On the Open Nature of the Brony Fandom

[Gordon Freeman 85]

I feel the need to provide an antithesis for the seemingly never ending support for “coming out” for bronies, as unpopular as an opinion this is likely to be. I have chosen to post this in the General Discussion section because this is inevitably the area that will likely receive the most exposure and will not as likely be quickly dismissed from the relatively small population in the Life Advice section. I can only hope that those of you that are in a situation similar to this view this post of mine, to at least put some thought into the negative aspects that are present in becoming open about support for this fandom.

 

Firstly, it must be suggested that before becoming vocal of ones appreciation for this fandom, that the individual asks themselves why exactly they feel the need to make this interest public knowledge? Surely there is more to lose from doing so than to gain. I am all for living as you want to live and doing what makes you happy (a sentiment that I hold close to my heart before I dare to judge another), however, the realities of life must be addressed. It is quite simple for one to provide support and encouragement at a distance, however, the encouragement provided may not always have a positive effect, despite the purest of intentions. A trope that may be seen again and again on this forum in particular appears to be the attitude that Humanity is cruel and quite evil (one that I do not particularly share, preferring the view of gray across the board), which at least holds some truth in it; most of the people you meet will not judge you in a fair fashion, only able to judge you on what they perceive at the moment, as most people will not know you intimately enough to do so otherwise.

 

Many people also seem to be rather close-minded, and I can recall seeing story after story where a fellow brony has come to the Life Advice section requesting advice concerning their parents' reactions to this revelation of interest, many times ending very poorly for the brony involved. Even one's parents may be close-minded enough to view their own son as a “faggot” for watching a show of the nature that is MLP, as is the case for many that posted here and other forums. This of course varies on how close of a relationship one may have with their parents and the particular views of said parent, however, it is a possibility nonetheless. Admitting this interest to a parent may alternatively (though still negatively) cause the parent to view you in a strange light, not fully understanding why exactly MLP holds the attraction that it does for so many and alter their view of you semi-permanently. With such reactions possible from parents, the reaction of those in day-to-day life cannot be any more positive. In fact, another common issue on this sub-forum is bullying. The majority of those that you will meet in school or otherwise, once again, are likely to be close-minded and often defer to the opinion of society on such issues as a grown (or semi-grown) man watching a cartoon intended for small girls.

 

Society hates those that do not conform and other such deviants and will do all that is within its power to bring the individual back into the sphere of conformity. The only possible benefits that may come are finding fellow bronies in your local area (as well as the satisfaction that may be derived from living life in the manner that one wishes) at the risk of alienation from the majority of those that are encountered on a daily basis. One must then ask themselves whether or not it would be worth it to find fellows that share a similar interest at the risk of estrangement by so many others. Once again, it may be easy to declare that one should not live their life for the sake and acceptance of others, however, a fact that cannot be denied is the negative impact such isolation may inflict on its victim. An alternative route would be to simply not become open about the interest in the first place and only subtly hint at it to a small number of close friends that may be suspected of sharing that interest as well (preferably friends that spend much of their time on the internet, as those seem to be more likely viewers).

 

All too often it seems that there is the mentality that to be a brony one must be “loud and proud” about the fact and make it known to the rest of society, at once receiving its ire and subsequently negatively impacting the individual. A fact that must be addressed is that MLP is simply an interest, it does not have to completely revamp anyone's lifestyle nor require attention to be called to it. In all intents and purposes, MLP is just not that big of a deal and should not be regarded as such as to risk the emotional trauma that may result from publicly expressing ones interest in such.

 

To restate the point of this post, I must ask that before considering an open approach to MLP and “coming out,” that you take a practical, rather than idealistic, view on what exactly you are doing, and I hope that you realize that in most cases the risks that may be involved often do not outweigh the possible positive outcomes, as, once again, MLP is not a big enough issue to drastically change ones life and risk such negative possibilities in most cases.

[Adente 1,000]

You're saying that liking a single show isn't a massively life changing event and that it shouldn't be treated like sexuality and/or religion? 

 

THE NERVE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!!

 

But seriously, I like what you're saying. (I admit, I was speed reading, but I liked what I saw) Being a Brony isn't nearly the big deal that people make it. It shouldn't be the cornerstone of your identity or life. Loud and Proud =/= good. 

 

EDIT: I wholeheartedly agree about the alienation of peers. Why needlessly tell people about something like watching a TV show and alienate nearly everyone you meet besides fellow fans by wearing show paraphernalia or the like? It serves no purpose and serves only to isolate you from most of society. I'll be honest, I would never talk to a guy wearing MLP stuff in public if I could avoid it, simply because of guilt by association. I don't want to be associated with a guy wearing a shirt about ponies, or wearing a fedora with MLP pins, because society will look down on me too. Its just not worth it.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Windy Runner

[Scootalove 10,689]

I would say that I enjoyed reading this, becoming a brony might not be a big deal for some but I'm glad that it's not a big deal. You can still identify who you are and how you spend your life, joining a community is great it's just it doesn't have to determine who you are unless you want it to.

[websterhamster 203]

Many people treat the Brony fandom as a cult, which in many ways it is. Most of my friends and acquaintances in the fandom adhere to the tenets of Love, Friendship, and Tolerance, and consider this fandom to be the basis for those values. It's almost a religion.

 

And because of those above reasons, I think that being a Brony could very easily be ranked among religion, race, and political viewpoint. It's become more than a mere fandom, it's a way of thinking, a way of life, for many.

 

Thus, I proudly call myself a Brony!

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Ummm...

 

I'm getting a massive "I don't like how loud you all are about MLP so stahp" vibe from this.   

 

And, to be honest, if there wasn't so many loud and proud bronies, I never would've stumbled across this wonderful show or it's fandom

 

Now, of course, there's people who take things too far, but I don't really think it's anyone's business how a person enjoys a show and being part of a fandom; you want to be a quiet, chill brony, do your thing, bro; you want to ponify everything you own, go right the fuck ahead with that, too

 

As long as you aren't marrying plushies, it really shouldn't matter how someone shows their appreciation for something.

 

I, personally, am a loud and proud brony, and I have all the merch, all the avatars, all that shit. 

 

I also do NOT tell anyone to watch the show, and I don't talk about ponies when it isn't the topic at hand.

 

People can do however they please, broseph; it isn't causing anymore harm to anyone other than what would already be happening regardless

 

I don't care if you just casually watch the show or wear the title of "Brony" on your sleeve; people can enjoy something however they please, even if it isn't what I agree with

 

Accepting other people's differences. Weird, I know   

[Gordon Freeman 85]

Ummm...

 

I'm getting a massive "I don't like how loud you all are about MLP so stahp" vibe from this.   

 

And, to be honest, if there wasn't so many loud and proud bronies, I never would've stumbled across this wonderful show or it's fandom

 

Now, of course, there's people who take things too far, but I don't really think it's anyone's business how a person enjoys a show and being part of a fandom; you want to be a quiet, chill brony, do your thing, bro; you want to ponify everything you own, go right the fuck ahead with that, too

 

As long as you aren't marrying plushies, it really shouldn't matter how someone shows their appreciation for something.

 

I, personally, am a loud and proud brony, and I have all the merch, all the avatars, all that shit. 

 

I also do NOT tell anyone to watch the show, and I don't talk about ponies when it isn't the topic at hand.

 

People can do however they please, broseph; it isn't causing anymore harm to anyone other than what would already be happening regardless

 

I don't care if you just casually watch the show or wear the title of "Brony" on your sleeve; people can enjoy something however they please, even if it isn't what I agree with

 

Accepting other people's differences. Weird, I know   

I am afraid you may have misunderstood my point, as I do not care about the extent others may express appreciation for the show; I am merely suggesting that to be so bold and open about the fandom may not be in the best interests of everyone, as most people would likely not understand such an appreciation. This was mainly in response to the large amount of "how to admit I am a Brony to/at x" topics that I have seen so many of in the Life Advice forum, where there is seemingly unending support for becoming open about this interest, disregarding the negative aspects that may arise from such openness.

 

I completely agree that people should be able to enjoy what they wish to enjoy and should not be harshly judged for such, however, this is not necessarily the reality of society, where we are all constantly judged for our actions and interests. With such risks as social isolation and bullying (which constitute a fair number of advice topics), in many cases it is simply better to just not be so open about MLP. Of course if you are able to handle such risks and wish to be "loud and proud," then more power to you (as long as you aren't belligerent with your interest in the fandom), just be aware that most people would not benefit as much as you might think from becoming open about this.

 

The fact is, in most of these cases we do not know the individual enough to definitively give advice that may well be detrimental to their current state. I understand the need for support in such a section as Life Advice, but it seems that all too often that our undying support hinders our ability to consider the practical dangers that may accompany a decision, giving the section (in my view) more of a "you can do it" vibe than actual advice.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

I am afraid you may have misunderstood my point, as I do not care about the extent others may express appreciation for the show; I am merely suggesting that to be so bold and open about the fandom may not be in the best interests of everyone, as most people would likely not understand such an appreciation. This was mainly in response to the large amount of "how to admit I am a Brony to/at x" topics that I have seen so many of in the Life Advice forum, where there is seemingly unending support for becoming open about this interest, disregarding the negative aspects that may arise from such openness.

 

I completely agree that people should be able to enjoy what they wish to enjoy and should not be harshly judged for such, however, this is not necessarily the reality of society, where we are all constantly judged for our actions and interests. With such risks as social isolation and bullying (which constitute a fair number of advice topics), in many cases it is simply better to just not be so open about MLP. Of course if you are able to handle such risks and wish to be "loud and proud," then more power to you (as long as you aren't belligerent with your interest in the fandom), just be aware that most people would not benefit as much as you might think from becoming open about this.

 

The fact is, in most of these cases we do not know the individual enough to definitively give advice that may well be detrimental to their current state. I understand the need for support in such a section as Life Advice, but it seems that all too often that our undying support hinders our ability to consider the practical dangers that may accompany a decision, giving the section (in my view) more of a "you can do it" vibe than actual advice.

I don't see why this bothers you, and I don't think it's anything that can or will be changed, personally.

 

Honestly, Bronies will always be harshly judged by society, because, as you said:

 

 

I completely agree that people should be able to enjoy what they wish to enjoy and should not be harshly judged for such, however, this is not necessarily the reality of society, where we are all constantly judged for our actions and interests

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the harsh judging might be what drives bronies to being so open and proud of it?

 

Would there be gay pride rallies if homosexuals weren't constantly being judged?

 

Don't say that isn't the case here, either, because  it is; the pride homosexuals display is simply a re-assurance mechanism and to boost self-esteem and help them to power through the shit they catch for being who they are.

 

Don't think I'm saying we're all gay either, dammit Just a comparison to help prove my point.

 

Maybe the fact that we were ridiculed and laughed at in the first place is what drives us to be so open about it; we don't want to re-shape ourselves to fit into society's standards (given, most of us never have to begin with) and that we need the re-assurance found in having pride to face the hell we will assuredly catch.

 

I don't think we'd be as proud about it if we didn't catch hell in the first place, basically; we were going to be easy troll targets, anyway, since we like a show about ponies

 

 

Furthermore, trying to convince a large group of people to change is unnecessary.

 

We are a fandom.

 

We are fans.

 

Fandoms are supposed to be fun for the people who participate in it, and if people have fun being loud and proud, it isn't your place to tell them otherwise, sorry for being blunt.

 

If you want to be quiet about it, go ahead; no one's stopping you.

 

But what is going to be stopped is telling people not to display pride in who they are if that's what they want to do; maybe that's why people want advice on how to be open. They know they'll have more enjoyment by being a loud and proud sort of fan, but they're scared to do it in the face of ridicule; in that case, they need re-assurance, because they aren't getting the experience from being part of the fandom that they wish, and they want to do something about that.

 

Now, again, this is a pointless tirade on your part (sorry for the bluntness, again) because nothing will come of it nor should anything come of it.

 

Telling people how to live their lives will never be right; especially when you're doing it for reasons such as this:

 

 

 

I am merely suggesting that to be so bold and open about the fandom may not be in the best interests of everyone

Edited February 28, 2014 by ghostfacekiller39

[Deesinn 393]

 

 

Firstly, it must be suggested that before becoming vocal of ones appreciation for this fandom, that the individual asks themselves why exactly they feel the need to make this interest public knowledge? Surely there is more to lose from doing so than to gain

 

What do you mean?  Should I not tell people what my favorite band is, or not share what I enjoy watching as entertainment?  That's what people do, we share our interests with each-other.  You wear a shirt of your favorite band or a band you like because you want to show your appreciation and support of the band, not because you want other people to listen to the band.  If you're not doing it for yourself, then you're doing something wrong, same goes for My Little Pony or whatever the hell you're into.  

 

 

 

Society hates those that do not conform and other such deviants and will do all that is within its power to bring the individual back into the sphere of conformity. The only possible benefits that may come are finding fellow bronies in your local area (as well as the satisfaction that may be derived from living life in the manner that one wishes) at the risk of alienation from the majority of those that are encountered on a daily basis.

 

People don't alienate bronies for liking My Little Pony, they alienate then because they're vulnerable and don't stand up for themselves.  Lots of us have low self esteem and that is a major turn off for most people.  The problem is not this show, it's how you see yourself and how you behave.  People are very over sensitive to due to bad social conditioning, so even if somebody playfully insults you, they take it offensively and can't just roll with a joke and make fun of themselves.  

 

 

 

All too often it seems that there is the mentality that to be a brony one must be “loud and proud” about the fact and make it known to the rest of society, at once receiving its ire and subsequently negatively impacting the individual.

 

I mean I agree that forcefully screaming you're into a TV show is probably stupid and gets annoying, but you shouldn't hide it because you fear that other people will judge you, people judge people all of the time, it's instinct.  The trick is to stop caring and value your opinion about yourself over top of everybody elses.  Stop caring basically, do what you want, when you want.  Try not to let society get to you, it's a mind game is what it is.   

 

 

 

Once again, it may be easy to declare that one should not live their life for the sake and acceptance of others, however, a fact that cannot be denied is the negative impact such isolation may inflict on its victim

 

Again, if you're confident and proud of who you are, people are attracted to that and can feel it from a mile away, you're not going to be alone and isolated, that's a choice you make.  Ponies has nothing to do with it. 

 

It's like dudes who are afraid to talk to chicks or to flirt with them.  They think there is some danger involved, but in reality the chances of something seriously bad happening are so small that it's not even worth considering.  The same goes for most things in life, I agree that it's just a stupid show, but hiding it out of fear of rejection and being bullied is wrong because first off, you're not a mind reader, and two, you're not psychic, you can't know what people are thinking, so why spend so much energy hiding it?  Nobody is going to kick you out of your home if your parents find out, and nobody is not going to be your friend or date you because you like a show about ponies.  It's ridiculous and people who believe that something really bad will happen need to be a man and grow some balls.  At the LEAST you can use it to expand your comfort zone!  There are way more positives than negatives, I can go on and on for hours. 

[Gordon Freeman 85]

@ghostfacekiller39 @Deesinn

 

I am not dismissing the notion that one should not be able to express interest in the show openly, as I have already stated; if you are able to handle the more negative aspects that may accompany such a decision then you have every right to be as open as you wish. What I am suggesting, is that not everyone is able to properly deal with the social stigma that is attached to the MLP fandom, as it is certainly stigmatized because it is a show intended for small girls being watched by (semi-)grown men, against the social stereotype that men have to be these incredibly masculine figures. What I am suggesting is that just because one thing works for you, it does not cause you to constantly support such a path for every individual, as such an open policy toward this can indeed have negative consequences.

 

 

I mean I agree that forcefully screaming you're into a TV show is probably stupid and gets annoying, but you shouldn't hide it because you fear that other people will judge you, people judge people all of the time, it's instinct.  The trick is to stop caring and value your opinion about yourself over top of everybody elses.  Stop caring basically, do what you want, when you want.  Try not to let society get to you, it's a mind game is what it is.   

This is a good sentiment to encourage in others, however a simple forum post will not convince anyone to incorporate such a value into their personality; it would only be possible after a long span of time. In the meantime it would not be in the best interests of the individual (whom may experience self-esteem issues or other such issues) to be as open as you are; a single person's experience does not account for the experiences of all.

Do you recall the recent posts publicizing the boy that attempted to take his own life due to bullying for his interest in this? The story of the other boy that was beaten by other school kids for being open about MLP? It can be dangerous to be too open with ones interests, especially when they should be of little consequence and only necessarily shared with a select few friends. It is incredibly easy to be idealistic and supportive when the span between us is so great, but the point is that bullying can have an extremely negative impact on the individual experiencing it. As such, an interest that should be of little consequence as MLP, should not always be expressed so widely with the risks that could possibly entail such behavior. This may be different from you as you are an adult living on your own, however, for those that are still in school (as are nearly all those that ask how to become open about MLP in this forum), the consequences and possibilities of social isolation and bullying are present and a reality.

 

To reiterate this seemingly misconstrued point, it is perfectly acceptable to be open about MLP, however, it may become an issue when all we do is advocate such an open policy, for everyone, against the near-inevitable stigma that is often attached to individuals that are fans by society.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Gordon Freeman

[equerio 6,153]

Sir, I have to say I disagree with you. Although I'm lucky to be in a open-minded school (Secondary School of Music), and they're all accepting me as a brony, my best friend is not from that school. And he doesn't like MLP. At all. He seriously thinks bronies need some sort of a treatment. He thinks it's not normal for an adult to watch a show primarily intended for little girls. BUT, he accepts me as a brony. We're still best friends. Of course, we had a debate on whether being a brony is normal or not, but eventually we "agreed to disagree" on that topic. He sometimes makes joke out of it, but not to mock me, I accept the joke and we always have a good laugh.

So the point is: you're not supposed to be afraid of admitting. The only people that will alienizate you are the ones that won't accept you for who you are. And honestly, you don't need them if you have to change some of your unharmful traits in order to hang out with them a little bit.

[Adente 1,000]

What do you mean?  Should I not tell people what my favorite band is, or not share what I enjoy watching as entertainment?  That's what people do, we share our interests with each-other.  

 

I mean I agree that forcefully screaming you're into a TV show is probably stupid and gets annoying, but you shouldn't hide it because you fear that other people will judge you, people judge people all of the time, it's instinct.  The trick is to stop caring and value your opinion about yourself over top of everybody elses.  Stop caring basically, do what you want, when you want.  Try not to let society get to you, it's a mind game is what it is.   

 

Again, if you're confident and proud of who you are, people are attracted to that and can feel it from a mile away, you're not going to be alone and isolated, that's a choice you make.  Ponies has nothing to do with it. 

 

It's like dudes who are afraid to talk to chicks or to flirt with them.  They think there is some danger involved, but in reality the chances of something seriously bad happening are so small that it's not even worth considering.  The same goes for most things in life, I agree that it's just a stupid show, but hiding it out of fear of rejection and being bullied is wrong because first off, you're not a mind reader, and two, you're not psychic, you can't know what people are thinking, so why spend so much energy hiding it?  Nobody is going to kick you out of your home if your parents find out, and nobody is not going to be your friend or date you because you like a show about ponies.  It's ridiculous and people who believe that something really bad will happen need to be a man and grow some balls.  At the LEAST you can use it to expand your comfort zone!  There are way more positives than negatives, I can go on and on for hours. 

 

Good points, but there are a few fallacies. Having a favorite band is "normal" for society, its perfectly acceptable. Being a grown man and liking a show called "MY Little Pony" that's all pink and full of hearts isn't "normal". Thus, expressing a liking for a band is considered fine. Expressing a liking for MLP is not. There's a difference.

 

Its not about letting society "get to you", its that society is, well society. Unless you plan on being a hermit, you'll have to deal with society, and fighting society can be very harmful to you, your career prospects, your social circle, and many other things. I mean, what if you have an interview for a major company, for a good position, and they pull up your Facebook, and *BAM* ponies are everywhere? What will they think? You'll almost certainly not get the job! You probably are more than capable of doing that job, but so what? Society doesn't think so. Don't fight society, embrace it and prosper.

 

Confidence doesn't necessarily gain you any traction in society. Westboro Baptist Church is very confident in what they say, yet they are social pariahs. A grown man strutting around with a Rarity shirt on, confident or not, is going to revile almost everyone he comes across.

 

I don't think there are more positives than negatives. The social, career, and networking damage done by actively embracing something so far outside of societal norms far outweighs any slight positive sides to being open about something so outside the norm. 

[DarkSun493 51]

I think that one simply idea that can come from this idea is choice. Obviously, everybody has their own choice to do what they want to do, and nobody can steal that away. Sure, you have plenty of people here on the forums that firmly suggest that being open is a good thing. And there are some that say it's too risky. And, to be honest, both are right. The main factor, as to whether it's going to be a positive or negative experience is simply going to be your environment, your community. If you live in an area where being different is accepted, then yes, you have so much to gain by being open about it! You'll feel good about yourself and you may meet other Bronies. And since you are in that environment, there is no risk to you. If, however, you are in a much more strict society, then, you must reconsider that choice. And in the end, it is the individual's choice as to whether they do it or not. Friends or fellow forum members can push you either way, but they do not have control. I do not have control. 

 

It's very difficult to create an absolute idea, where you can say "being an open Brony is certainly good" or "being an open Brony is certainly bad". Rather, with all of the variables, you must trust the individual to evaluate his/her own situation and then decide for themselves if being open is in their best interests. If you want to advocate for being one way or the other, that's fine; its not inherently bad. You are suggesting for a person what you think is the best for them. However, people should be smart enough for themselves to make that final decision on their own.

[Deesinn 393]

I mean yeah, you know obviously if you're in a situation that could be potentially dangerous then don't say anything, it's easy enough to gauge that kind of thing and if you're not capable of doing that then something is wrong, but let's be real, those kind of situations are very few and far between and people tend to over-blow situations because they're afraid of something that might happen.  It's like the notion of, "I shouldn't go outside today because I might get hit by a car".  You can never really know anything, all you can do is look at your personal situation and perspective and make decisions based on that.  I find it very hard to believe that being open about liking My Little Pony will have a lot of negative influences on your place in society and your quality of life.  I did an experiment a few years ago when I was really self conscious.  I constantly thought that people where thinking about me all of the time, and I had to get over it, so I did something that was pretty ballsy for me at the time, and that was going to a packed club and sitting right in the front of the bar right in the middle of the club from peak hours all the way until closing.  In my head I thought people where making fun of me and thinking I was such a loser, but the reality of the situation was nobody cared I was even there.  Sure I got the odd "Hey man, whats up?  How ya doin tonight?" And the bartender would ask me if I wanted anything, but everybody was too busy stuck in their own heads to be paying me any attention.  People are so socially conditioned to be worried about themselves that what other people are doing, wearing, or watching rarely causes any kind of physical confrontation.  People also make the choice to BE offended, life if I sat here and called you an asshole, you choose to feel attacked or not, so it may be true that I said those words, but you can take them however you want to, it's your responsibility at the end of the day, so these kids being bullied over watching a show and killing themselves over it is quite silly and I really can't blame the fact that it was really over liking a TV show.  I also understand that repeated emotional abuse can cause instability in the way we control our emotions and actions, but there is always a solution to these kind of problems, and most kids don't do a damn thing about it until it's gone too far.  I'm willing to bet you 3000 dollars that the VAST VAST VAST majority of high-school and under kinds who are into My Little Pony openly do not get physically beaten over it by bullies.  For the ones who do, do something about it.  I've never even seen a topic around here about anybody getting physically violent over being a brony, and this place get's tons of traffic.  Until I see some good statistics on the matter, I think my point is defiantly the better route to take. 

 

 

 

Good points, but there are a few fallacies. Having a favorite band is "normal" for society, its perfectly acceptable. Being a grown man and liking a show called "MY Little Pony" that's all pink and full of hearts isn't "normal". Thus, expressing a liking for a band is considered fine. Expressing a liking for MLP is not. There's a difference.

 

There is defiantly a difference, but OP was asking why people want to express their love for the show openly, so I gave an example as to why people want to express their love of bands openly.  It's basically the same reason, because people like the stuff they like and want that to maybe represent them in some way. 

 

 

 

Its not about letting society "get to you", its that society is, well society. Unless you plan on being a hermit, you'll have to deal with society, and fighting society can be very harmful to you, your career prospects, your social circle, and many other things. I mean, what if you have an interview for a major company, for a good position, and they pull up your Facebook, and *BAM* ponies are everywhere? What will they think? You'll almost certainly not get the job! You probably are more than capable of doing that job, but so what? Society doesn't think so. Don't fight society, embrace it and prosper.

 

This is what I'm talking about, you're doing it to, mind reading.  A corporation is not going to not hire because you like My Little Pony, give me a break.  It's not about fighting social norms or complying with then, it's about doing what YOU want to do regardless!  Whether people consider it normal or not doesn't matter, just don't not do something you want to do over fear, it's silly!

 

 

 

Confidence doesn't necessarily gain you any traction in society. Westboro Baptist Church is very confident in what they say, yet they are social pariahs. A grown man strutting around with a Rarity shirt on, confident or not, is going to revile almost everyone he comes across.

 

For me it's different, I wear pony shirts almost everyday, I go to the mall every Sunday with a couple of friends and we just hit on women.  I wear the pony shirts while hitting on chicks and they don't even care, usually they're curious and want to know what it is because it looks so cute!  Every gig I play at (If the place doesn't have a dress code like Britney's Lounge) I wear pony shirts.  NOBODY CARES, I'm a grown man, 24 years old, and not once have I gotten any backlash.  I literally sit up on stage for an hour with a spotlight, around 200 people watching me, and during the after party or when other bands go on to play, nobody really asks why I have a shirt on that has 6 ponies on it.  They don't care because I'm confident and secure about myself, and wasting their time attacking me would be pointless because they know I wouldn't put up with it.  The difference between harmlessly wearing pony merch and the Westboro Baptist church is that church goes out of their way to disrespect people and families, so obviously people will get offended and not like what they're about or what they say.  Confidence DOES get you traction, it opens doors and opportunities with your career, with your love life, and with your friendships.  To me it's always better to appear confident, no matter what I'm really feeling!

 

In the end it is your life and you should just do what you want to do and not let societal norms hold you back from achieving whatever it is you want.  And if you choose to involve ponies or not is totally up to you, for me, I'm stickin wid tha poni3! 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

When I think about it, I hope that the goal of alternative lifestyles is the ultimate overthrow of society which is, if you recall, is nothing more than the collection of imposed values and ideals for the perpetuation of conformity at the expense of self for the continued transformation of human existence into commodities. The idea of an imposed identity is something that simply has to go, whether the issue relates to nationality, the concept of 'gender', the concept of 'race' or any other. Yes, there are risks in any conflict but to live without conflict means that one is submitting to a very coercive force. It is in the interest of none to submit, obey or conform to anything in life which they do not completely agree to be the realization of the true way of living. If there was an imposed will upon the people to give up their individuality then wearing special glasses would see it in every facet of society. Bullies and imposed societal values are then stamped by the old-fashioned values of the bourgeoisie.

[TheChosenPony 279]

I feel the need to provide an antithesis for the seemingly never ending support for “coming out” for bronies, as unpopular as an opinion this is likely to be. I have chosen to post this in the General Discussion section because this is inevitably the area that will likely receive the most exposure and will not as likely be quickly dismissed from the relatively small population in the Life Advice section. I can only hope that those of you that are in a situation similar to this view this post of mine, to at least put some thought into the negative aspects that are present in becoming open about support for this fandom.

 

Firstly, it must be suggested that before becoming vocal of ones appreciation for this fandom, that the individual asks themselves why exactly they feel the need to make this interest public knowledge? Surely there is more to lose from doing so than to gain. I am all for living as you want to live and doing what makes you happy (a sentiment that I hold close to my heart before I dare to judge another), however, the realities of life must be addressed. It is quite simple for one to provide support and encouragement at a distance, however, the encouragement provided may not always have a positive effect, despite the purest of intentions. A trope that may be seen again and again on this forum in particular appears to be the attitude that Humanity is cruel and quite evil (one that I do not particularly share, preferring the view of gray across the board), which at least holds some truth in it; most of the people you meet will not judge you in a fair fashion, only able to judge you on what they perceive at the moment, as most people will not know you intimately enough to do so otherwise.

 

Many people also seem to be rather close-minded, and I can recall seeing story after story where a fellow brony has come to the Life Advice section requesting advice concerning their parents' reactions to this revelation of interest, many times ending very poorly for the brony involved. Even one's parents may be close-minded enough to view their own son as a “faggot” for watching a show of the nature that is MLP, as is the case for many that posted here and other forums. This of course varies on how close of a relationship one may have with their parents and the particular views of said parent, however, it is a possibility nonetheless. Admitting this interest to a parent may alternatively (though still negatively) cause the parent to view you in a strange light, not fully understanding why exactly MLP holds the attraction that it does for so many and alter their view of you semi-permanently. With such reactions possible from parents, the reaction of those in day-to-day life cannot be any more positive. In fact, another common issue on this sub-forum is bullying. The majority of those that you will meet in school or otherwise, once again, are likely to be close-minded and often defer to the opinion of society on such issues as a grown (or semi-grown) man watching a cartoon intended for small girls.

 

Society hates those that do not conform and other such deviants and will do all that is within its power to bring the individual back into the sphere of conformity. The only possible benefits that may come are finding fellow bronies in your local area (as well as the satisfaction that may be derived from living life in the manner that one wishes) at the risk of alienation from the majority of those that are encountered on a daily basis. One must then ask themselves whether or not it would be worth it to find fellows that share a similar interest at the risk of estrangement by so many others. Once again, it may be easy to declare that one should not live their life for the sake and acceptance of others, however, a fact that cannot be denied is the negative impact such isolation may inflict on its victim. An alternative route would be to simply not become open about the interest in the first place and only subtly hint at it to a small number of close friends that may be suspected of sharing that interest as well (preferably friends that spend much of their time on the internet, as those seem to be more likely viewers).

 

All too often it seems that there is the mentality that to be a brony one must be “loud and proud” about the fact and make it known to the rest of society, at once receiving its ire and subsequently negatively impacting the individual. A fact that must be addressed is that MLP is simply an interest, it does not have to completely revamp anyone's lifestyle nor require attention to be called to it. In all intents and purposes, MLP is just not that big of a deal and should not be regarded as such as to risk the emotional trauma that may result from publicly expressing ones interest in such.

 

To restate the point of this post, I must ask that before considering an open approach to MLP and “coming out,” that you take a practical, rather than idealistic, view on what exactly you are doing, and I hope that you realize that in most cases the risks that may be involved often do not outweigh the possible positive outcomes, as, once again, MLP is not a big enough issue to drastically change ones life and risk such negative possibilities in most cases.

 

Well said my friend!

 

Let me point this one out for you.

 

Most bronies are different people than what they were when they were not bronies, you see, the show is both taken as moral guidance and entertainment. So much symbolism in a show intended for little girls and so much action and drama while teaching a moral lesson subconsciously. You see, if you aren't familiar with the plot yet, the (spoilers!) 6 main characters encompass and stand for one of the elements of harmony, magical gems that keep disorder and chaos from erupting. Each one of these gems stand as a moralistic guide. These six morals are Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, Laughter and Magic.(I will explain this one later) These six morals taught by the show and the basic plot line of "Love and Tolerance" really soothes the fanbase, furthermore, a gentile could only both like and understand the show. As shown, these "Elements of Harmony" save equestria many times, giving the virtue that these morals exhibited through the "mane 6" are the building blocks to order, friendship and peace. Moving on, let me explain about this "magic" element. It is both misunderstood and questioned why the element of "Magic" would be included and what this had to do with anything regarding friendship. I have devised in my own words that the element of "Magic" would be a placeholder for a religion, rather any type of spirituality, that would bind and hold these 6 "Elements of Harmony" together, and keep order. I like to prefer magic to "spirituality" as it is both shown that the element of "Magic" (Twilight Sparkle) is faithful in and very knowledgeable in the arts of magic, as is any priest in any spiritual art.