Has the general reputation of Bronies gotten worse or is it just me?

[PsychedelicDiamond]

Being a fan of Friendship is Magic for over two years now i can't help but feel like the general view on the shows fanbase has gotten considerably worse over time. Now, admittedly, there are some things that came out of it that i'd consider to be somewhat embarassing but i wouldn't say it's worse than in any other fanbase of comparable size. Still, i feel like most people think of Bronies as childish and socially awkward at best and obsessive and delusional at worst.

What's your opinion on the matter?

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I dunno. Was the fanbase ever good?

I'd say so. Really, i think it still is. There was (and is) a lot of creativity and "heart", for the lack of a better word, to it.

I myself thought that that kind of innocent enthusiasm about something as simple as a cartoon about ponies was exactly the kind of weirdness this world needed more of so i was really happy about the whole Brony movement gaining so much momentum.

 

[hazabaza1]

They were at their worst when they were obnoxious and bringing "FRIENDSHIP PONIES AND LOVE" into anything and everything. But, if you replace friendship, ponies, and love with anything else adored by a fandom and that's something that can be universally applied.
I stopped being annoyed by Bronies around the time the excessive posting stopped and apart from the general OTT hate you find everywhere on the internet I haven't noticed much more hatred.

 

[mParadox]

The general reputation of Bronies has gone down a bit.

Mostly because MLP has now been around for more than 2 years. There are a lot of fans.

And thankfully thankfully, they have their own personal grounds. Usergroups, image boards etc.

So we don't see 'em, they don't see us; we all go about our merry ways.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

So we don't see 'em, they don't see us; we all go about our merry ways.

Oh, we see you. We always see you.

As for the topic on hand, I'm a rather recent brony (just started watching the show last November), so I don't really have any comparison. However, I've not really noticed bronies getting any more snark or backlash than, say, rabid sports fans. There are people who think that we are all closet pedophiles because we like a show that was created for kids, but even people who don't like the show tend to tell those people to shut up.

 

[teqrevisited]

I'd say it's about the same. The people who spam constantly and harass everyone within typing distance will always exist and they aren't exclusive to any one fandom.

 

[mParadox]

Oh, we see you. We always see you.

That's only because I want everyone to see me. O.O

I want everyone to know the awe... someness of the Forum Games. Join us in happy times all the time. @.@

OT: Also, yeah. People now understand that MLP has good animation, good voice acting and generally good story. So, accusations without basis are quickly shot down by fans and non fans alike. Thereby, making a co existence easier.

 

[Heronblade]

The... unusual nature of the adult MLP fanbase has gotten a lot more attention than most, and its taken a while for the rest of the world to realize that this isn't just a random fad, or a huge trolling movement (which, to be honest, is what I thought it had to be at first. I still don't understand what the hell is so attractive about that show.)

Has your reputation gone down? I don't think it has, but it hasn't really gone up either, and a lot more people are aware of your group now than in the past.

The recent massive influx of pastel colored pony porn hasn't helped either...

 

[Darks63]

I would think that it would be the opposite now that the general fervor has died down about it. During its peak a girl said to me If your a brony ill never talk to you again.I never watched the show, but i was wowed by the level of contempt some people held bronies in. There is still a few weirdo fans about even here but overall it would seem like the fans has calmed down alot and become just another fandom.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I think, if anything, the community's standing has gone up a bit. This can probably be attributed to a few reasons:

1. Increasing numbers of non-bronies have watched an episode or two by now. While it may not be their cup of tea, they can still appreciate why someone else might enjoy it. Either that or they've seen or read any number of videos/articles that explain the phenomenon in an even-handed manner.

2. The brony community has come to the realization that they really aren't that different from any other fan base. Yes, most fans are decent people, but there's still a "lunatic fringe" of creepy obsessives, rapefic writers and rule 34 artists. As such, you don't see the hypocritical "love and tolerance" mantra bandied about as much anymore.

3. With season 4 not scheduled to air until this winter, there's a long pony drought in store for fans. As such, more bronies are occupying themselves with other interests for the time being. For example, I'm entertaining myself with Dan Vs., Team Fortress 2, World of Tanks, and Warhammer 40,000 novels (yes, I like both MLP and Warhammer 40k. Don't look at me like that). You might see a resurgence of activity when the Equestria Girls spinoff hits, though. It all depends on how good/terrible it turns out to be.

 

[MetaKnight670]

No, I am not sure that it went down but I can never be sure. I as well tend to steer clear of fics and such, except for MLD & Cupcakes which are the only two I have read. Also not too hard to steer clear of the R34 either. So I just try and keep to myself and all that. Seems to work fine.

I'm sure there are still rabid people on both sides, but as others said both sides have probably come to more of an understanding now that the whole thing died down a little bit. (Not died, died but you get my point.)

 

[Luna]

It's pretty bad. Excluding my username and pic, and watching episodes on youtube, I don't really venture further into the community. Even though a 'brony' is technically a dude who likes the show, I wouldn't call myself one simply because of the association with all those weird fans.

 

[Andy Shandy]

I actually prefer them now, compared to before. Used to be that I'd see MLP stuff pretty much anywhere I went, which annoyed the shit out of me. Now it's at a much lower amount, I don't get annoyed by it.

 

[shrekfan246]

I actually prefer them now, compared to before. Used to be that I'd see MLP stuff pretty much anywhere I went, which annoyed the shit out of me. Now it's at a much lower amount, I don't get annoyed by it.

I'm going to start following all of your posts, just to quote you with a picture of a pony.

Spoiler: Pony.

OT: I dunno, it's gotten a lot quieter over the last year or so, so I don't see why their reputation would have gotten worse.

I don't have much frame of reference though. This is the only forum I regularly frequent.

 

[Quadocky]

I just think its odd when fans of the show with pony avatars spout off conservative talking points right and left. That alone seem enough to leave me absolutely infuriated with any notion of 'bronies' because they obviously don't pay very much attention to the content in the show. That and the creepy pornification I've seen of the characters have left me feeling creeped out obviously.

 

[Broderick]

I would say it is about the same, or even better really. If you go onto places like tumblr, you will see all kinds though. I guess outside the fandom, people calmed down a bit about the "older men and women liking a little girl's show" thing, and many of the more vocal bronies calmed down as well. There will always be obnoxious "haters" and fans however.

Yes, I am not sure that it went down but I can never be sure. I as well tend to steer clear of fics and such, except for MLD & Cupcakes which are the only two I have read. Also not too hard to steer clear of the R34 either. So I just try and keep to myself and all that. Seems to work fine.

I'm sure there are still rabid people on both sides, but as others said both sides have probably come to more of an understanding now that the whole thing died down a little bit. (Not died, died but you get my point.)

It is a shame you have steered clear of fanfics, there are actually some VERY good ones out there. Im guessing you want to avoid "shipping" and smut? On FIMfiction there is a mature checkbox if you want to avoid stuff, as well as a system of searching for fics based on category, so...thats there if you ever get curious I suppose. "Quantum Castaways" is one of my favorites mmhm.

 

[Radoh]

I just think its odd when fans of the show with pony avatars spout off conservative talking points right and left. That alone seem enough to leave me absolutely infuriated with any notion of 'bronies' because they obviously don't pay very much attention to the content in the show.

This is confusing.
Are you saying that Bronies can't be conservatives? Why is that? Are you trying to suggest that the general message of "Be nice to each other" is a strictly liberal thing?

OT: Well, my only real connection to 'the internets' would be this site itself, and once the Escapists became wise to the pony and stopped asking "What's the deal with MLP" constantly, things definitely quieted down.
Also whenever a news outlet now covers the topic it has been consistently been less and less in the immediate negatives and more actual journalistic pieces.

 

[MetaKnight670]

It is a shame you have steered clear of fanfics, there are actually some VERY good ones out there. Im guessing you want to avoid "shipping" and smut? On FIMfiction there is a mature checkbox if you want to avoid stuff, as well as a system of searching for fics based on category, so...thats there if you ever get curious I suppose. "Quantum Castaways" is one of my favorites mmhm.

Yes, that is pretty much exactly my reasoning & I did not know there was a way to filter it. Thank you, I may have to catch up on some in my spare time.

OT: Interesting to see how people do tend to find those bad things though.