General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe grown men who love ‘My Little Pony’ aren’t who you think they are
First I missed Pokémon Go; now I've missed BronyCon.
There's always next year:
BABSCon 2017
By Wesley Yiin
@YiinsideOut
July 18
Attendees at BronyCon included Adonis Robles, a.k.a. Anonymous Tree Hugger, of Kissimmee, Fla.; Michael Nance, a.k.a. Zecora, of Newport News, Va., and Liam Schneidel, a.k.a. Shadow Dust, of Harrisburg, Penn.. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)
BALTIMORE More than half a decade into the Brony phenomenon, the grown men who love My Little Pony understand that the world remains curious about them. So they kicked off their recent BronyCon gathering in Baltimore with a crash course on dealing with the media, from which a couple of helpful pointers emerged:
●Dont use jargon like OC or even original character. Simply explain that the Pony-inspired name you go by in Brony circles is, for example, Champ Romanhoof, the persona claimed by Chaim Freedman, a 17-year-old Brony from New Jersey.
....
But no ones in a defensive crouch here. BronyCon, which attracted more than 7,600 attendees this year, is the ultimate safe space: When youre in a rainbow wonderland of fellow travelers wearing unicorn horns and technicolor manes, randomly hollering catchphrases like Fun! Fun! Fun! and singing fan-written songs with titles like Mane Squeeze, you can stop worrying about whats normal and whats weird or where you fit in.
....
To wrap up, panelist and blogger Taylor Ramage asks whether its okay to lead the group in song. Music is omnipresent at BronyCon, with songs from the show plus fan-made music playing around every corner. ... This song is a little different. She asks the audience whether they know the song This Little Light of Mine. They nod enthusiastically. Ramage explains that their song simply replaces little light with the words cutie mark. In MLP, the ponies receive cutie marks symbolic representations of the ponys personality on their flanks in adolescence.
They sing:
This cutie mark of mine, Im gonna let it shine.
This cutie mark of mine, Im gonna let it shine.
This cutie mark of mine, Im gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)gushed over Twilight,there's some arrested development going on there.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)you just put it out of mind and move on.
Marr
(20,317 posts)This is the golden age for people who crave attention.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts)But whatever float's one boat. I won't judge. Have fun, bronies.
TlalocW
(15,394 posts)Their version being Equestranuats although instead of Bronys the adult male fans are called Equestricles.
TlalocW
nemo137
(3,297 posts)but you beat me to it.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,217 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)but Brony on, says I. So long as it doesn't hurt anyone.
I'm a grown man who gets dressed up in Star Wars costumes. Who am I to judge?
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Okay, not same on the Star Wars costumes part. What the hell is wrong with you?
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Bad guys doing good!
In 2015, nearly $600,000 dollars were donated to charity causes on our behalf (we do not charge for appearances, but do encourage donations to charity in our name).
We also help fulfill MANY Make-a-wish wishes.
We visit children's hospitals
We even stand behind Weird Al Yankovic at his concerts.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)I served with the 101st Airborne Division's 2/501 Infantry in Vietnam--the 501st.
Standing behind Weird Al makes more sense than standing behind the comic who smashes fruit with a sledgehammer.
Props to you for your charity work.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)chade
(103 posts)Keep up the great work!
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Archae
(46,377 posts)No big guest stars like Weird Al a couple years ago, and not enough Discord (who is voiced by Jon "Q" DeLancie.)
One good episode, in the dragon realms.
Introduced a new character, a small female (!) dragon who became Dragon Lord. "Ember"
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)First off the comics are really high quality, which is the first thing that made me rethink my stance on Bronies. Then I got to know some Bronies, and realized that the issue was my gender expectations, not their hobby.
Going to a Brony convention is no different than the millions who attend fan conventions of all kinds, every day, all over the world.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)Wednesdays
(17,487 posts)my auto mechanic is a 59 year old die-hard brony. And I totally respect that.