Questionnaire for Bronies

[BoredDragon]

I am in an Anthropology class at my college and I must write a term paper on a certain culture. Since it is new and rather interesting to me, I have chosen to do it over Brony culture. This is going to be part of the research that will be going in my paper.

If you are someone who dislikes bronies I have a another questionnaire on a different thread for you that is also for my paper:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.320912-Questionnaire-for-people-who-dislike-Bronies-MLP#13117838

The following is a questionnaire for people who consider themselves part of the brony community. All participants will remain anonymous and if I use anyone's specific post in my paper I will contact you through the escapist messages and ask for your permission. Please answer the questions truthfully and as clearly as possible. The length of your answers do not matter to me and can be as long as you want. You may also add any extra information that you may think is relevant to my research, which I would really appreciate.

Questionnaire:
1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?

4) How did you first hear about the show?

5) Why do you like the show?

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or ?convert them? to bronyism?

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.

 

[JochemDude]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
- 17, Male, Dutch

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
- I love all music and work in the music industry, don't know what culture that would be, but there it is.

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
- My love for the show and the entertaining chatboxes like the one here at the escapist.

4) How did you first hear about the show?
- The internet

5) Why do you like the show?
- It's good, well fleshed out and has a lively community.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
- Nope, that's not for me to decide.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
- That we're furries and child molesters, which is about as ridiculous as Fox News saying Gamers are rapists and murderers.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
- Yes, the people are nice and there is a huge emphasis on a almost hippie happy look on life.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
- Love and Tolerance

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
- 3, I don't consider myself a huge brony especially not with the kind of dedication some fans show.

 

[hotsauceman]

1)late teens,male american
2)gaming,table tops gaming, Metal
3)A love of the show and fandom
4)The escapist
5)Its just nice to see a show that is cute and smart. Its like this me flipping through the channels
"Allegory for racism,Allegory for Immigration, Lame Reality, Oh Talking animals that is a meaningfull allegory"
6)Only my friends, If people express and interest i will tell why we think its good
7) That we want "Love" ponies and we are all furries. Seriously its annoying and not true
8) Yes i do, For the most part. sometimes things will get weird though
9)The fanart
10) I say 3, We are big on the internet but not anywhere else.

 

[Shimmyshake]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
18, male, American

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Gaming in general, really into starcraft

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
I enjoy the show

4) How did you first hear about the show?
These forums.

5) Why do you like the show?
I tend to be a fan of cartoons, and it's a well made cartoon.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
Nope.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
We're known to be pretty annoying, which is mostly true. If you say you don't like the show, be prepared to have 20 bronies jump down your throat.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Eh, a lot take it much too seriously. It's just a show.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
We do push the "love and tolerance" a lot.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
I'd give myself a 2. I like the show and that's pretty much about it.

 

[staika]

Not what I expected when I saw the title, Guess I'm always prepared for a pony flame war

1 19 (20 in January), male, American

2 Metal heads and nerds is about it

3 People who like the show

4 The escapist and some of the arguments to get me to watch the show from friends were very good and thats what got me into it.

5 I like the message, the characters and the humor.

6 In a joking manner yes, seriously no

7 Bronies just want to have sex with ponies, that is an outright lie!

8 I like em well enough, some of the members try to convert people too hard and that pushes people away. but other then that they're normal people.

9 Liking the show, if you don't like the show then how can you be a brony.

10 about a 4

 

[Malconvoker]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
I'm a 21 year old female from the West coast of the USA

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Uhh...video game culture, Tabletop RPG culture and uhh...other stuff having to do with sort of geeky things

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Someone who likes the show and will talk about it beyond a casual mention

4) How did you first hear about the show?
My brother

5) Why do you like the show?
Beyond being funny, it is a good show that shows a varity of developed female lead characters that aren't just romantic intrests

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
Only my friends. I try to at least show people why I like it.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
That they are all 14-35 year old men who live on the internet. Its not true but it is based some on actual people

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Yes, I like that they are pretty nice people. They try to embody the values taught in the show.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
To embody and encourage tolerance and friendship in the world, not to be moved to anger and to accept instead of shun.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
Its growing fast so I'd say 3 going on 4.

 

[Duruznik]

1) I'm an 18 year old male from Israel.

2) I consider myself a pretty big anime fan, and a bit of a gamer (not too hardcore though).

3) If they like the show and are outside of its 5-year-old girl target demographic, they're bornies.

4) The Escapist. The brony community here, a pretty cynical community, made me curious.

5) It's colourful, innocent fun. It has nicely rounded characters which interact beautifully, and has lovely animation.

6) No, but I go on about it like I do about any other thing I like. My friends are used to it.

7) I've heard people say we're all furries- that's a lie. I find the whole furry thing to be rather gross, to be honest. I've also heard people call it a fad, saying we just like the show ironicly- another lie. Can't a guy geniunely like a show like this?

8) Oh yes. It's unbeleivably prolific in terms of fan works. It's also incredibly friendly. I've been part of other fandoms in the past, but this one is pretty amazing.

9) The friendlyness. Seriously. Go to r/mylittlepony. Watch the friendship happen. Feel warm on the inside.

10) Um... 4, I'd say. It's fun, but not my all-time favourite.

 

[gigastrike]

1: 21, male, American.

2: Besides brony culture? American and general nerd culture.

3: A male who enjoys watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

4: Internet.

5: It's funny, well done, and has a certain charm to it.

6: No.

7: That all bronies are sexually attracted to the characters. Some are, but most aren't.

8: A lot of it annoys me. I try to avoid delving too deep, as to avoid the fans mentioned in the previous question.

9: Love and tolerance.

10: 4

 

[Dense_Electric]

1) - 19, male, American (originally from New England, now from Florida)


2) - Gaming, meme/internet, nerd, heavy metal, Japanophile/anime & manga, political libertarian


3) - Anyone outside of the target demographic (young girls) who both takes a legitimate interest in the show and participates to some degree in the meme culture that's sprung up around the show (be it online or IRL).


4) - Most likely the internet, I honestly can't remember


5) - Interesting and often hilarious characters (especially RBD and Pinkie), and as of Season 2 the episode plots have become considerably more interesting.


6) - I'll tell someone who's skeptical that they legitimately should check it out, maybe show them some YouTube clips of funnier bits, but I don't get fanatical about it.


7) - I don't really know of any, other than the occasional troll who suggests we're all gay or something (but since trolls are just that, those claims aren't even coming from a valid source).


8) - Absolutely. I admire people that are willing to give something, however outside the target demographic they may be, a legitimate chance to prove its worth and not go into it with their minds already made up or with preconceptions about how good or bad it's going to be.


9) - A legitimate and open interest in the show and its subculture, as opposed to enjoying and hiding it (closet Bronyism? )


10) - 4-5. Prior to Season 2 I would have put myself around a 3 for the characters, as the plots tended to be lacking to a degree. More recently, though, those have become very interesting as well.

 

[hashtag]

1. I'm a 15 year old white male, Canada.
2. I'm a gamer, an atheist and an anarchist.
3. A guy, older than 5, who likes to watch My Little Pony.
4. Smuff from the CoD wikia.
5. It's cute, funny and has fucking great animation.
6. Nope.
7. Furries, gay and pedophile.
8. Yes. Most of them are pretty unbelievably friendly, funny and very kind. Good people to be around.
9. Watching My Little Pony.
10. 4? Yeah, I'd go with a 4. I prefer to watch American Dad, but I still count down the days until the newest episode of MLP.

 

[s0p0g]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
- 26 years old, male, german

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
- none

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
- liking the ponies and spreading their word

4) How did you first hear about the show?
- pictures of them started popping up all other the escapist

5) Why do you like the show?
- colourful characters, old-school cartoons' pacing and storytelling, overall positive atmosphere, or in one word: it's fun (that's three words, eh?)

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or ?convert them? to bronyism?
- eeyup.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
- none; does not apply

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
- ususally, the bigger a group gets, the worse people will interact with each other (best and maybe most extreme example are the so-called communities of widely accepted competetive online-games); that does not apply to bronies and pegasises - they love and tolerate the shit out of everypony

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
- quotes and absorbing the positive attitude of the show, and making it part of oneself to some extent

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
- according to a long test i took i am a 75% brony, which would mean 3.75 of 5. make that four.

 

[DocMcCray]

Questionnaire:
1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
35, male, USA

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Gamer and medical community.

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Someone who is interested in the MLP:FiM culture beyond just watching the shows. Whether it is as small as trying to learn more about the characters, to enjoying fan-made art and videos, to making said art and videos.

4) How did you first hear about the show?
I surf the net a lot. Started seeing ponies everywhere in pictures. Said to myself "WTF is up with all these ponies?!" Then I saw Ponycraft 2...

5) Why do you like the show?
Fantastic characterization and story the isn't dumbed down for little kids. It has something for every age group. And watching it just gives me a warm feeling that everything is going to be okay.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or ?convert them? to bronyism?
Nah. I use more subtle persuasion. Plus if they aren't interested I don't try and hammer them into it.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
Mostly confusion. "How can a boy/grown man like a show made for little girls?" Said, of course, by people who haven't explored the show.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
I don't immerse myself too much in the community. I enjoy the shows, I enjoy the creations but I don't get into discussions and philosophies. I feel like they are mostly a welcoming crowd though.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Tolerance, acceptance and welcoming nature.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
Between a 3.5 to a 4. A big fan but not a zealot.

 

[DasDestroyer]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
17, Male, Russian

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Gamer, maybe nerd

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Watching the show and not being a 7-year-old girl

4) How did you first hear about the show?
The internet, in some part on the Escapist

5) Why do you like the show?
I watch it for the plot, the animation, voice acting, characters etc. and the community

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
Nope, but I do encourage them if they have at least a slight interest in it

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
We're all 6-year girls/undergrown manchildren, it's a fad are probably the most common ones. Both are a lie.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Yes, the people are mostly enjoyable, the fanmade content is (save for r34) amazing.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Friendship, love and tolerance.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
Can I say 4.5?

 

[Super Six One]

Questionnaire:
1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
21, Male, Scottish

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Um i watch alot of films i guess.

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Someone who watches and enjoys MLP FiM

4) How did you first hear about the show?
On this site, people talked about it a fair bit and i enjoy cartoons anyway so i gave it a go

5) Why do you like the show?
It's funny, good characters and i think its well animated

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
I have suggested that my friends watch it, don't push them to do so tho.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
The "One step away from besteality" thing. I do not find any of the characters sexually attractive, and the show does not make me want to have sex with animals either. I think it's weird that people would even think that

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Yes i do. They seem freindly enough

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Enjoying the show itself and freindship i guess.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
I'll go 4, i'm not a diehard fan but 3 seems a little low for how much i do enjoy the show.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Questionnaire:
1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?

4) How did you first hear about the show?

5) Why do you like the show?

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or ?convert them? to bronyism?

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.

1. 21, male, Swedish.

2. I'm a Goth and Gamer too.

3. They watch MLP:FiM and talk about it.

4. I read the fanfic cupcakes after I found a link to it, then I watched my first episode which was the ticket master. I watched the rest of them in one weekend.

5. I like the humor and the characters. I'm a big fan of anime and disney too, so I tend to like cartoons if they're good.

6. I used too, but not anymore. I have better things to do with my time.

7. We're all gay? It's based on the haters being ignorant morons.

8. I love the brony community. All great people I know are bronies, even some of my IRL friends.

9. Watching the show and talking about it.

10. 5. I've been a brony for seven months. I talk with bronies daily, I do fanart and write fanfics. I started the MLP RP here on the escapist and was head GM of it for three months.

 

[Thundero13]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
15, Male, Irish
2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Anime, Furry, Gamer... I think that's it
3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Being a member of the community of MLP:FiM, aswell as being outside of the original main target audience (very young girls)
4) How did you first hear about the show?
The very first time I heard about it was when there was a VGCats comic about it
5) Why do you like the show?
The show is funny, has interesting characters and it feels good to like a show about love & tolerance I guess...
6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
I've tried a couple of times but haven't had much success
7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
That we quit our jobs so that we can watch my little pony and all that stupid stuff people like fox news made up, which are very untrue
8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
The brony community is amazing, most every brony i've talked to is an amazing person, always willing to lend a hand, and be nice =)
9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Being a nice person, being loving & tolerant, that kinda stuff I guess
10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
4/5 I suppose

Hope this helps and good luck with your paper

 

[Zeckt]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
Age 30 Canadian male

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Pretty boy borderline transexual

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Someone who is very open minded about entertainment regardless of genre

4) How did you first hear about the show?
gamefaqs / escapist message boards

5) Why do you like the show?
It cheers me up regardless of mood, and the show never themes on sexuality which I especially like. They base episodes on fun events, not crushes or eye candy.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
I'll mention its entertaining, but no

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
Just the usual its for little girls one, its true in a small way but who cares?

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Don't know why I wouldint, most are likeminded with me in their entertainment, usually gamers and such

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Who cares if its not seen as "cool", I'll take my entertainment where I get it whether its a gore fest dead space 2 game or a funny, well animated light hearted show.


10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
5, I've watched the episodes at least 3 times and have a pinkypie figure

 

[Aidinthel]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
19, male, American

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
gaming, general nerd culture

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Anyone outside the target audience who watches Friendship is Magic

4) How did you first hear about the show?
A thread on this forum

5) Why do you like the show?
Mostly for the same reasons I like any show. The most important thing for me is that the characters are relatable. Also the jokes are funny and the writing is solid.

I suppose I also ought to mention that FiM's positivity serves as a break from all the macho grimdark that I usually consume. I won't deny that I was a bit depressed when I started watching and the show helped me through that.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
I tell them that I like the show, explain why, and offer to direct them to the episodes but it's no more than I do for anything I like.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
Not shutting up about the show is somewhat true but people tend to talk about what they like regardless of what that thing is. The assumptions of being sexually attracted to the ponies mainly just confuse me. (R34 is of course in effect but no more than in anything else.) People who accuse us of pedophilia are so wrong that I have no words to describe how wrong they are.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
Yes. I have found it to be very welcoming and positive.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Lots of people are going to say "Love and Tolerance" which is true but doesn't really explain what that means. To me it means that you try to see the best in people and accept everyone regardless of their personal background. Be really friendly, essentially, even to those who aren't friendly to you.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
3. I visit fansites on a daily basis but I don't post much or contribute any work myself.

 

[Laser Priest]

1) What age, gender, and nationality are you?
17, Male, Canadian?

2) What other culture(s) or subculture(s) do you associate yourself with?
Gamer culture, villain culture

3) What do you think defines someone as a brony?
Simply someone who enjoys the show and watches it by their own accord.

4) How did you first hear about the show?
Saw stuff about it all around the internet; Caramel Frappe of this site is the one who got me actively into it, though.

5) Why do you like the show?
I enjoy the animation, the characters and the humour, and I generally look forward to watching it. It makes me happy when many other things won't. Plus, (outside of some horrifying art and fan-fiction) the fanbase is fantastic.

6) Do you actively try to get people to like the show or "convert them" to bronyism?
I recommend it to my friends, but I generally don't get aggressive about it.

7) What are some of the stereotypes about bronies that you hear? Are they based on truth or outright lies?
Endless accusations about how we are hipsters who only like it to be ironic. No, I like it because it entertains me and doesn't make me feel like shit.

8) Do you like the brony community? Why/Why not?
I love the brony community, although some portions (anyone who makes Rule 34, ships, makes grimdark-for-the-sake-of-being-grimdark fanfiction and New Lunar Republicans) less so.

9) What is the most important aspect or trait of Brony culture?
Friendship, love and tolerance. It's a show about ponies. They are friends and they are adorable. Trying to force conflict into this is just a bit ridiculous.

10) Rate how big your fandom for the show is on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the largest.
5.

 

[Knusper]

1) 16, Male, British
2) Nerd, Gamer, Metal
3) A person who watches MLP: FiM but is beyond the target audience age range
4) The internet. Here in particular when someone posted a video.
5) It's funny and well animated and imaginative. Also Pinkie Pie.
6) I haven't directly told my friends I'm a brony and haven't told them that it's funny but I've shown them some related videos.
7) How we're just watching it (or claiming to) because we want to be different. I can only really speak for myself, but I watch it because I enjoy it.
8) I suppose it's friendly, although does seem a bit like a cult sometimes.
9) Watching the show
10) I'd put myself at 4. I don't qualify for 5 because I don't have a pony desktop background... yet.