Saturday, December 28, 2013

Puts a whole new spin on the term ponyboy, doesn't it...

I like to think I'm pretty well versed in the bizarre elements of life.  It takes a lot to surprise me these days.  I've heard about, if not witnessed, most of the strange things out there.

But I have to admit I dropped the ball on the whole Brony thing.

How on earth did I miss this one?  How could there be such an enormous fan base for something so strange and I didn't even notice?  I'm genuinely ashamed of myself.

For those of you who don't know, a Brony is the name given to people (usually guys in their teens or early twenties) who are fans of the cartoon "My Little Pony".

Yep, I'm totally serious.

There are fangroups and websites and clubs dedicated to these pony-loving guys (and doesn't that just sound all kinds of wrong).   We're talking a lot of people here, so many that the internet is just saturated with them.  Seriously, do a google search ... hell, do a google image search if you're brave.  You'll see what I mean.

That must have come as a bit of a shock to the manufacturers.  There they were making toys and a related cartoon about pastel ponies with magical powers, they must have assumed their main demographic would be girls between the ages of 7 and 12.  Instead, they end up with hordes of boys ... men, really ... who all love those damned horses.

Of course, I don't really have any room to talk.  Some of the shows I've been part of the fandom of have been pretty embarrassing.  Sliders, Young Riders, and let's not even talk about the best forgotten Young Americans fiasco of 2000.

Hell, even now I'm a Gleek.  I really can't be casting any stones.

But I think the facet of it that disturbs me the most is the amount of money some people are willing to pay for costumes so they can dress up as their favourite My Little Pony character.  Some friends were telling me that they knew someone who charged up to five grand to make a custom cosume.

Come on, you can't convince me that this is just your run of the mill cosplaying.  No one pays that sort of cash unless it's the seedy, kinky, Jerry Springeresque kind of dressing up!

Pretending to be ponies ... I definitely don't want to know how the dynamics of that one works.

Well, I may not understand the whole Brony thing, but if there's one think in this world I know about it's being a fan.  Speaking as someone who has been part of one fandom or another for the past twenty years, I know very well that you don't choose the fandom life, the fandom life chooses you.

So welcome to the brotherhood, you crazy pastel pony loving dudes!

18 comments:

  1. I too had never heard of a "brony." I feel very enlightened today :)

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  2. Me, either-- & me, too!!

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  3. That's two things I've learned today......I can't handle any more.

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  4. Wow! Who knew? Not me! I'm not sure if I want to try that Google search! But then you've got me curious!

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  5. When I asked my six year old nephew what he wanted for Christmas, he said a stuffed unicorn. I thought it was a little weird. Yikes! There may be more weird requests to come.

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  6. Yep, I've been living under a rock. The only reason I know what a My Little Pony is, is because I have two small granddaughters. I guess the Brony fad has not hit rural eastern Oregon yet.

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  7. There are some real strange happenings in this world of ours. I'm afraid to go out at night in case I see some human with a busy tail looking like a pony prancing around the dark streets... I can't defend myself against a man who thinks he's a horse of some type especially if he's not in a playful mood.
    I need to invest in some of those whips :)

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  8. I don't know, it may be more embarrassing to be a Gleek than a Brony. Also, "Sliders"?!? Oh boy. To cast aspersions upon the Brony community whilst being a fan of that show past the Jerry O'Connell years...I've said too much.

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  9. I am rolling on the floor laughing here - who knew! Just read this to dear hubby as well. I don't feel so guilty about some of my fetishes now.

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  10. LMFAO, I am still not completely convinced they are legit, but I have met men in their 30s who call themselves brony. I don't get it. I really don't.

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  11. Talk about weird! I can't believe it, either. All I can do is sit here and shake my head.

    But as a Bear, my social scope is pretty limited, so just about anything is possible. I guess.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  12. I don't think I can deal with this, and I take pretty much everything that comes my way.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. I heard about the "Bronies" on an episode of Wait, Wait don't Tell me (An American radio show) when the host quizzed Bill Clinton about the phenomenon. I assumed he was joking, but holy cow, these dudes are for real!

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  14. "Young Riders!" I grew up on the reruns, but I was one obsessed kiddo. I thought I was going to grow up and marry Jimmy! But on the subject of My Little Ponies, it's a cute show. My four-year-old cousin adores it. She go the hyperactive pink one that walks and talks for Christmas, and I think our whole family wanted to either give it to the dogs or set it on fire. I don't see how the show appeals to the 20-something male crowd, but it does. To each their own. :)

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  15. I, too, hadn't heard of this but I am a big ole skeptic and assume there is a side of this that is sleazy. Pink ponies and young men doesn't seem like a logical match up.

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  16. This summer, they had a BronyCon right here in Baltimore. I couldn't believe it either. Three days of MLP costumes and displays and stuff... for DUDES! It's the End of Days, man...

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