Self-Hating Bronies

[Dattebayo 2,850]

So, I have this friend who hates bronies.

Nothing out of the ordinary, right?

 

Except that he's one of the biggest bronies I know.

 

He watches the show, talks about it all the time, draws a sh*tload of fanart, creates multiple OCs, religiously delves into crossovers, ships, and is even a furry.

 

I try to argue that the it's silly to diss a fandom he's obviously a part of because of marginal problems that are in every fandom, but he's pretty stubborn.

I even drew this to symbolize that:

 

He's so caught up on the negative aspects of bronies that he refuses to be associated with them.

Do you know anyone like this? Do you have any thoughts on this odd phenomena?

[Crispin 56]

Well, its more about fear. He probably fears what could happen if he is open about being a brony, which is completely respectful. Just be glad he makes all this cool stuff.

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

I can understand someone who is just a casual fan who enjoys the show but otherwise doesn't really participate in fandom stuff trying to claim they're not a brony, but this guy has long since passed the point of being a casual fan.

[Unikitty 1,212]

Firstly: That's a neat piece of art thar. Kudos.

 

 

Considering the cesspools that just about all fandoms eventually form, it's reasonable to hear that some people would like to distance themselves from said fandom, even if you enjoy the franchise.

I have to say, it's a little saddening to hear that he detests the fandom so much, but to each their own.

As Crispin said above, it's entirely plausible to think there's a more personal issue that has his mindset so negative.

 

Can't say I know how to remedy that. My best guess is to just let it be. If he gets over the dislike, coo'. If he doesn't, well there's no point in forcing it.

[Zhortac 1,475]

But...he's doing alot of what causes alot of crap to be flung towards Bronies....so he's technically contributing to it...

 

Sounds like he needs a dose of reality.

[firetorn 187]

I can totally understand disliking the fandom, certain aspects of it irritate me on occasion but i just steer clear of those parts. Sounds like your friend may also just like certain parts and dislike others.

[Sugar Pea 2,683]

I believe it's the fear of being bullied, denial, and maybe he loathes certain members of the brony community. I would be, too, if I were in his position. Sometimes, it's good to keep certain interests in the dark.

[Dattebayo 2,850]

Funny thing is, that he's part of a horrible dA group called #ANTI-MLPFIM, and he's made alot of friends there.

Before that, you can see on his gallery that he was your average, day-to-day brony and an advocate of anti-love and tolerance to haters.

 

I imagine something big might have happened to make him do a complete 180

[Crispin 56]

I can totally understand disliking the fandom, certain aspects of it irritate me on occasion but i just steer clear of those parts. Sounds like your friend may also just like certain parts and dislike others.

For me as well, some things I can't get over. 

[Thespian 78]

While not as bad as your friend I sympathize with him. For a while I was a "closet" brony and still sort of am. I hated the fact that I liked the show. It made me feel non masculine and weird. Eventually I got over that because I realized that I would rather be apart of something that generally makes me happy but occasionally get flak for it than not so I didn't give a shit anymore. I started not denying it and wearing a few things that showed off I was a brony. However, I still am not comfortable proclaiming to the world at large that I am brony BECAUSE I know more often than not I will get hate for it. I'm not ashamed to be a brony but I would rather not have that attention brought on me. At the same time , I also do not wish to associate myself with the MLP fandom in public because of the worst of our community. Being apart of a fandom that as a whole is perceived as being a bunch of autistic man children that also makes very graphic and disturbing porn (even though every group/fandom has it) can be intimidating. Even though I have only met a handful of bronies in real life and most of them did not even close fall into this spectrum, seeing videos and pictures of the fandom at our worst does scare me a bit.

I probably painted a horrible picture of myself, but I know that I am still apart of this fandom and proud to be a brony.

[Crispin 56]

Funny thing is, that he's part of a horrible dA group called #ANTI-MLPFIM, and he's made alot of friends there.

Before that, you can see on his gallery that he was your average, day-to-day brony and an advocate of anti-love and tolerance to haters.

 

I imagine something big might have happened to make him do a complete 180

First off: I'm listening to One Trick Pony and having a GREAT time (Because I know it by heart)

 

Pfft, that is amusing, very amusing. I'm guessing he's a troll?

While not as bad as your friend I sympathize with him. For a while I was a "closet" brony and still sort of am. I hated the fact that I liked the show. It made me feel non masculine and weird. Eventually I got over that because I realized that I would rather be apart of something that generally makes me happy but occasionally get flak for it than not so I didn't give a shit anymore. I started not denying it and wearing a few things that showed off I was a brony. However, I still am not comfortable proclaiming to the world at large that I am brony BECAUSE I know more often than not I will get hate for it. I'm not ashamed to be a brony but I would rather not have that attention brought on me. At the same time , I also do not wish to associate myself with the MLP fandom in public because of the worst of our community. Being apart of a fandom that as a whole is perceived as being a bunch of autistic man children that also makes very graphic and disturbing porn (even though every group/fandom has it) can be intimidating. Even though I have only met a handful of bronies in real life and most of them did not even close fall into this spectrum, seeing videos and pictures of the fandom at our worst does scare me a bit.

 

I probably painted a horrible picture of myself, but I know that I am still apart of this fandom and proud to be a brony.

First off, I applaud you for being open about this.

 

 

I as well pity him, for either being a closet brony or for just being confused on what he likes, because I remember times when I felt bad for what I liked and hated myself for it.

[lighting flash 207]

Drowning in horseshoes man...

[Thespian 78]

First off: I'm listening to One Trick Pony and having a GREAT time (Because I know it by heart)

 

First off, I applaud you for being open about this.

 

 

I as well pity him, for either being a closet brony or for just being confused on what he likes, because I remember times when I felt bad for what I liked and hated myself for it.

I'm listening to Jackleapps Griffin Village-winter (gilda). Nice little song.

 

I just want to say that I know we as a whole are not autistic man children having sex with ponies, but that is the image that is painted of us. We as a fandom have done so much in terms of helping people in need, anti bullying, and just general bringing about happiness to so many people.

[Digit 321]

Honestly I believe it might be the social stigmas that currently is floating around it. Many things like beinga furry or an otaku had the same stigma years ago but have sense become a common thing enough to people and thus loose much of the hate. It sounds like your buddy is afraid that if he fully integrates himself with the fandom he will be brought down by the very thing that plagues all fandoms, the plague of not knowing.

 

Also I have a Buddy who is really into cosplay but hates going to cons because he thinks that most of the people cosplaying are idiots. Even tho I point out how idiotic that makes him sound he refuses to change his opinion.

[Adorkable 2,737]

It does sound a little silly, doesn't make much sense to me.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I completely understand that he would not want to be too involved and come out as a brony, but dissing a fandom that has problems that most fandoms have is pretty silly.

[Crispin 56]

Soooo silly, almost annoying even.

[Envy 6,370]

He's not a Brony if he doesn't self-identify as one.

 

He sounds quite a bit more into the show than me, but still, you aren't a Brony unless you say you are one. Really liking a show does not mean that you have to like and associate yourself with the fandom of the show.

[Kel_Grym 1,917]

There are a lot of things I don't like about this fandom that sometimes makes me question the label of brony.

 

1. The love and tolerance slogan. It's bullshit.

 

2. The Clop. Not that I have a problem with clop, but it's the absolute prevalence of it...and the really sick stuff like Foalcon.

 

Actually number two is my biggest pet peeve. Just. Fucking. Stop. Seriously, that I or regulate it like you got some kind of sense of social responsibility. Kids shouldn't type in mlp in google browser and see images of Rarity using a [CENSORED] to [CENSORED] in her sister's [CENSORED].

 

It aint right, bro. Got the same shit in fimfiction. There is a place for that kind of stuff, and it isn't something you should stumble into on google images, youtube, or fimfiction so dang easily, but it is.

 

And people judge us for that. They judge the living hell out of us for that.

 

So yeah, I can understand not wanting to be associated with being a brony.

[Freewave 1,145]

I've known a few people who love the show but hate the fandom and don't want to be associated with it. They've likely moved on since season 4 as i haven't seen much of a peep from them. They seem to avoid the brony tag but enjoy the show which makes little sense to me.

[Macklin 88]

 I...I can't bring myself to say I am a brony in my circles because well bronies in my town are terrifying, they spit on little kids for liking the wrong pony. They skip bathing due to MLP marathons then go about their school/work day. 

 I do not want to be associated with that at all.

 

 But for those people that don't get it. You can watch Stra Trek and not be a Trekkie, there is a certain level of activity and devotion required to be a part of the fandom, it doesn't just come from watching a show or reading a book.
You aren't automatically a Whovian, Brony or Twihard just by watching the shows/movies.

 There is a certain amount more required, such as OCs, fanfics, fanart etc...if you immerse yourself in something then yuo are a part of the fandom if you just enjoy watching something you are simply a fan.

[Shanks 10,817]

It sounds like your friend is probably scared of being bullied and singled out for being one and it is also possible that he that he may not like certain aspects of the fandom and may be exaggerating the prevalence of some of them. He is way more than a casual fan from what you have described so there is no small amount of hypocrisy in his behavior but it also seems like it may run a bit deeper than just someone being a self righteous hypocrite. It is sad that people feel so afraid and anxious about what others think that they go to such lengths to hide it but it is the way things are unfortunately.

 

 

It aint right, bro. Got the same shit in fimfiction. 

You know fimfiction has a mature filter right? When you first sign up the mature filter is turned on by default and you have to un click to see anything so you don't really have any right to complain about running into clop there. You do have a point about google though but a kid or someone who dosen't otherwise want to see that stuff can just as easily accidentally run into R34 from other franchises as they can with MLP so it seems pointless to single that out even though I agree this a serious problem. I love clop, but haven't it where it dosen't belong pisses even me off.

[Amber Rays 42]

I myself have been in similar, if not the same situation that he is in. In some respect, I may still be actually.

 

There's aspects of this fandom that make me truly cringe, that make me roll into a ball and not want to come out, perhaps even make me want to completely disassociate as he has done. Actually, I have done just that before. Other times I may even wish to be called something different than a brony/pegasister. However at the times I do get to that point, it can make all the sense in the world to me.

 

It took months, perhaps even half a year, but eventually I came to realize that the problems are not going to go away anytime soon.

 

However coming to grips with the reality of it all and setting aside any preconceived notions of an ideal fandom is what eventually lead me here. To seek out the fandom once more, perhaps if even to help me out of my darkness, to help show me that there's still good out there. While I cannot say that I have found it, it's at least been peaceful for now.

 

Does the anxiety still persist? It does. Does it still effect my activity in this fandom? It sadly does. I'm even still afraid to roleplay my OCs outside my safe circle of friends. However all I can say is, at least I'm trying. By Celestia I'm trying! Cause regardless of what we perceive as the ills of a fandom gone wrong, there's aspects of ourselves that others could see as being just as bad.

 

While I am sorry for making this post to be about myself, I do hope that it can at least help in some way. Cause I think the most that someone can do is to just try to their best ability. At the end of the day bronies like the ponies and isn't that what brings us together in the first place?