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Dannyboy-the-Dane

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Posts posted by Dannyboy-the-Dane

    The Peepsville Mafia

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    Well then take your vote off. Stop trying to make it look like you were against the whole time while keeping a vote on.

     

    I'm not that stupid. Obviously I won't pretend I was against it. I'm still not. Just airing my doubts.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    I take exception to Bard's seeming lack of differentiation between the many different levels of fandom within the MLP (and indeed any) fan community. I disagree with his definition of the words "fan" and "brony" as fanatic members, since I view those words as synonyms for "I like this very much and participate in the fan culture", as I believe most other people do.

     

    I haven't watched the documentary, but naturally I am familiar with some of the more extreme parts of the fandom. I'd say there are different categories of extremists: Some of them are overly obsessed with the show and the subculture, and some of these probably have a mental condition that facilitates this obsession, like autism or Asperger's. Other extremists have a sexual fetish for the characters, which is unsurprising given that pretty much anything and everything is a fetish for somebody. :heh: I also believe, though, that a lot of the seemingly extreme fans are simply enthusiastic geeks for whom MLP has become the target of their affection. It seems to me that for many this enthusiastic expression of love for the show is actually part of the subculture, like I'd argue it actually is for a lot of subcultures. These people express their love for something in an overly enthusiastic manner, not because they have an actual obsession or are in any way functioning differently than most "ordinary" people, but because they've found a forum where they can let loose and just go a little nuts. Which, to be honest, most people like to do in one way or another. This is just their way of doing it.

     

    As with any subculture (and really any group or association) there are many, many different levels and types of dedication, and I find it highly important to distinguish between these so as to not wrongly pass judgement on people.

    The Peepsville Mafia

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    delaying info dump is very very scummy behaviour.

     

    It says you are the son of a prominent police officer, intent on following in your father’s footsteps.

     

    I'm not delaying an info dump, I'm delaying me having to give out my info unnecessarily. If people distrust me enough, I'll come clean, but if this lynch goes through and Rummy does indeed turn out to be mafia, I should assume I'll be trusted enough to not have to reveal myself.

     

    That being said, I am becoming more worried about the suspiciously clear wording, "police cadet", especially if there are more officers/uniformed men running around. A write-up manipulator is not unlikely.

     

    The jailkeeper, do we have a list of his actions?

    The Peepsville Mafia

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    Of course you're suspicious of me, Rummy, you're suspicious of anyone who dares suspect you, even when the evidence points to you. To be honest I did think the unambiguity of the write-up was suspicious, but then again we'll never know if we don't try it out.

     

    I'd rather not reveal my info, but if this goes like it always does, I'll be forced to anyway. I'm out of the house for the next couple of hours, so don't think I'm keeping quiet.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    ... or too far into the pony hole.

     

    I shall refer people to the title of the tread.... "when bronies go too far" not "all bronies are weirdos.

     

    Its not about upholding gender stereotypes. If these were women it would be just as weird. If this was about any other "male" show, the actions would still be weird.

     

    It sounds judgemental but.. these people need help. Having such an insular community provides comfort but comfort isn't conducive to change. If ponies didn't exist these people would gather around something else.

     

    I assume you're talking about the extremists here. For the common fans, most of the criticism boils down to the gender stereotype, i.e. "adult guys can't watch a little girls' show". As Rummy highlighted Lauren Faust actually intended to bridge that gap.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    Being part of a fanbase and shaping your identity after it are two different things, though. I mean, you're a Street Fighter fan, but you aren't shaping your identity around it, you're just part of the fanbase, even if by simply enjoying the games.

     

    It just so happens that My Little Pony fans have a name for themselves. It doesn't mean that everyone who calls themselves that are obsessive fans, simply that they like the show, they're part of its fanbase. "Brony" simply means "My Little Pony fan".

     

    Exactly. You put it better than I did. :heh:

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

     

    There's a difference between association with a subculture, and considering oneself part of it. To paraphrase Judith Butler, saying you are this or that connotes a provisional totalisation of that self, so I can only interpret you calling yourself a "bronie," as a statement of self. In social identity theory, our self is fashioned in an exclusionary manner by way of what one labels oneself. Saying you are this or that, is an act of implicating that others are not this or that, and therefore exempt from your little social fiefdom. The fact that certain people do this through My Little Pony, provides me with extreme mirth. You have to be dull as fuck not to find it funny.

     

    You don't address my point. My point is that you seem to equate everyone identifying themselves as bronies to the most extreme examples, those who may actually be shaping their identity around it rather than simply associating their existing identity with them.

     

    I didn't quite have time, nor patience enough to holistically address every aspect of bronie culture -largely because I don't care - instead choosing to focus on the fringe aspects that are interesting to me, which through various accounts and evidence are fairly widespread. Sure, there are ordinary, everyday people who watch the show, but the subculture seems to be something of a magnet for the sort of people you see lurking on deviantart commenting on sexualised interpretations of my little pony characters. That is the part of the phenomena that I find interesting and bizarre. It's probably harmless, but it's still funny, and the cornerstone of of humour is exaggeration and judgement. I find your assumption that I lump all people who watch the show in to the same category to be profoundly obtuse, if not caused by willful misunderstanding of what I was getting at or poking fun towards.

     

    Ah, see, now, that's the Bard I know and love! :D My apologies for misunderstanding your intentions. Carry on!

     

    Is the motto of the show really "love and tolerance", because I hate the word tolerance in this context. Surely "love and acceptance" would be optimal.

     

    I've thought the same, actually. Though I think it may have been the subculture that created that motto.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    Calling one's self a bronie is a statement of identity.

     

    In the most basic terms, yes, but I'd argue in today's socety such labels are more a statement of association with a subculture than an indication of any actual identity-shaping.

     

    Care to elaborate, genius?

     

    When one decides to equate an entire group with the most extreme examples thereof, I'd argue that's judgemental and, to be completely honest, unintelligent.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted

    The actual idea that there's a subculture based on the fandom of a decidedly dumb kids show is baffling to me. It's like it's no longer enough to say, yes I like to watch this thing, and occasionally engage in conversation about the latest episode. Instead you have to obsess over it and say "no, this show gives me an uncontrollable viagra hard-on for days, I cannot get enough." I mean, I like cartoons. I really like adventure time, for example, but there's a distinction between liking something and saying "a big part of my identity is constituted through this show." You have to be a little crazy, I'm just saying.

     

    But it's still a minority who shapes their identity around it. Most people like the show enough to want to participate in a subculture, but there's a far leap from there to the extreme examples we've seen.

     

    Yes. That's sort of my thing. I like to troll and grief, and generally take the piss where I know people aren't going to take kindly to it. How many years has it been, how is it possible that you don't take shit I say with a fistful of salt? Maybe I should put a handy :heh: after everything :heh:

     

    You know, I almost didn't get into this discussion. Guess old habits die hard, huh?

     

    I never said I was trolling ironically. I'm trolling with absolute sincerity, because I find Bronies pretty funny. I was telling Dannyboy to take it easy because he's never going to react well to anything that's the least bit cutting.

     

    Not when it's presented that unintelligently, no.

    When bronies go too far

    in General Chit Chat

    Posted · Edited by Dannyboy-the-Dane

    1. Indefinitely reserving judgement makes you a bland person.

     

    2. It's nothing to do with gender, it's more to do with weird cultish fetishism. I don't understand what it is about the show that causes people to want to label themselves "bronies," or get my little pony tattoos, or fashion hand puppets for undoubtedly nefarious sexual purposes.

     

    More than that, it's the same thing which causes me to be baffled by Trekkies (or Trekkors...it's like the protestants vs catholics of Star Trek fans)...when you're wearing your Trek uniform and phaser to a senate hearing, it's undoubtedly time to assess your life and figure out why this soap opera causes you to want to fashion an identity around it. I kind of just want to diagnose them all with aspergers. And hell, it's fine and great to be absorbed by something, but the majority of the time, the sort of people that go to conferences based on the nerd subculture of their choice, approach their interest without any sense of humour. That's pretty much where I draw my own imaginary line of judgement; if you're so into something like this that you can't handle someone taking the piss out of you for it, then you're a little too deep down the rabbit hole.

     

    My main problem is that you, as well as many others, seem to look at a subculture and just instantly associate everyone within it with the most extreme examples. Obviously the majority doesn't fashion their entire identity around it. Why would you even assume that?

     

    Fine that you don't understand it. Hell, there are many subcultures I don't understand. But you don't seem to really search out much information before passing judgement, and that's what pisses me off. The majority of the bronies I've interacted with are exceptionally well-functioning and good-humoured about the subculture. So are a lot of people in subcultures, actually, but they never really get the same amount of attention, do they?

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