Becoming A Brony Because Of The Fandom And Not The Show

[GXPBlast 597]

I have always been an open minded person, and never really had a problem with bronies when they originally emerged. But eventually the bronies became extremely popular and they were everywhere. So I decided to give the show a chance and after about 5-10 episodes I still could not get into the show. I definitely see the appeal of it. Moreover the show is becoming more influenced by bronies making the later episodes more attractive.

However, I still don't fully enjoy the show as its missing things I want like more drama, realism, sexual themed jokes, relationships such as the mane six or the princesses having boyfriends/husbands (besides shining armor and princess cadence), and more. I can understand all of this because the show is on the Hub network meant to target a younger audience.

Also the lack of males having more influence especially with older males being the shows core audience. I would like to see a male Alicorn which would defiantly even out power.

But there is one thing the show provides the community with is a ton of brony made content. Thanks to a huge brony fan base there has been a large sum of content and even fan made professional done videos on YouTube that look extremely similar to the show that have all of the stuff I want in whcih the show is lacking. Also there is a ton of awesome fimfictions and creepy pastas that I aslo enjoy. I also do enjoy fallout equestria.

In all the content produced by the fandom itself is what made me a brony, and not the show itself.

 

Edited March 6, 2014 by furgrid

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

I watched the show before joining the fandom..... And it misses those things for a reason..... Innocence. That's the number one appeal of the show besides heightened quality..... It's why I enjoy it,..

[Planty 1,053]

I watched the show before joining the fandom..... And it misses those things for a reason..... Innocence. That's the number one appeal of the show besides heightened quality..... It's why I enjoy it,..

HAVe to agree with this.

 

On the point that the episodes became more brony influenced, yes they did! Season 3 I didn't like to much as to be it felt like fan service, however I feel like s4 gets back to basics with what made the show good ! Loving s4 so far! (I practically stopped watching in s3, I felt like most the episodes had rushed and rubbish stories that where to ambitious or fan service).

[GXPBlast 597]

Any other bronies out there not like the show and became one from the awesome stuff the fandom itself puts out?

[MistyStarBright 9]

I saw the internet stuff before the show. I was really interested in what the hell 20% cooler meant, so I started watching. Pretty cool, so I like to consider myself a brony.

[Stancet 689]

I agree, Season 3 was lackluster by comparison. But I'm not a fan who forgets how much I enjoyed something. 

 

My brother is not a Brony. I shared my love of the show with him and he kinda tagged along. But I took him with me to a Meet Up group and he's since become a Brony just to involve himself with some cool friends. To each his own, I guess.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

I sincerely enjoy the show; not just for the storylines, but for the characters I love watching so much. They're all extremely interesting and well-developed, and I found myself worrying about them when they were in distress and caring about what happens to them next (especially Rarity I love fashion pone.); they're all extremely in-depth for a kid's show, but you gotta keep in mind that it's still a show for all ages, ergo, all they can do is push their boundaries and slip things under the radar rather than outright have sexual themes and what not that you mentioned; now, I understand personal-preference plays a huge role in your feelings about the show, but that will never happen nor should it happen; it'd take away any and all meaning of the show; one that, I feel, still has the maturity and intelligence for an adult but provides the nostalgia of childhood, with the most amazing and in-depth characters you'll find in any cartoon ever

Now, I do agree about people being bronies because of the fandom and not the show, and I personally don't find that being a brony. It's like saying you're a Trekkie without watching Star Trek. However, I have no problem with those people and, as long as they're kind, I don't mind them being in the fandom at all. I don't consider them bronies, of course, but to each their own, and I won't think less of someone for that Sounds like I'm trying to be nice, but in reality, it'd just be elitist and wrong to tell people to stay out because of conflicting interests
 

Edited March 6, 2014 by ghostfacekiller39

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

 

 

Now, I do agree about people being bronies because of the fandom and not the show, and I personally don't find that being a brony. It's like saying you're a Trekkie without watching Star Trek. However, I have no problem with those people and, as long as they're kind, I don't mind them being in the fandom at all. I don't consider them bronies, of course, but to each their own, and I won't think less of someone for that Sounds like I'm trying to be nice, but in reality, it'd just be elitist and wrong to tell people to stay out because of conflicting interests

 

It's not necessarily that we don't watch the show, but we do prefer the fan made content. I'm here still primarily because of fan music, or rather what fan music was versus what it's become. The show is cool and all, but it honestly doesn't actually hold a candle to the types of media I prefer. Half the time I'm watching the show I'm cringing. It's a good kind of cringing, but it's still cringing.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

It's not necessarily that we don't watch the show, but we do prefer the fan made content. I'm here still primarily because of fan music, or rather what fan music was versus what it's become. The show is cool and all, but it honestly doesn't actually hold a candle to the types of media I prefer. Half the time I'm watching the show I'm cringing. It's a good kind of cringing, but it's still cringing.

As I said, to each their own; I just stated that the fandom revolves around the show, and should still be treated as such. I'm not out to change the world and make everyone watch and like the show, because I don't make choices for anyone else; that's not my place. What I will say is that I feel just wanting the fan-made content, like the adult-themed fanfics and whatnot, is saying to me that you just want the title of brony for the internet phenomenon it's become, not because of the show itself, which, is what this fandom, all of its fanfics, all its music, and all of its fanart is about; I cannot stress that enough.

 

Again, that's not always the case, and even I read good fanfics and look at lovely fanart all the time with much more mature themes than the show itself has, but I still am into being a brony for the show itself and the wonderful characters in it, rather than to be part of some "trend" or be able to claim the title of "brony," and that's often the case with people who claim brony-dom but dislike the show itself, from what I can tell.

 

But, as I said in my first post, it doesn't bother me whether someone is a brony or not, since I try not to look at the world in such black & white like that as to remain open-minded. As long as they're good to me, I'll be good to them

Edited March 6, 2014 by ghostfacekiller39

[Shanks 10,816]

I am one for both, back when my friend was telling me about the show he also sent me a lot of a artwork and some fanfics and I actually liked them. I was impressed and delighted at how much creativity this show and its fandom has inspired. I was neutral yet skeptical on the show itself, but I just had to find out if Discord was that awesome and when I did I figured the show might have had something to it and when I continued watching I saw what it was. I enjoy quite a bit of fanworks that are unlikely to or will never ever ever be in the show but I still appreciate the show for what it is as well.

[KarentheUnicorn 218]

Isn't this a bit like the old argument, which came first the chicken or the egg.

 

Sounds like: I don't like My Little Pony, I just like the stuff people make that has My Little Pony on it/in it.

 

I don't know, apparently you like My Little Pony.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

However, I still don't fully enjoy the show as its missing things I want like more drama, realism, sexual themed jokes, relationships such as the mane six or the princesses having boyfriends/husbands (besides shining armor and princess cadence), and more. I can understand all of this because the show is on the Hub network meant to target a younger audience.

 

 

 

Personally—and it really is just personal preference—I don't like sexual jokes much. It has a lot to do with being a Christian, but let's not get into that here. Point is, I tend to find sexual jokes unnecessary and irritating, so I appreciate the show not having them.

 

As for realism, yeah the show can be a bit corny at times, but I do think the characters are very realistic and relatable, at least in comparison to many other shows targeting a young audience. Their personalities are very unique from one another, and the writers do a good job (in my opinion) of not making them act out of character to create conflict.

 

Relationships? That's certainly be an interesting thing to see happen. I wouldn't mind it at all. Whether or not they'll do it, though, is a different question entirely.

 

Again, though, just my opinion. 

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

*Sets down pipe*

 

Ya know, I was pretty much the opposite actually...

 

No lie, when I first watched the show, I got hooked and binge-watched the first two seasons and was super excited for Seasons Three and Four. And to be honest...

 

I actually had no plans to get involved with the fandom at first, I just enjoyed the show. But during the wait for Season Three, I just couldn't resist but go and look at fan videos and music. I needed something to tide me over, and that's really how I got drawn into the fandom, was just the craving for something to watch that involved the characters that I had enjoyed from the show.

 

And thus, I enjoyed both the show and the fandom ever since.

[Tigerpop198 696]

I enjoy both equally. I mostly became a fan because of the show though. The quality of the characters and the story lines, are top notch. I enjoy watching the show, and always watch the new episodes, whenever I get a chance. 

Edited March 6, 2014 by pony12343

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

Well, yeah, after seeing the popularity of the show on the Internet, I watched Friendship is Magic Parts 1 and 2 (I had watched Equestria Girls and a few minutes of Friendship is Magic Part 1 prior, but watching the first two episodes in their entirety was the "real" start of bronyism for me) and then continued to watch an episode per day. Very soon, it went from watching it "because everyone else is doing it" to genuine passion for the show. Good times...

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

However, I still don't fully enjoy the show as its missing things I want like more drama, realism, sexual themed jokes, relationships such as the mane six or the princesses having boyfriends/husbands (besides shining armor and princess cadence), and more. I can understand all of this because the show is on the Hub network meant to target a younger audience.

 

Also the lack of males having more influence especially with older males being the shows core audience. I would like to see a male Alicorn which would defiantly even out power.

Adult males are not the core audience of the show.

 

Let me repeat: Adult males are not the core audience of the show. Bronies are a tiny part of the viewing audience. It's cool that you have your own preferences and everything, and I can understand. I do however find the implications of this kind of thought in the fandom to be disturbing.

 

Friendship is Magic was created first and foremost to provide positive messages and strong female role models for young girls. The show was created with a de-emphasis on male characters for a good reason.

 

A lack of respect for the show itself, warts and all, feels like bronies wanting to take away the show from the young girls it was intended for. If such bronies had their way, it would be a travesty.

 

I respect the show for what it is and feel privileged to be able to share this wonderful show with the target audience.  I don't want it to be something catered to dudes like me. There are already plenty of franchises that do cater to dudes like me, and I enjoy many of them too, but I enjoy them for what they are.

 

For an example:

 

I enjoyed the show Breaking Bad. It was an incredibly dark and mature story. And I loved it for that. I also like FiM. It's happy and positive and totally saccharine, and I enjoy that too.

 

What makes those two shows awesome is that they are great at being themselves. FiM would not be improved by becoming more like Breaking Bad, in much the same way Breaking Bad would not have been better if it was more like FiM.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 478]

I got into the fandom before I got into the show.  However, that naturally meant having to actually see the show itself eventually, which I discovered had plenty of merits on its own.

 

The kicker for that is that many of my opinions of the episodes (up until, say A Canterlot Wedding) were already set by other people's analysis of the episodes.  I lapped up all the commentary on TV Tropes before watching a single episode so that naturally made me already have real biases coming into the show, but for the most part they were deserved.

 

And yet I still couldn't (and wouldn't) call myself a brony without watching the show.  Like @@ghostfacekiller39 said, it's like calling oneself a Trekkie without ever actually seeing Star Trek.  Naturally all the fan art was created by those who had actually seen the show and therefore see some merit in it.  The art itself may have merit in in, but unrelated to the subject matter.  If that's all the art appeals to you, then well... you just have good taste in art.

 

For an example:

 

I enjoyed the show Breaking Bad. It was an incredibly dark and mature story. And I loved it for that. I also like FiM. It's happy and positive and totally saccharine, and I enjoy that too.

 

What makes those two shows awesome is that they are great at being themselves. FiM would not be improved by becoming more like Breaking Bad, in much the same way Breaking Bad would not have been better if it was more like FiM.

Now there's the sign of a person who knows how to judge a television program.  The only problem is that comedies tend to get short shrift under the critical radar because... well, you're supposed to take a drama seriously and a comedy not seriously.

Edited March 6, 2014 by OptimisticNeighsayer

[Syeekoh 33]

 FiM would not be improved by becoming more like Breaking Bad, in much the same way Breaking Bad would not have been better if it was more like FiM.

 

Although it'd be totally awesome. Example:

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

@@Syeekoh,

 

During the song "Generosity" when Rarity sings "Where I see a frown, I go to town/call me the smile patrol" I always kind of expect Pinikie Pie to stop the song and pull one of these on Rarity:

 

[GXPBlast 597]

I feel like the outcast here now . Seriously though are there any members here who are not a fan of the show but is a brony for the fandom itself?

[Syeekoh 33]

@@Syeekoh,

 

During the song "Generosity" when Rarity sings "Where I see a frown, I go to town/call me the smile patrol" I always kind of expect Pinikie Pie to stop the song and pull one of these on Rarity:

 

hahahah! that is so great!

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I feel like the outcast here now . Seriously though are there any members here who are not a fan of the show but is a brony for the fandom itself?

 

You're not an outcast! Nothin' wrong at all with gettin' involved in a great community for the community's sake, rather than because you share an interest with it. 

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

I feel like the outcast here now . Seriously though are there any members here who are not a fan of the show but is a brony for the fandom itself?

 

Actually, I believe that makes you a special form of Brony, does it not?

 

You are now unique!

 

That's my way of viewing.

 

Besides, even if you were an outcast, that could be cool too. You could start acting all mysterious and sit in the corner of every topic with a big cloak on with a hood pulled up over your head and look like a total badass.

[King Sejong 859]

   For me, it was the fandom that hindered my joining the herd in the first place, the fans from my initial point of view would quarrel over episodes, characters and seasons, and frankly I don't like being caught up in someone's revelry. Even now the fans bicker over the same things, which makes me have a second opinion of joining in the first place, I love this show, whether it has intentional or unforeseen flaws or mistakes that's irrelevant, because that is effort, than is taking a chance and taking a risk, the characters remind me of people I would like to meet someday, the land of Equestria is amazing, it is animated splendidly and looks adventurous, next I love each season separately, they all have mistakes and shining moments, so I enjoy them without being overly critical or prosaic about each one, however I am glad there are bronies out there that can see with unclouded eyes, that each episode and season has something to offer, and they don't ruin the ardour for other bronies that do like an episode or season, they have a reason to enjoy those too, I just think it's not always right to defend your reason why you like this episode, over than season or that character when they did something wrong, just take it as it is, and leave that brony be, so I am warming up to the fandom, but not as fast as I have admired My Little pony Friendship is Magic.   

[Koelath 445]

drama, realism, sexual themed jokes, relationships such as the mane six or the princesses having boyfriends/husbands (besides shining armor and princess cadence), and more. I can understand all of this because the show is on the Hub network meant to target a younger audience.

 

 

"AHHHHHHHHH WHY ISN'T MY COLORFUL SHOW ABOUT TALKING PONIES IN A FICTIONAL MAGICAL UNIVERSE MORE REALISTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

Pst: Try Degrassi. (Honestly, what is with people complaining that fictional things should be more realistic? Grow a bloody imagination and a sense of joy, please!)

 

And "sexual-themed jokes"...So you want Twilight to point out something that looks like a d#ck and giggle at it? I'd really rather not...

 

 

But, to the point of the thread: A "brony" is a fan of the show outside of its targeted demographic. You do not care for the show. Ergo, by definition, you are not a brony. A "brony adjacent", perhaps.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Koelath