Please help my senior research!

You should probably go and make an introduction post if you plan on staying here, it helps people keep track of new people. :3

What is this research for, out of curiosity?

 

1. What does the term masculinity mean to you personally?
Identifying completely as male and having the qualities (physical strength and toughness, control over unnecessary emotions, etc.) traditionally associated with men.
Where did you get your definition?
Life experience.
2. How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?
I started watching in February 2013, and immediately liked the quality animation and well-written characters.
3. Who is your favorite character and why?
Discord. I've always been a fan of chaotic characters.
4. How do you feel about Brony stereotypes?
-Some of them are idiotic.
Watching a show about magical talking horses does not mean that you want to molest children. Only an incredibly stupid person would try to make that connection.
-Some of them are annoying.
I have Aspergers, a form of autism. I am also perfectly capable of functioning in society and interacting with people, so I get irritated when people call Bronies "autists" as an insult.
-Some of them are dead-on.
Yes, Bronies are a little weird. Deal with it.
Most bronies are also overweight, but then again, so are most people .
Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?
Nope.

 

Replies are in bold. Good luck on your project.

 

Q: What does the term masculinity mean to you personally? Where did you get your definition?

A: Well, masculinity is something related to being male. It doesn't exactly have to be 'being strong' or something, that's just what the media portrays it as. Really it's just something associated with being male. If something has masculinity, it's associated with men. I guess this is just a definition, you can look it up in the dictionary haha. It doesn't mean anything more than the dictionary definition to me.


Q: How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?

A: I've liked the show for three years, hmm...what I like about it...I suppose I should mention it's not just this show that I like, I've always enjoyed children's shows as long as they aren't meaningless drivel. But I suppose what I like about it is that it's innocent, and still intelligent. I think it teaches kids good lessons, and most shows don't do that. And the shows that do are...really stupid and boring and corny. MLP:FIM, I feel, is less boring and corny, though it can be at times. It's a good show, partially in the sense that it's enjoyable, but also that it's morally 'good' which is uncommon.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

A: I'm bad at favorites, I like most of the characters, each for their own different reason.

Q: How do you feel about Brony stereotypes? Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?

A: Brony stereotypes are...hmm. I have to say, most bronies I've known in real life are indeed annoying, some of them even creepy. I can't say, of course, that brony stereotypes are false for everyone, because they are true for some. But as with any stereotype, it is shallow to assume that an entire group of people will all for sure share the traits that a few portray.

That said, I have absolutely received backlash and abuse for it. I go on public gaming servers with my username as 'legionbrony'; most people don't comment at all, a very small number asks questions and shows interest, and a bunch of them are idiots and use it to make fun of me and say I'm a whole bunch of things, when they have no idea who I even am. I'm hardly offended because they are idiots, and I know it, and I just ignore them most of the time because I know there's not going to be any helping them or winning against their ignorance. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not do that, and fire back, and a lot who do look really stupid when they do. So of course, that encourages them to make fun of bronies more.

So, I would say stereotypes of anything, not just bronies, are stupid and you shouldn't assume someone will be like their stereotype. It's silly.

 

Personally, you say? Some totally contrived social construct that just somehow eked its way into dominant culture. Or what that Henry guy just said.

Not for very long. The show wore out as soon as the whole "omg I'm actually watching a show called my little pony friendship is magic" spectacle wore off. I'm here because bronies are cool :3

Spike. So funny to see him get beat up all the time.

Full of **** and perpetrated by willfully ignorant meatheads who would seek any justification to pick on other people to validate their unwarranted ego.
Oh and I haven't gotten abuse because because I keep my bronyism to myself. You know, to avoid getting picked on by said meatheads that are holding human evolution back.

Let's see...
Sorry, I got nothing.

 

1. What does the term masculinity mean to you personally? Where did you get your definition?
- Meeting stereotypes commonly associated with lumberjacks, body-builders, and athletes in general. I dunno where I got it from. Just feels like common sense.
2. How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?
- Can't remember, it's cute, fun, teaches proper lessons, is not about fruit, and was made originally with the intention of entertaining parents with their children like a proper cartoon should.
3. Who is your favorite character and why?
- Derpy. I wish I knew why.
- My second favorite is Fluttershy. Again, no idea why. (I say in case you don't "count" Derpy)
4. How do you feel about Brony stereotypes? Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?*
- There are no Brony stereotypes, there are Internet neck beard stereotypes, which was tossed onto us by association, as Internet neckbeards who liked the show, took it too far and became creepy. That said, I have never received negative anything past feeling a little bad for myself over some missed homework. I think I'm just doing things right in general to avoid negative things, but I can confirm people seeking to hate on us aren't actively seeking us out.

Good luck with your thingy! Enjoi my answers Monsieur.

 

Not going to bore you with a general definition, so I'll just keep to what it means to me personally.
In all honesty, it's not something I put much thought into. When deciding if I like something or not, "manliness" is not what I put the most priority in. I'm male. That's all the masculinity I'll ever need right there.
Really, those people worrying about masculinity? Yeah, there's probably a reason for them to be worried about this.

Since late 2011, I think. It's cute, good looking, genuinely funny at times, with likable characters and even the music is enjoyable. A nice package all in all.

Twilight. Probably because I could relate to her the most in Season 1. And even though she has changed by now, I still like her the most.

Eh, you can find odd stereotypes about pretty much all kinds of people, and even though there may really be people like this out there, it doesn't mean that all people within a group fit the stereotypes associated with it. So, meh.

So far, no, but I don't tend to make a huge deal out of any of my hobbies anyway, so other people don't seem inclined to make a huge deal out of it themselves. *shrugs*

 

I actually did a report on this for my English 111 class last semester. Masculinity to me means that you are masculine. You display traits commonly connected to males such as strength, aggressiveness, etc. It's pretty much textbook definition. A better question would've been to ask how important masculinity is to me. I'm not, by this definition, very masculine at all. I don't see the need, the reason to be masculine. I'm fine just being me.

I got into the show about mid 2012, like March or April. I like the show because the animation style is amazing, the story line is excellent, the character personalities are individual and creative, and it's just an all around great show.

My favorite character (assuming you mean from the mane6) is Rainbow Dash. She's fast, she's spunky, but most importantly she's loyal. My second favorite of the mane6 is Pinkie Pie because I love to make people laugh and Pinkie returns me the favor. Now out of all the characters in the show my favorite character is Vinyl Scratch. She's a DJ ... and pon3!! Second favorite of all the characters is Octavia Melody because bow ties are cool!

How do I feel about them? Well in general I just sort of find them laughable. It's just really funny, at least to me, to hear all of the weird stuff people come up with. Of course there is some truth to the stereotypes. There's always someone out there who would fit the position. For the majority though, most bronies are actually pretty normal. Normal jobs, normal lives, normal interests. I listened to that howard stern show where he went on about bronies. Couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard.

All the time. I get crap for it a lot in chats. Well, it doesn't really last long. I pretty much join them in insulting myself because I think it's funny and they quit talking about it for some reason. Real life ... no. Nobody really cares. I get asked questions about it a lot but never any abuse.

Hmm ... Not really. I guess all I have to say is that it's really disappointing to see so many bronies who are being hurt because of the stereotypes. Because of people bullying them. It breaks my heart because I know that not everyone can just laugh it off when people talk badly to them. I'd probably make sure that was noted in my research as it happens a lot to the members of this fandom.

 

1. What does the term masculinity mean to you personally? Where did you get your definition?
The term 'Masculinty' mansto me that you are male. You gain a deep voice during puberty.
2. How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?
I've been a brony sometime since August-September and still enjoy being brony. I've watched all of season 1 and a couple episodes of season 2. I like the show for its perspective most of society doesn't/hasn't seen.
3. Who is your favorite character and why?
My favorite character Mane Six-wise is Rainbow Dash for her loyalty and that she keeps trying, even thru the bad. My favorite background ponies are Derpy Hooves, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
4. How do you feel about Brony stereotypes? Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?*
I despise the fact that bronies are bullied and hated or liking the show. Have I ever received and backlash or abuse for being a brony? Nope. I'm a closet brony at school and when I'm with friends who would make fun of me. I've posted that I am a brony on Facebook.
If there is anything else you'd like to add, feel free! Thanks much in advance to anyone who replies.**
Please tell those simpleminded people at your college that "We bronies choose what we like. It has great perspectives that society should learn."

 

People who are too proud about ANYTHING annoy me

 

I've actually never bothered to reply to anything like this before (you're not the first person to come here and ask questions for a presentation/research paper/etc., there have been quite a few) but since this fandom may or may not be around much longer (depends on who you ask) I suppose it wouldn't hurt to actually participate in one of these. Heck, it might be the last one.

Speaking of, you're a bit late to the party haha.

Masculinity has it's stereotypes, like everything else. When you ask someone to think about men who are 'masculine' or 'manly' they will probably think someone who has big muscles, probably a beard, who wrestles bears when they're not out chopping wood and saving damsels in distress. But those are just stereotypes really... think about it, how many guys do you know like that? To me, the term 'masculine' does invoke those images, but in reality there's a lot more to masculinity than just that. There's strength, but also strength of character... someone who is confident, brave, chivalrous, reliable, responsible... a leader, a provider and a protector to the places, principals and the people he holds dear.

About a month before I joined this site... something like August 2011?

As for what I like about it: There was of course the initial novelty of being one of few people who watched a girls show and liked it because we could look past the stigma and enjoy it for what it was, quality entertainment. It was kind of nice knowing we were people who could "break the mold" so to speak. But the reason I still watch it (although perhaps not quite as enthusiastically as I did 2-3 years ago) is because it's simply an enjoyable show to watch. The plot was intriguing, the animation bright and crisp and the dialogue was smart and well-written. Things that are not the norm for a kid's show, especially one for girls, which are usually trite, cutesy and dumbed down. This is what the creator Lauren Faust didn't want for her show... she wanted a show that wouldn't treat young girls as if they had nothing else on their minds but the color pink, something both intelligent and entertaining, something that both kids and their parents could enjoy. So in reality, it was never "a little girls show" but rather a show for all ages. It's just good television.

The other part is that it's something our GTA, CoD, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead-saturated minds aren't used to... something innocent and fun that brought back nostalgia from days of our youth. To quote ZombieLand, "Something about a Twinkie reminded him about a time not so long ago, when things were simple and not so ****ing psychotic."

Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Rarity. I used to have a favorite, but now I don't. Why do I like them? Mostly because those are the three characters with qualities I can best relate to, or aspire to. Why else would anybody like a particular character?

Brony stereotypes? For the most part, they're wildly untrue. Any person with common sense could deduce that without even researching it, as stereotypes usually are. Other than that, I've seen some people that sortof fit my idea of what a 'stereotypical brony' might look like, but I've seen even more people who don't. As with anything, chances are the people who fit the stereotype do exist, but are more than likely in the minority.

Backlash? Yes and no. The only person whom I let know that gave me any grief about it was someone who was my best friend at the time. He busted my chops about it here and there, but for the most part it wasn't a big deal. Everyone else I told was cool about it, but that's a very short list out of all the people I could have possible told because I know if I told any of the others (the people I work with, for instance) that I'd catch hell for it. I don't particularly care what they think, since I dislike almost all of my coworkers anyway, but life is hard enough without adding more complications to it unnecessarily.



Anyway, hope I answered your questions to your satisfaction. Now I have to get back to attending this whiskey sour... it ain't gonna drink itself.

 

I'll help this research because I can!
1. What does the term masculinity mean to you personally? Where did you get your definition?
-Masculinity is word that describes predominately male qualities. I got this definition off of the top of my head because it's been bored into my skull.
2. How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?
-I've liked it since whenever episode 10 season 1 came out. I enjoy the characters being relate able and having their own personalities. I enjoy the well thought out episodes. I love Lauren Faust as a producer. I like ponies.
3. Who is your favorite character and why?
-My favorite character is a tie Muscle Pony and Twilight Sparkle. They closely resemble my personality. Muscle Pony is LOUD and MANLY. Like I speak! And ACT! While Twilight Sparkle is a book worm and loves to learn and can be quiet, yet throw low blows and insults around like no tomorrow. Like war and peace living in harmony.
4. How do you feel about Brony stereotypes? Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?*
-I feel that some are well deserved, but others are simply just excuses to hate us. I personally don't receive backlash being the only kid in school who plays sports, video games, passes all his classes, AND is confident. It's a hard and well respected mix.

 

Some notes from a fellow researcher...

Hi! I was just confessing my researchful intentions when joining the site, so I think it´s just fair that I help with yours:

 

1. What does the term masculinity mean to you personally? Where did you get your definition?

Masculinity to me is a set of social expectations for what a male is to enjoy, participate, and conform to in order to be considered a male. Just a fluid definition I thought out because I feel this is something that has been changing in the recent decades.

2. How long have you liked the show, and what do you like about it?

I've enjoyed the show for two and a half to three years. I like the show because I love cartoons and this show has done a wonderful job. Great animation, strong lessons, and deep characters. Compared to previous iterations, it doesn't restrict itself solely to what a head of marketing would think a six year old would enjoy. As the show has gone on, it's given nods to bronies with references and characters that only an adult could pick out.

3. Who is your favorite character and why?

Hard to pick one, but I'd say rarity. She represents a value that's really important to me, which is generosity. She also helps me channel what I'd call my femininity, if that makes any sense. Like, how she is in the show is kinda how I want to be, but how I was raised and society has kinda pressed upon me when I was young, that I feel its wrong for me to act as such. So seeing her, I kinda place myself in her shoes. Her voice is also just simply divine.

4. How do you feel about Brony stereotypes? Have you ever received any backlash or abuse for being one?*

I'd argue against there being a stereotype if I hadn't actually met a significant amount. Abuse= no, backlash= I have no idea why it seems the half of furries are anti mlp. I... would say soo much more, but I wont. Other than that everyone else accepts it pretty well.