The Tales Of Being A Closet Brony

[GXPBlast 597]

As a very closeted brony and furry I go very great lengths to hide my interests I would never share with other people including my family.

I will never go to a furry or brony convention but maybe would if I lived on my own.

I will never buy any physical pony or furry related merchandise.

I also never save anything onto my computer whether it be general furry/brony related things or if its NSFW. I do my very best to either obtain my stuff on the internet through streaming or simple viewing. If I do download anything, it gets sent to an external hardrive which is encrypted and locked in my safe which is hidden from view.

All of my browser history is erased every time I exit my computer and before I shut down or after a certain period of extended time, I run a secure wipe of multiple passes with history wiping software.

I feel bad saying this but I will literally make fun, put down, or make jokes around these interests if others I talk to bring it up in conversation so there is not a slight chance that they may expect I like these things.

The only time, I will be honest with somebody is if they like the stuff I like as well and that I can completely trust them which I have done with a few close friends who also like MLP

What do you fellow closeted bronies do to hide your interests?

Edited April 14, 2014 by GXPBlast

[Acchan 232]

I have openly criticized MLP in order to throw my mother off of my trail, and I live alone.

 

You get the picture.

[Malinter 3,064]

i make no effort at all but counter attract this by not going overboard. i just watch the show and have a few of the comics.

[repsol rave 2,963]

i live in a family where nobody even knows how to get on my PC. nobody knows the password!

also, in the netherlands bronies arn't nearly as big as a thing as in the US. so nobody really knows/asks about it anyway.

[Best Username Ever 211]

If someone brings up bronies i will say in my sarcastic tone "yeah man i am such a brony i watch mlp all the time" and stuff like that it takes a lot to not crack up when i do.

[Remi 1,309]

I should use these techniques for porn viewing.

[Serbon div 386]

Nobody suspects so I don't delete browser history, but my account on the computer is password protected and I always lock it when I go away from it so there is no need to. I don't view NSFW content so I don't have any real reason to do so :/

[Celtore 2,770]

Well, it's not really that strongly protected. I'm defended by not really looking like one and not owning any products... Well, except for one Derpy plush I thought was too adorable not to get. But that fits in to my general plushy weakness, so nothing odd there.

 

That being said, I don't really do anything to hide being a brony. I like to troll a bit before I reveal myself if someone figures it out, but people rarely do. I just don't scream brony on appearance.

Edited February 27, 2014 by Celtore

[Khaoios 1,970]

Well, I mostly keep my mouth shut about being a brony around family and friends, yet I don't keep it away from my gf since she's a fan of the show as well.

[Taviscratch 453]

I wouldn't say I look like that much a brony in my appearance or how I dress but I do own a few MLP T-shirts and I own some of the comics along with vinyl figures of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. My girlfriend also bought me a huge fluttershy plushy which is adorable. I don't hide it and I don't display it any more than I display my other interests. I just treat it the same as every other interest.  I don't really bring it up but I won't hide the fact that I'm a brony and I'll talk about the show and why I like it if anyone asks.

 

So, yeah, I'm not a closet brony and I see no reason to be one. Sorry if you only wanted responses from those who actually do hide their interest in candy coloured ponies.

[Frostgage 7,977]

It's not that hard, really.

 

I just use a separate browser that automatically clears history when closed, and use headphones to watch/listen to pony related stuff. It helps that I'm not that interested in getting merch either.

 

I've thought about telling people but it's really just not worth all the shit. I'm different enough as it is.

[Freewave 1,145]

My wife knows I'm a big fan and my kids and I watch the show every Sunday morning ( work saturdays ). I also clearly make music and do stuff around the show. I am both very closeted at work but yet surf this forum and mylittleremix pretty frequently. I just use part of the screen (the bottom half of one of 4 monitors) and minimalize it anytime someone comes around or behind me). After 2 years of working in this professional environment and surfing I've still yet to be "called out" although I'm sure there MUST have been one or a few people who caught sight walking past. I also have a few long time RL friends who I've yet to talk about it with. Both know I've been a comics fan, music fan, and a sci fi junky (and they are too) so I'm sure it wouldnt be a big deal. Neither of my two friends have questioned me on my oc avatar which i also use on steam. A few of my lan gaming friends also know I'm a brony but haven't really asked to much about it. I actually missed an opportunity when i put up my spray but chose to be a bit quiet on the subject when it came up right after. I feel bad i didn't answer questions when it came up "i dont know why people like the show". I did go to the local bronycon and it was nice to see a buch of other adults who loved the show. Didn't mind wearing an mlp t-shirt at the time. My parents know i make music now but haven't shown them what kind of music yet. TBH I'm fine with keeping them in the dark because i just don't need any "concern".  It's just a fun use of my personal time. It's tough enough being an older fan of this show. I'm entitled to like just as much as anyone else.  

[Sir Hugsalot 9,353]

Well, my case is not very complicated. I am closet brony, but I don't pay much attention to hiding the fact that I am brony anymore. I am very careless but it's mostly because my parents would not find it out unless I tell them anyway. I just... don't talk about it. Nobody asks me if I am brony and I don't feel like it's important to tell it to anyone. If someone would ask I probably would not even deny it. I was always against "confessing" that someone is a brony. It's like showing straight from start that You feel wrong about it. And I follow this rule. About collecting stuff? I was never interested in collecting ponies in first place. Guitars are always things I will prefer to "collect" XD I don't even hide my browser's history (I only minimize my browser once parents enter room and I don't browse ponies related stuff with someone around me) nor do I use incognito mode for browsing ponies. I am closet brony for sure, but I am not that careful about it anymore. And I feel much better this way. Less stressed (actually not stressed at all) for sure.

[\/ 651]

I look nothing like a brony. I'm fairly average (if you call owning 5 of the same outfit to wear each week average) and I'm pretty good at keeping to myself. Only a few of my friends and my family know I'm a Brony, and I'll probably tell more people as I get older. I don't really do anything drastic to keep people from finding out. I am somewhat careful, because I have a few enemies at school who could really ruin my life with that info. I just don't talk about it. I'll watch the show and go on here, but that's about it.

[GXPBlast 597]

I should use these techniques for porn viewing.

 

 

lol, be careful its a SFW site XD.

[Katana 298]

It's a strange mix for me.

 

I live alone, and I just happen to never bring it up with anyone. Chances are, hardly anyone is interested in discussing a cartoon for little girls based on a set of animalistic dolls. On the chance that it is brought up, I don't necessarily volunteer information, but honestly, I won't lie about it either. Lay it all plainly, and don't make a big deal of it, and I'm not about to be teased by workmates or anything. I've actually specifically mentioned at lunch "Yeah, I've seen some episodes of it. It's honestly not such a bad kid's show."

 

Okay, putting it that way may be kind of a lie when I've personally spent months producing a CGI short with original voice acting based on the characters.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

I pretty much do what OP and others have touched on, except I do save on my computer, just to a set of 4 subfolders that my not-very-tech-savvy parents would not even bother touching. I'm considering having them password protected, but no one's even come close to touching them anyway.

 

I only have one IRL friend that knows I am a brony, and we've made a pact not to talk ponies unless in the company of other bronies or others who would understand.

 

I own no pony merch, and in fact, no merch from any cartoon since SpongeBob.

 

I even have a contingency plan for passing off the ponies' names as names of ships, stores, brands, or other kinds of establishments if I ever let one of their names slip in casual conversation (which I think is highly unlikely).

 

I do not attend conventions and will not until I live on my own.

 

I maintain two separate Google accounts; one for all of my cartoon/pony stuff and one for all of my other stuff, including business and professional matters.

 

I also hide my fanart in a corner of my room. In fact, I hide it with my original art which I've been hiding since 2007 and has to this day not yet been discovered by anyone other than me (despite many close calls). I plan on shredding all physical copies of this art and passing it off as pieces of old schoolwork when I probably wind up filling 6 bags with it.

 

I only use art programs or browse pony/cartoon sites when no one else is looking, and have other sites to switch to as backup in case of a close call.

 

When watching The Hub or any similar channel, I make sure to have FOX Sports 1 or anything good on the "Last" button in case of a quick channel change. I then change the channel again and change it back to clear The Hub or any similar show from the last button. This is because there is only one cable TV in my house.

 

I mostly use the "porn mode" in every browser, including InPrivate in IE, Private Browsing in Firefox, and Incognito in Chrome.

 

And I'd say I'm doing pretty good, so far.

[greatmaul 17]

I find it very sad that someone would shred their original art just to keep people from seeing it.  You should think about putting it on ebay or dA.  I live in CA so no one really hassles me about being a brony though I don't go around shouting it.  The only time I've worn a pony shirt in public was when i went to a con and I did feel very selfconscious about it until I got to the con and saw how everyone there was the same.

 

Cons are great because they are a place where you can finally feel that you are a normal and welcome part of the world.

[Karma Lightwing 245]

Im not really a closet Brony xD 
I just doesn't talk to my family about it because im so tired fo already being Criticised for being a gamer and liking anime, "Its a phase" and "You'lll grow away from it" and "Child cartoons" are already annoying anough sentences to hear repeated in the few conversations i have with them.

Around friends and any people i talk to i could just randomly mention ponies

[FatPat 77]

It's not too hard to keep it private really. My roomates know about it, but they're cool and don't mention it when other people are around. I watch the show in my room and keep my plushies there as well, and since no one else ever goes into my room the secret is safe. I don't talk about MLP with them all that much or try to get them to watch it, so I think that helps.

 

My family is aware of it, but they don't seem to care that much. Of course I've always been interested in lots of geeky stuff, so it's not a huge surprise. My sister even got me a brony shirt last Christmas.

 

If there's other Bronies around I don't try to hide anything. I was at a MLP card tournament last week and brought my Twilight plushie. Got a lot of weird looks from the stores patrons, but when I'm in a group I don't care. If I'm alone then I'll hide everything.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

I'm part closet brony, but that's only because the times I've shown them stuff based on the pony fandom, they were extremely negative towards it.

 

So I remain silent about my preferences so they don't find out about here.

[GXPBlast 597]

I pretty much do what OP and others have touched on, except I do save on my computer, just to a set of 4 subfolders that my not-very-tech-savvy parents would not even bother touching. I'm considering having them password protected, but no one's even come close to touching them anyway.

 

I only have one IRL friend that knows I am a brony, and we've made a pact not to talk ponies unless in the company of other bronies or others who would understand.

 

I own no pony merch, and in fact, no merch from any cartoon since SpongeBob.

 

I even have a contingency plan for passing off the ponies' names as names of ships, stores, brands, or other kinds of establishments if I ever let one of their names slip in casual conversation (which I think is highly unlikely).

 

I do not attend conventions and will not until I live on my own.

 

I maintain two separate Google accounts; one for all of my cartoon/pony stuff and one for all of my other stuff, including business and professional matters.

 

I also hide my fanart in a corner of my room. In fact, I hide it with my original art which I've been hiding since 2007 and has to this day not yet been discovered by anyone other than me (despite many close calls). I plan on shredding all physical copies of this art and passing it off as pieces of old schoolwork when I probably wind up filling 6 bags with it.

 

I only use art programs or browse pony/cartoon sites when no one else is looking, and have other sites to switch to as backup in case of a close call.

 

When watching The Hub or any similar channel, I make sure to have FOX Sports 1 or anything good on the "Last" button in case of a quick channel change. I then change the channel again and change it back to clear The Hub or any similar show from the last button. This is because there is only one cable TV in my house.

 

I mostly use the "porn mode" in every browser, including InPrivate in IE, Private Browsing in Firefox, and Incognito in Chrome.

 

And I'd say I'm doing pretty good, so far.

 

Out of all the posts made, your are the most closeted brony and can relate to this thread XD.

 

Most others seem to be just not open about it but will be when confronted.

 

When I mean closeted, I mean go out of your way to avoid being found out even if it means lying or putting down the fandom even if your hate doing it but revealing your bronyness is far worse than lying.

 

There are others who are closet bronies in this thread, but yours so far is the closest to my description of a closet brony.

 

Anyone else is "really" a closet brony and what do you do to actually hide your interests?

Edited March 2, 2014 by furgrid

[StarSwirlTheBearded 356]

Given that I was an anti-brony, I just keep acting like an anti-brony in public, even though I am not.  No one knows.

[Oblivion 20,275]

Well since I am the only one on my PC I can have all the clop images I want on it! But as far as being a closet brony, if no one asks I see no reason to randomly tell them about it....

[GXPBlast 597]

Given that I was an anti-brony, I just keep acting like an anti-brony in public, even though I am not.  No one knows.

 

I also act anti-brony around some people to hide my interests if I know they would judge me negatively for it. I will often use the typical stereotype like the show similar what Howard Stern said in his famous videos making fun of bronies, so there is not even a slight chance that these type of people will think I am a brony.

Edited March 6, 2014 by furgrid