Marcamillian Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) I enjoy the show but... - its directed by a NCY film student Sam Cooke and called Friendship is Magic Edited June 13, 2012 by Marcamillian
Debug Mode Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 I believe these videos sum up when bronies go to far. Do not watch it a public place for the love of god.
The Bard Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 I love documentaries about the freaks that inhabit the fringes of society (Trekkies and Darkon being two awesome examples). Although bronies are grown dudes that willingly give their time to watching a dumb show about ponies, so you don't have to convince me that they have some trouble in the outside world.
Marcamillian Posted June 12, 2012 Author Posted June 12, 2012 Bard you should like this then - American Juggalo The subject matter is beside the issue. I think the show is genuinely entertaining and REALLY interesting in terms of being a demonstration of "girls" media done well. The greatest power and greatest downfall of the internet is the ability to connect with people who are like you. JUST. LIKE. YOU. Being able to be insanely selective about the group that you socialise with worries me a lot. Little communities that can sit together and justify their actions and never be challenged. A safe zone where you don't question yourself cause there are enough people siding with you. (pop anthropology moment) People always seem to gravitate towards an "us" and "them" mentality. It seems that some people are so desperate to join an "us" they immerse themselves in one thing so massively that it comes to define them. I'd rather be a venn diagram. Sometimes my interests overlap with people and that's awesome but if you only talk to people who are exactly like you when will you be exposed to new experiences and ideas?
The Bard Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) Yeah, that's the worrying thing. The historical fact with social identity is that people often find one point of identification with each other and from social groups based upon that particular attribute, which through further contact begins to develop into a culture or a creed, and becomes exclusionary. Since the internet though, you get a huge variety of these bizarre little social microcosms that are founded on so many tiny and specific similarities that the idea of any outsider even being able to fathom it, or have some sort of discernible entry point is impossible. Although maybe it's the other way around; people need to self identify as members of a tribe as a way of forming a sense of self, and since their assimilation into the tribe of choice requires them to yield to all the finer points that constitute membership to the group, they go ahead and imbibe it wholesale. Like, how does a cult develop around what is ostensibly a children's show about ponies? Star Trek is the same way, it's just a soap opera set on the bridge of a spaceship, although I suppose it rode on the back of the space race. But yeah, weird shit all around. 5 mins into that American Juggalos thing, and I'm hooked. Edited June 12, 2012 by The Bard
Shorty Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 On the other hand, the Humble Brony Bundle is currently competing with Notch over who can give the most money to charity for Humble Indie Bundle V. Currently at about $23.5k between them. And that can only be described as awesome.
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Although bronies are grown dudes that willingly give their time to watching a dumb show about ponies, so you don't have to convince me that they have some trouble in the outside world. I'm so glad we're not being judgemental here. ¬_¬ There are always bizarre minorities in a group, and the internet culture truly has made it easy for these people to find each other and group together. It's an interesting phenomenon.
Diageo Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 When I was defining those people as weird, it wasn't because of their uncommon obsession with this show. But they have a strange emotional investment in the community and the apparent ethos of the show. Some of them appear to embrace the ideology because of being ostracised by others in the past. Additionally, the one man who said he loved to hate others, and regained his happiness through hate. These are the individuals I consider weird. They all appear to have a higher emotional experience to situations. I would like to see if this is some sort of trend, or just the people they decided to focus on for the purposes of the video.
Rummy Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 I enjoy the show but... The video is down, what was it? I believe these videos sum up when bronies go to far. Do not watch it a public place for the love of god. Haha, that's genius. But come now, I hardly think those are fairly representative given where they're sourced from, and you should know better :p and the internet culture truly has made it easy for these people to find each other and group together. It's an interesting phenomenon. I'd say this, really. The arrival of MLP in a time where internet and social media is such a big thing, it's helped create the whole Brony thing. I imagine there'd have been things in the past where it would have happened to other 'kids' cartoons.
Fierce_LiNk Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 I totally misread this as when "Brownies" go bad, and thought it was a thread where you and Rummy were having some kind of fight. What I saw was much worse/better. Video was somehow captivating. I feel like I've missed a crucial middle section. This is My Little Pony, yes? The horse thing that girls in my class play with? Did they suddenly become good or something?
The Bard Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Dude, Flink, I was a better man before I asked those same questions. RUN YOUNG SQUIRE!
Jonnas Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 I hear the show is well written. Can't say it has captured my curiosity, though. Also, the video is down, so I can't see the supposed insanity. I never really expected this "subculture" to be anything more than another fanbase. I suppose comparing it to Trekkies puts it more into perspective, but still. What was it about?
Marcamillian Posted June 13, 2012 Author Posted June 13, 2012 Another link - its directed by a NCY film student Sam Cooke and called Friendship is Magic (btw me and Rummy are totally having a fight... he knows why) ... bloody counting houses
Rummy Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Another link - its directed by a NCY film student Sam Cooke and called Friendship is Magic (btw me and Rummy are totally having a fight... he knows why) ... bloody counting houses lol Well, I've avoided weighing in with any thoughts on this whole subject, but I guess this post is going to change that. Interesting video. Seems to follow specific 'types' and young folk, which paints it in some ways that makes it seem more extreme than it is(though there always is extreme folk). I'd say for that extent, it's exploitative and not representative, but all media is. For the record, I'd call myself a brony. I think I actually got into it through seeing Danny mention something on facebook? I can't remember. First guy in the vid? Yeah, he's weird. His problems probably extent much beyond MLP, but what makes me glad to see him is that he says he's to an extent happy as a result of the show. Happy. I just don't know what this show is doing to people. Anyway, yeah, I'm a brony, and as far as I'm aware; pretty well functioning in the world. Here's one thing that I think highlights the issue with my little pony, especially given it's a reboot of an older 'thing' that was very cutesy and aimed at little girls; and it's just a scenario of 4 people: 6-10 year old girl watches MLP. Absolutely fine. 6-10 year old boy watches MLP, probably discouraged by people who think it's exclusively for girls more like the original was. 18+ girl watches MLP. Well, it's a girl's show and she's fine to indulge the little girl inside herself, she might even be old enough to remember the original and just be reliving that. 18+ boy watches MLP OMFG WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU ARE YOU SOME SORT OF PERVERT IT'S FOR LITTLE GIRLS WTF MAYTE. This mainly imo stems from the original show, and its original incarnations and appeals, most people who judge bronies from what I've seen, haven't seen Friendship is Magic. Now, if I tell people I still watch Spongebob, or Fairly Oddparents, or that I've recently fallen in love with the new pokemon cartoons again, there's never this weird outburst at me, an adult male, watching kids cartoons. Why is there a difference between that, and MLP? I also think 18+ adults are more vocal and open about it also, just as the first kid pointed out, because they realize that what other people think about just one of their activities are largely irrelevant. I think there's probably plenty female bronies too, but as above, nobody really has any weird confusion about them watching the show. This vocalness, coupled with the internet and social media now, has lead to the whole Brony community; similar indeed to other show phenomenons such as Trekkies etc. Another comparison might be those hugely into manga/anime. Bottom line, in every one you get everything from normal folk to crazy folk, just the crazy folk stick out more. The brony community/movement/fandom/whatever you want to call it is also indulged and embraced by the show and its creators. This in itself leads to a slightly circular loop feeding back on itself and making it all grow out further. To me though, I don't see it as any different to just watching a cartoon and liking it. I'm not sure why people do, really.
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 I'm surprised some people are still so judgemental about it. They can't fathom that, gasp, some guys want to break the gender stereotype! It's not like the development of social norms the past couple of decades has shown any tendencies in that area! Nope, all bronies must be strange, dysfunctional members of the male sex!
Fierce_LiNk Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Heh, I'm watching the football, so Ine is watching the first episode of this. I didn't actually know its a new cartoon, and so far I've only glanced over her shoulder at some parts. She likes it. May give it a watch.
The Bard Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 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.
Jonnas Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Still not interested, but currently watching the video... I can honestly say there so many worse fandoms out there. I'm not talking about how obsessive those fans are about their series/film/whatever. These guys, who are apparently of the obsessive side, sound nice and friendly. Like, the fandom itself seems to encourage nice things. And yet there are those that treat it as something alien and bizarre because, y'know, pink & rainbows & ponies, which are all stereotypes propagated by tv shows and toys, so that's the opinion we all had as children. Which is ironic, now that I think about it. Anyway, peace to pony fans. I'm still not interested in the show, but I have no problem whatsoever with its fans.
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 (edited) 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? Edited June 13, 2012 by Dannyboy-the-Dane
Fierce_LiNk Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Fucking hell, Ine is ordering a My Little Pony costume already and is planning cosmetic surgery to have her hands and feet transformed into hooves. Damn these extremist Bronies!
Dannyboy-the-Dane Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 You lucky bastard ... I mean, damn us! What have we done?!
Coolness Bears Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 I had no idea it would get this massive when I started watching it. I initially checked it out because: A) I watch all cartoons anyway. B) Lauren Faust had already been apart of The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends which are awesome. Regardless of whatever it's genuinely a good cartoon. There are "crazy" all over the place and the internet allows for this. I'm looking at you blog of Benedict Cumberbatch's neck.
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