Ex-Bronydom

[kortin]

Snip

Surprised no one else has replied- usually threads about MLP always get a page in full at least.

Anyhow I shall tell you my same old story about why I left the Brony community personally...

*snip*

I have to agree fully and completely with this post.

I would say more or add things, but there isn't anything to add. Everything Caramel Frappe said sums up my opinion on the fandumb. I love the show, but I can't stand the people in the fandumb aside from a small group of people I talk to (mostly) regularly.

 

[Alssadar]

The show is just a television program. The fact that the culture around it has surfaced into a growing phenomenon is just what fans do, and is an example of how people, when confronted with the anonymity of the internet, are willing to try and experience new things.

As for me, I watched it on the internet after becoming more socially engaged on the Escapist (from Pony avatars and threads and such) and completed the first season. As not one to watch TV, I never have watched an episode of season two nor was I excited for the second season. It was simply a show to me--whimsical, silly entertainment.

As for that matter, the fandom I despise are those who become fervent and zealous, preaching and reaching out to all who many hear, as they strive to be some form of Internet Conquistador and make all spaces part of their fandom. They've created their life around the ponies and are rude to others who dislike the show, despite their "love and tolerate" standpoint they toss at "haters."

I've never considered myself part of the fandom, per se. I've liked the show, and that's all about it.

 

[Saviordd1]

When you have a majority screaming the same thing at you what are you supposed to think?
Considering every brony, on the internet, and in my life, that I have interacted with acts the same way why SHOULD I change my opinion? I've had no one challenge my ideas on bronies before so why should I? (This incident is the single exception)

You should change your opinion because you are probably better than that. I firmly believe that you are able to think outside of these convenient, yet grossly inaccurate, generalisations. Mainly 'cause I refuse to countenance the possibility that you apply this narrow minded way of thinking consistently. Or do you think that all Muslims are terrorists? That all Christians are arsonists who burn down clinics? That all gamers are deranged psychopaths whose games only serve as training devices for their inevitable killing spree?

Anyway. I think there's a reason why your interactions have been mostly negative. You are evidently not interested in the show itself. Thus the only bronies you used to come into contact with are part of the 'vocal minority' - for the 'vocal minority' are the only ones who feel compelled to, for lack of a better term, convert others to join the communityOr herd, to borrow a term from the local vernacular.. Whether these others want to or not. The more reasonable bronies either tend to mingle with other bronies or keep to themselves.

Incidentally this is the first pony-related thread I ever posted in here on the Escapist.

Yes but the difference is all the muslims and christians (or, well, most of them) I've met don't act on their bigoted part at all.

Are there less annoying bronies out there? Probably, but considering you are the only one who I have ever run into who doesn't beat me over the head with it I am loathe to change my opinion.

If I run into greater numbers who act as you do I'll change my opinion, but until then the vocal minority is the majority in my life.

 

[waj9876]

As someone who is still a huge brony at heart:

I mainly stick to the Brony Minecraft forums and servers, and FiMfiction. Mainly the Human in Equestria stories on the latter to be more specific. (I am not shitting you, these can be entertaining and amazing beyond belief once you learn how to filter out the crappy ones. Romance is usually a no-no...But if it's handled well, it can actually ADD to the appeal of the story.) So I rarely get exposed to the stuff that drives people away.

I personally do not like the clop stuff. Oh sure, I can see the appeal, me being someone who is able to appreciate the well-drawn furry stuff, but...Meh. I just don't like it. I'm not saying I have a problem with the ones who DO like it. People like different things, and as the Internet has taught me, if it exists, there is at least one pornographic image of it, and at least 100 people with a fetish for it. I myself liking some weird shit as well.

 

[C. Cain]

Yes but the difference is all the muslims and christians (or, well, most of them) I've met don't act on their bigoted part at all.

Are there less annoying bronies out there? Probably, but considering you are the only one who I have ever run into who doesn't beat me over the head with it I am loathe to change my opinion.

If I run into greater numbers who act as you do I'll change my opinion, but until then the vocal minority is the majority in my life.

I don't think this is going anywhere. So I'm inclined to drop the issue if you think you have nothing to gain from further discussion.
That said, however, I just want to point out one thing.


Your reasoning seems to be based entirely on your own observations of- and your own interactions with your immediate environment. While that's certainly no uncommon modus operandi in itselfI'm actually quite fond of Empiricism. , it's hardly applicable to small sample sizesUnless you fancy certain statistical models that help you evaluate your data. And even then one should tread carefully..
Keeping this in mind is, to all intents and purposes, a good idea when dealing with others. It tends to prevent you from unfairly vilifying entire groups after having unpleasant experiences with their more unsavoury elements. Oh and qualifying one's statementsAs opposed to categorical statements. may also help.

 

[00slash00]

i never really got into the fandom. friendship is magic is a show i like to watch, nothing more. honestly, i did stop watching season 2 for a while. i think i got as far as the sisterhoove social episode before i was like "this season is terrible, id rather remember my little pony as it was in season 1, rather than watch this ship slowly sink." eventually my friend convinced me to give it another chance and it definitely got better. season 2 was very hit or miss, but it was very worth it for the sweet elite episode and the canterlot wedding episodes. sooooo goooood!

 

[Saviordd1]

-snip-

WellFootnotes I hardly find 10 people plus countless internet goes a small sample.Footnotes EVERYWHERE
But either way this won't go anywhere.

-snip-

Thank you for the understanding, perhaps I'll meet others who actually challenge my ideas, this is yet to be seen.

 

[Zealous]

I never really got into the brony community. I just watched the show. I did like some of the remixed or original music that was coming out of the community though. However, after realizing what a large majority of the fandom had for a rule 34 policy I cut all ties.

Various websites's draconian policies regarding r34, entire chats frothing at the mouth and acting extremely hateful when one person says they looked at rule 34 or an artist receiving death threats after revealing they were transexual was disgusting. Those kinds of things made me hate the community.

Also, the amount of hate they spew at others when anyone questions them on anything or bring up the sections of the fandom that support rule 34 stuff is horrible. Much like any other fandom, you also get the crazily obsessed ones who have shaped their entire online (or actual) self around the show who are... less than enjoyable to have any contact with.

I still watch the show, but I'm not a brony.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Hunter85792's post reminds me of why I don't associate with a community of any one thing; there are sick, twisted, and disturbed people everywhere, and given that I don't like the way most people behave in such an environment even when they're not quite that disturbed, I'm normally better off just avoiding them altogether; gushing and singing the praise of one thing constantly is just annoying to me, frankly, as is the general mindset most people have that because it's something they like, it's above any and all criticism or reproach. It's impossible to have any kind of discussion with most fans, because they're so desperate to justify their enjoyment, to justify what they see as a portion of themselves, that they're beyond all reason or decency, the community in question included. You can still be an asshole while preaching happiness and joy and whatever the hell else, and I've seen more examples of this than I care to put up with on this forum alone, let alone while among them in their own element. It's easy to be insufferable when you think you've got a moral high ground.

Simply put, fans ruin everything for me, including - hell, especially - the things I enjoy.

The closest I get to tolerating an online community is a place where discussion of multiple topics is encouraged, like this one, but even then I don't consider myself a member of this community.

 

[WeaponisedCookie]

...The closest I get to tolerating an online community is a place where discussion of multiple topics is encouraged, like this one, but even then I don't consider myself a member of this community.

Define associate? I managed to scrounge this up, "To spend time socially; keep company; A member of an institution or society who is granted only partial status or privileges". It seems like you are already, by definition associating with the escapist. The horror! While I understand and echo most of your sentiments, it seems hypocritical to assume you're not in any way, shape or form associating with the forums (and with 676 posts to boot).

I like the remixes of pony themed songs like Krow's Pinkie's brew and pony music videos on Equestria rhythm, along with the better fan-fiction out there but I find it extremely difficult to watch the show. The themes are a bit, well, childish. Yeah, I know it's a show designed for children but it really is cringe worthy (I'm just finished episode 2 of season 1). I don't understand how eternal night is really so horrible that Luna thinks it some kind of revenge and the ponies feel genuinely threatened by it. Sure it might not be your cup of tea but it's not exactly a world ending scenario. Another part was when Luna spontaneously accepts Celestia's offer right after the whole feud. You'd think a thousand years of imprisonment would cause at least a bit of resentment. That's not even taking into account the part where a dragon gets upset because half his moustache was torn off (He goes for pedicures? Seriously?). Though since the very same people who said this show was good hated season 2, maybe it'll pick up there? TL;DR I'm a brony I suppose, I'm not going to let the vocal minority/majority affect that.

 

[Dtox333]

I never really got into the brony community. I just watched the show. I did like some of the remixed or original music that was coming out of the community though. However, after realizing what a large majority of the fandom had for a rule 34 policy I cut all ties.

Various websites's draconian policies regarding r34, entire chats frothing at the mouth and acting extremely hateful when one person says they looked at rule 34 or an artist receiving death threats after revealing they were transexual was disgusting. Those kinds of things made me hate the community.

Also, the amount of hate they spew at others when anyone questions them on anything or bring up the sections of the fandom that support rule 34 stuff is horrible. Much like any other fandom, you also get the crazily obsessed ones who have shaped their entire online (or actual) self around the show who are... less than enjoyable to have any contact with.

I still watch the show, but I'm not a brony.

many fans have that kind of policy towards rule 34 mainly because of the controversial nature of the show itself. we're a fandom centered around a show whose name-sake is associated with little girls. If this were a fandom based on something more mainstream, such as something anime style or a show that's more towards our demographic, then the rule 34 would be business as usual. But no, it's the stigma surrounding "my little pony" that gets many fans, and many non-fans even, up-in-arms over the subject of "rule 34."

I personally don't care for it, and I try to stress the importance of tolerance towards my fellow fans, but in the end people will have their opinions.

Never saw anything about bronies hating on transexual people, just wanted to say on that note.

Anyways, I don't blame you for not wanting to call yourself a "brony." I know many people who don't want to either. You don't see yourself interacting with the community, so why represent it?

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

...The closest I get to tolerating an online community is a place where discussion of multiple topics is encouraged, like this one, but even then I don't consider myself a member of this community.

Define associate? I managed to scrounge this up, "To spend time socially; keep company; A member of an institution or society who is granted only partial status or privileges". It seems like you are already, by definition associating with the escapist. The horror! While I understand and echo most of your sentiments, it seems hypocritical to assume you're not in any way, shape or form associating with the forums (and with 676 posts to boot).

I didn't even use the word "associate"; your entire stance falls apart from there. I said I don't consider myself a member of it, as I don't involve myself in anything related to it, I don't follow it with any frequency, I would not be broken up about it if the site stopped existing tomorrow, I'd see absolutely no reason to mention it to anyone outside of it, and so forth, but I obviously associate with it.

Incidentally, this is why it drives me nuts when people put words into others' mouths solely to attempt to make some hollow point; it makes things more complicated and annoying than they had to be.

 

[Dtox333]

...The closest I get to tolerating an online community is a place where discussion of multiple topics is encouraged, like this one, but even then I don't consider myself a member of this community.

Define associate? I managed to scrounge this up, "To spend time socially; keep company; A member of an institution or society who is granted only partial status or privileges". It seems like you are already, by definition associating with the escapist. The horror! While I understand and echo most of your sentiments, it seems hypocritical to assume you're not in any way, shape or form associating with the forums (and with 676 posts to boot).

I like the remixes of pony themed songs like Krow's Pinkie's brew and pony music videos on Equestria rhythm, along with the better fan-fiction out there but I find it extremely difficult to watch the show. The themes are a bit, well, childish. Yeah, I know it's a show designed for children but it really is cringe worthy (I'm just finished episode 2 of season 1). I don't understand how eternal night is really so horrible that Luna thinks it some kind of revenge and the ponies feel genuinely threatened by it. Sure it might not be your cup of tea but it's not exactly a world ending scenario. Another part was when Luna spontaneously accepts Celestia's offer right after the whole feud. You'd think a thousand years of imprisonment would cause at least a bit of resentment. That's not even taking into account the part where a dragon gets upset because half his moustache was torn off (He goes for pedicures? Seriously?). Though since the very same people who said this show was good hated season 2, maybe it'll pick up there? TL;DR I'm a brony I suppose, I'm not going to let the vocal minority/majority affect that.

Just wanted to comment on this.

If you're just starting with the first couple of episodes, then it's definitely going to pick up from there, in my opinion at least.

Also, eternal night, in reality, would be devastating towards the environment. Most plant life would be wiped out without enough sunlight.

lastly, season 2 is a vast improvement from season 1, in my opinion, again.

 

[WeaponisedCookie]

I didn't even use the word "associate"; your entire stance falls apart from there. I said I don't consider myself a member of it, as I don't involve myself in anything related to it, I don't follow it with any frequency, I would not be broken up about it if the site stopped existing tomorrow, I'd see absolutely no reason to mention it to anyone outside of it, and so forth, but I obviously associate with it.

Incidentally, this is why it drives me nuts when people put words into others' mouths solely to attempt to make some hollow point; it makes things more complicated and annoying than they had to be.

My apologies, it was further up in your post and referring to communities of only one thing. Your new statement does open up some holes in what you said but considering your tone, I don't really think any further input from me is a good idea.

 

[WeaponisedCookie]

Just wanted to comment on this.

If you're just starting with the first couple of episodes, then it's definitely going to pick up from there, in my opinion at least.

Also, eternal night, in reality, would be devastating towards the environment. Most plant life would be wiped out without enough sunlight.

lastly, season 2 is a vast improvement from season 1, in my opinion, again.

That's good to hear, though given the tone of the series thus far I assumed conventional wisdom when it comes to science does not apply. I mean they have a rainbow factory, I think.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

I didn't even use the word "associate"; your entire stance falls apart from there. I said I don't consider myself a member of it, as I don't involve myself in anything related to it, I don't follow it with any frequency, I would not be broken up about it if the site stopped existing tomorrow, I'd see absolutely no reason to mention it to anyone outside of it, and so forth, but I obviously associate with it.

Incidentally, this is why it drives me nuts when people put words into others' mouths solely to attempt to make some hollow point; it makes things more complicated and annoying than they had to be.

My apologies, it was further up in your post and referring to communities of only one thing. Your new statement does open up some holes in what you said but considering your tone, I don't really think any further input from me is a good idea.

Then you shouldn't have said anything else, and you're just trying to get on my nerves, so I wouldn't criticize anyone else's communication skills if I were you. But hey, since we're here:

Your stance fell apart from when you quoted the portion of my statement that didn't even apply to what you were giving me grief about, then. My mistake. Classy of you to make me out to be the one with the problem when you didn't even give me the right information to work with in the first place, though!

Regarding your post through what you claim was your original topic, though, my post count at a site with multiple venues of discussion has no bearing whatsoever on my presence, or lack thereof, at venues that specialize in one topic at all, and you specifically mentioned The Escapist by name, which I already acknowledged as a venue of multiple topics in the post you originally replied to, so it seems like you're just back-peddling to salvage your mistake, then talk down to me about it like it's my fault you had a problem because you didn't read my statement fully to begin with.

No, I don't associate with fandoms of a single topic, because they irritate me, and no, I don't consider myself a member of The Escapist, for the reasons I stated above. You have zero evidence to the contrary. Why are we having this conversation, then?

 

[Dtox333]

Just wanted to comment on this.

If you're just starting with the first couple of episodes, then it's definitely going to pick up from there, in my opinion at least.

Also, eternal night, in reality, would be devastating towards the environment. Most plant life would be wiped out without enough sunlight.

lastly, season 2 is a vast improvement from season 1, in my opinion, again.

That's good to hear, though given the tone of the series thus far I assumed conventional wisdom when it comes to science does not apply. I mean they have a rainbow factory, I think.

It certainly would seem like it, but conventional wisdom does apply, as you'll see later in the series.

they control the weather, they're the ones who make sure the seasons cycle properly and that natural events occur when they're needed. They rely on each other to have parts of the environment ready to work on, including celestia and luna controlling the time of day.

They even stress in one episode that an insufficient amount of snowflakes would cause a drought.

 

[C. Cain]

(...)

The closest I get to tolerating an online community is a place where discussion of multiple topics is encouraged, like this one, but even then I don't consider myself a member of this community.

(...)

I didn't even use the word "associate"; your entire stance falls apart from there. I said I don't consider myself a member of it, as I don't involve myself in anything related to it, I don't follow it with any frequency, I would not be broken up about it if the site stopped existing tomorrow, I'd see absolutely no reason to mention it to anyone outside of it, and so forth, but I obviously associate with it.

(...)

No, I don't associate with fandoms of a single topic, because they irritate me, and no, I don't consider myself a member of The Escapist, for the reasons I stated above. You have zero evidence to the contrary. Why are we having this conversation, then?

You may have a point as far as 'membership of a fandom' is concerned. Fandoms per se, and therefore the conditions members have to fulfill to be part of one, are often poorly defined. But the Escapist provides a clear-cut and concise definition of what constitutes membership. To paraphrase: Everyone who registered an account is considered a member.
Your definition of membership, on the other hand, is rather vague, entirely subjective, hard to quantify properly, and subject to change. You may be entitled to run by your own definition but don't expect others to follow suit. You are, to all intents and purposes, a member of the Escapist; irrespective of whether you acknowledge it or not.

Incidentally, this is why it drives me nuts when people put words into others' mouths solely to attempt to make some hollow point; it makes things more complicated and annoying than they had to be.

(...)

Then you shouldn't have said anything else, and you're just trying to get on my nerves, so I wouldn't criticize anyone else's communication skills if I were you.

You are expressing your irritation at- and calling him out for allegedly putting words in your mouth just to go ahead and assume that his intentions are malicious in nature? Stunning.

 

[DoctorSun]

Holy shit it's Goose Man! When did you join the Escapist!?

Actually a while ago, I just lurk.

So how's the walrus pit?

 

[VeneratedWulfen93]

I don't think I'll be gone for awhile. I never begrudge people and lable them as twisted or something because of their opinion. What seems disgusting to us is perfectly normal to another person.

Anyway. I love the show, will continue to and the sheer amount of music (276 songs now last time I checked) are a sheer example of the creativity the show has inspired. Glaze, Alex S, Silva Hound, Icky, Omnipony, Pinkie Guy, Artattack, The livingtombstone, Mic, Yelling at cats, General Mumble, Addictica. Theres just so many artists across all genres of music that I can't not like what the show has done.