Brony websites are vanishing...

[JamesBobbyDReed 104]

Ibrony

BronyNet

Cutie marks

Flankbook

 

remember when these websites existed?

[Adorkable 2,737]

I actually haven't heard of those websites before, but it is sad to hear that some are disappearing! Doesn't mean anything is wrong with the fandom though, especially after the Season 4 finale! ^^

[Adente 1,000]

Well, no, I don't, since I'm not involved in anything about the fandom besides this site, but it isn't surprising. Fans of the show from the original seasons and the first big wave of hype are starting to love interest and leave, taking sites they created with them. Its a natural part of the start of the decay of any fandom. 

[Demonic Soulz 483]

I used to be on those but I stopped

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

Never heard of them. I usually just hang around in fimfiction, and here for my pony stuff. Youtube as well, but that's not just for ponies.

 

 I've actually been around since season one. I've just been a lurker until recently.

[Adorkable 2,737]

Now that I think of it, it can actually be understanding.

 

Let me explain though! ^^

 

As the Brony fandom grows stronger in numbers, the more fans who will try to do something bigger and better for the community! Meaning some of those fans may want to make websites.

 

The thing is, if your website doesn't have any real traffic or anything you're wanting to see within a few weeks or months (maybe a year?), you'll probably want to shut it down, and such.

 

I'm not saying that this is what has happened here, but it's a relatable situation, no? ^^"

[Frozen The Unicorn 484]

Sadly, I feel that this is hasbro's effect, A few weeks ago JanAnimmations (Buttons Adventures) Went Down due to copyright claims. This may or may not be related but the most likely chance is that Hasbro is clamping down on any copyright infringing Site, As I am not a expert i do not know if this is true or not. But if it is we might see a lot off popular site going down.

[Adorkable 2,737]

Sadly, I feel that this is hasbro's effect, A few weeks ago JanAnimmations (Buttons Adventures) Went Down due to copyright claims. This may or may not be related but the most likely chance is that Hasbro is clamping down on any copyright infringing Site, As I am not a expert i do not know if this is true or not. But if it is we might see a lot off popular site going down.

 

Respectfully, I don't think Hasbro would really have an effect on this. The biggest Brony fansite, EquestriaDaily, hasn't even been touched by them (at least to my knowledge). So it wouldn't make any sense for them to have an effect on lesser-known sites. Also, the thing with Jan and Hasbro is a completely different situation, but 'tis a different conversation for another topic! ^^

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

Sadly, I feel that this is hasbro's effect, A few weeks ago JanAnimmations (Buttons Adventures) Went Down due to copyright claims. This may or may not be related but the most likely chance is that Hasbro is clamping down on any copyright infringing Site, As I am not a expert i do not know if this is true or not. But if it is we might see a lot off popular site going down.

Big Bad Hasbro isn't doing anything. They have no reason to take down sites like that. They take down projects that they feel are too big and recognizable, and are capable of being mistaken for their own official products by people who don't do research. They have no reason to go after small Fansites that are obviously not official.

 

 And Jananimations being taken down had nothing to do with Hasbro.

Edited May 16, 2014 by BasementPony

[Frozen The Unicorn 484]

Big Bad Hasbro isn't doing anything. They have no reason to take down sites like that. They take down projects that they feel are too big and recognizable, and are capable of being mistaken for their own official products by people who don't do research. They have no reason to go after small Fansites that are obviously not official.

 

 And Jananimations being taken down had nothing to do with Hasbro.

Thanks For Saying this, I stand Corrected. What Do you mean Jananimations was not taken down hasbro? Please answer i do want to know :3

[SFyr 1,982]

I think this would be more a case of that initial spike of pop-celebrity stuff dying down. Like, people left and right jumping on the bandwagon, and then eventually it becomes apparent that not everyone can stay afloat, nor keep the motivation/interest to do so.

 

I think the fandom is just getting to that point where it's becoming a not-new thing. And with it, some of the people more prone to short-term movements/fabs become less present.

 

Yeah, a place or two went down due to Hasbro's stuff, but the brony community is still often coming up with new projects. Just look at Legends of Equestria. I consider it to be one of the most admirable fan projects out there, yet it's growing and becoming more and more of a thing.

The fandom isn't dying in my eyes, just dropping off the highest point of its pop-celebrity status.

Edited May 16, 2014 by SFyr

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,178]

It makes sence.... These are much lesser known websites that are probably privately owned.... It dosent really mean that the brony fandom is fading.... In fact it's stronger than ever.

[Ianpiersonjdavis 514]

I think people are starting to lose interest or their drive to continue participating in the fandom.

 

After hearing abut the JanAnimations C&D I significantly cut back on fanart to the point where I don't draw anymore, and I've lost the drive to keep working on stories (even deleting a few) just to be safe.

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

Thanks For Saying this, I stand Corrected. What Do you mean Jananimations was not taken down hasbro? Please answer i do want to know :3

 Okay. It appears I was partially wrong. There was a Cease & Desist but it was targeted specifically at Button's adventures. It wasn't aimed at Jan's in general. The rest of it was taken down by Jananimations himself. The "Don't mine at night" video is up on his channel right now.  It was probably because of how official looking it was, like I said above.

[John 793]

*awakens dramatically from a deep cryogenic sleep"

 

...

 

...

 

...

 

 

Okay, I've been gone for almost a year now..  Haven't seen any of Season 4 yet and I don't know if I want to after how Hasbro basically ruined everything last year (taking down Fighting is Magic, making twilight Alicorn, that abomination of a movie that deserves to be buried in the desert with ET ect.)  Is shit still ruined, or do I have a good reason to watch s4?

 

(my thoughts on last year  -->   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEumDLau4CI)

 

anyway...

 

All of the main websites I've seen (EQD, the forums, ect) are still up and kicking apparently... some how...

 

 

 

 

5 min and no responses...  --->  http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eszw344IOC4/URZNALfLEEI/AAAAAAAAAIc/W4lGmQ7h730/s1600/ForeverAlone.png

 

FML

Edited May 16, 2014 by John

[Twilight Sparkle ✨ 8,529]

Allow me to shed a little light on this topic, from the perspective of a fan site owner.

 

Fan sites are hard. The combined amount of work it takes to build and maintain a great site that people would like is more than you might imagine. Humans like being acknowledged for their efforts, too; and when people think of the fandom's creators, musicians, artists, and writers come to mind, but fan site operators are generally taken for granted.

 

Like most fandom activities, running websites is not a particularly profitable endeavour. There are exceptions (two that I'm aware of) to this, but most of the world's pony sites are completely and entirely volunteer-driven. If a site owner, for whatever reason, loses the motivation to continue pouring hundreds of hours of their lives into their site(s), they're fully within their rights to walk away from it - just as a musician who loses the motivation to make more music can just walk away from producing any more. Depending on the level of attachment to the work, there may be an emotional battle that needs to be fought, but really... site operators have no obligation whatsoever to continue their work in the fandom from day to day.

 

If there are any sites you cherish and want to continue existing, do their staff a favour and say thanks. Let them know you care, that you appreciate their work, and throw in a personal note of how the site has positively contributed to your own life. A simple gesture like that can make a world of difference to us.

 

And please, do not fall prey to bystander effect - do not assume that "everyone else is doing this," and that such a message would be a pointless waste of your time. You may be surprised how human website staff really are.

 

 

The thing is, if your website doesn't have any real traffic or anything you're wanting to see within a few weeks or months (maybe a year?), you'll probably want to shut it down, and such.

 

I'm not saying that this is what has happened here, but it's a relatable situation, no? ^^"

 

Traffic doesn't just "come". Just like site operators don't owe the community their work, the community doesn't owe site operators their attention. But, it is a two-way road, and when a site operator has done everything in their power to get their work out there, no one cares for it, and they're not getting anything else (such as a salary) for their efforts, can you really blame them for wanting to move on with their lives?

 

 

Sadly, I feel that this is hasbro's effect, A few weeks ago JanAnimmations (Buttons Adventures) Went Down due to copyright claims. This may or may not be related but the most likely chance is that Hasbro is clamping down on any copyright infringing Site, As I am not a expert i do not know if this is true or not. But if it is we might see a lot off popular site going down.

 

As has already been said, Hasbro has nothing to do with this. The C&D's they've sent out were always sent out for the exact same reason: someone was publishing a project that they held a trademark to (Hasbro does have trademarks for MLP animated entertainment and video games), was polished and faithful enough to pass for official Hasbro material, and was incredibly popular, too. The point at which a cursory glance at a project does not immediately reveal whether it is fan-made or official is the point at which Hasbro seems to take concern, judging by their past takedowns.

 

It makes sence.... These are much lesser known websites that are probably privately owned.... It dosent really mean that the brony fandom is fading.... In fact it's stronger than ever.

 

I'm not sure what you meant with this - what are you comparing private website ownership to?

[Frozen The Unicorn 484]

Allow me to shed a little light on this topic, from the perspective of a fan site owner.

 

Fan sites are hard. The combined amount of work it takes to build and maintain a great site that people would like is more than you might imagine. Humans like being acknowledged for their efforts, too; and when people think of the fandom's creators, musicians, artists, and writers come to mind, but fan site operators are generally taken for granted.

 

Like most fandom activities, running websites is not a particularly profitable endeavour. There are exceptions (two that I'm aware of) to this, but most of the world's pony sites are completely and entirely volunteer-driven. If a site owner, for whatever reason, loses the motivation to continue pouring hundreds of hours of their lives into their site(s), they're fully within their rights to walk away from it - just as a musician who loses the motivation to make more music can just walk away from producing any more. Depending on the level of attachment to the work, there may be an emotional battle that needs to be fought, but really... site operators have no obligation whatsoever to continue their work in the fandom from day to day.

 

If there are any sites you cherish and want to continue existing, do their staff a favour and say thanks. Let them know you care, that you appreciate their work, and throw in a personal note of how the site has positively contributed to your own life. A simple gesture like that can make a world of difference to us.

 

And please, do not fall prey to bystander effect - do not assume that "everyone else is doing this," and that such a message would be a pointless waste of your time. You may be surprised how human website staff really are.

 

 

 

Traffic doesn't just "come". Just like site operators don't owe the community their work, the community doesn't owe site operators their attention. But, it is a two-way road, and when a site operator has done everything in their power to get their work out there, no one cares for it, and they're not getting anything else (such as a salary) for their efforts, can you really blame them for wanting to move on with their lives?

 

 

 

As has already been said, Hasbro has nothing to do with this. The C&D's they've sent out were always sent out for the exact same reason: someone was publishing a project that they held a trademark to (Hasbro does have trademarks for MLP animated entertainment and video games), was polished and faithful enough to pass for official Hasbro material, and was incredibly popular, too. The point at which a cursory glance at a project does not immediately reveal whether it is fan-made or official is the point at which Hasbro seems to take concern, judging by their past takedowns.

 

 

I'm not sure what you meant with this - what are you comparing private website ownership to?

Thanks For Clearing that Up :3

[SasQ 1,380]

Sadly, I feel that this is hasbro's effect, A few weeks ago JanAnimmations (Buttons Adventures) Went Down due to copyright claims. This may or may not be related but the most likely chance is that Hasbro is clamping down on any copyright infringing Site, As I am not a expert i do not know if this is true or not. But if it is we might see a lot off popular site going down.

Although I don' think this is the case about these websites, there is always such possibility. And there is possibility that someone can get a C&D with a closure forbidding him to tell anyone that he's got C&D, from PR reasons. I saw that before (not with Hasbro, though). One guy has got a C&D, so he removed the copyrighted material and published an explanation to his followers, attaching the original C&D. A couple days later the same company contacted him, forcing him to take down their C&D letter and claiming that he infringes their copyright they have for the letter itself

 

So just in case of such ridiculous situations, we should perhaps establish some secret code to signal to the community if such a C&D has been received, even if it contains the same non-disclosure statement. Something which couldn't be seen by the company as infringing their copyright (including the C&D) and non-disclosure agreements (although I don't know how it could be called "agreement" if it is forced one-sidely), but recognizable to those who know the code. E.g. using certain random words in their next post or something like that.

Edited May 17, 2014 by SasQ