XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: jhc86@hotmail.com   
      
   I bring this up because I genuinely wonder what people thought of the   
   Bronies   
      
   During my last con visit I got a chance to learn about the brony fandom.   
   I knew basically the focus of the fandom. I thought it was a little odd   
   but I was curious enough to attend a panel called 6 Stages of Bronydom. I   
   came in the middle but what I saw proved rather enlightening and really   
   held up a mirror to fandom in general.I was really surprised how many   
   people I interacted with were fans. people you wouldn't expect to. Like   
   finding out the folks from Mayberry have a punk following One of the   
   things that was notable at this panel was the awareness level.  The   
   panelists fully acknowledge the extremeness of their fandom. The   
   extremeness of a show that targets little girls who could watch it with   
   their parents yet has an adult fan base of at least 7 million! The   
   extremeness by which how quickly the show’s fandom evolved since My   
   Little Pony was revamped 2 years ago. The extreme ridicule the adult male   
   fans risk by admitting they watch the show. And the extreme passion that   
   comes from such a fan base arising under the above mention circumstances.   
   I can understand the leeriness some folks have for this group. I think   
   about how the general public felt about trekkies back in the 70s, anime   
   folk back in the 90s and how some folks have come to regard the   
   Browncoats in past years. The bronies are the undisputed air to that   
   mantle. There is an inherent level of shame that comes with the territory   
   It was interesting that the panelists said people thought the Brony   
   phenomenon would die out soon enough owing to the speed and intensity by   
   which it developed. It hasn’t though. It is going just as strong as ever   
   and the fact that the show’s producers embrace and respond to the fandom   
   certainly has helped keep it going.   
      
   Anyway, the panel likened the fact that fans of the show undergo a   
   process not unlike the stages of death when one discovers one has a   
   terminal illness. Ergo: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and   
   Acceptance. I came into the panel as they were wrapping up depression and   
   heading into Acceptance. What was fascinating were the moments people   
   said they came to terms with it and just accepted their love and   
   fascination with the show. 1 guy (who was college age) said he finally   
   accepted it when he had the nerve to tell his father about his love for   
   the show. Naturally he was majorly embarrassed to admit it. But he said   
   after his dad watched a couple of episodes to see what it was about, he   
   told his son he understood why he got into it. It made it a lot easier on   
   him Another person there had said that while he likes the show, the   
   reason he embraces being a brony has less to do with the show itself and   
   more with the impact the show has had on fans. He found it amazing that   
   this show with its message about life lessons and friendship manages to   
   inspire people so passionately and affect them in deep ways that comes   
   out via fandom. It’s an interesting effect. I’ve glanced at the show and   
   am rather indifferent about it but I can’t deny that at the core of any   
   geek fandom is this inspirational impact. I know another costumer who has   
   a grown son who is a Brony and my friend admits enjoying the show himself   
   for what it is. In that respect, it’s no different than getting into   
   trek, Star wars or Superheroes. It is just an unexpected source   
      
   Sadly there was a 6th stage that they referred to as “Falling”. It was   
   basically the moment some fans have suffered when the stress and ridicule   
   from being a fan of the show becomes too much for them and they cut   
   themselves off for the sake of peace. An extreme example was given when 1   
   of the panelists mention her college friend was constantly ridiculed for   
   liking the show by his buddies-even after he learned not to bring it up   
   in their presence.   
      
   The breaking point came when his “friends” bought a collectible figure   
   from the show, burnt and disfigured it and then left it for him in his   
   mailbox. Yes you can tell these buddies of his are not into the show or   
   its message A lot of what went on in this panel gave me plenty of food   
   for thought   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)