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@Evan: Way to give Verbose a run for his money

Now as for a serious response: I'm really not quite sure why this is such a big deal. Ok, so your friend just outed himself as a brony, and your afraid of being outed as a brony too? Well, so what if people know you're a brony? Yeah, you might get teased and/or bullied, but that shit happens and you really should just have a "so what" attitude about whether or not people think it's weird. I'm not saying you should just yell out to the whole student body that you're a brony, but if people find out just roll with it. If the teasing or bullying goes to far, you could always go to a guidance counselor or your principal. A lot of schools have a zero-tolerance policy with bullying, and your school will most likely do something about it if you report it. Keep in mind, you will always have your brony friends with you even if the students shun you as an outcast. It breaks my heart to see someone afraid to admit to people who they are, and hiding it from people only breeds further bullying and teasing of the "weird" kids. It's hard admitting things like being a brony to people who won't understand it, but they will continue being ignorant if you stand idly by and try to "fit in". You should follow in your friend's footsteps, you should try to be more open about your own interests, because fuck the people who have a problem with it.

@Lone K: Why in the world would reporting to administration or staff be a bad thing? When you have authority on your side, you have the advantage in a battle. I'm assuming Evan lives in the US, and bullying is illegal in the US. If it comes to excessive bullying, it should be reported. If kids don't report these sorts of things to proper authorities, these things will continue happening or get worse. Enforcement of rules is important.

@evan
Don't argue with bullies. Just ignore them. Take it from someone who used to talk shit in highschool, answering back will only make them make fun of you and your friend more. They aren't making fun of you for any other reason than to make you suffer, and no amount of logic will make them stop. i remember one time, my classmates and i called out this one kid who would draw manga to a throwdown to see who was the best artist. we had a friend draw a stick figure while the other guy drew something pretty good for 5 minutes. didnt matter, we told him it wasnt fit to be toilet paper. why? just to fuck with him. Mean, I know. my point is that you cant reason with them. it doesnt work that way. They just think your friends tears are delicoius.
The way I see it, unless they are getting violent, just ignore it. I hope everything turns out fine for you guys.

@Crimson

I never suggested that talking to administration or staff was a bad thing, I only meant that you should use it as your final resort for bullying. I learned how to cope with bullying by talking my way out of that situation or by completely ignoring and/or try to get used to it. Surprisingly, many kids (a.k.a teenagers) began to mature more and the bullying actually died out for me. They tease me sometimes, but only just for the little things and stuff.

Yeah, I think trying to reason with them isn't particularly helpful, despite the optimistic views of guidance counselors. But I also can't say that, no matter what, ignoring it is the best way to go either.

I was the skinny, nerdy kid in grade school who liked reading and got good grades. Fortunately in the 21st century in the place I grew up, there was a cultural pressure to do well in school, so bullying those that did wasn't such a big thing. But that doesn't mean there weren't some who tried.

I know in my situation, there was this one kid on the bus who tried to bully me once or twice. He was literally the bottom of the social totem pole -- an outcast since he was younger due to his weight, and then solidified as one due to subsequent behavior. In a way, I pitied him -- I still do. He didn't deserve a lot of what he went through, but at the same time, I didn't deserve him trying to put me through the same. In my case, I was able to stand up to him. I didn't throw fists, but I have a lighting fast wit and razor sharp tongue if I'm ever pushed to use them. He tried to pick at me, and I got in his face and told him off. It was kind of like a "Boast Busters" thing. He thought it was big stuff for picking on the nerdy kid, and the nerdy kid wasn't going to have it. He didn't bother me after that. Again, I still pity him even after he tried to bully me, but I wasn't going to tolerate it. There's no excuse for it in any direction.

At the same time, I understand everyone's situation is different. Sometimes it's good to stand up to your bullies, and other times that's just not feasible. You know those shows on TV that have one parent pushing their kid to stand up to all their bullies, and the other parent just telling the kid to ignore them? Well, I don't think it's wholly one way or the other. It depends on a number of things.

Sometimes you should stand up to your bullies, others you should ignore them, and others you should go to an authority figure -- as hard as that can be sometimes.

But in all things, use your best judgment, because ultimately it's you who knows what you're going through, and not a couple of dudes on the Internet (as awesome as this community is).

I guess I was just confused by the wording in your last post, because it seemed like you were saying he should never report anything at all. My apologies.

@bulletproof

Well said. It all depends on the situation. I wouldn't suggest standing up to someone though who could easily over power you though. Keep in mind your limits before confronting a bully, because it could get physical.

As you said, ultimately, Evan is the only one who knows the situation he's in. so all I can say is do what you think you need to do Evan.

Edit: another tip, this won't help you now, but it will in the long run. Work out and put on some weight. Make yourself less of a target. I used to be very skinny and while I wasn't always the butt of jokes, it was easy for someone to say something to me because I couldn't really back myself up. So I used to hide my nerdy side to avoid it. Now, I don't really have a problem because, well 1) I'm not in high school anymore or around to many immature people, but 2) because Im kinda intimidating I guess. (6" 180lbs). I'm still afraid of confrontation, but at least I don't get put in that situation anymore. Just a tip.

Evan, you've hit that interesting point of being a teenager where you get to choose how you choose friends. That's not to say you'll have to lose some, but you get to decide what is important to you.

High school is a rough place to be in. The stress of the school work, the occasional awfulness of teachers, and parental stresses at home don't mix well with the constant difficulty of finding both your place in the social structures of your peers, and your place in the world. Luckily, pretty much any decision doesn't permanently matter, as college will completely change your outlook on life and what is important to you.

You said your friend has been to your house, so clearly you two have time where you can speak uninterrupted. Talk to him and ask why he's trying to spread poni, it might help you understand his viewpoint. Then politely explain your conflictions. Be less touchy-feely if you like, just let him know you're worried.

Think about the problem. You're smart enough to impress Verbose and RandomMan, so I'm guessing you can do some basic problem solving. Ask yourself if you'd rather have the popularity/respect of the greater group, or the closer friendship/shared interests of the smaller. Secretly, we all root for the underdog who can handle whatever is thrown their way. It's different in real life, though. We're a social species and we try to seek a place where we fit. Openly sharing your friend's interests will cause some mockery thrown in your direction, but it will dissipate as time goes on. If you feel it's too sensitive an issue to admit to, let your friend know. Allow time to take care of any suspicions or accusations.

When it comes to dealing with the teasers, I can say you should do the right thing and get them to stop. If you're worried about reputation, anonymously tell/write a note to someone you know will deal with the problem at school. Don't take on any unnecessary pressures you don't think you can handle.

There's no right or wrong way to go here. Both will lead to some discomfort in some way, and both may ultimately be temporary following later decisions. Focus on the here and now, however. Your friend is open to his admissions, but you aren't him. This is your personal matter. Decide on what makes you happy.

It's fine. Twas just a misunderstanding.

@Evan
I usually don't get mixed up in these sort of discussions (due to my crippling fear that everything I say on the internet will be remembered forever and held against me at every opportunity), but I feel like I should try to say somthing at this point. I guess the first question is "Can I defend my friend until this blows over without being thrown into the same situation as him?" I'd say that would be hard. As has been said here already, defending someone who is an X often results in other people having the thought "Wait… what if this guy is an X too?"

However, I feel like watching MLP is differant to a lot of other things like this. If we were all talking about sexuality or religion, the problem would be much MUCH bigger. But we aren't. It seems stressful while it's happening (I was even cringing when I first read your posts), but at the end of the day, what are we doing? We're watching a feminine show intended for little girls. Which is ridiculous. But we're okay with that.

If I was in this situation, I would take all this with a grain of sugar. I would explain (or get my friend to explain) that yes, it's bizzare, but that's fine by me. It seems like these are the type of people who will not be convinced that this is anything other than material for ridicule, but you can soften the blows by treating it the same way. I don't mean for your friend to start putting himself down, I just mean that they should focus less on proving the others wrong and instead focus on proving to them that it isn't weird, just unusual.

Having a friend back him up would probably be a huge help, and by the sound of it you already have more than enough balls to do so just by using information about yourself online. Plus you seem smart enough to iron out the smaller kinks with little trouble. Let this whole thing fall where it may for now, because it'll sort itself out soon enough.

All my hugs.

(Like I said, this isn't the type of thing I usually do so feel free to disregard any and all advice).

BTW, do these guys know much about the brony community? Anything at all? It might help your case to explain a little about it.

So I decided to dust off the old fiddle and fuck around with a melody. Wanted to write an instrumental piece for Cloudsdale. Came up with this thing.

G major is a very melancholy key. I might reorchestrate this for piano so it doesn't sound quite so…country.

How quickly we forget.

But if you want the title of Top tl;dr, then it's all yours, friend. burning_phoneix will be at your door ready to fight you for it.
 
Of course, that's not the issue here.

I think you're getting plenty of solid advice. Like Crazy☾ said, I trust that you're plenty smart enough to figure out your situation better than we can, because of your own wits and your situational/contextual knowledge of your circumstance. Consider all of our comments (as I know you will,) and take what you want from it to battle.
 
Unlike most bits of advice you've had, I have experience in bullying. My motivation was less to rile someone up and was more based in a lack of sympathy and understanding. I had no idea why in the world a kid would play Pokémon at school knowing full well that other more antagonistic bullies would hound him for it. Heck, I played Pokémon (still do), but I knew I was confident and popular enough to get away with it

There's being awkward, and there's being naive or just plain silly. I thought these kids were just naive. I didn't learn until after high school that some people honestly don't pick up on social situations and their outcomes as well as others.

So if that's the case with these kids, then logic would work to a certain extent. As long as you could explain off why you were indulging an odd interest at school in public and not in the last stall in the shady bathroom not even the weed smokers go to, then I could care less that you watched My Little Pony. But it seems like dac's theory is more fitting. They may be getting their fun from watching a guy squirm.

In that case, don't allow them to get what they want. If you're now being "suspected," then I would say own it. Sometimes…sometimes people won't even bother you if you don't let them see you sweat. Our varsity football team had several people playing Pokémon before games, because me and a couple of other guys didn't really care what other people thought of us.

I don't mean that in the cliché "I don't care what other people think of me, because what they think of me isn't positive in the first place, so it benefits me psychologically to not consider their perception of me."

I mean it in the "I like Pokémon" sort of way. If you smile, play it off, and even poke and prod at yourself, then I think they'll back off of you. Your friend seems like good people, so if he also joins in then you have confidence in numbers, and there aren't many non-physical bullies that want any of that.
 
But there's another situation here that I found interesting: standing up for your friend. It doesn't seem very easy to do for you in your school, and it doesn't seem like you're going to graduate in the next couple of months. Some things can haunt you for your high school career, and perhaps colorful ponies isn't one of those things you want on your resumé.

I think (easy for me to say, but I have done it before…it can be done) you should stand up for your friend, even if it means outing yourself. In fact, I may suggest outing yourself as the best means of helping your friend feel better.

Now we can get cynical about this:

• Friends at any stage in life may appreciate the help, but may not be your friend two months later.
• You both could be ostracized by everyone including your closeted brony friends.
• Not every confident outcast can "swag" him or herself out of stigmatization.

In that case, perhaps it's better for you to abandon the kid, let him learn the lesson about life that "what people think of you can and often does matter," while you cut your losses (i.e., this friend who may or may not be your friend for too much longer anyway,) and move along.
 
You'd also be the jerkiest of jerks for that.
 
As much as I care and love my friends, I'd disregard any concern about bullying. I'd hope that the most you'd get would be constant heckling and nothing physical. If you think that's the case, then if the issue comes up again, defend him at all costs. He didn't do anything wrong, people are giving him (who is also a stand-up dude) grief about it, and a good friend should have his back unquestionably.

So that's what I'd suggest. If you feel physically threatened, take it to an administrator. Your parents. A teacher. A mentor. An adult you trust (again with the clichés…) but seriously, don't take physical punishment for this.

As for psychological grief, know yourself and your friend's well-being. Don't be a hero, but don't expect others to solve your problems for you. If life gets too hard to deal with, then don't hesitate to get someone who can deal with your (potential bullies) with social power. If you're both holding up OK (and hopefully, you're holding each other up in the process,) then note that the real world of high school might penalize you more for getting "the principal" involved in "a petty dispute."
 
 
So my advice is to consider all of that (and everything else people are saying,) and make the best decision considering yourself and your conscience.

If I must offer something more direct, genuine confidence (if you can get it and keep it) goes a long way regardless of how you choose to go about this.

If there's one thing that annoys me more than Princess Streetlight Skankface, then it's the potential budding relationship between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo (as others can tell you.)

Here is a better gif for those who want what's best for Scootaloo.

“Crazy☾ wrote:

Luckily, pretty much any decision doesn’t matter, as college will completely change your outlook on life and what is important to you.

I know when I was in high school, I was disconcerted by the thought of losing all my high school friends.

Now I'm in college and .

It works out for the best. When you're only in high school, it's kind of weird to think about, because that's been the majority of your memorable life, but it's really just a small part of it all.

I only keep in touch with my ex, a friend who is in the same collegiate groups as me, and another friend across the country.

Plus, college is where I found ponies. Best discovery ever.

@Evan

TEXT CANNON!

To your actual point, I'm going to admit that my advice is more anecdotal than anything.
My high school survival method was basically complete seclusion where I had no significant friends at all.
(I was literally one of two people from my eighth grade class who went to this particular high school and the other person had completely different classes. I saw her, I think, once in all four years.)
So yeah, I avoided most bullying by simply being invisible.

Anyway, as you may have guessed already, my general attitude leans toward the 'ignore' option.
As has been said, these guys are probably not going to change their minds about the show based on what you tell them in the middle of a mock-fest.
I would consider it pointless to even try, especially when they are in a group like that.
Essentially think of it this way, you were scared to be pulled into that situation as an outsider.
Think of the guys in that group.
No way that any of them are going to break ranks and try to defend the guy they are picking on for the very same reasons that you had for trying to avoid it altogether.
My best recommendation would be to just keep doing what you are doing and let them prattle on.
If you don't give them the reactions that they want, they will either get bored and leave (win) or they will try to escalate.
If they start going too far, remove yourself from the situation as quickly and as emotionlessly as you can.
Their ultimate goal is to get a rise out of you; don't give it to them.

Now, from the sound of it, it seems like you know some of these 'bullies' on a more personal level.
I've never been one for 'conversion,' but if one of them starts working you over one-on-one, depending on your relationship with them, you might be able to use some actual logic.
Without the peer pressure of the group, a single person could be more receptive.
(You said they were smart enough so I'm going to assume they aren't just total neanderthal-types.)
I'd say you could explain it pretty much how you started off your posts.
"Ha, yeah, I know what you mean. I thought it was crazy at first, too. But it kind of grew on me."
If you can actually engage in an honest conversation, you could bring someone around.
It really depends on if you care enough about these people to want to preserve your relationship with them.

Just as a note, there is one other possible outcome.
Much like how 4chan's early adoption got people curious, having yourself 'outed' in an environment where a good number of people know nothing of bronies could end up leading more people to the show.
I know that most of us probably would never have found the show if it hadn't become so controversial, so I could see that potentially happening again.

@Verbose

@Verbose

@pone bullying

Yeah…I don't really have any advice on this one mostly on the account that I was never really bullied in high school. I don't know why, I was weird as fuck. I guess people were afraid if they pushed me I might come back and Columbine their asses.

The only thing I have to say is that it's just high school. Whatever happens, it'll be done and over in a few short years, so don't sweat it.

Edit: Actually, I do have some advice. My friend once had a similar problem getting bullied and he solved it by launching himself at his attacker and beating the living piss out of him.

That's how you do it man. It'll get you suspended, but you'll be left alone for the rest of high school when you get yourself the reputation of "The guy who doesn't take shit from anybody." Bullies are insecure pussies on the inside and they'll likely back off from someone who actually shows some strength of character.

@Evan

Welcome to my world of Internet-reality limbo. There are no winners.

I am a worse offender than you, you know. I am in an unfortunate type of person who thinks that any extreme kind of public obsession with an online-spawned trend is a sin.

Take one of my friends for example who I will briefly describe as an otaku-fur. He is constantly drawing anime, or anthro foxes, or both, and when somebody asks him what that male cheerleader wolf doodle is doing in the margin of his lined-paper notebook, or why his iPhone case is a chibi panda bear, he will happily go on a tangent explaining so, beginning with the question "Do you know what a furry is?"

I have been from the depths of hell and back. Whenever I hear these types of conversations going on, I can only grimace to myself and think of the corrupted fetishes involved with a fandom that said friend isn't divulging to this quizzical onlooker across the media center table. I've witnessed so many odd trends that it's scary how I'm so knowledgeable with them – hentai, inflation/body expansion, leather, facesitting, and the ultimate "Tony Kornheiser" award: futa.

The problem that I find is the fact that we know that we are both aware of these distressing corners of the Internet, but there are some who are so comfortable with such fetishes that they will send the skeptical to their unholy graves anyway. "Go home and check out Furaffinity." For God's sake, that's probably the worst way of slowly introducing somebody to a fandom. I know it's all about embracing the positives of a widespread community, but how easy it is to find the unsuitable realms of the Internet is just unsettling.

He's mentioned how he thinks My Little Pony shouldn't be a favorite among grown men, but I'm not comfortable with sharing to him that I'm a brony, considering how he probably does his research. I bet that no matter how much I try to outright deny my opinion, he's going to assume that with my experiences I'm probably as far down into Otaku-fur-ville as he is.

However, what I said above is not the point.
I know that you fear for your friend of being classified as a namby-pamby for their choice in television programming, and I can also tell that you worry the same in your stead. By now you're also aware of all of the additional icky terms that come with being a brony, and you worry that your friend and his uninvited posse could be sucked in as well. But, the fate on whether you and your colleagues suffer for that fact is whether who's directing the skeptics, perferably with a steady hand. Equestria Daily? Might be a bit overwhelming. A random community-favorite episode on YouTube? Probably for the best. (It's how I came to be a brony, anyway.)

I understand that you wouldn't betray any of your friends into bashing the show, the fandom, or its fans to purify your image. I wish I had that courage. When the time comes that I'm eventually exposed for all of my extensive knowledge of the Rarity master race… well, I still need to think of a way to explain how I'm less of a weirdo and more of a person who has an eye for a quality cartoon, since I'm the only fan I'm aware of.

I encourage you to think positive and put faith in your friend that he's leading people down the right path. Pull him aside and tell him your preffered way of converting the neigh-sayers if you must. You understand your peers better than I do.

Love and tolerate, and good luck.

-Insouciant

@fifths

While its nice to think that the underdog nerd is a vicious beast just waiting to be provoked and that bullies are just insecure pussies, that's hardly ever true. You'll just get your ass handed to you. Evan, unless you absolutely have to, don't confront your bullies or attack them. Even if you win, you'll lose. 1) you'll get in trouble with your school 2) you might hurt his pride, but whose to say he won't try to get even by having his friends jump you?

@Dac

I think you'd be surprised. Who wins a fight is very much a matter of will, of who is willing to go the farthest. I've got an uncle who's about 5'6 and is one of the most intimidating fuckers you'll meet just because he's willing to go that far. Most people will lose in a fight against him because most people are going to subconciously restrain themselves. He won't. This is a person who would have little trouble with beating someone to death with a lead pipe.

If you find yourself up against some violent psychopaths who prefer to settle disagreements with their fists, then yes, I'd suggest getting the fuck out of there. Assuming these are just some high school punks who feel like taunting someone, I think they'd quite quickly turn tail and run when they meet someone who isn't going to mess around. Just saying man, we teach people how to treat us. If you can find a way to dominate them in will, then you win.

@fifths
I'm well aware that psychopaths are someone you don't want to fuck with, but I'm just going under the assumption that Evan isn't one of them, neither are most people. I say he should take the non violent route. Also, while will plays a big factor, physical strength and endurance are very important too. Unless you have a fair amount of skill and will, it's unwise to pick a fight with someone who has 20-30 pounds on you, like a highschool football player or something. I don't care how crazy you are, but if you aren't physically active( do sports, fighting, wieghtlifting, cardio) you are at a huge disadvantage.

@Evan
Let me tell you a story, a story about a teenager in high school. Like an average hero he was not strongest, the fastest, nor the richest. He was just an average human, a reasonable and kind person whose heart was in the right place. I was in eleventh grade in my weight training class, I had no knowledge of MLP; I just had an average/above average preference in science fiction. One day about mid way through the semester I got paired up with a person who will remain anonymous, he was in my grade but he had a few problems, he smoked (which clearly showed when he lifted) and he also had a generally bad reputation. Just my luck I also was graced with his friend who had just as much common sense as him, he was at least "a bit" nicer in the beginning of this tale.

My weight training sessions went well for about a week or so until they tried to play some tricks on me, they thought were clever but the pranks were poorly done to say the least, it only took less than a few brain cells to know it was their doing. I immediately swapped training partners after two incidences which I did not tolerate because they could have potential hurt me while I was training. After I tried to distance myself from them they tried to get under my skin possibly provoking me to fight them. I immediately alerted my teacher and they were instructed to stay away after a few minor verbal engagements which deterred them slightly.

About a week pasts and they continued to act normally, staying away from me, but I could sense trouble was brewing given by the looks they were shooting at me. I continued my training routine but I knew from that point they were going to possibly become more aggressive.
A few days later I heard them contemplating about how I was a wimp, a few minutes heard the one who started this whole mess on how he was planning on forcing a 175bl barbell which I was training with at the time onto my neck, “snapping my neck in half” or choking me to death. After they pulled this off the teacher would stumble in to find myself lifeless body on the bench as they harmlessly twirled their thumbs and acted stupid about what had transpired. In the process they planned to make me look weak in death by stating "We told him he should not have lifted that much weight sir, but he did not listen.” Unfortunately this was the first death threat I have received with a plan detailing at least how my death would occur. The most troubling portion was that he whispered it calmly almost as if was about to pull it off.

I of course contacted the Vice Principal promptly due to the nature of this threat. I made the decision that the situation escalated outside of my capability to handle, I tried confrontation, distancing myself and ignoring the situation, all of these tactics worked for a good amount of time but ultimately failed.

After he received his punishment by the principal, the OPP visited my school and I had a chat with two officers to discuss the aftermath. I learned that he had a list felonies including tripping a police officer. It was very clear that he had a few issues of his own and I was glad that I put an end to this madness.He had no reason to go after me, I did nothing to him aggravate him, I stood my ground and did not physically fight him, I guess that was what got him angry the most.

Towards the end of the course with trouble maker out of the picture, I enjoyed my course. My weeks of training paid off, I had the highest average in my class and made the largest improving, I truly was proud of myself that day and even proved to my class through determination that I was clearly capable to match my peer’s strength (except Bibo, he was a lean Russian machine, we has a pretty cool guy). I did not let their efforts drag my spirits down, I persevered and continued like it was an average day; I knew where to stand my ground or look for help.

I have not had contact with those two trouble makers to this day, I do not hate them; I just keep my distance and every day I do my best to be myself. I am not ashamed of what others think of me despite what I believe, know or look like. I remain true to myself and that is what turely matters in the end.

Take my story as a grain of salt, it is a story of my experience in life with bulling, it might not be a full answer to your situation but you might see a part of the solution you require. The trouble which you are facing now might seem monumental now but it will slowly erode with time as you mature and your peers mature as well.

Double post

I lurk this thread, and I've seen stuff for equestrian girls. I've gotta say its the dumbest shit I've ever seen. I have zero faith in it. I mean, what's the point? You take the defining thing about my little pony ( pony) and take it out, you just have donkey diahhrea. Just my tale on it. And spike as a dog. No face palm jpg will convey the amount a face palm I am experiencing.

@Evan

Unfortunately, as I was homeschooled through high school, my advice when dealing with bullies and/or socially awkward situations is quite limited.

I will say this: Don't give a shit. I sucked my thumb until I was thirteen and it was amazing how little people cared when I just didn't care what they thought. They're sort of like real life internet trolls, the more attention you give them, the more they'll harass you. When you DNFTT them, they'll move on to someone they can provoke.

It really is true about college. It's amazing how little people care about your preferences when they have a six page essay due the next day. Which reminds me…

@Evan: I feel you man, I used to go through some humiliating things as a kid. It hurt a lot as the years went by from elementry to middle school. It didn't really help that almost everyone I know nearly attempted suicide, including teachers and family members. As I got older though, I thought to myself, "Hey, wait a second, why do I care that someone else looks down upon me. They don't know who I am and frankly I don't know them. That is when everything started clicking.

The second I got that straightened out, it got easier to make friends who wouldn't care for what I have an interest in. As long as we got our backs, no secret would phase us. Even after they found out I was a brony, they didn't really think much about it. Really, it's all about the trust you have in your comrades. If they're still a tad confused about it and are the type to lump, remember these words:

A fandom and its fans are both alike and unlike, a mixture of harmony and chaos that anybody could get used to.

Also, never let this situation reach a fighting level. While fighting is fun, it's just not the end-all-solution. You said you got intellect, so get your witty on.

P.S. I honestly can't wait to see Equestria Girls. I'm sure that opinion is a minority, but that's just me. :P

I am mildly offended that Lunar Pegasi did not make the list.

….Although you're all probably really sick of me saying that by now.

…And I'm getting sick of saying it…

So as a substitute grievance, I am also kinda annoyed that Saddle Arabian Horses didn't score higher. They got all of three seconds of screen-time, and if it weren't for the fact that Twilight said they were from Saddle Arabia, we would know exactly as much about them as my usual choice for this.

It's like kindred spirits in "Nobody knows jack about us and we only show up once, but yet we have cool designs so that somehow excuses it."

No, there is no excuse to show a race and say nothing about it. It only breeds curiosity that drives us to madness, and several flash assets that would be more worthwhile if you used them again.

Heck, Sea-ponies have a better expanded culture! And they only show up in one book of questionable canonisity!

I don't care how obscure I have to get to get info on the somewhat under explained races, just give me "Something"!

I don't know what's worse, my chronic need to unearth the mysteries about races we know nothing about, or the creative team's forgetting to give us an answer to even the most basic of questions about them.

…

Excuse me if I've forgotten which race I'm talking about when I say all this. I'm probably talking about all of them.

Evan wrote:

Yes, Evan was sort of a fanboy.

But let it just be coincidence that yesterday one of my school friends also mentioned the existance of bronies. But not in the positive way, more in a style of "they're adult males who like ponies, lol what losers". Knowing that friend (he's hardly the alpha male, closer to a nerd), he was probably looking for a quick topic of conversation or testing our opinions towards bronies (I'm suspecting some of my classmates to be more active online than meets the eye).

Like you, I'm a closet "brony" (considering how little I still do with ponies, that title lost its meaning). I rather keep IRL and internet seperated. But given that the topic was brought up, I replied to my friend. I didn't point out that I was a brony, I just mentioned that bronies were bigger on the internet than he could probably imagine, and from some point of view you can't really blame them for their tastes. I have build up a good reputation in my class, so it was easy for me to get away with that. It was an innocent reply, I didn't take it to personal levels, end of story. The topic was quickly ditched after that.

Unfortunately, your situation wasn't like that. This was a clear coming out of the stable, not a mentioning the existance of bronies as a subject. For possible advice I might need to know some more details first. What is your reputation, what is his, what is that of the friends he confessed to? I'd also like to know how he explained bronies to them. It's also good to know what advice you gave your friend. This experience serves as a good lesson for him that you can't always combine internet with IRL.

If he explained how fucking big bronies are on the internet, continue from there in a possible defense should it be brought up again. Explain you knew about the existance of bronies, but just didn't think much about it, as something so big obviously has something that appeals to people. From there it would come to no suprise that there were some bronies walking around in your school. Possible knowledge you got came from reading our entry (#ads). Reading KYM entries shouldn't be considered weird, and with MLP being one of our most popular entries it's only natural you gave it a read once.

Should they ask if you're a brony (or should it be brought up by your friend), just make a mention of how you came accross it a few times but didn't think much about it.

In some way, it's a good thing that people can suspect you for being a brony, and possible others. This takes away the point of view your others friends could get of your close friend being "that one guy that like ponies". One guy is social suicide, two guys is weird, 3-5 shows there's more to it (this of course also depends on the people in question and their reputation).

What happens now depends on how both your close friends and those others continue from here and how they'll deal with the situation. Yesterday was unique for them, they met a brony (wow, so special). They can milk out the whole thing into bullying, or they can go "meh" because it lost its appeal. This of course also depends on if your close friend keeps bringing up the topic and how he replies should those others bring it up.

Oh, and please don't listen to Fifths advice. I don't care if you're a happy-go-punchy psycho or not (I trust you aren't), violence is never the solution, that only throws oil in the fire.

>mfw this thread

Seriously, I could read the Bible faster than I can read through all these posts.

@Spike being a dog on Equestria Grils rumor

Sounds like something that could be true, but I don't know. It just sounds weird to me. But it does make me think about the other characters and what role they will be playing. Like Princess Celestia. I bet she's going to be a teacher or a guidance counselor or something. What about Luna? What about the CMCs? They seem to important to leave out, but I can't think of what they'll bring to the show.

@The bullying thing

You know guys, I'm a general fan of non-violence, but some things are worth bleeding for. Your personal dignity is one of them. Certainly the first recourse should always be to pursue rational discourse like a gentleman, but if someone is going to harass you and be obstinately unreasonable about it, I think you're perfectly justified hitting them in the face. Sometimes I feel like people today just don't have a sense of honor anymore.

Liking ponies isn't anything to be ashamed of. Not having enough self-respect to be willing to throw or take a punch is. Evan, you solve your problem the way you think is best, but no one will look down upon you for standing up for yourself or your friend.

@fifths

I agree with you that defending your honor is a valid reason to punch someone, I just don't think it's ever good advice to tell someone to do it.

I do agree with your stance, Fifths. There comes a time when a person isn't going to respond to civil discussion and reason.

However, I'll repeat an instance I shared earlier in the thread:

In middle school, I threw a kid's Pikachu card on top of our school. He got mad, turned beet red (as opposed to his standard carnation pink,) and got in my face.

…I smiled.

Because I knew…and he knew what I was in the school and he knew that despite being bigger than me, I could have mauled him in a fight to the point that he was injured and unable to fight back. And if they would have asked what happened, we would have both given the same story:

I threw his pokemon card on top of a school, he hit me in the face, and I defended myself. I would have said that I shouldn't have done that, and that I was sorry.

Given that I was on student council, the football team, an A student, sang in All-State Chorus, was in gifted classes, etc (much like a lot of other bullies,) and the other kid was an awkward looking, kinda creepy (later in high school, he bragged about being able to view porn on his phone…and viewed it regularly at school during class) dude who didn't have much charisma at all, they would have chastised me for lightly bullying the guy, but they would have punished him for instigating the physical confrontation instead of going to a teacher or administrator.

And then I would have laughed.

And furthermore (until I grew up,) I would have made a point to smile ear-to-ear every…and I mean every time I saw him in the hallway after his beating.

I probably would have been the first target of his homicidal rage to be sure, but we don't want that. (Also, despite being a bully, a bullet isn't a fair punishment.)

Bullied kids aren't the only ones with berserk buttons. If you physically threaten some people, they may back down (i.e., flight.) Heck, some might wet themselves in fear (i.e., faint.)

I, on the other hand, would do neither. I would fight, and I would fight unfairly. I respond to a physical threat in an irrational, furious rage that taps into all of that superhuman strength and courage you get in an adrenaline-infused situation.

I didn't play and football because I was big. You've seen me. I'm small for a woman. I played, competed, and earned respect from my teammates, in part because I had a bad temper and I could work myself into rage well.

He would have hit me in the face. Once.
I would have hit him in the side of his knee to break it and stomped on his face after he fell ending the fight in about 2 or 3 seconds. No one fights when their leg bends in two ways. They mostly want to keep themselves from vomiting between sobs.

In this hypothetical, the pink guy loses street credibility, has to go through a ton of therapy to walk anytime soon, probably looks more awkward with a broken nose/jaw/eye socket(s), and is probably more of a target than he was before. His pent up anger from being pushed around got his ass whooped, put bluntly but aptly.

Yeah, he may win. But that's not something I'd want to suggest myself. I'm glad you posed it, because it's certainly an option.

But unless Evan has the capability to handle himself in such a physical confrontation against all potential comers (bullies can have back up,) pent up rage may not help you avoid getting pounded.

Sometimes, the cards are stacked against you. Some people don't a decent deck.

Some things are worth fighting about, but those things aren't usually found on a high school campus. And I don't really think that 18th century notions of honor duels is the best advice one can give.

Like I said before, I think there are some times when it is useful to "stand up for yourself," but I don't mean go and sock someone in the face. The goal should be to keep it from becoming physical, whether or not you can "take him" -- all you should be concerned with is getting it to stop, not "teaching him a lesson" or anything like that.

But as pretty much everyone has said, there are peculiarities to each situation and we don't know all of it, so even that's not good all the time.

@Spike the Dog

Worst pun ever? I think so.

@Verbose

You do confirm my earlier point that who wins the fight is largely a matter of will. Some people can just…set themselves off like that and it doesn't matter if they're a small guy, odds are they'll still win.

Taking your story into account, I will agree that one should take note of all the factors. I do believe that one shouldn't be afraid of physical pain in defense of ideas of self-worth, but I'm not so sure how far I myself would follow that belief at the threat of a knee-break/facestomp combo.

Eh, all I can say is that violence is not an option that I think should be unconditionally abandoned. Some people need a good beating and sometimes we're able to give it to them. Sometimes.

I agree, again, Fifths.

But I'd rather be a good person than be scary, and if someone could take that rage, then they can have it. Fortunately, that once instance was the worst of my bullying, and few people have tried to fight me.

My older cousin didn't let go of a chokehold he was trying to show me in time once though. Heh. He had two black eyes and a bloody nose, and I couldn't breathe well for a while. Good times…
 
And I think we have a winner for the title/subtitle of the next thread, but I'll leave the poll up anyway.

Oh, dear, WhiteDiamonds is making art again.

And then thelivingmachine02 came back DIDN'T HE Oh, gosh why did you leave us there is no futuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrre…

I think evan got plenty of sound advice. so I propose a new topic, who exactly is looking toward to equestrian girls ,and why?

Me? Fuck no. I don't follow my little pony anymore, I sure as hell won't watch my little human.

Fighting isn't about winning it is a statement that you wont take peoples shit any more. If you fight and lose sometimes bully's will go pick on kids who wont fight back and oddly at times get respect from the bully which is kinda wired but it dose happen. The bully may not let up and may come back but nothing is a better lesson then a good ass beating no one can call them selves a good fighter if they never fought.

as far as E.G maybe they will have an episode on fighting bully's,drugs and rapes in the bathroom I went to a high crime high school. J-ville SANDALWOOD a.k.a (scandal weed) REPRESENT!

This thread has turned into my little pony: fighting is magic. Mane6 cancelled project lives on.

@Evan: I'm as far from a closet brony as possible. I have three shirts and a wallet. I don't give a fuck what anybody else thinks. You shouldn't, either.

@Equestria Girls:

Verbose wrote:

And I think we have a winner for the title/subtitle of the next thread, but I’ll leave the poll up anyway.

KYM Pony General VII: Twilight Sparkle and the Deathly Hasbro?

I don't know, I just can't like that title for some reason. It might be because the reference material doesn't actually use a numeric numbering system for the books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, not Harry Potter VII: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / Harry Potter VII: The Deathly Hallows), and the previous threads followed the line of Pony General III: This Time, It's Personal, Pony General IV: Electric Scootaloo, Pony General V: We Just Don't Know What Went Wrong. and so on. Just my opinion, and maybe it's just me.

With 9 (45 percent) of the votes going for TSatDH, it looks like that's what well be getting.

I would like to ask though: On the previous poll, what was the option that 17 people voted for? I'm not able to retrieve the analytics on that page.

@ Bullies and Dealing with them / Justice Discussion.

Guys, you're all forgetting that justice is a lot more fulfilling when it is achieved by taking away the "Good Reputation" of the offender. And publicly shaming them for the crimes one claims they committed is much more painful to high reputation bullies than physical pain.

The way to do this is to hold a sort of "Mock Trial" in public view of your fellow students of what the other has done. Where their deeds are shown for what they are to everyone.

This may take some time to gather evidence enough that something undeniably wrong has been committed on their part to convince the others. But it will be worth it to have found a way to take justice into your own hands without actually doing anything wrong yourself.

Violence isn't the answer, war never changes anything.
Hiding isn't the answer, you can't hide forever.

Justice is the answer! And justice in Modern Society is dictated by a Jury of your peers, and championed by the Truth!

What happens after is Judgement. And in our society of social beings, judgement is everything.

Conversely, if the mentality of what is going wrong is because of teasing alone, there they gather people around for a group humiliation of someone who isn't doing anything wrong…
you may need a different strategy, as Judgment has become the problem that needs to be overcome to Achieve justice.

…You have to play the defense Attorney; albeit for a brief moment.

A group of judgmental teens is no different to a Jury that has decided you're guilty. But if they are declaring someone as being "Wrong" for doing something that is not a crime, all you have to do is remind the crowd that regardless of what they themselves think of what they are doing, it's not something bad or wrong. And that they are in the wrong for thinking that the behavior is acceptable.

In other words… Put the jury on Trial.

All that needs to be said at that point is that those guys are being jerks over something that is meaningless to them.

In fact you could almost use those words.

… A little Hitler reference won't hurt if you phrase it right and you have a cool head. Something like "You're teasing me/him/her/them for merely holding an opinion? Isn't that exactly what Hitler did?"

…

I think My train of thought stopped.

Anyways, hope everyone gets the point.

(If I ever Get kids, I need to teach them the lesson of dealing with bullies through emulating the criminal justice system.)

Stop Girl needs to stahp.

Anywho, I actually am. I want to see how Hasbro handles this thing.

Of course, most of those who have commented seem to be getting more skeptical and with solid reasons.

But Hasbro is about making money. They've seen how making a good cartoon with great staff and great characterization can make something as old as My Little Pony huge again. This spin-off is attempting to garner the same acclaim with a different demographic. So if they want to repeat the success, then they'd probably have a great staff making the cartoon.

Hasbro may know little to nothing about making a good show, but DHX did. Is DHX on Equestria Girls? Did they get an all-star cast and staff for the spin-off? If Hasbro wants to make money through the show, then I'd figure that they have.

If that's the case, and this half season was made in part to give DHX and their writers time to work on Equestria Girls, then I expect a good show (maybe not awesome, but good.)

If they hired on a different group to execute the show, then will they be able to make a product as good as DHX's or will it be good in a different way? Will it just flop?

And finally, if they think that simply taking characters from a successful show and putting them in another universe in a different context will work, then I want to see if it actually does work.
 
I'm interested in seeing how it all works out. Again, I haven't been this excited about fandom events in a while. Since Season 4 is confirmed, and Equestria Girls won't impact FiM's storyline (somehow…I don't know how the cast just "forgets" that time they were humans/furries and Spike was a dog,) this is something entirely different within the show that I can be excited about…even if it blows.

We need more art.

Edit:

On the previous poll, what was the option that 17 people voted for?

Actually, it was "It didn't have to end like this." (Now at 2 votes.)

That's what I liked about asking people to choose whatever they liked before asking for a vote. You get a chance to promote everything you like, and then you get to pick from ones a lot of people liked.

So even though a lot of people liked it, I guess they didn't like it more than the Harry Potter reference.

I chose Twilight Sparkle and the Deathly Hasbro, because it works in terms of wordplay and in situation (i.e., Four syllables for the main character, Hasbro was the reason why Twilight ascended to alicorn princess status sooner than most expected.) But I liked the other five options as well.

@Equestria girls

I'm just ignoring it as hard as I can. I'm having a hard enough time as it is getting over Twilicorn, I don't need "Anthroponies in high school!"'s help with it.

I really find it difficult to understand Hasbro's logic. The main demographics for this show have been little girls and grown men who enjoy ponies going on adventures? Why are they trying to take this and set it in a high school, of little appeal to either little girls or grown men, and why are they getting rid of the whole, you know, pony thing? If they wanted a show to appeal to teenage girls about teenage girls, why not just start fresh?

I've got a much better idea for a spinoff. Make a spinoff called "Adventures in Equestria," which downplays the whole "slice of life" storytelling format of the original and instead focuses on the fantasy/adventure aspects we see touched on in the show. We can start seeing the pones go on adventures exploring Equestria and fleshing out the world's mythos and all that good stuff. Not only would it remain accessible to the little girl demographic, it'd probably rope in some young male viewers as well, not to mention bronies would go fucking nuts over it.

In addition, Hasbro is a toyline. Imagine the merchandising potential that comes out of an adventure series. Imagine all the playsets based off of this setting or that and imagine all the new characters that can be turned into toys.

That would have made a lot more sense to me. Who wouldn't want to see more of this shit?

I call over-powered on Verbose.

Verbose wrote:

But Hasbro is about making money. They’ve seen how making a good cartoon with great staff and great characterization can make something as old as My Little Pony huge again.

Well, Hasbro is a rather successful business, and I have no doubt that they want to continue the success. But then again, so is Cartoon Network:

Yeah… not every business venture is successful.

Or at the very least, isn't as far reaching a success as MLP:FiM.

@Bullying

Well, since we're all trading life stories here, I'll offer up mine.

I've always been a runt. Short end of the height scale, weak lungs, inability to build weight (even the fatty sort) and natural inclination towards more sedentary activities. Not the best deal in a society still very much trapped by the notion that a man is big and strong. I've always been somewhat short-tempered when it comes to insults, too, and quick to throw down the gauntlet. You can probably guess how that went.

Eventually, I figured I should try limiting the physical damage, so I just sat there and took the verbal abuse instead. Might have been the less wise choice, that. At least a wounded body stops hurting after a time.

Didn't much help that I've always been the weird kid. No, I don't think you quite realize the full gravity of that statement. I never truly fit in anywhere. Not even here, on this thread. I'm an outcast even to the ostracized. Growing up, I had exactly three friends, and all of them moved away sooner rather than later. I tended to change schools between grades, too, so I didn't get much chances to build any kind of meaningful friendships. Not that my tormentors would have given me much of a chance in the first place.

Eventually, I became rather delusional. Heh, I even believed I was an alien for a time. I eventually regained most of my faculties somehow, but by that time the damage was already done. When most folks were trying their hand at more complex relationships, I was still struggling with the basics of social interaction. So yeah, I rarely even talked to other people unless I had to. Not that the situation's much different nowadays.

I guess you'd never figure that out from my writing, though. The truth of it is that I'm far less engaging company when I don't get to carefully think my words through, and my grasp of my mother tongue is considerably weaker than my skill in English. Doesn't much help when my interests fall well outside the comfort zones of the unsophisticated plebians I usually find myself surrounded by.

I think most of you've mistaken me for a generally pleasant person, as well. You couldn't be further from the truth. I'm a bitter, resentful misanthrope with a mindset bordering on sociopathy, and it shows. People tend to be rather uneasy around me, even when I don't make an effort to look threatening. Which is fine by me. In fact, I think some twisted part of me enjoys the fear flickering in their eyes. But it is little concern to me, I much prefer avoiding the presence of others in the first place. A luxury that, unfortunately, seems all the harder to come by these days.

So, is there a moral to this story? Well, perhaps some of you should consider the eventual consequences of the actions you took in your foolish youth, and that many of you should consider yourselves lucky.

@Brownmane

I think you're being a little harsh in your self-evaluation. Sociopaths don't care that they're sociopaths, that's why they're sociopaths. As far as misanthropy is concerned, a misanthrope is nothing but a disappointed humanist. Just live a little more, I think you'll find that you're amongst that vast majority of people who eventually find a way to jive in society.

@Fifths

I did say bordering on sociopathy. While I'm capable of empathy, I feel most people are unworthy of it. They can rot and burn for all I care.

Perhaps misanthropy is as you say. However, I've plenty enough reason to be disappointed in the constant failing of humanity. Look through any history book, you'll find we've been at this for far too long and failing far too hard to be excusable.

Live a little? Pah. Society won't let me. Besides, I'm world-weary enough as it is. The fact that I feel like old King Haggard at the tender age of 21 should tell you that.

@Bullying. Everyone knows Bullies are just a bunch of pussies, they have to pick on people they see as weaker because they know they could never pick on a football player and get away with it. For instance, back in 8th Grade some kid was making fun of me for being short (in his defense I was VERY short. Borderline 4 feet tall back in Middle School, now I'm still only 5'5) and for being the token DragonBallZ fanatic (Which everyone thought was uncool because the show ended back in the 5th grade and so he thought it was pathetic that I liked something that he used to like only 3 years ago) and tried jumping me behind the school, little did he know I was able to talk my mother into putting me into a Kick Boxing class because I wanted to be strong like Goku only a few weeks before. Needless to say I walked away without a scratch (t'was a good day).

Got picked on in Freshman year and Sophomore year by two different guys for mainly looking like the short defenseless kid (In their defense, I was only 5'5 and I wore some baggy clothing and my AC/DC Hoodie all year so I did look like a stumpy little kid.) and well….Yeah. Tl;dr Bullies are fags and I'm just glad I didn't start watching MLP until the summer after Highschool, I'm a pacifist now (anyone who makes fun of me for being a pacifist gets a swift Roundhouse kick to the face) I'm also a hypocrite.

@Equestria Girls I said I'd give the show a chance since MLP really changed my views on the whole "Don't judge a book by its cover" hell I didn't think Workaholics looked like a good show at all. But now here I am with a "Take it Sleazy" shirt so….yeah. But after seeing that Spike is a dog rumor….well if it's real my hopes for this went down the drain. It would be like turning Rarity into a broom (Yet she'd be the most Fabulous broom ever) while everyone else gets to be human. All I say is Spike better at least get to talk cause just turning him into a barking drooling hound is a bit….yeah. I'll give it a chance though.

@Verbose's Anti-Rainbow Dash Gif: IT'S ON NOW BROTHER!

Miscellaneous news: I finally bought my first pony merch…..well first for myself, I say that as I used to buy pony stuff for my friends who were too chicken to buy it themselves. Needless to say I buy pony merch like a boss. But today when I was at Walmart I got bored and decided I wanted to buy myself a pony. Went down the pink isle, something I haven't done for a while and I already knew what I wanted, the little three pack of Rainbow Dash, Gilda and Spitfire. Found out it wasn't Spitfire but I don't care I wanted Rainbow Dash, So I bought it….for $8, would've just bought a Rainbow Dash brush-able but now I've got my own Rainbow Dash for my desk.

No regrets. Will buy the Derpy, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy Vinyls at Hot Topic next paycheck though.

No regrets.

Tl;dr I have regrets. Lol JK no Regrets…just a little buyer's remorse as seriously…..$8.50 for these little ponies? Thank God I didn't go to Toys R Us to get them.

Edit: I just saw a video which was essentially the Best of Fluttershy. Needless to say I just feel like whispering now.

KYM Pony General VII: Twilight Sparkle and the Deathly Hasbro?

That was my least favorite option…I don't want to look at that every time I go to this thread.

Not as bad as some of Nickelodeon's other ventures

I just find it overal disrespectful towards Hasbro. I get the pun and that you're all a bit rustled from Twilicorn (and other cases), but this might take it a bit too far. As this is a community decision, I will not pull a mod card here, but I will ask "Why?".

Well, I was trying to be.. more polite.. about it, but yeah. I don't much like it either. It just kind of seems like it's going to get old in the time between seasons, and it is kind of disrespectful to the IP holder.

"Are You a Princess Too?" poked fun at it (the Celestia toy), and Twi's alicorn status, but it didn't really target the company overall.

Was there a poll I missed? I feel like there was.