So we all know that Bronies are awesome. And that people out there hate us. And so I create this. This is your chance to discuss your qualms about being a brony (or fears or whatever) and also your favorite things about being a brony. And now for mine: I must say that after being a brony for this short period of time (a couple of months) I've met lots of enjoyable people all of them great to talk with. My biggest fear of being a brony is that said people will lose interest in this and leave me lonely with the ponies (however lonely that will not be). I find a lot of support in the people I talk to on EPR chat and (even though they didn't know till now) they have cheered me up when work/life was getting me down (I never express my sadness to anypony). I guess you could say that's both my favourite and most feared part of being a brony. I look forward to reading everyponies' replies and maybe even help you past your fears of bronydom if at all possible. EDIT: I should put in here that I'm not implying that there is a bad side to bronydom. I'm just saying that, as a rather controversial subject among the "regular folk", bronydom can bring out the worse in the people that don't understand us. Which is why I am posting this. To help reach out to the closet bronies and even the worried in-the-open bronies and let them vent their worries.
My favorite part of being a brony is the community, I couldn't ask for a friendlier group of people to talk to. I feel that on this site, I can talk about anything without being judge. Even the few bronies I've met in real life are like that. Another positive is the way the show made me think. Before ponies, I doubt you could have talked to me or get me to share anything personal about myself. I really can't think of a negative of being a brony, other then having to deal with haters. The more open I am about being a brony the less the haters hate on me. So it's win win for me and slowly turning into a positive.
My favorite thing about bronydon is Fluttershy and you guys...but mostly Fluttershy. Seriously, I've never had closer friends than all of you and I thank you for that. That's why I do my best to make sure I help all of you whenever possible. My big negative is the fact that I have to hide it. It's frustrating having to use my iPod to get on the forums. I have to use pop-out chat when I go on the radio and I can't even get Skype or be on MSN to talk with you guys without giving it away. I hate it...
Yeah I can definitely see how haters can make it difficult, but it's just as you said. The more you grow open about, the less those haters matter, and the more time you can spend as yourself.
Gotta agree with Pixel Hope here, the community is great, and I can't think of any downsides. It hasn't changed me though, this is how I've always been. I don't always post on the forum, but when I do, you know it was a direct link from the EPR chat.
I don't think it's necessary to tell anyone about it, at least not directly. It's like... say, I enjoy various anime/manga. My cousin (act.: childhood friend) isn't usually into the stuff anymore. I basically don't bring it up as a major topic when we chat. I don't know how, but probably through the themes, bright colors, and positive attitude of the show, but this fandom is probably the best I've come across. The motto, "Love & Tolerate" is amazing for it and I'm very happy for how the people interact. Whether it's roleplay, moral support, or just random chat, the community is amazingly friendly. I believe it can help a lot of people overcome shyness or anxiety. I believe that to be true and for it to be a wonderful thing. Anyway, I'm tired as hell, pushing my jogging limits again and I've already been up like 13 hours, so I tend to ramble when I'm sleepy. Anyway, it's up to you who you tell, but I don't think it's a requirement. You're a fan, they're not--life goes on. If you're both fans, wonderful! You have something in common. =^.^=
Fluttershy, my love. Then there is the fact that ponies have taught me not to be so judgemental about what I would watch. I was always he kind of person who would look at something and go, ewww gross a kids show, keep it away from me. Well I still think this, but for a long time I Ignored this show thinking it was exactly what I thought it was. Then the community began throwing ponies in my face so much that I eventually got to let's see what the big deal was point. The show was better then I ever imagined and the community welcomed me and treated the show's corny morality as gospel. This allowed me to find so many people that did not have black and cold hearts that I had become convinced most of the world was and generally had a pretty bleak view on humanity. The next thing to suck me even deeper pony fanaticism was the creative inspiration, my Youtube channel is more active and frequently updated then ever thanks to ponies and a new huge audience I could tap into for feedback. The first negative, that has turned out to not be so bad is that I, at first alienated some of my best friends, who were like 'wtf' when I started showing that I was a fan of this show. Only a few days after mentioning this show to my best friend, that I am still in IRL contact with, he made an anti-brony video, that scared the hell out of me. I soon found out this was him pulling a stunt to gain subscribers and he apologised afterwards. To date his anti-brony video hasn't got anyware near as many views as my brony videos. Unfortintely my best friends do not like the show, despite watching a few episodes. However a few lesser friends have become bronies too and this is proving to my best friends that they are the ones who are missing something. @Zephyr, I really feel bad for your situation Zephyr. I have complete freedom when it comes to my bronydom, everyone in my class knows about it and I am not afraid to be honest to anyone who asks about my Fluttershy shirt that I wear proudly. All my relative that I see on a regular basis know about it and my loyal subscribers that I've had on youtube for several years have become bronies since my channel became ponified.
Aaaaaaand this is why I made this. You guys are amazing. @Zephyr It sucks so bad that you have to hide it. I don't think I could ever hide this part of my life. I remember the day after I became a brony, I had to work. The first thing I did when I got there was explain how awesome this show I was watching was and giggle at how everypony reacted when I told them it was MLP. Also, I'm so glad I haven't seen a @Peppy about my trepidations. It's good to see that everypony is finding bronydom so positive. Y'know, minus the haters cuz haters gonna hate and all that jazz.
*hugs Zephyr* well, here's my ups and downs: ups: I now have new show that I love. I've met new friends (both online and irl) (irl mostly people I've converted to bronies via fer2.net). People are nice and really great to hang out with. Now I have new inter jokes with sister (she also loves mlp, and we usually have our little jokes that usually only 2 of us understand). Community is great and it's just that little thing that brings in light in your life. Also, I've become noticed member of fer2.net community, therefore my collage community. That is, most of people who don't know me irl, knows me only under Yeti, online, but before, I wasn't recognised (as in people never heard of me) now, they know me as "pony guy", and not in bad way, (or good) ,just thing I'm known for. When they meet me irl, they don't act any different towards me than before I told them my online name, or when I would meet someone new before I was brony. I had cartoon characters before mlp anyway, so I was "one with cartoon avatar". Also people I've hang out irl, and know my online name (mostly everyone I hang out irl know my online name), treat me and act to me same as before. downs: dealing with haters.... wait, what?. let's define this how this applies to my life: online: I didn't have any trouble with haters since I just ignore them (or debate with them with my own tools, but that happened only once in closed circle of people). irl: well, there are people that dislike the SHOW... but why would I have to deal with them? They dislike the show, they don't dislike me for being brony. even so, there are couple people that said that they hated the show on fer2.net, but still, when I met them irl, they knew who I was online (they found out), and well, I didn't have any problems with them, even so, I'm friends now with some of them. I don't think we should "fight" against anti-bronies. and by that I don't mean people that dislike bronies (honestly, I've never met person that dislikes someone for watching a show), but I mean people who dislike the show. let them dislike the show, it's their choice. so down sides: there are no any. (in my case) so yeah, idk, maybe it's my appearance, or fact that people know that I like cartoons anyway. All I know that my "Dumb Fabric" T-shirt is on the way (in tall tee version), and that it'll be perfect for those moderately warm days and spring snowboarding.
Haha yeti I'm getting the exact same shirt in a few days as well. We need to exchange pics as soon as we get them. Can anypony say fashion show? I think I feel another forum topic coming up soon.
Well my hater at work were attacking me directly with insults. I never got their attention until, I talked about MLP openly at work. That's when he started hating me, not just the show, but anything associated with it. Over the last few days and with my new shirts, he kinda of is starting to give up. I guess the more open I am the less impact what he says has on me.
Well, upsides is that the community is the most friendly that I found, and that I found a new hope on going for my goal to move myself to Canada. I can't think on downsides. If they don't approve my brony status, they must deal with it. The hay, I went to a shopping center tuesday, proudly using with my Octavia T-shirt.
I think the fact that people try to shove MLP Down people's throats also contributes to the problem; I know that I would get annoyed, even hate them, if they tried to keep convincing me to do something I don't want to do. Bronies that shove MLP Down throats need to learn restraint; these people may be bronies, but being a fellow member of the community is no excuse for annoying others. Then again, there are /b/tards running around trolling either way; Don't think that having an awesome community means that everyone will love it; it only breeds more hate and contempt for us. The reason so many people hate/dislike us is because we are very forceful in our ways, and that needs to stop. Not to mention the steady income of f*cked up clopfics/grimdark fics might creep some people out of it. Also, I just recently found out Seth Green is a brony. Robot Chicken marathon tonight~ Well, back to trolling on /v/. :Trollestia:
True Saikyo, very true... It's driving me mad that I have to hide it. I can't do the things all of you can do. I can't Skype with you guys, I hide my YouTube account, I can't buy shirts or merchandise, I die a little inside seeing a Fluttershy figure at the store and knowing that I can't get it, I can't join a brony server for any game. Hell, I even make sire my brother stays away from the friends list on the PS3 so he won't see DRD's profile. I hate it....
My favorite thing about bronydom is Rainbow Dash and you guys...but mostly Rainbow Dash. :derpe: Everyone or most of everyone on these forums are close to me and anyone else. The only negative is just haters or peoples opinions, but I can deal with it.
although i love the community and i do love talking about the show, i really wish i had more of a creative side such as art and literature but i know im no good at those abilities because of my dyslexia, and as much as i want to actually talk and get to know you guys idk why im so scared to get on the epr chat maybe its because im never used to making freinds on the outside world... im used to being confind in my own prison. and i feel that even when i do post my opinion online that im invisible or that my opinion doesnt matter anyways... i really want to express my bonydom to the world and i really want to reach out to others and fill them with same feelings that MLP:FIM gave me but idk once again i feel imprisoned with fear
@Rainyday That's how I am in the outside world. I'm horrible at talking to people. Kinda like a male Fluttershy. One thing you DON'T have to worry about here though is people not caring about your opinion. Unless it's about how MLP sucks which I doubt anypony here would ever think xD. I look forward to seeing you on EPR someday when you are able to join us
much obliged peppy thanks for hearing me out, im sure i will be ready to gain that courage sometime soon
