Why is MLP so popular?

[AlexDest]

Originally Posted by Charlo

-Bronies post pony shit where it isn't needed or welcome
-Bronies have an annoying tendency to base their online identities around ponies, even on otherwise non-MLP-related communities (FFR being one example we can all relate to)
-Bronies, for some reason, make themselves very visible and thus, are an easier target than smaller but equally-annoying fanbases
-A few bronies display such ridiculous, awkward, and occasionally perverted behavior that they tarnish the whole community, most of whom are probably perfectly normal

Another reason:

Some bronies believe they represent as the "whole" of the community, causing people to believe that all bronies act in the similar fashion. Which then causes people to generalize bronies as either autists, child molesters, man-children, horse-fuckers, etc.

[ddr_f4n]

Originally Posted by Charlo

-Bronies have an annoying tendency to base their online identities around ponies, even on otherwise non-MLP-related communities (FFR being one example we can all relate to)

Remember the sonic fandom?

[Charu]

By the by, another reason I remembered.

The universe in which it created is appealing and thus viewers who like the setting of said universe will... escape into that universe to put it into words, doho.

Not going to lie, that's pretty much a huge factor when it comes to me liking a franchise or particular show/series/game/whatever. If I can put myself into that universe and think about it in an interesting way, then boom, you got me liking whatever it is you're showing. Unless of course it doesn't cater to my own personal taste.

Psychology rules, yo.

[Pseudo Enigma]

Originally Posted by ddr_f4n

Remember the sonic fandom?

What do you mean remember. It still exists, and it's still annoying. There's a sonicfag at my school. It's just not as prominent as MLP is at the moment.

[Ohaider]

People obsess over TV shows all the time haha

MLP is just a community latched onto more than other TV shows due to the fact that it gets the most attention (and negative attention at that), and the people latching on to those TV shows have generally been deprived of attention their whole life and crave it

obv



Fandoms for things like MTV are just as big, it's just instead of fans sitting/spreading on the internet all day, MTV fans are out chasing swag, the only thing they know how to do

[TwistedPhoenix]

Well, to be perfectly honest, every retarded face-palm worthy thing that someone in the brony fandom has done, there's been a similar occurrence in other fandoms. If you ignore what they're obsessing over, you'll just find people who are taking their obsessions way too far. It's all about what they're obsessing over that determines the level of disgust that people feel. Otaku that jizzes onto his hand and then gives a handshake to a voice actress? Minor buzz. Brony "marries" a character? Everyone on the internet knows and talks about it for a week. I'm pretty sure no one gives two shits if you have a pinup of a videogame character as an avatar and theme all your stuff to it, but change it to a perfectly normal MLP picture and all of the sudden that changes. I really wish I could say just ignore it if you don't like it, but there's far too many people who will try shoving it in your face anyways. All I ask is, don't bundle me with the hardcore fans who do all the crazy and weird things that piss you off.

[prongsie]

To reinstate the obvious, MLP initially attracted its target audience (young girls) with its girly and playful nature. Parents allow their children to watch because it teaches basic concepts of positive relationships and a little variety of personality types that they can relate to and look for in their peers at school. Animations appeal to both demographics because it is bright, colourful and full of connotative symbols of simple happiness: rainbows, butterflies, ponies, clouds etc etc. Evidently, the show fully succeeds in its intended purposes which is why its success has attracted an outburst in new audience members.

In recent times, we have seen an increase in popularity with adults who typically are "outliers" in society (sorry guys). Generally speaking, it may be observed that those who have been attracted to these basic concepts of happiness and friendship probably have struggled or are currently struggling with maintaining real relationships. I say this because all episodes are structured to an extent; and in these episodes we see characters with archetypal personalities and are involved in situations that meet a conflict and struggles to reach a happy conclusion that reinstates the "friendship is magic" slogan. These characters live in a near-perfect world that obviously isn't exactly realistic. Normal people usually adjust and find a medium in their midlife or generally accept their co-workers, friends, family members...w/e, but it appears that people who may not have healthy relationships and have isolated themselves are more likely to find comfort in young, childhood concepts of friendship.

The MLP fanbase of the older demographic has also appeared to develop primarily online. If anyone has been introduced to the TV show in person by another irl friend, I would be pretty surprised. I would also assume that the person is also a bit of an outlier and is socially awkward which is fine, because of course people like people that are like themselves. Online communities have given people opportunity to divulge in their otherwise taboo interest of the TV show and make more friends due to mutual and common interests. The socially awkward are attracted to the childhood concepts of perfect friendships and are able to develop their own in communities. They dig even deeper by "realistically" identifying themselves with the ponies.

"Why the hate? The plot is good, the characters and animations are amazing and deep!" Well, the average person is able to recognize and accept that even though these writers are able to structure a good plot, at the end of the day it is intended for little girls who have basic understanding of the real world and relationships. Older people have experience and should be able to identify with things of their own demographic and of course if you're not doing so, it appears that something is very wrong. Unfortunately that is why "bronies" are often assumed and generalized to be autistic and sometimes it is the truth. Why should people be okay with adults having mutual interests as their 4-year old daughter? Children and adults definitely do not have the same hobbies that they do in their own time - it is no wonder why they are often seen as child molesters and perverts. Normal people generally have a social understanding so cannot see any other motive of their obsession except for pedophilia.

Mob mentality and the passing of popular phases are also major contributing factors to this. It will pass and people will find other things to place their interest in, not entirely a big deal to me.

just how I see it, idk.

[t-rogdor]

you people have written 4 pages and almost paragraphs over this lmao jesus and i thought i was autistic

[Nullifidian]

[04im]

Originally Posted by t-rogdor

you people have written 4 pages and almost paragraphs over this lmao jesus and i thought i was autistic

[Jonlovesddr]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

One of the greatest interests I have with the MLP community is the fact that a lot of them are talented artists, animators, or musicians.

lmfao "talented brony musicians"
my sides

[04im]

idk man some of them have ok music

[Arntonach]

I thought it was because the creator made a statement about how people think boys shouldn't like girlish things and the quote was posted on 4chan. But yeah, I didn't write a thesis so I'm wrong. Carry on.

[Ksl33zy24]

Originally Posted by FissionMailed1

QFT

what does that mean?

[Nullifidian]

In this context it means quoted for truth

[TC_Halogen]

Originally Posted by Jonlovesddr

lmfao "talented brony musicians"
my sides

And it's quite obvious that you're being disrespectful by identifying the counter-culture that most members of the fandom don't care to be identified by.

You're also being rude to those who have more musical talent than you do in your pinky -- many of these artists can easily choose to spread their musical talents to actual music production, but they're interested in a common interest that they share with many other people.

[04im]

real talent courtesy of jonlovesddr

[reuben_tate]

I may be wrong here but I think a large factor in why the show is popular among (male) adults today compared back to 80's version of the show is because the change is sociological norms. You back in the 80's and you'd be ridiculed if you were a boy and liked the color pink, played with barbies, showed too much emotion, etc etc and boys and young men felt the need to "protect" their manhood because they didn't want other to perceive them as "gay" (even if they were actually homosexual since homosexuality wasn't as widely accepted as it is today). However, nowadays, times have changed a bit. Sure, we still have the "boy code" around but much more people have become more accepting of the idea of homosexuality and also have realized that a lot sociological norms (pink is for girls, blue is for boys, etc) are all invented by society. This realization makes people realize that there isn't anything biologically or objectively wrong with boys liking pink or girls liking blue for example, all it is a piece of crap that our society has somehow made up.

Anyways, the point I'm trying to make, is that perhaps made adults like it today because AS A CHILD, they were deprived of liking things that were deemed as "girly." And perhaps, as children, those men sometimes wished they could participate in those activities but couldn't because they didn't want to ridiculed for having a breach in their perceived manlihood. Heck, I wished I could have an ez bake oven when I was little, I'd like to bake shit and then eat it afterwards. However, because it was deemed as "girly", I never dared ask my parents for one because I didn't want others to think I was "weird."

However, men that were deprived of such seemingly "girly" things as children live in an age today where it's more acceptable for men to be a bit more "soft." So perhaps a reasonable explanation is that MLP is a show that grown men can enjoy today, to fill in that gap they wished they had in their childhood (whether consciously or not). Now because this is something that fills in the gap in their childhood, it makes sense that men would enjoy show even if was intended for children BECAUSE it was something that belonged in a category of something they didn't have a chance to watch as children. Then take into account the fact that a lot of material in the show itself is gender-neutral even though the premise (the ponies) are something that our societies deem as "girly." Also, the show has SIX main characters (seven if you include Spike) all of which the show treats as equals (if you set aside the fact that show has a slightly higher focus on Twilight Sparkle). And these characters have vary diverse personalities, thus increasing the chances that a person watching it would be able to relate to at least one of the characters. All of this put together makes it easier for such men to be able to relate to the show and the characters and it strengthens their hope that our society can transcend silly gender boundaries.

I hope this makes sense and people can take it as a viable possibility.

P.S. Not gonna lie, I enjoy the show myself. Although, I do not wish to associate myself with the fandom.

EDIT: If I have time, I'll try to make another post that expands my current ideas to include group psychology and belonging.

[.Layne.]

so this show sucks hard





real hard


spongebob is better hehe

[04im]

you guys REALLY need to stop writing essays lol

there's nothing psychologically deep or whatever about mlp

mlp changed artstyles to fit the more modern western cartoon art and it has lots of characters, so a lot of people like the show because characters are cool and they like em

the only thing wrong is the surprisingly large amount of weirdos who stand out in the mlp fandom

these weirdos also exist in many other fandoms (juggalos, weaboos, twilight series, people obsessed with other tv shows etc)



stop thinkin mlp peeps are speshul juggalos n weaboos need love too