My Little Pony: Friendship is Mind-Control

[LittleJoeRambler]

Story time: I got a chemistry degree in large part because I was interested in forensic science.

Because of CSI.

Let me repeat that: I got a degree in a hard science, when it would have been easier and probably more profitable to get pretty much any other degree (chemistry was a ***** at my uni), because of a TV show.

I don't really mind getting caught up in something if I feel like it's legitimately improving my life (like CSI got me off my ass and made me start caring about my grades and future), and I believe that MLP:FiM certainly isn't having a negative effect with the whole "love and tolerance" thing.

Of course, I've never been terribly mean-spirited or misanthropic, and there's some definite wisdom in what DarthFennec said. It's nice to be able to get on the internet and not have strangers assume horrible, nasty things about me for no apparent reason, and there's strong appeal in a group that feels the same way.

 

[infohippie]

MLP is nothing more than a passing fad. You're looking too far into the depths on this one. As we speak, more and more people are caring less about it. Let it die. For the love of Mike Patton, let it just fucking die.

This sounds like wishful thinking to me. Both the pony forums I'm active on are getting more and more new members every day. Some people drop in to the fandom, some drop out, but overall it looks to me like it's still growing, just going by the numbers on Equestria Daily and both my forums. The fandom's past its first enthusiastic flush, so people are less vocal about it to those they know aren't into ponies which is probably why you're seeing fewer bronies around.

What do zombie ponies eat exactly

Graaiiinssss...

 

[Thurston]

Perhaps they didn't respect his philosophy. However, the respect for philosophy should be balanced with the necessities of life for an entire village. And, the village was there first.

Eventually, an equitable solution was found. The dragon was not killed. It moved to sleep in another location.

 

[OctalLord]

I for one welcome our new Bronie overlords

Underrated post is underquoted. You have made me laugh good sir. Good show.

 

[airrazor7]

-snip-

Definitely not what I was expecting but it certainly made for an interesting story. Thanks for replying and sharing that.

 

[Berlioz]

Good thing I am immune.

 

[oZode]

My little pony is kiddie show that is watched by teenagers, nothing really to see here because this happens all the time.

It is not mind control because mind control would have more subliminal messages besides that one at the end where they pull a random morale from the book of friendship lessons and tell it you.

 

[GistoftheFist]

I'm usually very slow to catch up on the latest anything, I had no idea why I was seeing pony avatars for the past year because I just assumed it was another web thing like the troll faces or horribly spelled fluffy animal captions that flood the internet. I don't join in on anything trendy mostly because each new hip thing tends to be annoying. (Like when it became fashionable to scream BOOEYAW!! and not look mentally unstable, or when hideous rat-things were advertised for Quizno's and for some reason people liked it)

So now i've come out from under my rock and see that there's a new version of this pony cartoon. I don't know where the show is being broadcast, but I do see some similarities between this and previous shows with rabid fan bases. I'd have to say the Sonic fandom was the first one to have 'overly enthusiastic' fans, (even Yahtzee and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac have noticed) but i'm betting it wasn't as widespread because the internet wasn't quite kicked into gear by then.

The next one without a doubt has got to be Pokemon, it's like 11 years later and people are still buying DS games and embracing the latest roster of creatures. Even Power Rangers is still on TV but it at least died down a long time ago. Why Pokemon is still just as popular confuses me. However this hasn't had quite the level of love it or hate it that MLP has. I think one reason could be that any new show that promotes anything 'girly' gets more hate than a show that doesn't. (For example, Sailor Moon)

But the point is I don't think any show is mind control, it's just how the show's fanbase can take something and run with it, making it more popular than maybe was intended. Then again I haven't actually watched it yet so maybe i'm wrong. :I

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

snip

Spoiler: Oh silly, that is crazy conspiracy stuff. Us Bronies would never try to bend you to our will. ^.^

CODE RED. CODE RED.

SUBJECT HAS DETECTED OUR MIND CONTROL!

DEPLOY THE STARE!

Spoiler: THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL

OT: Ok, really, it is just a show with deep, interesting characters with great writing and great animation. It shouldn't be a surprise that it is so popular.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Sigh*

Once again I make a thread where 90% of readers don't understand what I'm trying to say. No I don't believe that the creators of the show are actively conspiring to mind rape everyone into love and tolerance. No I don't think bronies are going to take over the world or some shit. That would be stupid.

I do however think there has been some change in the way the audience behaves, both in a trivial sense and also in more substantial ways, and I think that change can be attributed to the show itself. I thought it was fascinating that a child's cartoon show could have that effect. Is that so crazy?

Oh, you me is it something physoligcal? It may be, with the first generation that grew up with the internet coming to adult hood, the effects on the mind may be strange. However, if there is something physcially different with people, and if MLP is the cause or result, I cannot say. I am no expert nor will I claim to be one.

 

[Irishanime]

Good artwork, good voice acting, engaging stories. Art is mind control and this is art.

I started watching it because I kept hearing people hating on it without seeing it, I KEPT watching it because it because I personally like how rather then them teaching lessons by them all doing something bad and getting punished for it like most children shows, it shows them do something good and get rewarded for it. I like that, I wish we viewed the world as I hope I move forward rather than I hope I don't fall behind.

Also its nice to occasionally see something with out some big action based conflict or intricate hard to follow plot, this makes it a very good thing to watch right before bed.

I totally agree...It is nice to see ponies get rewarded for doing good...not being punished for doing bad. It is an awesome way to show people that being nice is WAY better than being bad. There should be more shows like this. Making the world a better place, one pony at a time!

 

[Atmos Duality]

It's a fad.
I...don't really get why there's really anything more to it than that.

You can call me shallow, and perhaps it's true, but I remember growing up, and at one point cheap stuffed animals and fucking MILK CAPS were fads too..so...yeah. It doesn't need an especially deep explanation, and I fear that delving into the answer would claim what's left of my sanity.

[sub][sub]Besides, I'm into dragons, not ponies.>_<[/sub][/sub]

 

[Aidinthel]

Oh, hey, it's a new page (of a mostly dead, neco'd thread, but still). That means I have an excuse to link the Escapist FiM user group again.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/MLP-Friendship-is-Magic
I recommend that anyone who joins turn chat notifications off when prompted as the group chat tends to be quite active.

It's a fad.
I...don't really get why there's really anything more to it than that.

You can call me shallow, and perhaps it's true, but I remember growing up, and at one point cheap stuffed animals and fucking MILK CAPS were fads too..so...yeah. It doesn't need an especially deep explanation, and I fear that delving into the answer would claim what's left of my sanity.

[sub][sub]Besides, I'm into dragons, not ponies.>_<[/sub][/sub]

By that definition, any popular thing is a fad, and we shouldn't care why anybody likes anything. I would use the word "fad" to only describe things that are popular for reasons that are separate from the thing itself, i.e. people only like it because other people do. This requires that the majority of the participants in the fad be unable to give any other reason for their enjoyment of the thing than the participation of others. However, every time someone asks this question they receive a number of very reasonable, concrete responses.

I like the show because it's innocence is a very refreshing break from the much darker stories that I usually read/play/watch. My unusual level of enthusiasm is because this particular show is the only thing that satisfies this previously unknown psychological need. I will grant that other things contain this innocence, but those tend to be poorly made, precisely because no one of a discerning nature watches them in a positive feedback loop of clichés and plot holes.

FiM has a diverse cast with personalities that I can identify with; each character has their own strengths and weaknesses. The writing is not particularly complex, but I am not looking for complexity, and neither is it offensively patronizing. The animation is fluid (as more frames have been individually drawn than is common in most cartoons these days), the character models (while appearing simple) actually have a surprisingly large number of moving parts, and they have a wide variety of poses (many of which are custom-created for a specific scene and then never used again). Oh, and the music. I. love. the. music. Those first two are sound-alikes for Broadway songs, and just listen to the actual professional chorus and orchestra in At the Gala. If I didn't know they were from a kid's show, I'd never be able to figure it out by the quality of the music.

Also, I like dragons and ponies. Do I win a prize?

 

[Atmos Duality]

By that definition, any popular thing is a fad, and we shouldn't care why anybody likes anything. I would use the word "fad" to only describe things that are popular for reasons that are separate from the thing itself, i.e. people only like it because other people do. This requires that the majority of the participants in the fad be unable to give any other reason for their enjoyment of the thing than the participation of others. However, every time someone asks this question they receive a number of very reasonable, concrete responses.

I only call it a fad because by far, the most common representation of the show I'm exposed to are bronies spamming their pictures and talking about how much they love the show; not much in specifics.
In short, it comes across as being popular simply because it's popular. That's the definition of a fad.

At least you've outlined more specifics other than "watch it for yourself". So, props.

Also, I like dragons and ponies. Do I win a prize?

I didn't get anything; hell, I wasn't even aware there was a contest.

 

[penguindude42]

Also I agree, some bronies are well. [small]Rule 34, Cupcakes, Luna's Game, Sweet Apple Massacre[/small]. That is the naughty side.

You mean the fun side, right? Right?

I'm on the fun side. It's much nicer than your side.

 

[Dendio]

The artstyle is attractive...colorful and well drawn. Outside of that all i see are sqeaky voiced pony girls with done up hair. I stumbled upon some fan made story about a pony ripping apart the rest of them. It felt very happy tree friends. Thats all I got with this pony meme and Im content to end it there.

 

[oZode]

In a sense, but it is mind control in the respect that they indirectly say "if you aren't one of us you are a pathetic little, self-loathing slug" weather they are aware of it or not. It seems bronies are under the delusion that MLP is a happy place, and the only happy place. They act like MLP is the only non-cynical thing in existence, touting this around as if it were fact! They act like there is a deeper meaning behind it, but in reality, they are mere fanatics of a cartoon. Nothing else!

 

[Yoshisummons]

I still can't watch the show though. Not my kind of thing at all, and this is coming from someone who has a Sex And the City box-set.

No wonder you suck at call of duty.

 

[Tanis]

I'd rather follow a 'religion' of Bronyism, at least they wouldn't be starting wars and other nasty things.

It'd be like an idealized hippy commune, with some REALLY strange porn and slang.

 

[oZode]

They act like there is a deeper meaning behind it

No, I don't.
It's just one of many different forms of entertainment I partake in.

Entertainment that I enjoy. How is this so hard to understand?

touting this around as if it were fact!

You mean like you're doing right now?

A statement is not fact, but it is my belief as no effort was put into debunking it besides stating you don't, and you are only one person. However numerous times I have seen the MLP fanatics act as if they are "special".