XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: snuhwolf@netscape.net   
      
   Coyo Stormcaller  wrote in news:20160217201454.01d35785   
   @coyo-Irresponsible:   
      
   > On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:57:06 -0500   
   > Jude Cormier  wrote:   
   >   
   >> 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   
   >>   
   >   
   > Hmm.   
   >   
      
      
   This outta be good :)   
      
   > A lot of furries I know in real life also love My Little Pony:   
   > Friendship is Magic. A lot of them have Rainbow Dash figurines next to   
   > holstered but loaded and live pistols.   
   >   
   Well thats k00ky...and pArAnOiD.   
      
   > It might seem backwards, but ironically, a society where everyone is   
   > armed is the most polite. It reminds me of the saying that high fences   
   > make good neighbors.   
   >   
   Ok, so you're down with the 2nd amendmintz.   
   It also makes for a society plagued by suicide by gun, and more gun   
   deaths than any other developed country. So theres that.   
      
   > I bet his buddies wouldn't have done that if they knew he carried guns   
   > he knew how to use. Everyone reaches a breaking point. The nicer they   
   > are, the more terrifyingly violent they are upon reaching that breaking   
   > point.   
   >   
   Well thats utter fucking bullshit. Thats the kind of idiotic shit Glen   
   Beck would spew :)   
      
      
   > But I didn't post here to explain why small children and elderly sweet   
   > grandmas should be packing heat to keep people from raping them. I just   
   > wanted to note that there's a lot of overlap in the two fandoms, and   
   > that the bronies are re-discovering a lot of stuff we furries have   
   > taken for granted for a long time now. I think it's a good thing that   
   > furry fans, brony fans and occidental otaku get along so well and have   
   > so much overlap. Nerdy fans ought to stick together.   
   >   
      
   Uh huh. But leading with a gun-related troll will catch readers so...   
   Good Job!   
      
   > While individuals with nerdy tendancies are more numerous than ever   
   > before, we're still a very distinct minority, even with all our fandoms   
   > combined.   
   >   
   > With all our fandoms combined, we are Captain Planet?   
   >   
   No.   
      
   > Anyway, I have found that the bronies are rediscovering a lot of stuff   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)