First and foremost, this is not a hate thread, or a flame thread. so please let's keep all as civil as humanly possible guys.  

There is a common misconception that Bronies seem to be some of the creepiest people out there especially in con season.

...and thanks to Howard Stern, I now feel I need to avoid them at all costs. (but i don't want to, I'd like to just better understand the whole thing) I am a Howard Stern fan. even before the days of Fartman. So when I heard/watched the links I naturally got curious and had to know more about it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUcjKln4zhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXTYKx-kQTs

What is everybody's thoughts on the Brony (Adult MLP Cult) Phenomenon?

How do we as transformers fans compare to them?

What do your friends and family think about you being a Brony (assuming you are one of course)? (assuming you have friends who ARE NOT Bronies)

 

Not all bronies are creeps, additionally, would howard stern, the shock jock, have a normal, sane, quiet fan of anything on? would he talk to a stable TF fan with a reasonably normal life? or the TF fan that is most insane and wants to do something really messed up like have sex with a transformer (toy or robot) or drinks gasoline to try to become like optimus prime? (this happened.)

Would he get boring normal people to talk to quietly and calmly, or would he get the REALLY wacky one that will be most shocking?




try talking to some of these "creeps" and ask them about things, find out how they really are.

Spoiler

I am not brony, I liked the show, and I like some of the fan art, that is it.

 

I'm pretty sure most Bronies (especially the ones I've seen in person) are just like the ones interviewed.

Can you honestly tell me all the Bronies you've seen or know are more down to earth and sane?

Just curious.

 

Dran0n sent me a pony in the mail once.  

I keep it on my robot shelf because I'm not ashamed of or offended by a plastic horse. Nor am I ashamed of or offended by the person who gave it to me. He's a nice guy, and I'd say he's pretty normal.

I have met bronies who act in the manner you are complaining about, (or at least I assume*) I have also met TF fans, Star Wars fans, and non-fandom people who act in such a manner. Pretty sure it's not the ponies. Everyone just thinks it's weird that guys like ponies, so they only see the weird. They don't notice the well-adjusted fan because they choose not to. The weird is real, just like they thought, so that's all they need to form their opinion.

Just a few thoughts.

*Your link isn't working.

 

*Fixed!*  

I've been reading alot About the phenomenon as a whole and it's just weird. I guess manly because it's in regards to a cartoon and toyline created for 5 year old girls. and most who like it are adult men or older Male teens (and let's face it, the average Brony has no kids or even a girlfriend). most Bronies have real love or crushes on the cartoon ponies themselves. it's just kinda odd to me. (odd in that it makes me want to keep them away from little girls odd)

yes, the cartoon has a lot of positive messages in it, but.. then so does sesame street and other shows for young kids.

How did it spread so fast to brainwash adults into being obsessed with it in the ways they are?

and then i read these: I got my feelings about Bronies validated.

Bronies - Creepypasta Wiki

http://www.dadcentric.com/2011/09/bronies-are-passionate-creepy.html

 

I hope that this thread doesn't spiral into flames again.

I'm a Brony and my wife, friends and family know about it and they're fine with it. I don't let it define who I am, just like I don't let Transformers define who I am - if I'm meeting people for the first time I don't know I won't say "OMFG GUIZ I LUV PONIES AND ROBOTS" or anything. I don't walk around wearing pony merchandise all day, watch ponies instead of holding a responsible and meaningful job or sleep in pony bedsheets.

You're making an awful lot of assumptions right there about bronies and it sounds like you really haven't met or known any. Of course there are weirdos, every fandom has them. Whilst I haven't got any concrete figures to challenge your statement about viewership for the whole season, if you look here at the viewership for the Season 2 finale you'll see that Adults 18-49 make up a small (but admittedly sizeable) fraction of the total viewing and certainly don't make up anywhere near the majority.

A lot of your other points could be said about Transformers fans.

But I see that you've cited some links proving how everyone who likes My Little Pony is a freak and a weirdo. Howard Stern, who makes money by shocking and provoking. The Creepypasta Wiki, which contains stories designed to unnerve and shock the reader, and an internet blog. Yup, that's some great and balanced reporting right there. Mind if I share some links?

Hey, Bro, That's My Little Pony! - WSJ.com

Adult male My Little Pony fans? Bronies are true rebels | Rebecca Angel | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

My Little Pony meets the BRONIES – Erin Burnett OutFront - - CNN.com Blogs

Fans of 'My Little Pony' may not be who you think - CBS 5 - KPHO

Oh yeah, we also have a couple of charity organisations as well:

Bronies for Good

The Brony Thank You Fund, Incorporated | Bronies giving thanks for the show through charity

Some people on a forum I frequent are doing a skydive to support military veterans and their families in our country.

Confirmed - Bronies Skydiving supporting Help for Heroes - 23rd March 2013 | UK of Equestria

I don't say many, if any, organised Transformers-related charities or events.

Are we a perfect fandom? No. Are we without obsessive, anal-retentive neckbeards? No. Is there no sketchy fan art? Of course not.

Chances are you've already made up your mind that we're all weird perverts anyway. It's a shame really, both MLP and Transformers have a large internet-based fandom and you'd think we'd gain more out of at least tolerating each other than hating. Oh well, silly me.

 

I would'nt say my opinions are etched in stone, so I apologize if it seemed that way at first.(I edited it accordingly) Though, i will be avoiding the dark parts of the fandom just as i do the TF fandom.   I am just being the scared voice of so many of us out there who just don't get it and are legitly creeped out by it is all.

I don't doubt the awesome of what many of the bronies have done out there.

But I just never see anything about the female fans of MLP.

Do they have a code name too like the Bronies?

Help me to truly better understand this whole thing.  

 

Are Bronies Changing the Definition of Masculinity? | Idea Channel | PBS - YouTube

I think its really funny how some people are comparing Bronies to pedophiles. Also Howard Stern has always been an asshole throughout his career.
Great because of this I wonder how long it'll be until some psychopath starts going after members of the fandom, just because of some stupid bs spouted by a senile radio host that I'm surprised that his name is still being mentioned. The world seems to get more and more stupid nowadays.

 

Not all, but that's like saying all TF fans are trying to lure little boys into their bedrooms because you saw one like that.


maybe the ones you'd see are on the worse side because you saw them and knew "freakish brony weirdo pedophile manchild!" due to their pony shirts/etc, right? how about the guy in a black t-shirt and jeans that just happens to be a brony but doesn't flaunt it and won't be interviewed, is he also a freak?



Just ask bronies to explain themselves, maybe that'll change your perspective, hell, i've seen bronies disgusted and ashamed by those who indulge in rule 34 of the show, so the ones even worse about it, are really the undesireables, sadly, THEY get coverage and become associated with bronyism.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone made an article on bronies saying something along the lines of
"OMG THE BRONY AGENDA IS A TERRORIST PLOT TO ALLOW PEDOS FREE ACCESS TO OUR KIDS!"

 

Interesting. I never thought about it like that. awesome little history lesson about Masculinity too.  

Wait, so then are the bad Brony fans considered Cloppers? or, does the brony fandom have another name for these folks?

 

While I wouldn't classify myself as a "Brony", I do enjoy watching the show with my daughters. It's a much better show than most of the other crap kids watch these days.

I figure the Brony crowd is just like most other fandoms, including ours. You have a majority of "normal" people in the community, but become characterized by the guys that take it to the extreme. Look at Trekkies. A majority of Star Trek fans don't spend their days learning to read Klingon or sitting in the living room with their uniforms on, but that is what gets portrayed in the media because its sensational and people will talk about it.

 

Thanks for the edit, hopefully it will help keep things civil.

From what I can see here, you're asking two questions:

1. Why do adult males like the show?
2. What do female fans call themselves?

1. There are many reasons. The animation is a pleasure to behold. The characters are very expressive and although the technical side is mostly beyond me, it seems to be very well put together. Have a look at this video to see what I'm talking about:

MLP Animation Analysis: Applejack Throws a Hay Bale - YouTube

The characters are enjoyable and fun. There are 6 main characters and each of them is different enough in personality to make them unique but that they have enough in common to gel together as believable friends. Apart from that there's a large supporting cast of ponies and other animals, and some of the background characters are even pop culture references. We've had the Big Lebowski, Mortal Kombat, Indiana Jones to name but a few. Whilst we're on the subject of references, look at this video showing the similarities between the ending of one episode and Star Wars.

Star Ponies - Ending Scene - YouTube

As with other internet fandoms there's a thriving community and people get into the fandom that way, mostly doing art of Original Characters, writing fanfiction, tumblrs or that sort of thing, none of which are unique to MLP.

I'm sure that I'm missing some reasons out here but you get the idea. There are quite a few ways to enjoy the show and the fandom.

2. Female fans call themselves Pegasisters or Bronies. I've met female fans that call themselves either of these.

 

Ah, interesting comparison. and your totally right on the money too.

So if we like the show but don't buy the pony merch or do fanart are we considered Bronies?

I have watched a few episodes mainly the first 7 or 8 i think of season 1, because I wanted to see if it reeled me in like the Bronies. I didn't convert but i have to agree and say the show is pretty well written. Reminds me of some of the old Care Bears movies and how well they were made back in the day.

and heck I have no room to talk anyway as I collect Monster High toys. It's a hobby I share with the wife and our 18 year old daughter. lol. I converted them. I felt it could be something kick ass we could be into and bring us closer as a family. weird eh?

 

Cloppers are the tip of bad brony fans, yes, but there are worse.

brony terms for the worse ones? "Disgusting" "creeps" "scumbags" "sleazy" "bad for the fandom" "why being brony is worse than being gay" "wrong" "nuts" "sick"


(heard/seen all of the terms above.)

also, I edited things to clarify too, if you want to re-read/edit too.

 

I noticed.   So maybe this thread will be around for awhile afterall  

I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts as we can all learn more about the subject. what better way to learn than to talk to the Bronies and non-bronies who like the show?  

 

I'd rather watch MLP than most Nickelodeon/Disney shows. I don't even like the show lol.

 

This is just not going to end well.

 

I'm not a Brony, and I've never seen MLP, but I've got nothing against them, and in fact I respect and admire them for going against social gender norms.

 

I stopped reading after Howard Stern's name came up.