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Video: Bronies (grown men) invade little girls' section of Toys R Us

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Because people like what they like, dude.

I like to be choked during sex, wear fake mustaches over my real one, and collect NSync merchandise. Those aren't big deals and neither is this.

Laughed out loud on the train. Thank you.

I'll be honest I find the whole subculture weird. Don't give a shit that they like the show, but dressing up on any other occasion than a party is odd to me. So is the sexual dimension to it all.

By all means watch the show, buy the merchandise, whatever. But when there's histrionics and creepy people screaming over toys and shit then I do find that weird.
 
Kid's cartoons can be fuck awesome. I haven't watched enough MLP to levy a judgement but I still watch Rocko's Modern Life when it's on. So many grown up jokes.
 
The rabid fanbase is not proof enough? I'm not saying the series is good or bad, but it evidently has "something" that let's say Teletubbies or some other kids show lack.

The thing with this series and its fandom is that it is, esentially, an escapist fantasy. But instead of being about a world more epic than ours, or more technologically advanced or whatever, is about a world being just... nicer. The show's main attraction its "niceness", as weird as it sounds.

Now think about the type of person who would like (nay, need) this type of escapist fantasy. Social outcasts, unadapted teenagers, people with social issues... in short, people who cannot find social inclusion in the real world embraces a fantasy world where everyone is accepted and nice to each other, which is something far more exotic to them than elves and aliens.

That's why you find some of them giving so much importance to a what it is, in essence, just a slice of life comedy with sugary content on top like Azumanga Daioh. Because for that type of people it offers them one of the very few means to socialize and become accepted. In these cases the series and its fandom acts like a support group rather than a simple hobby. And boy, if you do get defensive and irrational whenever someone critisizes one of your social circles, imagine the reaction when said social circle is your only one. Well, you have had a taste of that in this very tread.

Yup, we bronies in general do need a hefty dose of "sensitivity trainning" (I see what you did here, Evilore) but these type of personal issues predate their fandom and in some cases, are in need of something far more deep and personal than a thicker skin. When I dealed with hardcore fans of the series, I noticed a disproportionate amount of bullied kids, gay teenagers and cases of severe depression on it (read: then again, people with many issues regarding social inclussion). Contrary to what many people expressed in this tread over an utterly retarded quote, rather than conservative the fanbase is, if anything, politically correct to a fault, and tend to share the wholly liberal position of "the public discourse should be forcefully legislated into niceness" (an idea that I personally consider it to be an abhorrent thing).

In short, the whole "this show creates manchildren" is a poster case of people mistaking correlation with causation. This show have normal fans that just enjoys it for what it is, but due to its premise, it also attracts a great deal of socially unadjusted people for whom the show and the fandom have become a mechanism to deal and cope with interpersonal relationships.

About whetever that is a good or a bad thing, it is up to debate, but my personal position is the one that actual psycology promotes: when treating a patient with a phobia, he should be subjected to a controlled and gradual exposition to the object of said phobia, same goes for social anxiety. Rather than isolating these type of individuals, I would dare to say that the effect of that fandom on them has been the very opposite: people that would be otherwise isolated are giving social interaction a try since they have founded an enviroment that they find far less treathening and more controlled than the society at large that they usually operates with. They will have to grow up out of it eventually (and seek for professional help) but it is a necessary positive first step.

...


Jesus, that was a very long post and a very boring morning for me.
 
I agree with your general gist Ikael. Makes sense.

Playing Warhammer PC RTS games and being exposed to the community that way makes me much more worried about the super male (only) power fantasy full of hate/racism/violence, than MLP or any other kids show (excluding teletubbies, which is a crime against humanity imo).
 
The thing with this series and its fandom is that it is, esentially, an escapist fantasy. But instead of being about a world more epic than ours, or more technologically advanced or whatever, is about a world being just... nicer. The show's main attraction its "niceness", as weird as it sounds.

Now think about the type of person who would like (nay, need) this type of escapist fantasy. Social outcasts, unadapted teenagers, people with social issues... in short, people who cannot find social inclusion in the real world embraces a fantasy world where everyone is accepted and nice to each other, which is something far more exotic to them than elves and aliens.

That's why you find some of them giving so much importance to a what it is, in essence, just a slice of life comedy with sugary content on top like Azumanga Daioh. Because for that type of people it offers them one of the very few means to socialize and become accepted. In these cases the series and its fandom acts like a support group rather than a simple hobby. And boy, if you do get defensive and irrational whenever someone critisizes one of your social circles, imagine the reaction when said social circle is your only one. Well, you have had a taste of that in this very tread.

Yup, we bronies in general do need a hefty dose of "sensitivity trainning" (I see what you did here, Evilore) but these type of personal issues predate their fandom and in some cases, are in need of something far more deep and personal than a thicker skin. When I dealed with hardcore fans of the series, I noticed a disproportionate amount of bullied kids, gay teenagers and cases of severe depression on it (read: then again, people with many issues regarding social inclussion). Contrary to what many people expressed in this tread over an utterly retarded quote, rather than conservative the fanbase is, if anything, politically correct to a fault, and tend to share the wholly liberal position of "the public discourse should be forcefully legislated into niceness" (an idea that I personally consider it to be an abhorrent thing).

In short, the whole "this show creates manchildren" is a poster case of people mistaking correlation with causation. This show have normal fans that just enjoys it for what it is, but due to its premise, it also attracts a great deal of socially unadjusted people for whom the show and the fandom have become a mechanism to deal and cope with interpersonal relationships.

About whetever that is a good or a bad thing, it is up to debate, but my personal position is the one that actual psycology promotes: when treating a patient with a phobia, he should be subjected to a controlled and gradual exposition to the object of said phobia, same goes for social anxiety. Rather than isolating these type of individuals, I would dare to say that the effect of that fandom on them has been the very opposite: people that would be otherwise isolated are giving social interaction a try since they have founded an enviroment that they find far less treathening and more controlled than the society at large that they usually operates with. They will have to grow up out of it eventually (and seek for professional help) but it is a necessary positive first step.

...


Jesus, that was a very long post and a very boring morning for me.

most bronies arent nice people so it doesnt seem to be teaching anyone anything
 
most bronies arent nice people so it doesnt seem to be teaching anyone anything
I know quite a few bronies and they are some of the nicest people i know.

I however just don't see the appeal in it, then again a lot of people don't understand the appeal of my Ninja Turtle obsession i have had for 20+ years.
 
The show is better than most shows aimed at that demographic and it's understandable for adults to find something enjoyable out of it. Which is different from how obsessed bronies are.

Sure, "every fanbase has insane and creepy members!", but I can only think of the people who say the same regarding political parties whenever someone from the GOP says something.

I dunno. Obviously a lot of normal people watch it, but the show has pull with people with deep social problems, it seems.

Drinking water makes you a man?

Well you certainly need big balls to drink it.
 
Are there brony hipsters that only watch the 80s show?

mylittlepony.jpg
 
The show is better than most shows aimed at that demographic and it's understandable for adults to find something enjoyable out of it. Which is different from how obsessed bronies are.

Sure, "every fanbase has insane and creepy members!", but I can only think of the people who say the same regarding political parties whenever someone from the GOP says something.

I dunno. Obviously a lot of normal people watch it, but the show has pull with people with deep social problems, it seems.



Well you certainly need big balls to drink it.

Yet you hate Rocket Raccoon.
 
The show is better than most shows aimed at that demographic and it's understandable for adults to find something enjoyable out of it. Which is different from how obsessed bronies are.

Sure, "every fanbase has insane and creepy members!", but I can only think of the people who say the same regarding political parties whenever someone from the GOP says something.

I dunno. Obviously a lot of normal people watch it, but the show has pull with people with deep social problems, it seems.



Well you certainly need big balls to drink it.

Well the dichotomy between MLP creepy fans and most other show creepy fans (Supernatural, Buffy, X-Files, Star Trek, et all...) is that most other shows don't star seemingly adolescent anthropomorphic talking ponies. So there are probably just as many if not MORE creep-show fans of Supernatural, it just doesn't bubble up to the surface as much because it's perfectly expected.
 
Pathetic, socially awkward, seldom bathing basement virgins who have completely given up on life and any semblance of adulthood or even humanity in order to immerse in and identify as part of a sexualized magic little girl-horse fandom.

Ouch! Now tell us how you feel about animu, wressle, hip-hop,sports, and pop gafs.
 
Well the dichotomy between MLP creepy fans and most other show creepy fans (Supernatural, Buffy, X-Files, Star Trek, et all...) is that most other shows don't star seemingly adolescent anthropomorphic talking ponies. So there are probably just as many if not MORE creep-show fans of Supernatural, it just doesn't bubble up to the surface as much because it's perfectly expected.

Numbers wise? Sure, but break down by precentage of the fanbases and I think pound for pound creepy MLP fans beat creepy Supernatural fans.



Plus MLP would never have the balls to call the fans out and get in on the joke like Supernatural has.
 
Pathetic, socially awkward, seldom bathing basement virgins who have completely given up on life and any semblance of adulthood or even humanity in order to immerse in and identify as part of a sexualized music scene beauty queen fandom.

Or...

Pathetic, socially awkward, seldom bathing basement virgins who have completely given up on life and any semblance of adulthood or even humanity in order to immerse in and identify as part of a sexualized muscle bound choreographed soap-opera for boys.

Or...

Pathetic, socially awkward, seldom bathing basement virgins who have completely given up on life and any semblance of adulthood or even humanity in order to immerse in and identify as part of a sexualized Japanese cultured loli-saturated seizure inducing freakshow.

Or...

Pathetic, socially awkward, seldom bathing basement virgins who have completely given up on life and any semblance of adulthood or even humanity in order to immerse in and identify as part of a sexualized dice rolling, power fantasy Cheeto fest.

I mean, that first part of your sentence is pretty stereotypical of how a lot of sub cultures are viewed. I'm glad you're in a position to judge an entire group of people based on how a lot of the posters in this forum have been judged in the past.
 
The thing with this series and its fandom is that it is, esentially, an escapist fantasy. But instead of being about a world more epic than ours, or more technologically advanced or whatever, is about a world being just... nicer. The show's main attraction its "niceness", as weird as it sounds.

Now think about the type of person who would like (nay, need) this type of escapist fantasy. Social outcasts, unadapted teenagers, people with social issues... in short, people who cannot find social inclusion in the real world embraces a fantasy world where everyone is accepted and nice to each other, which is something far more exotic to them than elves and aliens.

...
This post basically percolates several of my general thoughts about the more hardcore segment of the fanbase into one, thank you for writing it, especially as a fan yourself. Its never seemed to me like many of the hardcore fans want to have sex with ponies, so much as they want to be friends with the characters. It is escapism.
 
Ouch! Now tell us how you feel about animu, wressle, hip-hop,sports, and pop gafs.

NO you'll open Pandora's box. Neogaf will become pandemonium, which isn't actually too different from now actually. Okay go ahead, you have my blessing.
Hmmm maybe...
Or...



Or...



Or...



I mean, that first part of your sentence is pretty stereotypical of how a lot of sub cultures are viewed. I'm glad you're in a position to judge an entire group of people based on how a lot of the posters in this forum have been judged in the past.

Yep
 
I mean, that first part of your sentence is pretty stereotypical of how a lot of sub cultures are viewed. I'm glad you're in a position to judge an entire group of people based on how a lot of the posters in this forum have been judged in the past.

You know who I hate? Basement dwelling Anime watching/Video Game playing/ Comic book reading/etc... man-babies. Those are the worst.

The tower of nerd-dom will always have people who deem what others do as weird or stupid and judge based on their preconceptions. We've seen it countless times in this thread, and really, it's not going to stop.
 
marrec's really good at this, I think he might be Evilore's alt account where he can mingle with us dirty peasants and get an idea how we think to best manipulate us.
 
In the OP video, it would have been perfect if in the background you saw a little girl with her parent about to walk into the aisle, seeing the bronies, then hurryingly walking away.
 
probably, but still
if you're only just now questioning people you must be new to the internet

I've seen plenty of messed up stuff on the Internet. This pony stuff is relatively new to me. In the hierarchy of weird creepy shit on the Internet, I'd probably rank "bronies" alongside furries for general WTF-ness.
 
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