Within You, Without You · 7:41am May 11th, 2016
Hey Dullblog has some really insightful articles and comments by people who really really love The Beatles ("maybe a little too much"). here was one that stuck out in my mind, Why Those Screaming Beatlemania Girls Matter, though the part I remembered was quoting another book, so it seems weird that now I'm quoting someone else's quote just so I can vaguely summarize it...
“In these boys were glimpses not only of a new masculinity but also of the best part of 1960s adolescent femininity—an eagerness to reach out to others, a faith in love, a believe in progress, and a determination to leave behind hoary conventions about staying in one’s place.” When girls chose their favorite Beatle, it was often the one “they themselves most resembled, either physically or as a personality type. Through this powerful identification with John, Paul, George, or Ringo, you could, on some semiconscious level, become a Beatle yourself, part male, part female, out in the world having fun.” (119-20)
I couldn't help but think of a parallel to FiM here. I mean, the "attraction" level varies up or down depending on who you ask, and instead of 114 decibals of screaming 
, the fans were more known for constantly posting screenshots on internet message boards and drowning out all other discussion..... though I'd assume MOST fans didn't feel any instant attraction to these pony characters before actually watching a few episodes.
But after getting hooked, FiM fans really latched onto that identification thing. those who actually create their own OCs or ponysonas seem like a ridiculed minority. heh, this seems backwards from most fandoms I've seen (I think there's room for both groups). the stereotypical brony on the internet picks a pony they identify with, sometimes not even from the mane 6, and uses that character as an avatar, sometimes even borrowing the name too. I'm sure there's some "waifus" involved but for the most part it's not that. you too can be a pony, part male, part female, exploring the world through the show's ideas of friendship.
FiM has "only" gone on for almost 6 years, so maybe it's too early to tell if any of this fandom will have any importance. and a lot of nostalgia-soaked complainers sure act like it was a 2 year fad that's already over because TheLivingTombstone stopped creating bounce-bounce pony fanmusic. but a lot of other popular cartoon fads have popped up during that time, and none of them seemed to have quite the same lasting power. I'm still optimistic. after all, you're reading this HERE.
the Beatles broke up only 7 years after their first album, even though it sure feels longer. they were probably just another short-lived fad too 
I am totally a nostalgia-soaked complainer
But! But. I do not think "the fad" is over. Just...evolved. It's become something different, probably something more solid and stable. Sure, it's not as big and insano on fire like was for the first two or three seasons, but I really don't see it just dying out.
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I don't really have a problem with nostalgia itself, it's not harmful and there's some truth behind such feelings...
I guess it's just the people who become blind to what's going on in the present. that just leads to more regret.
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No you're very right, it's easy to let your nostalgia color everything, even past the point of sanity. If all the world was trying to swim backwards it would probably never move forwards.