Bronies! Are you ashamed of yourself? - UPDATED

[Samantha Burt]

I can't help but feel the question is loaded, in that surely anyone ashamed would not come forth to answer, since it would then "incriminate" them (for lack of a better word).

However, talking about segregated geek culture, I can't help but feel that XKCD (as always) has wisdom on the subject.

OT: No I'm not, by the way. I even got a couple of t-shirts custom printed in town.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

You should probably be ashamed for liking a show intended for eight year old girls.

Does that mean that adult women should be ashamed of watching something like Transformers: Prime, ostensibly a show for eight year old boys?

In the famous words of every Star Trek fan ever, your logic is flawed.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I'm not ashamed but I don't push it down people's throats if that makes any sense. My text notification is of Fluttershy saying 'yay' and I know a couple of the songs but I don't camp out in the Pony aisle at my local big-box or toy store. I like the show but there are other shows I'd rather watch (Hell, if it comes right down to it I'll put on the latest episode of The Simpsons before the latest MLP) but despite that I would still consider myself brony. I think it's a well written show and I like it. That is all. I'm more ashamed of having bought The Ultimates volume 1 and, Liefeld's run of Deathstroke honestly.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I really don't think you're going to find any Brony willing to admit that they're ashamed, especially on the internet and this site. Because Bronies aren't supposed to feel ashamed. Goes against their image. I'm sure there are some out there who do though. Not because they feel bad about watching the cartoon, but because the way other people treat them. The teasing and laughing is easy to shrug off. It's the glaring looks, the disgusted breaths, the behind-your-back comments that get under your skin and make you ashamed.

And in your opinion, why is MLP looked down upon more than other things which the culture at large has labelled as nerdy?

This is just what I've seen happen mind you, but it boils down to the fact that it's a show aimed at little girls first. I work as a cashier at Target, and every now and then a little girl comes through with a MLP toy and I ask her who her favorite pony is. After they answer, I tell them mine (it's Rarity). I watch the parents' reaction out of the corner of my eye. It's there for a second or two, then they quickly cover it, but they get a look in their eye. "Why is this young man familiar with a show my seven-year-old daughter watches?" Parents automatically assume that, because grown men watch this show without having a child, they are looking for little girls. Bronies will tell you that having parents wonder if they're a pervert doesn't bother them, doesn't get under their skin, but I think it does just a little. The last thing I want is for a parent to contact my supervisor and wonder about me because I was getting too friendly with their daughter.
The reason this is treated differently than other nerd things is because it deals with two very different types of people: Innocent young girls (in their parents' eyes) and young-to-middle aged men. These are two groups that, many parents feel, should not be liking the same things. Or at least, the men shouldn't be liking the little girl's things. Because if they do, they're up to something.
Parents can't help that reaction--it comes with being a parent. But suffer that glance enough times, that worried look, that "keep away from my daughter you pervert" stare, and you will start to feel the pressure. It's different when it's not teasing done by the same age group, but parents who, even if they're wrong to be, are concerned and are actually angry with you.

 

[Souplex]

I never feel shame about anything, because I do no wrong.

 

[Eddie the head]

I never feel shame about anything, because I do no wrong.

What so you're like Jesus? Or Batman?

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I would probably feel more ashamed if I lived my life according to the edicts of people whose lives are so pathetic that they feel the need to judge me based on what media I consume just to make themselves feel better.

 

[Tanis]

I rolled with Team EEVEE back in the day, and even LIKED a 'girly' anime like Escaflowne (it's still a classic, screw the haters).

Why would I be 'ashamed' at liking a show I thought was going to be shit, but turned out not only being 'not shit', but actually REALLY good.

 

[Souplex]

I never feel shame about anything, because I do no wrong.

What so you're like Jesus? Or Batman?

Kind of like if Jesus and Batman had a baby, and that baby had its parents killed outside a theater when it was eight. It then spends its life becoming super-JesusBatman-thing.

 

[uhddh]

YES I ADMIT IT! I'm ashamed for liking a show that's aimed at children of the other gender. I'll go cry in the corner if that's what you want.

 

[AngloDoom]

Does that mean that adult women should be ashamed of watching something like Transformers: Prime, ostensibly a show for eight year old boys?

Transformers Prime is about giant robots fighting eachother. MLP is a show that tries to create a world that caters to the imagination of pre-pubescent girls. There's a big difference.

Agreed. Women don't have to reinforce their 'femininity' in their media as much as men do. Women who watch Robot Wars or similarly 'manly' stuff are considered either neutral or praised for having the same tastes as men, so there's more to talk about.
However, men are told that if you compromise your big wall of masculinity in even one aspect of your life that ER MER GERT you're not shitting testosterone bricks and women will think you're a little sissy-girl and never talk to you again.

This makes me a sad Anglo.

EDIT - Just realised you actually think that it's a bad thing. May I ask, in a civil manner, why it's wrong for men to like 'girls' stuff, and not wrong for women to the 'boys' stuff?


Off topic@

... and even LIKED a 'girly' anime like Escaflowne (it's still a classic, screw the haters)

Wait, what? That was considered 'girly'? It was about dragon mechs fighting with swords and shields in medieval kingdoms to save/destroy the world as we know it. That's sounds pretty much a boy thing to me.

Seriously, Escaflowne is considered feminine? Why? Because it has a female protagonist? I'm genuinely shocked.

 

[lRookiel]

Seriously though I said to a couple of family members that I watched it and they just started laughing. Don't even care

Then you have done something I will never be able to do. I salute your bravery.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Does that mean that adult women should be ashamed of watching something like Transformers: Prime, ostensibly a show for eight year old boys?

Transformers Prime is about giant robots fighting eachother. MLP is a show that tries to create a world that caters to the imagination of pre-pubescent girls. There's a big difference.

And what part of 'giant robot fights' isn't designed to cater to the imagination of pre-pubescent boys or does gender neutrality go in one direction only?

 

[Tiger King]

I don't play warhammer but I do like the background books and computer games.
I think that we feel a bit embarrassed about it is because of the stereotype.
reading the comments on various forums dedicated to warhammer you see hardcore fans typing "FOR THE EMPEROR!" etc
and although ive no problem with someone enjoying themselves it does make me well....cringe. if it makes me (a 40k fan) embarrassed what will a non geek think?

also what's a bronie?

edit: I just rememberd when I was about 8 or so the teacher for our class asked us "wouldn't you rather be outside playing than stuck inside playing a computer game?"
I remember everyone voicing their agreement and feeling bad because I quite enjoyed playing games on my commodore 64.

 

[manic_depressive13]

I said I wouldn't care what others think about what I do. I'm not going to think "Oh maybe I shouldn't listen to this music in case my friends think I'm weird". I'll listen to whatever I want and if my friends don't like it then that's their problem not mine. I don't see the point in limiting what you do in life just because someone disagree or thinks you're a little crazy.

Isn't that the definition of being completely inconsiderate? If my friends didn't like my music I'd show some respect for their personal preference and listen to it in my own time, and I would expect them to do the same for me. If I were with someone who had a moral objection to something I do I wouldn't rub it in their face, and I'd probably abstain while I'm in their vicinity. If I liked someone who was already in a relationship I wouldn't try to steal them off their boyfriend. That's not "limiting what I do in life", that's showing consideration for those around me.

 

[StBishop]

Ever tried to talk to a person who likes Rugby but not Soccer?
What about American Football but not Soccer?
What about someone who likes Tennis but not Badminton?
What about someone who likes PC's but not Consoles?

There's always division, it doesn't really matter why. People like to think the things they like are better, it makes them feel as if they, themselves, are better - for liking better things.

OT: I don't like ponys. I think it's stupid. I don't think the people that like it are though, because I don't really care what people like.

 

[AngloDoom]

Agreed. Women don't have to reinforce their 'femininity' in their media as much as men do. Women who watch Robot Wars or similarly 'manly' stuff are considered either neutral or praised for having the same tastes as men, so there's more to talk about.
However, men are told that if you compromise your big wall of masculinity in even one aspect of your life that ER MER GERT you're not shitting testosterone bricks.

Because eight year old girls, the demographic at which the show is aimed at, totally understand the concept of femininity.

Because eight-year old boys will frequently play with Barbies and say their favourite colour is pink?

Of course young girls understand femininity. When I was five I used to recoil at the thought of playing with a Barbie and my niece told a boy off recently for playing with a Barbie because "That's a girls toy!". She's three.

I'm not trying to get confrontational or anything, I'm sincerely asking you why it's wrong for a man to like girly shows and not wrong for a woman to like boyish shows. Please, we're grown-up enough here to talk like reasonable adults and not (*gasp*) bickering little girls.