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 SheSpits wrote:
I am a parent, my boys run around the house pretending to be zombies batman monster and try and eat my brains BOY stuff. If my son crawled on all four and pretended to be sunshine sparkle and issue hugs out and acted all female. Id worrie and worrie a lot!

This is something that just really, really stood out to me. Out of all the idiocy spewed (spat?) in this thread by now this has got to be the one, single most potentially damaging bit of all. It reeks of the kind of child abuse rampant in the eighties and before (and still prevalent in rural evangelical circles in the US, I'm told) of "gender-affirmative corrective therapy" and whatever other pseudo-scientific names had to be attached to the monstrosities perpetrated in the name of conformity.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with boys doing stereotypical "boy stuff" (whatever that might be). But really, if they prefer baking and decorating cookies or drawing some (probably god-awful, being kids ) pastel-coloured happy-fun-land that should be encouraged just as much. Kids aren't there to be pressmolded into your narrow-minded vision of what 'ought' to be - on the contrary.
It might seem a bit off-topic but this point, IMO, provides a perfect insight into the mind of the kind of man who is actually insecure enough in his own self-image to have to not only take that out on his fellow man in an FLGS, but on his kids as well.
The kind of mind any right-thinking adult would hope to have seen extinct by now - but alas.

Actually come to think of it, it's not even remotely off-topic. With that one phrase you displayed *so* vibrantly just how much you seem to crave conformity over everything else that nothing, nothing which doesn't fit your exact world-view and preferences, in your mind could ever just be someone else's spot of harmless fun. You know what? Wallow in your own misery all you like but please, please do not force it on others. May God have mercy on those poor kids of yours.

 SheSpits wrote:
Grown single men with no kids watching it and getting stoked to watch it is strange........

So having kids is the prerequisite for enjoying shows that are deliberately aimed at both child and adult audience now?

Do you object to childless people going to see Disney movies as well? Or liking the Muppets?

 Krinsath wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:

Swabby wrote:

 Agamemnon2 wrote:

That strikes me as a rather selfish way of looking at things. Why should what these people do amongst themselves reflect badly on you?

It isn't selfish, it is realistic. If I hang out in a place where people are doing things that others do not like, even if I do not participate, I still have to deal with the stigma that comes along with hanging out in that place.

No it's selfish, you're not going to carry the stigma of what someone else does. I don't carry the stigma of Yu-Gi-Oh players because I don't play the game, I don't carry the historical gamers stigma because I don't really play historical games. JUST BECAUSE TWO SIMILAR EVENTS HAPPEN AT THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME DOES NOT MAKE THEM THE SAME THING.

Also I do love the mild hypocrisy of "I endured discrimination from the mainstream to become slightly more mainstream...now it's time to discriminate against a group more fringe than my own!"

I don't watch the show, though I find the following for it amusing in various ways and puzzling in others. However, I believe everyone is allowed to do what makes them happy as long as they don't hurt another to do it. If someone wants to come into a store and judge something they don't understand, that's their problem and your community is better off for not having their close-minded idiocy tainting it.

That said, I really would only have use for one model for a co-worker who shares a nickname with a characters so I'll be giving this one a pass. Good luck to the creator and I hope the backers enjoy their little toys as much as I enjoy the ones I prefer.

To be fair - and entirely NOT to say that's what any of the detractors here are doing, those are just being arses -, there's something to be said for applying some social pressure to the 'weirder' guys at your average FLGS. Targeting the really unwanted/undesirable (anti)social behaviour some tend to display is something which we, as a group, often tend to shy away from too much. I can understand not wanting to be associated with some elements of the "gaming" subculture (feth, I often tend to avoid the association myself, certainly in "professional" settings) - it's just that while bronies might (and in my area, not just might from what I hear ) be a valid target for some social pressure this is both the wrong reason and the wrong way.


As far as I can tell, the stigma associated in most circles with gamers is not the activity or the subject matter - it's the lack of social skills rather ostentatiously displayed by what are often the most "visible" gamers (you know the type - stopped just shy of replacing their teeth with golden D20's). Of course the idea of folks associating you with that (or actually belonging in that category) is so unpleasant the human mind tends to find a more palatable reason for the distaste others seem to have for one's beloved pastime. "They just don't understand the activity" is of course the most merciful on one's own ego (lack of falsifiability also helps) and therefore the one usually chosen.
Those folk then go on to try to "police" the hobby to be precisely, and not one bit more, divergent from the norm so as not to make the activity even less palatable for bystanders - thereby of course completely missing the actual point.

...Of course what doesn't help either is that, at least around these parts, every FLGS I ever go the bronies have a reputation for not exactly being the most pleasant of folk to be around.
TBH, I haven't seen any which appeared more awkward to me than the average 14-16y old gamer around here (not saying much there) but when they flock together, well, I've heard guys who aren't exactly easily spooked say they've had to physically leave the store out of sheer discomfort. Haven't personally had the (dis?)pleasure of witnessing one such convergence, though I must say it sounds like enough of a trainwreck that I'll be sure to swing by next time anything like that is in motion.

...Oh well, no clue where this is going anymore anyway

 Bolognesus wrote:
*snip*

The most common stigmas I have found amongst the general public is that of the unwashed nerd who breathes too loudly and knows far too much about pointless trivia and is far too over-eager to share it with you. None of these, however, are about passion or what they like; they're about simple common courtesy. Don't let your enthusiasm for a thing cause you to harm another's enjoyment of their thing.

I'm sure bronies are guilty of getting annoyingly exuberant about things; most fanbases for anything can get that way very easily. If you ask them to tone it down and they behave like asshats, then sure, dislike that group. Also dislike anyone who is simply rude regardless of who they are and what they do, even if they're the same things you like! I think we all know That Guy in our group, and yet because he likes the same things we'll put up with him whereas we'd readily use that as an excuse to crucify someone we don't like.

At the end of the day, everyone is a nerd about *something*. While we might not understand it and find it contrary to what we think of as appropriate, until they cross the line into actually disrupting what we want to do it's a waste of time hating what someone else is doing instead of doing something you enjoy yourself, IMO.

I don't think this thread really needs to turn into a brony fight, but I think more of the stigma associated with bronies stems from a couple of reasons other than "they're bigger losers than 40k nerds!" which will hopefully help end the subject... anyway, here's the big 3 reasons why bronies aren't particularly liked across the internet:

First off, that they're grouped in with furries by liking anthropomorphic ponies, and all the automatic sexual connotations that brings. This isn't entirely unearned either - the fact that "clop fiction" and various other rule 34 slang terms exist which are unique to MLP "fans" can attest to that.

Secondly, MLP is a cartoon targeted at very young girls - understandably, it is quite odd that anyone outside of this age bracket, let alone grown men, would find this appealing as it isn't marketed towards them nor is it meant to at all. As a result, the vast majority who find MLP unappealing can't understand the bronies who think it's the shizzle and therefore deem them to be "extremely weird, yo".

Third, bronies tend to be very vocal about their love of MLP. It would probably be accepted and easily tolerated if they were quiet about their obsession, such as the guys who have massive Barbie doll collections. However, bronies are spreading across the internet like a bloody plague, as you can see on DakkaDakka and various other forums. On top of that they work MLP "tributes" into their other hobbies - for example, Pony Marines. This just further irritates those of us who don't care for MLP for the reasons stated above. Basically, the main reason why bronies are so stigmatized is due to their over-enthusiastic love of their hobby.

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
First off, that they're grouped in with furries by liking anthropomorphic ponies, and all the automatic sexual connotations that brings. This isn't entirely unearned either - the fact that "clop fiction" and various other rule 34 slang terms exist which are unique to MLP "fans" can attest to that.

As someone said, this speaks much more about the person making the judgment than the person being judged. Rule 34 is just an outgrowth of the human obsession with sex. There's porn based around Star Wars, are all X-Wing fans dangerous deviants? There's live-action porn of SCOOBY DOO for feth's sake. Are people who watch the show now because it reminds them of their childhood creepy perverts intent on harming children? No, because that questionable content is just a thing that exists when people are allowed to do whatever they want with an audience. Certainly doesn't make it any less creepy when viewed in isolation, but it's not a trait unique to this particular fanbase either.

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Secondly, MLP is a cartoon targeted at very young girls - understandably, it is quite odd that anyone outside of this age bracket, let alone grown men, would find this appealing as it isn't marketed towards them nor is it meant to at all. As a result, the vast majority who find MLP unappealing can't understand the bronies who think it's the shizzle and therefore deem them to be "extremely weird, yo".

And Animaniacs was a hilarious cartoon with a lot of adult humor when I was growing up. Adults who watched it would likely have been highly entertained by the jokes that went sailing by the kids. What something is marketed to and what something is enjoyed by are two different things. GW doesn't market...ok, at all really, but what they do is clearly geared towards younger males.

Are women not allowed to play the game at all? If a girl picks up a Space Marine and paintbrush should we smack it out of her hand and point her to the cartoon ponies saying "NO! These are not yours! You go play with the things for you"? Of course not, yet we seem to have no problem with doing that in the opposite direction? An odd double-standard there, to say the least.

Do we need to *understand* why someone likes a thing? No, because I don't need to understand why someone likes watching a regatta race or golf to say "Ah, it's some sort of sport-like object, and they like it in the same way I enjoy watching American Football" Our understanding of motives has no impact on our ability to say "hey, you like your thing...good for you!"

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Third, bronies tend to be very vocal about their love of MLP. It would probably be accepted and easily tolerated if they were quiet about their obsession, such as the guys who have massive Barbie doll collections. However, bronies are spreading across the internet like a bloody plague, as you can see on DakkaDakka and various other forums. On top of that they work MLP "tributes" into their other hobbies - for example, Pony Marines. This just further irritates those of us who don't care for MLP for the reasons stated above. Basically, the main reason why bronies are so stigmatized is due to their over-enthusiastic love of their hobby.

Now this point I can agree with to an extent. There are a LOT of over-enthusiastic bronies out there that go from the "hey cool, you like something" straight into the "ok, you know what? This is getting a little annoying now" level. They remind me a lot of people trying to get me to convert to whatever religion it is they follow, whether I express any interest in doing so or not. However, just like with that religious example, the vast majority of people who follow "whatever-it-is"-ism aren't annoying me, so my dislike and hatred is best directed at the individuals who have earned it and not the group as a whole who I could largely ignore.

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Secondly, MLP is a cartoon targeted at very young girls - understandably, it is quite odd that anyone outside of this age bracket, let alone grown men, would find this appealing as it isn't marketed towards them nor is it meant to at all. As a result, the vast majority who find MLP unappealing can't understand the bronies who think it's the shizzle and therefore deem them to be "extremely weird, yo".

You are right. When I think 'Big Lebowski' I think of little girls.



The head writer of the show explicitly has been putting all sorts of adult things in the show explicitly for 'dads who have to watch what their daughters make them'. They explicitly tried to design the show to be inclusive so boys don't have to instantly change the channel and parents can tolerate it. They have done a pretty good job as it is one of the anchors of 'the hub', Hasbro's TV channel.

I just don't understand why others care? I mean, this is a Kickstarter, the chances of these minis even reaching your FLGS or for you to be in a room with them unwillingly in your lifetime is basically none. And considering the terrible, dumb and offensive kickstarters that already exist and the fact overly PC people already see wargaming as glorifying guns to kids, playing with miniatures in *ANY* form is going to get you summarily judged and stigmatized with small-minded people. You can have the most bad-ass sci-fi, manly miniature ever and to a large portion of the population you are the 40-year old virgin.

I hope the Bronies go crazy and maybe they will expand the line with stretch goals to something a RPG collector may enjoy.

nkelsch wrote:

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Secondly, MLP is a cartoon targeted at very young girls - understandably, it is quite odd that anyone outside of this age bracket, let alone grown men, would find this appealing as it isn't marketed towards them nor is it meant to at all. As a result, the vast majority who find MLP unappealing can't understand the bronies who think it's the shizzle and therefore deem them to be "extremely weird, yo".

You are right. When I think 'Big Lebowski' I think of little girls.

Perhaps, but just because you like The Big Lebowski doesn't mean you'll like The Big Lebowski sight-gag with 100% more ponies.

The miniatures look off to me. Maybe it's a natural consequence of trying to translate the art style, but I think they need more work. It might be the legs, it might be the faces, I couldn't really say.

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
Perhaps, but just because you like The Big Lebowski doesn't mean you'll like The Big Lebowski sight-gag with 100% more ponies.

If you don't like the series, that's fine. Just don't pretend that your superficial belief that the series is just for girls is in any way accurate. Madoka Magica is another series in the same boat: it looks like just another magical girl series at first glance, but you cannot judge the series by that first glance.

 AlexHolker wrote:
Madoka Magica is another series in the same boat: it looks like just another magical girl series at first glance, but you cannot judge the series by that first glance.

Children's programming rarely airs at 1am.

All it takes is one concerned parent who knows anything about cloppers walking into an FLGS with their kids and seeing your typical neckbeard playing with MLP minis to do irreparable damage to that FLGS, the local gaming scene, and anyone associated with it.

What do you guys think is going to happen to the younger nerds out there who get end up associated once word of mouth gets around town that those guys at the game store are bronies?

I watched christian kids get their ass kicked for playing "satanic" role-playing games by jockish ill-informed teens in the late 80's, this could very well end up the same way in some places.

If anyone is being selfish, it is the bronies that would carelessly brand the rest of the flgs with their fandom.

Swabby wrote:
All it takes is one concerned parent who knows anything about cloppers walking into an FLGS with their kids and seeing your typical neckbeard playing with MLP minis to do irreparable damage to that FLGS, the local gaming scene, and anyone associated with it.

You think an concerned parent is going to freak out due to ponies but think sex demons, rape-monsters, gratuitous cheesecake, models with 50% moar skulls and all sorts of depictions of fantasy and sci-if violence is peachy?

What do you guys think is going to happen to the younger nerds out there who get end up associated once word of mouth gets around town that those guys at the game store are bronies?

nothing? Where do you live? Mayberry? What is this "word of mouth" to get around what town? No one cares... If you really are freaking out that being in a room with a pony model will somehow destroy your self image and ruin your life and that some uppity parent is going to break into song in the store about "Trouble, that starts with T which rhymes with P that stands for Ponies!", then you have a pretty heavy delusion going on.

Swabby wrote:
All it takes is one concerned parent who knows anything about cloppers walking into an FLGS with their kids and seeing your typical neckbeard playing with MLP minis to do irreparable damage to that FLGS, the local gaming scene, and anyone associated with it.

What do you guys think is going to happen to the younger nerds out there who get end up associated once word of mouth gets around town that those guys at the game store are bronies?

I watched christian kids get their ass kicked for playing "satanic" role-playing games by jockish ill-informed teens in the late 80's, this could very well end up the same way in some places.

If anyone is being selfish, it is the bronies that would carelessly brand the rest of the flgs with their fandom.

That's... almost incoherent.

Seriously, the "typical neckbeard" is fine, but being associated with "Bronies" that's the bridge too far which have "kids get their ass kicked"?

Really? Yeah, 'cause jocks man, they are totally down with the neckbeards that only play 40k/WM/Inf...

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Silver lining to these threads however is, that once the dust settles, all it takes is 10 minutes of you, the thread, and copious use of the 'ignore' button to make your future dakka experience just that much smoother again

 scarletsquig wrote:

As for the pedo comment, that's just horribly misinformed, bronies aren't interested in human females of any age... they don't have hooves.

So...we're talking Beastiality?

....

So when are they makeing a draconequus and a Changeling equus queen?

XD

I would reply to the stupid stuff said here but there is no point. Im just going to enjoy and love what I enjoy. Haters are not going to stop me.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I would reply to the stupid stuff said here but there is no point. Im just going to enjoy and love what I enjoy. Haters are not going to stop me.

Hey! We only play with tiny men around these parts. We don't welcome the wirdos who feel the need to play with tiny ponies!


XD

Swabby wrote:
All it takes is one concerned parent who knows anything about cloppers walking into an FLGS with their kids and seeing your typical neckbeard playing with MLP minis to do irreparable damage to that FLGS, the local gaming scene, and anyone associated with it.

What do you guys think is going to happen to the younger nerds out there who get end up associated once word of mouth gets around town that those guys at the game store are bronies?

I watched christian kids get their ass kicked for playing "satanic" role-playing games by jockish ill-informed teens in the late 80's, this could very well end up the same way in some places.

If anyone is being selfish, it is the bronies that would carelessly brand the rest of the flgs with their fandom.

My FLGS regularly sells MLP stuff. Cards, Grab Bags, one of the cashiers even bought a couple of cases of RD energy rink out of her own pocket to sell at the store with no profit.
my FLGS embraces bronies

Do you pro-pony folks at least understand that there is a wide misunderstanding out there about the sexual connotations of the bronie phenomena?

I'm not trying to offend here, I am simply stating that there are quite a few ignorant people out there who do not take these things lightly.

Yes and they also realised those people tend to not be bothered with. Remember, this is "Murica. We can do what we damn well please aslong as we are not hurting anyone.
And the worst I heard was that it meant I was gay, nothing more

Well that aside... what's up with their faces? I've seen MLP toys that got the faces right, even though they're translating a 2d subject in a 3d medium. Is it because they're trying to look not-MLP that's why the faces are horrifying?

Thoughts?

They might not be worth hanging out with but their children under their control might be. I would argue that there would be parents who would ban their kids from stores over this.

This really isn't about the bronies perspective, but rather how they are percieved.

@All:

The thread is not a referendum on whether it is okay to like X.

If you do not have anything to say about the models themselves or the structure/value of the Kickstarter, please refrain from posting.

Okay, so looking at the images again, bronies help a dakkanaut out.

The "string 2" ponies are the main MLP:FIM that is going on right now yes? The 'string 1' seems to be more like the old late 80s series yes?

 Alfndrate wrote:
Okay, so looking at the images again, bronies help a dakkanaut out.

The "string 2" ponies are the main MLP:FIM that is going on right now yes?

Yes, those are the six main characters.

 Bolognesus wrote:
Silver lining to these threads however is, that once the dust settles, all it takes is 10 minutes of you, the thread, and copious use of the 'ignore' button to make your future dakka experience just that much smoother again

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I would reply to the stupid stuff said here but there is no point. Im just going to enjoy and love what I enjoy. Haters are not going to stop me.

Indeed, the post I made earlier was not exactly my feelings on the matter but rather an overview of why bronies are disliked. If you wanna brony then that's your business.

Swabby wrote:
Do you pro-pony folks at least understand that there is a wide misunderstanding out there about the sexual connotations of the bronie phenomena?

I'm not trying to offend here, I am simply stating that there are quite a few ignorant people out there who do not take these things lightly.

Indeed, it is a misunderstanding of the culture in general, but it does exist in a visible manner.

 Manchu wrote:
@All:

The thread is not a referendum on whether it is okay to like X.

If you do not have anything to say about the models themselves or the structure/value of the Kickstarter, please refrain from posting.

Sound advice - please follow it.

This is pretty much exactly what I've been looking for!

My daughter is completely infatuated with my little pony. I've been buying those little bones figures for her to paint and she's happy painting whatever I give her, but this is just perfect!

And as for IP issues, f*** em. The way Hasbro has handled the marketing of the My Little Pony stuff is completely reprehensible. The fact that I can walk into a store in the mall today and buy a shirt that will fit my middle aged fat ass but not one for my 5 year old daughter is a complete and total disgrace.