May
18th
2021
Is being a Brony painting target on yourself? · 11:55am May 18th, 2021
Honestly I think so. Like it or not our passion for cartoon horses is abnormal. Many, quote on quote 'normies' hearing about your passion for cartoon horses will call you literally everything under the sun. You will be considered a moral degenerate and basically a freak.
I think it's a good idea to hide the fact you're a Brony overall to most people. Because you're literally painting a target on yourself if you openly confess your love for cartoon horses. I don't think most people will accept your hobby.
Let me define some 'normie' interests where I live anyway. Football, (soccer) fish and chips, and soap operas. I only like the fish and chips part there.
Why not point out their hypocrisy and say that they’re a fan of films or series that literally has animated animals
I mean they’re literally people around who consider themselves super fans of stuff that has animal characters they also happen to know and love like Kung Fu Panda or something and yet Ponies (horses) are the only abnormal things
Ever since the fandom started years back and to this day, I still hear people I know grinding the idea of being a brony to a fine paste. The reputation that it’s gained through the media hasn’t helped either. I keep it a secret because there is enough shit going on in the world and I personally am happier knowing that no one is aware of it.
If anything I have respect for those who are open about their love for the series and still manage to keep themselves going. That’s just me though.
5520937
I can't say I disagree with you. Us bronies are a small subculture. We don't have much impact on the world over all.
5520936
I'm not sure if it would be worth it.
That said, I'm sure hell there's smutfics about Kung Fu Panda. But it's somehow okay, since they humanoid in shape.
5520939
Well still.
I can’t help but to say anyone backlashing bronies are pretty much wrong and sensing sheer hypocrisy since they criticize against guys who basically like a certain animal thinking they’re cool and shit but it’s not acceptable cuz of cartoon horses of all things.
Which... ok? Liking a Panda who could kick ass is fine and liking talking crabs under the sea is fine but noooooo Heaven forbid we like cartoon horse adventures.
I get why they say it’s weird for obvious reasons I guess but I don’t get why criticize against liking cartoon horses when literally you don’t hear anyone complaining about other animal centered characters.
5520939
True. I just try to get by day by day doing my own thing. Just like everyone else. And I’ve enjoyed the good times with video games, loved ones, work and more without anyone knowing about it.
I suppose the whole fear of the unknown in how the people I know would react to it just gives me pause and I just decide for myself that it would mess up the vibes. If that makes sense. I’m rambling out what’s coming out of my brain and onto my phone
As someone who is a Norse Pagan living in the Bible Belt, I know that feeling. In order to protect ourselves, many of us has to hide in what has been colloquially called the broom closet. I guess we could call members of the Brony fandom having to conceal their love for a show about pastel ponies to protect themselves hiding in the stable.
I know about Bronies being called pedophiles because we are fans of a cartoon show featuring pastel ponies that was targeted at little girls. I won't say that there aren't some Bronies who aren't pedos, those sick fucks plague every fandom. I've also read the news articles accusing Bronies of being Nazis because there are a couple of Nazi in the fandom. I don't know if any of the Pegasisters have been accused of being pedos and Nazis.
5520941
Honestly the ponies melted my heart. I was kind of like a dudebro guy, only liked 'manly' stuff. Like meat, beer, and edgy and grim shows. I guess deep down, I was a softie after all.
But when I watched a few episodes of MLP my heart started to melt and I fell in love with them. To the point, I would even want a romantic relationship with a pony.
5520942
That’s where it has me thinking.
I feel like when people go around like this I can’t help but to say it’s too much. I get that it’s awareness always gotta look out for stuff that’s bad but this entire movement they take is getting to the point where it has gone way to far and to the point where they’re just jumping to conclusions without diving deeper to see if it’s considered. I honestly agree with anything that’s suspicious of a crime like rape needs to be reported but I can’t help to think I can’t trust them because it’s so much reporting to which some cases are proven to be false proof and it’s some sort of shady scene.
5520943
Every group has evil people in it. I don't think there's such thing as 100% 'pure' and 'good' unless they are a tiny book club or something. But even then, there may be small book clubs with evil members in it.
5520946
I hear ya.
5520953
Thx for understanding
I just don’t seem to know why take it that seriously. I mean if all it does is irritate them why waste all that time to see a dark agenda only to find nothing
Maybe it's because I'm getting to that age where I stopped giving a damn. But the way I see it, a lot of people in the fandom have a clearer head on their shoulders than Cheetos smashing Broski's. So why should I give a damn what they think?
5520956
That's a good, overall philosophy. I think share it to some degree. Look at the sheer mass of ponyfics I made.
5520939
i hide it irl honestly just like how i hide being gay irl cause its just easier for me to hide it then to explain why, and some jobs in my field are homophobic so i kinda have to just keep jt to a “need to know” about my private life you know?
5520961
Yeah. That's understandable.
I am all those things, and more, and proud of it. Anyone that doesn't like me can tell me to my face and I'll let them know I understand.
5520965
Well, I am basically telling people for the most part to hide the fact they are a Brony to most people. I know, from personal experience.
5520966
Very few are so brave.
Oh god, sounds like you live in lol.
Otherwise, yeah I think it does paint a target, but the problem isn't on our end, its on the lack of understand from the others. My dad laughed out loud, alot, when I told him I tried MLP and liked it, but after I explained the show properly, he was quite intrigued. Also helped we're DnD players and the episodes basically play out like mini dnd one shots (Tails of Equestria is pretty cool). He still dislikes the ponies, but atleast understands it and was interested in the rpg (who knew Hasbro owned WotC lol). Either way, I don't hide it. But its not something I advertise either, unless its part of the conversation. I'm a brony, not vegan lol
Also that documentery the BBC did ages ago probably didnt help.
I also find it stupid that liking MLP is considered "wrong" but if you like Pokemon, or Mario, its fine. Like, those are hardly better imo, and atleast MLP teaches you valuable lessons AND has awesome characters. (and Ponies swearing will never NOT be funny.)
5520974
Implying you know so many that have had bad experiences is a harsh truth, and I respect you for admitting that.
Most ppl I know are in the closet, as it were, about being a brony, or are open and accept it as one of their things, to each their own, though.
I disagree hard and even have a blog post about this issue.
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/918363/this-post-will-probably-make-you-hate-me
5521005
There's a big difference between being a fan and then being a total loser. And setting yourself up to be prey. Going around in clown suit (metaphorically speaking) won't get you anywhere.
I took one look at that picture. I didn't even need to read your blog to not agree. The guy is asking to be bullied.
5521006
LOL. That pic really is something special
To boil down my arguement into simple points:
- No matter what you're into, someone will always mock you for something.
- As bronies, lots of people will probably mock us. So what? Getting tougher skin is better than hiding who you truly are.
- If you are seen as a more threatening person (larger, muscular, can fight, etc), the chances of you getting mocked decrease dramatically.
- If you are socially smooth, the chances of bullying also decrease dramatically.
I kept these general on purpose, and these are all from my own experience.
5521015
I got drunk in bars and randomly told people I love cartoon horses. I did it for the lolz. They were not very impressed. People looked at me like some sort of mad man.
This was a good while ago. I don't think I could do that anymore. I've gotten boring and mature.
5521017
And so what if they weren't impressed. You can always be like, "Like you don't have any embaressing secrets/pleasures." Though being drunk may not be the best time for these things
5521018
Ireland. I was seen as a mad man among my drinking friends. Big six foot tall guy. I often would get told to leave by the staff before everyone else since I would drink more and faster than everyone else among my friends. I look back in shame over the dumb things I said while drunk.
Some of my older stories were made while being drunk or having a hangover. The mass of beer helped my brain come up with crazy ideas.
I don't drink so much these days. Lost tons of weight due to it.
5521021
Considering this all happened when you drunk (and it doesn't sound like a very happy drunk if the staff wanted to kick you out), it makes sense you feel this way.
There's definitely a social grace to telling people embaressing things. Two examples of the top of my head...
1. A girl began talking about how she finds bronies creepy. I then laugh and say I'm one, causing her to start getting awkward/feeling bad
(since she never expected me to be one)
2. My fraternity brothers and I started talking about cartoons. I said I like MLP. They laugh and ask if it's a fetish. I'm like "No, if I do have a fetish, it's for brown girls
"
So you can see why my memories are a lot better and funnier regarding this topic
5521021
And congrats on moving past the drinking
5521024
I still drink. But not to an insane degree.
Over here in the O-Town people are into hooping, rap, and TikTok.
5521214
Would Bronies be near non-existent where you live?
5521358
Not non-existent, I had a friend in middle school who was a brony. But hard to find, yes. As you said, better to keep it to yourself.
My steam profile pic is Discord. Most people don't recognize him, but the few that do and mention it are bronies, so its a good way of not looking like I'm trying to get attention, but still attracting other bronies.