that will fade over the following months/weeks. There are some people who get a little bit too into the show, as your friend did. 

 

As for advice...

 

Um, try to remind him of life before the show. The things that you did together, and all that kind of stuff. 

 

You should also try having a serious talk with him, about how the show is driving you two apart. Maybe he'll calm down, maybe not. It's worth a try, at least. 

 

Also, keep in mind that not all bronies are this way. People like your friends are the minority. 

[Bendy 1,821]

Why? Why do people like Justin Bieber or Adolf Hitler. Because people have different tastes and opinions. That's why!

 

Sure, they can be freaking crazy and downright disturbing, but it's still a point of view.

 

Why do people like MLP FIM? Because it's a good show, good writing, funny, dat fandom and them Ponies are damn cute. 

 

Also there are weirdo (nerds like me) fans in every subject or media in the entire multiverse.

 

Also it's xenophilia to like Ponies "that way" since they are sapient minded. 

 

Edit: Some people are crazy Brony or not and need help.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rush

[Scootalove 10,689]

I don't know why either. Have a serious talk with your friend, or ask him some questions if he will listen to you. So, that could help.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,794]

I am just here for information. I do not for the life of me understand why grown men are so obsessed with My Little Pony. Liking a cartoon is fine no matter what age you are, of course. I am in my late 20's and still watch cartoons on a regular basis. However, I do not understand a 25 year old man's fascination with a cartoon that was created for 8 year old girls back in the 90's. Being a fan of something is great, but when I walk into my 25 year old friend's house, I see My Little Pony stuff EVERYWHERE. There's even a shrine to ponies in his bedroom. A shrine? Really? It's kind of creepy to be honest with you. Grown men who wear My Little Pony t-shirts every day, watch the show constantly, and are always talking about the show and making references to it makes me feel like they have some sort of mental illness or something.Not to mention I accidentally came across a picture of ponies having sex with each other on his computer. It makes me kind of sad that a grown man would waste his life away being obsessed with a cartoon. To top it all off, he even steals My Little Pony merchandise from stores if he can't afford to buy it. Seriously? You're going to risk being arrested over some My Little Pony action figures? I don't get it. Someone enlighten me.

What so you mean by a 'shrine' in this case? A bunch of pony stuff put into one place or something more?

 

That bolder part is what starts to annoy me with this post. That is called having a deep interest in something. Have you seen what some video game collector's have? Star Wars fans? Have you seen some of these serious collectors? Do you think they must have a 'mental illness' because of what they do? Or is just when it involves ponies that it is messed up? He is a fan of something and apparently enjoys expressing that.

 

If he is happy doing what he is doing then he isn't 'wasting his life away', even if your friendship is in apparent jeopardy.

 

The stealing part, yes, that is wrong, but that isn't the show's fault.

 

On the pony sex thing, there is porn for everything. That part is a little bit longer to explain so, I suggest doing some searches about why this might be the case for him and why that particular thing interests him as well.

 

What exactly are you wanting us to 'enlighten you' to? That confuses me honestly. Are you wanting us to explain why someone likes this show or how someone can take it to extreme extremes? Well, anything can be taken to that level of extremes and it isn't good no matter what it is about, IF it begins to hurt him and/or others around him. I see nothing wrong with being a huge fan of something if you are harming no one with your dedication but seriously, if you do think he has gone bonkers (which I am not convinced here) then talk to him about it. Not much else you can do. Some details here seem kinda vague.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Kyoshi

[Champion RD92 8,658]

 However, I do not understand a 25 year old man's fascination with a cartoon that was created for 8 year old girls back in the 90's. 

 

Um...you seem to be misinformed. The show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is completely different from the old My Little Pony shows, it was just created a few years ago. This show is the one people like, not the old ones. Just so you know

 

It's very enjoyable, I suggest you watch an episode just to see what it's all about. If you don't like it, then that's fine.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,316]

He didn't necessarily ditch me, he just wants me to be all about My Little Pony like he is.

That's one thing about the fandom that has bothered me right from the beginning. I don't understand the pressing need a lot of bronies have to try and force everyone around them to like a show just because they do. There are always threads cropping up on any MLP site along the lines of "How can I convert my friend/brother/sister/whatever into a Brony". I find that to be more than a little strange.

 

By the way. I think it's very nice of you to at least try to understand what he's about by coming here for information.

[Cwanky 17,602]

Anything can be made into an unhealthy obsession when its taken too far or the wrong way, whether its a belief like religion, celebrities and people, a show like this, or an object or concept. Obsessions themselves are not necessarily bad mind you, they can actually lead to amazing achievements and fulfillment as was the case with Albert Einstein and John Nash. Its when you let your obsession take control to the point that your judgment is hindered and adversely affects your life that it becomes a major concern.

 

Now I at least think that the majority of bronies don't behave this way, even if a lot do embrace some questionable subject areas like pony porn, gore and blind obsession to the show. This seems like an extreme case. The fact that he has a shrine and has a mass pony collection, while unusual and a bit obsessive, isn't what bothers me really. There's plenty of people who collect libraries of books, DVDs, and big fans of Star Wars and Star Trek that do these things regularly. What bothers me is that he insists upon making everything a pony reference, ie shoving it in other people's faces, and possibly watches the show all the time. People do watch the show and read the content regularly, like I do, but its not something I am addicted to and obsess over.Many of the diehard DC comics and Star Wars and Trekkie fans out there won't shove their fandom into your face unless you explicitly ask them about such things.

 

But most of all, what really set me off about this guy was his willingness to break the law for his obsession. At that point he's just become a fanatic and lunatic that doesn't know how to properly express his passion for what he likes. I am very sorry to hear that you had this experience and I assure you many "bronies" like myself are nowhere remotely like this guy, regardless of whether or not we are passionate in our love for MLP:FiM. I wish you well and to have a great time on this forum. 

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

Sorry that you had to go through that, Matthew. Just to be clear, not all bronies are like that. There are many bronies who are respectful of other people if not completely in the closet.

 

Now then, as for your friend, my impression being that we're dealing with full-blown addiction here. Because really, tangoing with the law for pony merch really crosses the line.

People who are addicted--or rather, people who are susceptible to becoming addicted tend to be damaged individuals. He might need psychological help. I'll link you to a video lecture on addiction for a more in-depth explanation on addiction but first I'll draw some connections.

 

Fundamentally there are 4 systems in the brain that malfunction:

• Endorphins system: Endorphins are opiates made inside the body which gives us a feeling of reward, joy, elation, love and connection. One important function is pain relief be it physical pain or emotional pain. What I can tell you from personal experience is that watching the show for the first time did incredibly well to give me such feelings as well as numb me to my own emptiness at the time. 
• Dopamine system: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which in this conversation gives is a sense of incentive, exploration, motivation, vitality and anticipation. Stimulants tend to prompt a release of this neurotransmitter most notably. You see, when you live a greyscale life, this show almost seems to inject color into it... Another component to the addiction.
• Stress Control: One of the reasons people can become addicted to a substance or a habit is that it helps them not be so stressed. Go ask your friend if watching the show makes his stress go away. He'll probably tell you it goes away in an instant.
• Impulse Control: Addicts evidently have poor impulse control and so does your friend. Who in their right mind would risk getting in trouble with the law over MLP merch? Seriously.

This is just how the show might be affecting his mind. None of this would be happening if he isn't empty or hurting on the inside somehow. That happens if he was raised in a dysfunctional household or got violated in whatever ways outside of the household or family. So does he have a history of being abused or neglected? Were his parents always stressed? Has he had a terrible history of bullying? Answer yes to any of those questions and that would explain it.

 

.

 

I don't know how but you might want to consider talking to him about seeking professional help. Take great care how you phrase it and the context you bring from because he'll be surely quick to think you're being prejudicial of his fixation.

[Troblems 5,619]

Honestly, have given it a shot? Sit down and watch a few episodes, then try discussing it with him. While you may not enjoy it, he may see that you've made an effort, at which point you may also be able to open other discussions, such as the recent thefts of said merch.

 

As previously stated, not everyone who watches the show is...well... pony crazy. Some are. Most aren't.

 

It sounds like a generally crappy situation all around, and I wish you the best of luck.

[Pixel Stick 927]

Um...you seem to be misinformed. The show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is completely different from the old My Little Pony shows, it was just created a few years ago. This show is the one people like, not the old ones. Just so you know

 

It's very enjoyable, I suggest you watch an episode just to see what it's all about. If you don't like it, then that's fine.

 

To be fair, I know several people (grown men) who actually DO like the first-gen series better than FiM, and one who likes all the generations equally.  I don't personally understand them, but I'm not going to begrudge them that fact.

 

To the OP: I happen to really enjoy the current show, and as such I've found it rather fun to talk about it and even start collecting some of the more innocuous toys, just because.  But I'm not going to expect other people to enjoy it or become "brony lifestylers" just because I enjoy it myself.  But hey, some people have different ways of enjoying their favorite things - if your friend has a shrine to the series, well, good for him, I suppose.   But if he's putting a lot of pressure on you to be into it at the same depth as him, and he's telling you anything like your friendship is going to suffer if you don't buy into it, then I'd say he doesn't really understand the point of friendship.  (Perhaps he could stand to learn some of the lessons the current show has to offer.  "Griffon the Brush-Off", "Party of One", "A Friend Indeed" and "Too Many Pinkie Pies" all come to mind - huh, all Pinkie Pie episodes.  Interesting...)

Edited October 19, 2013 by Pixel Stick

[The Pulse 210]

Bit odd that your friend is that obsessed, I haven't heard of a shrine to ponies in the bathroom before. Personally I just like the show, nothing more, nothing less. Haven't really gotten into the "must have pony stuff everywhere" thing. Everybody has a different reaction to something, his is more than others. As for the whole grown men liking the show thing, who knows.

 

If you haven't already, i'd give the show a shot to see if you can derive why you think he likes it, heck you might even get into it yourself

Edited October 19, 2013 by The Pulse