Welcome everypony. This is a thread to talk about My Little Pony. More specifically, the new animated series, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
I'll open by telling about my own MLP (MyLittle Pony) experience. Maybe I'm arrogant, maybe I feel inadequate, or maybe my beat up leather backpack has formed a symbiotic relationship with me and I've gone full on hipster, but I feel an obligation to point out that I was here first. Unlike most of the Internet, I didn't jump on the MLP bandwagon after it was cool. I've been a long running fan. Even when I was a wide-eyed youth, there was something about those ponies that caught my imagination far more than Barbies, or teddy bears, or any of the other little girls' toys I played with. I think it was because they were horses, and because of their amusing color schemes. When I was young, my aesthetic philosophy was undeveloped. I believed more colors was inherently better, as it brought more things to the table that were visually pleasing. I had little understanding of holistic qualities. Writing this makes me want to take them out of the attic. I hate nostalgia. I think I just don't want anyone to see me as new, a convert. I didn't start the show with the twinge of irony that accompanied many others. Rather, I want all to know I am the one on the sidelines, pony in hand, smirking "I told you so."
My favorite pony wasn't actually a My Little Pony. She was a pink plastic horse with a sparkly orchid mane. She also had golden hooves, to which I attributed her magical powers. Being about three times the size of the MLPs helped jettison her to a position of authority as well. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
In some ways I see it as justice that the show is so popular. After all, it's a solid franchise and the creator's a legend. I have longstanding personal interest. It deserves nothing less than its legion of fans. But part of me can't shake the idea that you newbs just don't appreciate ponies like I do. But oh, you do.
I identify a lot with Twilight Sparkle. She was a learned loner. Intelligent, wise, and extremely knowledgeable. Not, as she discovers, lacking in charisma, but a little asocial and unsure of what to do. Most important, she is utterly unaware of what she's missing until she learns the magic of friendship. This is, in a way, the story of my life. No princess (well, that's complicated) ever forced me to make friends. Instead, it was an idea I had. It somehow wormed its way into my mind, tightening its hold until I couldn't let it go. After much deliberation and a consultation with my best adviser, I did what I never thought I'd do: I, like Twilight Sparkle, left my life behind to discover the magic of friendship. Only my place wasn't a library. It was the Internet. Sure, I read as much (maybe not quite) as Twilight, and surely match her intellect, but I became a denizen of the Internet by default. I'm not sure how it happened. God knows I never wanted it to,but I realized I was here, and it was an important part of my life.
The neat thing about Twilight is that she didn't change. She didn't turn her back on brilliance, learnedness or reading. All she did was go out and met people who appreciated her -- loved her -- for who she was. "Be yourself", such cliche advice, but it worked for Twilight Sparkle. Is it any surprise, then, that this show has enormous popularity on the Internet? We're all Twilight Sparkle. We're all little nerds who feel an aching loneliness, only barely aware of it. And we all want to find those people who will love us for who we are. Twilight appeals to us because she's more than a figure with which we identify. She is an idea, and ideal. Twilight is what we hope to become. Part of us, deep down, thinks if Twilight did it, so can I, and I like to think that part of us is right. You know, there's another pony who's also pretty important. Yes, you all know who I mean. He's a great pony. We all love him, but how could anyone not? He's every bit as brilliant as me or pHacon or thisisnotanalt. He is, in many ways, the best of us. And you know, he was probably Twilight Sparkle too. I think her archetype strikes a cord in all us denizens of the Internet. Twilight, more than its creator's status and clever writing, I think, accounts for the show's unforeseen popularity so far out of its target audience. Surely we too can find the magic of friendship, if Twilight can, if Strop can. Sorry Strop, I couldn't resist. In my defense, this IS a pony thread.
So, uh, yeah, AG just got 20% cooler. Let's talk ponies. Opening question: Who's your favorite and why?
Seriously? It was just a matter of time, wasn't it? Thanks for the chuckles and distraction from a dull and otherwise meaningless day. I would run up there and hug you if you wouldn't take it so awkwardly.
But a few things first, and I'll be going in order by paragraphs:
1) It was the show that allowed it garner such a fanbase and become "cool". Friendship is Magic is a different product, which will of course attract different kinds of people. You have to admit, dolls of any kind are restricted in how they can be used; it takes a good deal of imagination to keep yourself entertained with them, which I notice is becoming more and more rare nowadays. I don't want to admit how many hours I spent on my bedroom floor playing with my dad's old GI Joes and little green army men in LEGO buildings, doing lord knows what, but I digress. Although, it is humorous to think of how it would have all turned out if I had a pony..
Don't get me wrong - I didn't only play with those because I only liked "masculine" toys, we just didn't have much money growing up and had to make do with what we had. I'm sure this isn't the case with quite a few Bronies, though. We all had society preaching to us about who should like what at that age, and this is my main point here. We were all allowed to like cartoons, we weren't all allowed to like dolls. I for one don't want to imagine how my dad might have reacted if I asked for a My Little Pony, the man practically exudes machismo and homophobia - I would have been in for a hard time.
2) We identify with her for many of the same reasons, though I can't tell if I stay away from people because of the rampant superficiality, or simply because I'm not fond of the stench: i.e., social life just isn't for me. I've always had friends, frustratingly enough for me, but the quality of my friends might have a lot to say about how I view people as a whole, so I waive my opportunity say anything here and make myself appear an even larger fool than I already am. It is nice, however, to have people you can rely on. People to help and be helped by. For someone to actually care about how your day went. I don't know about magic, but I would do anything for these ********, and that's good enough for me.
No princess (well, that's complicated) ever forced me to make friends.
Make that a capital P, and THEN it's complicated. :3
3)
We're all Twilight Sparkle.
Well, yes, if you decided to look at it a certain way, but.. GAH You already know what I think of that right there, just.. Geez. Generalizations - even when you're right - aren't healthy.
pHacon
OK, now you're getting a hug because you don't want one. Really, I doubt many people reading this have ever seen me, so this reference, like intimating at your relationship with regards to Strop, might have gone over a few heads. Also, you know how much I dislike people saying I'm smart when I know I'm not.
Sorry Strop, I couldn't resist. In my defense, this IS a pony thread.
Free Internets for you!
Opening question:
Oops.. Answered that already, didn't I?
There, I posted. Are you happy? You know I'm trying to appear inactive. *pouts*
Oh no, the bronies are invading! :O Really, I don't get how that show is so addictive. I think it's rather sad that I know who Rainbow Dash and Apple Bloom are... :/
(On another note, am I the only one who knows how much My Little Pony pornography exists?)
I feel Fluttershy is my favorite character. I feel I can relate to the timidness that she has (although my paranoia is mainly induced by Creepypasta. Thank you Freakenstein for getting me addicted to that). Also, she is so **** cute.
(On another note, am I the only one who knows how much My Little Pony pornography exists?)
It's the Internet. We ALL know that, even if we aren't acutely aware.
Generalizations - even when you're right - aren't healthy.
You're probably right. That being said and true enough, you're just mad because you're Twilight Sparkle.
Like Deth, I enjoy how Rarity takes fashion seriously, but is still a good person. A little vain, but, well, kind.
Personally, I like all of the main cast, and it's very hard to pick one. I identify most with Twilight Sparkle, but I think Rainbow Dash is my favorite, and not because she's a lesbian. Well, not JUST because she's a lesbian. Rainbow Dash is just so... cool. Rarity's also a top contender. I view Rarity as the oldest of the group, too.
(On another note, am I the only one who knows how much My Little Pony pornography exists?)
Definitely not. I mostly visit the tame stuff but a certain lesbian tab has pages chock full of these **** horses tonguing each other. (I haven't flicked my bean to this, not my thing). I simply don't get it.
(On another note, am I the only one who knows how much My Little Pony pornography exists?)
Definitely not. I mostly visit the tame stuff but a certain lesbian tab has pages chock full of these **** horses tonguing each other. (I haven't flicked my bean to this, not my thing). I simply don't get it.
I've heard about it, but i'm not one to watch any porn, let alone my little pony porn.
I used to love my little pony maybe fifteen years ago. I'm not sure i've loved what has been created out of it.
You "watched a few minutes" of it. Orion has seen the entire first season in glorious 720p. You are not qualified to judge his statements about it. They have an all-powerful princess who literally causes the sun to rise in the morning, having imprisoned her sister on the moon. It is the most metal thing on Earth.
A lot of people make fun of it. It has become a very big meme. Heh.
They aren't making fun of it. They like it.
Can someone please explain the big deal behind this?
