You kinda just gotta go for it, I told my dad yesterday by starting out with "It's always good to know I can spend Friday looking forward to ponies", then I explained it to him and told him to "not worry about my masculinity", and that seemed to work.
I think you need to really ask yourself "Do I need to tell my family I'm a brony?" first. If you really need to, then think about their views, I know that some parents are more understanding than others. To be honest, you shouldn't have to worry, but I understand your need to tell them and if you're struggling to do so. The best way, for me, would be to put it bluntly. Don't go into excessive detail unless they are really intrigued and/or unnecessarily worried about your masculinity and such. Can't really give you tips, as my parents don't really know either, but I feel no need to explain until I need to.
I made the most critical mistake...waiting and waiting and not telling my parents. Trust me, its much worse with them not knowing. You have to hide everything and it's uncomfortable to be in the same room without them knowing you like MLP. I felt sick to my stomach for days and days and finally told my mom. Best decision ever. Now I'm free to have ponies all over my desktop without question! She watches new episodes with my sis and I every so often (when she has the time anyway) and she likes them. So I'd say go for it, but tell the parent you are more comfortable with. But don't be blatant and say "I like My Little Pony". You want to sort of build it up saying "There's this show I like that has a lot of people on the design team that have worked on cartoons I loved as a kid." And go from there, explaining how MLP has ties with Powerpuff Girls, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends. Also say it has references from Star Wars and Star Trek. After that, go into how you aren't the only person who likes the show your parents won't think you aren't insane. Talk about the amazing community and all the artwork and fan content is made. As for friends, different situation. Only my best friend knows and he's alright with it. He doesn't watch MLP himself, but he understands why we do. He loved Powerpuff Girls as a kid and all those cartoons from the 90s, so it's only a matter of time before he gets hit with the pony bug. The rest of my friends would laugh me out of town though...
May try something like saying "A bunch of my friends have told me to watch this cartoon and I wonder if you would like to watch it with me?" If your parent is willing to watch it with you, even reluctantly, then it is a great opportunity for them to see how great the show is and why you like it. Enjoy it like you normally would and laugh and Pinkie and Daawwww at Fluttershy and see if they get into it. Even if they don't enjoy it like you, they will likely be open minded about it. Even if they don't watch it with you, just the fact that you told them ahead of time should make them more open about it. If you approach your parents in a way that you have been watching this for awhile without their knowledge and you are now "coming out of the stable" as it were, they could likely see it as a bad thing. Your treating it at that point like it is a bad thing and something you felt you needed to hide from them. They will then view your pony fandom as a negative thing and probably blame drugs or your gay or bad influence or immaturity. I told my mom about a week after I officially joined the herd. I was somwhere in bettween the two. She was a bit sceptical about it but was a bit open in the end. I'm in a different situation though. I don't live near any of my family members. My mom is the only family member who I talk to, and it is only about once per month. My dad and my sisters all disowned me long before I'd even heard about My Little Pony.
A lot of people have said some of the things I've been thinking and I'll just say what I did. I made sure I didn't hide it for long because again it's not a negative thing to love this show. The first thing I did was bring up the show without saying I loved it. It's a good way to test the waters and put it into their minds before you talk about how much you like it. I told my mother then that I liked the show because I knew she would be more understanding and although at first she asked a lot of questions to rap her head around the whole thing I convinced her to watch a few episodes with me. This was good to have her understand the whole thing and she actually liked it or as much as parents like things their kids like but either way she was understanding and she also now helps me find the toys. I haven't told my dad nor do I think it's ever really absolute that I must but at least letting my mother and brother know makes me feel better and so I don't have to hide all this merchandise. I'll probably tell my dad eventually and it won't be describing how much rainbow is concerned with this show which would make him feel uncomfortable I know although I have no problem saying I'm secure in my masculinity.
All I did was start watching it on YouTube, and if they asked what I was doing I'd be perfectly honest and say, "Watching My Little Pony". Then, I introduced my two younger brothers to the show and almost my entire family sat down and watched a few episodes together. Maybe my family's just really relaxed or open-minded. lol It's just one of those things where if you like the show, great, don't be afraid to admit it. At the same time, don't rub it in people's faces if they don't like the show, but hey, to each his own.
Tell them, but without giving a single f*** about any negative judgement. If they're supportive/don't really care, then that's great! I hope you parents are fairly lax, understanding, or supportive.
Yes, this new episode is now the best one to start someone off with. I do like older episodes better but the theme is all about how it is that people become Bronies. The reluctance to try it out, the joy when you find out how awesome it is, and the part about hiding it. Then once you have it out in the open you find that people are more accepting than you thought.
I got too much on my mind to tell 'em, Got school and stuff. So I'm just gonna go on, And if they find out, I won't deny it. Easy as that. Not gonna approach with it.
well, you could simply tell them that there's one new cartoon that you like and lot of people your age like it, and first say that they don't prejudge you, and if they do after telling them, tell them that that's what you expected, and that you thought same way until you saw it for yourself, and then you could show them one episode.
Unless your parents actually have a major problem with MLP, regardless of what you say, remember. They're never going to give you up, Never going to let you down. Never going to run around and desert you.
I haven't told my parents, or anyone for that matter, and probably never will. But then, there's lots of things I do but don't tell my parents and others. I don't necessarily try to hide these things (well some I do but let's not go there) but then there's really no point in telling anyone anyway, I can't see any good would come of it, and until I can that's how things will stay. Besides, it's not like I have to lock myself in my room to secretly watch ponies. I spend most days by myself, working and seeing people in the evenings or on the weekend, so it just so happens that by the time I'm ready to watch some episodes I'm by myself anyway. So I short, while I haven't told anyone, I wouldn't care if they knew, but I'm going to continue not telling anyone until I have a reason to.
You need to be open about it, dont worry about their' response, you are who you are, you're part of an amazing fanbase. Though, i'll warn you, dont be too open. Or you'll make the same mistake as me. We dont want that again. I dont want that mistake again. I dont want it to happen to anypony. Otherwise you'll be in for the worst. You dont want that. I dont want that. Nopony wants that. Brony on! Sent from Derpy's ancient iPod touch using Tapatalk
I watch it all on my computer, so that doesn't seem like any real restriction. At least there isn't any animosity.
