My Little Pony has gone mainstream...?

[Brian Hendershot]

Okay let's get one thing clear

1. I'm not a brony but I can live with your obsession over show with magical ponies.

With that in mind, I have the sneaking suspicion that MLP has gone mainstream. Now, I don't normally go into Hot Topic--just around Christmas to buy some friends some gifts--but its been my experience that a. their shirts never fit a grown man properly and b. any pop culture shirt that can be found there means that said pop culture item has gone so mainstream that it will become, if you are hipster, so mainstream that the very thought of your former treasured pop culture item makes you sick.

Anyhow, I went in Hot Topic to look for a gift and to my surprise I found about a dozen different MLP shirts. Now, I could be a little late to the party but its seems to me that this is a new development.

EDIT: *Apparently this happened around July. So, I would like to apologize to everyone for being extremely late to the party*

So I guess my question is...MLP cool now? Or are they...just "too mainstream?" Or are they still some sort of internet thing?

Also, what grown man would wear a MLP shirt? Just out of sheer curiosity. Here is the link if anyone is interested. http://search.hottopic.com/search?bmForm=frm_ht_search&bmFormID=jggP4O1&bmUID=jggP4O2&bmIsForm=true&bmPrevTemplate=%2Fhottopic%2FHomepage.jsp&bmHidden=pricelistname&pricelistname=PRC_USA_Standard&bmHidden=SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3EATR_Available_In_Inventory&SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3EATR_Available_In_Inventory=true&bmHidden=p&p=Q&bmHidden=ts&ts=custom&bmHidden=asug&bmText=w&w=My+little+pony&bmImage=submit_search.x&bmImage=submit_search.y&bmImage=submit_search&bmFields=bmText%2CbmPrevTemplate%2CbmImage%2CbmForm%2CbmIsForm%2CbmUID%2CbmHidden%2CbmFormID&bmHash=2281c0299bda7bc6288734c542881a4f262382e1

EDIT2: No need to quote me to tell me what shirts you have. Rest assured, they are all very very cool. I can also scroll down and read your replies... As I stated earlier, I didn't know that these pony shirts had become mainstream and judging by the responses on this thread, neither did a lot of bronies. Also, for any non-USA people Hot Topic is...idk...it's a pop culture shirt/merchandise store. That's the only way I can describe it.

Annnd I don't think cute shirts is an issue. I don't really think wearing MLP Shirts is an issue. I personally wouldn't wear a shirt like that just because...well...my five year old cousin likes MLP. I'm getting to the age were if I don't shave my facial hair for a few days and start wearing pony shirts, people are going to be throwing me glances. I am not secure enough in my masculinity to do that. Congrats to all the rest of you who are though! I'm glad that there are so many people who simply don't give a eff about what others think. Also, I'm glad that this thread helped some of you...

 

[Amphoteric]

Yeah that happened in July.

I like the show, I have no desire to buy merchandise of it.

 

[Lilani]

The bronies I know don't seem to give two shits about whether or not there's merchandise or recognition. In fact, I think they rather appreciate the recognition--being able to find the hidden Derpy Hooves in every episode and whatnot.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

I am disappointed by the lack of Fluttershy.

OT: I think that Hot Topic finally realized that people will buy MLP shirts and hoodies, nothing more.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

That's just kinda what Hot Topic does these days.
Something is cool on the internet? Stock the shelves with merch!

They're pretty much just Spencer gifts without the Frat house "Bro" market.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

...Hasn't it happened already? Still, I'd wear a MLP: FIM t-shirt/hoodie.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Hot Topic loves the bandwagon. Its been maintream sence the end of the first season.

 

[Aidinthel]

Yeah, I definitely recall some concern when those shirts were released for pretty much the reason you describe. In fact, I recall at least one person who had prophesied that the day of Hot Topic would come and bring with it the end of the fandom as we knew it. Personally, I don't really care.

Have a user group link:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/MLP-Friendship-is-Magic
If you join I recommend turning chat notifications off when given the option as the group is very active.

 

[Steve the Pocket]

My first reaction: My GOD that's a long link URL. Hot Topic's webmaster should really read this article [http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-i-cant-believe-websites-are-still-doing/].

My second reaction: Being featured in one store that's trying to cash in on a recent Internet fad doesn't make something "mainstream." No. Becoming mainstream would be a good thing, because it's a genuinely good show that more people should watch or at least be familiar with. Hot Topic sells things that they know are not mainstream and are trying to make "trendy", aka featured on the chests and heads of people who have never actually seen the source material but are themselves trying to be "trendy." (Such people make up the vast majority of the store's customers. Old joke: "How can you identify an Invader Zim fan? They're not wearing an Invader Zim t-shirt.")

It's a pretty clever scam, albeit annoying as hell for anyone who actually likes the shows.

 

[Aidinthel]

My first reaction: My GOD that's a long link URL. Hot Topic's webmaster should really read this article [http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-i-cant-believe-websites-are-still-doing/].

It appears to be a search result rather than an actual page of the website.

 

[Patinator]

Didn't realize Hot Topic had done this yet actually, don't really shop there. But most of us really won't care. The reason we like the show is because of how it makes us feel inside, how awesome the community is, and just how good the show is. Not because it's underground. Really any chance to help expand the community is a cause for celebration.

 

[kortin]

I would wear an MLP shirt, just like I would wear a Zelda shirt, or a Pink Floyd t-shirt (like I am now) or any other t-shirt.

 

[Berithil]

I didn't hear about this, although I'm not really surprised, seeing as it is hot topic. Well, I'm sure teen and adult fans will be happy with merchandise targeted towards them. As for me? Chances are I wouldnt wear a MLP shirt, unless it was really awesome. And why no fluttershy shirts?

 

[Gmans uncle]

Also, what grown man would wear a MLP shirt? Just out of sheer curiosity.

I'm 17 and I own 2 MLP shirts that I wear all the time...

Spoiler: 1

Spoiler: 2

mine's black and in a men's size

If I love something or feel passionately enough about it I'll be proud to pronounce my love to the world in T-shirt form.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

I ordered shirts from welovefine.com (much more pony shirts there) and this site I would really, really recommend. Some of the shirts are truly awesome. I am in no way a fanboy, I enjoy the show, and I think the shirts are cute. Just like I wear shirts that has things with gaming printed on them.

So as a "grown" man I would wear it because I am not childish or immature and actually hate something just because it is "cute".

Edit: Of course I am not saying all people who do not enojoy the show are childish or immature, I am just saying that there is a vocal minority that acts like it.

Haha my only worry about worrying a MLP shirt is that I might be mistakenly put into the category of people who drive white vans and give free candy to kiddies.

 

[TheSaw]

O
Also, what grown man would wear a MLP shirt? Just out of sheer curiosity.

I'm 21 and I've got two MLP shirts.
And as someone said before, if something gets popular on the internet hot topic will make stuff for it, or so I've heard anyway, I'm from the UK and I'm pretty sure we don't have any of those stores.

 

[Pinkamena]

Well of course it's still cool. Welovefine.com have been selling MLP shirts for ages now, Hot Topic is just late for the party.

 

[Super Six One]

Also, what grown man would wear a MLP shirt? Just out of sheer curiosity.

I'm 21 and have Rainbow Dash t-shirt(a 2nd on the way) which i now wear constantly. I've worn it out to pubs, clubs and at shopping centers. I've gotten a few complments, few weird looks, but it i think its just fun. They are basically the same as seeing someone in a Mickey Mouse t-shirt.

 

[Berithil]

snip

I've gotta say that rainbow dash shirt is pretty cool. It something i might wear if I wore shirts based on an Ip. Although I have been considering getting a doctor who shirt. Although getting a shirt like that would be tricky, considering no one I know knows that I watch the show.