The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Mana Minori on September 07, 2020, 09:45:34 PM

Title: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Mana Minori on September 07, 2020, 09:45:34 PM
Has anyone ever felt like they’re alone in liking a certain pony or line of ponies that others don’t? Maybe the pony or line is super obscure or under appreciated by pony fans and pony collectors. Or whatever reason.

At times, I feel like I’m pretty much the only one who obsessed and adores the g1 Takara line, but I’m constantly proving myself wrong and snapping myself out of that mindset when I find that there ARE others out there that love these little pony beans enough to also be making fan art and crafts of them, like me! Recently, I find a post about them made by some guy called Ponitacupcake on LiveJournal (idk who they are, but I was overwhelmed with pride and support) made me realize that I’m not the only one who wants them rebooted (and felt the Transformers x FiM crossover was a squandered opportunity When there is another pony line far more fitting.

https://vintage-ads.livejournal.com/6331370.html?embed

Have you guys ever felt lonely at some point, in liking a pony or pony line? Do you still feel that way?
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Ponybookworm on September 08, 2020, 02:08:25 AM
I live in a small village so nobody local really has interest in the same things I do... but I'm used to it...

I love bright colours myself, & know others don't, preferring the pastel look, but pastel, though in its place is great, is just a bit... faded. Bright colours are more cheery to me.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 08, 2020, 05:21:03 AM
Meh, most anyone who grew up with G1 and then got into collecting them has experienced being a collector more or less on your own. Although I admit I had my sister as well ;)

Takara ponies are Nirvana ponies, they get discussed more in Nirvana discussion but you always bring them up in the Corral...which may be why you don't get the Takara discussion you want from people. There are quite a few people who have laid out big money for Takara ponies, and one person who was lucky enough to find one in a store in Japan when they were over there.

But Takara are niche and so the people who collect them and like them are also niche.

At least you can be glad that nowadays people do recognise them and care about them. Back in...I dunno, 2000ish? when I first got sent scans of a takara pamphlet, I remember I put it on my site. And literally NOBODY cared. Now, though, they're recognised, accepted and included as a Nirvana pony. Which is genuinely better. I think it's been the last ten or so years that it took off. I really wish that I had bought them all up when they were (probably) cheap on the Japanese auctions when I started buying stuff from Japan in 2007, but eh, you live and learn. I

I don't like Takara particularly, despite having studied Japan for as long as I have. I feel like I ought to, but I just don't like the moomin ponies :/ I do like their outfits mind you. I have one wedding outfit in its package, because I felt as a scholar of Japan I should have ONE Japanese pony thing. And it's cute and I would get more if I found them cheaply. But not the ponies.

Nowadays, I don't really have the sense of liking a type of pony nobody else likes. Again, going back, I did feel that way. There were so few people who cared about variants at all back in the day, and getting people to acknowledge them was hard work at times. And then there was G2. I liked G2. I still like G2. Probably about the same now as I did then. But it was SO hostile then, whereas now it's lovely <3.

...I don't really know what bigger point I'm trying to make - I think it's that we have a much better position now to discuss many different types of ponies than we did when I first joined the community in 1997-8.

BUT...you will have more luck talking Takara in the Nirvana forum, I suspect. People in the corral mostly want to talk pony general or mainstream, so you're probably tackling the wrong audience.

Oh, yeah. I suppose in my case it's not about a specific pony but about the names. I grew up in the Uk with the UK pony names and I use them. I don't ever think of any of my ponies in terms of the US names.

It makes me genuinely sad that some UK collectors who grew up with G1 have switched to the US names, especially when it means duplicate names or ridiculous names like 'tootie tails'.

Most of the online sites use US names and there's an expectation everyone should use those names. So I sometimes wonder how people in other countries feel, where they have another language version of a name that makes more sense to them, but can genuinely never use it.

It's why I started using the names in those languages if the pony is an exclusive (Nachtlicht, for example).

I really hate the dominance of the US names. And I feel sometimes that I'm quite alone in that.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: SunPony on September 08, 2020, 06:12:59 AM
Well, no one I know offline/irl is into pony collecting, so I sometimes feel a little wierd or lonely about it I guess.  Then online...hmm...I do like the first tooth and drink-and-wet babies a lot, which don't seem really popular for whatever reason.  I maybe wouldn't call this feeling "loneliness" but perhaps a kind of vague feeling of pity for these unloved ponies, if that makes sense?  But I don't feel super passionate about it, there are way more important things going on in my life and society right now to have strong feelings about and I only have so much energy.  I try to keep only positive feelings associated with the pony world.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 08, 2020, 06:47:07 AM
Eh.

Just because someone is a fan of something doesn't mean they share the same thoughts as you, or even want to talk about it.

I have no interest in arts and crafts of takara. The exception to that is there were some high quality accurate 3D prints and I got one to customize. I don't dream that they are released again. I hardly consider them MLP, they fit more in line with just the cute toy aesthetic I collect.

But I'm certainly a fan.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 08, 2020, 09:56:36 AM
Other then my cousins and friends as a kid, and my daughter who is mostly finished with her collection, I don't really have anyone offnet who I can talk to about it. Its never bothered me.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: pinkkittywinks on September 08, 2020, 11:12:59 AM
Takara ponies are tricky, they are waaaayyyyy out of most people price range, so I think most people will blank them out. I never dared entertain the idea of owning one as they are expensive :shrug: As Taffeta said, the are a niche, within a niche. I think the other thing to consider is they really don't look like "tradition" ponies and that will put some people off. Piggy ponies are similar in that way. Also Takaras were only produced for a small amount of time, one year I think, so I don't think they were that popular at the time.

I do own a Takara, I bought her last year, I was lucky enough to get one from a friend for a price that I could afford, and she is still my most expensive pony. I don't think I would have been so keen to get a Takara unless I hadn't spent time with one. I was entrusted with caring for a Takara pony, while I made outfits for her and it was this spending time that made me love them. It is worth noting I ADORE the Moomins too ;)

The Takara fakie babies are super popular and beloved by many people even though they are fakes. They are still expensive, especially when it comes to some of the more unusual colours. There is also an adult Takara fakie, but these are worth almost the same as the real ones.

If you ever want to enthuse about Takara's why not pop over to the nirvana section ;)

Love pkw xxx
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 08, 2020, 11:25:05 AM
Takara ponies are tricky, they are waaaayyyyy out of most people price range, so I think most people will blank them out.

I am not sure you were saying this... But people don't have to physically own things to be fans of them. People can be fans of any pony, regardless of price, and own none.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on September 08, 2020, 11:28:18 AM
I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.
No one else IRL that I know of is into pony.
I like Takaras but don't feel much like discussing them, just not sure what there is to talk about them.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Mana Minori on September 08, 2020, 12:05:37 PM
I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.
No one else IRL that I know of is into pony.
I like Takaras but don't feel much like discussing them, just not sure what there is to talk about them.
i don’t mind the PL ponies, I actually have a few.Potion Nova is my favorite and spoiled baby of a pony. Sorry that you don’t have anyone irl to share them with. Have you tried finding any meetups with Pony Life?
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on September 08, 2020, 12:07:40 PM
There are not meetups also we are in a pandemic. I just wait and hope ponypeople find me...
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Mana Minori on September 08, 2020, 12:49:13 PM
There are not meetups also we are in a pandemic. I just wait and hope ponypeople find me...
yes I am aware of that, but meetups have also been scheduled online in many communities, such as in Lolita groups. So I’m saying maybe you can find a meetup that discussed Pony Life over Zoom or something. I apologize for not clarifying.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 08, 2020, 01:51:38 PM
TBH I don't see why PL shouldn't be discussed here. This is the pony community ;)

Speaking as someone who also owns Potion Nova but isn't really interested in PL.

But equally I'm not interested in FIM and I still think it should be discussed here as well.

Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Marshie on September 08, 2020, 02:11:59 PM
The only time I ever really felt alone was with my offline friends and family. I still live with my parents and have gotten many rude remarks to my new hobby. Friends are a little more caring though since they can respect I have an interest and something that makes me happy! Only thing about that though is none of them are really into it so I don’t tend to talk much about it with them and can’t really explain things I love about ponies with them.
I never felt like I was alone in liking a certain line of ponies in the actual community though, but this may be because I’m still new here and haven’t gone too far into the different types of ponies.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: dragglereeka on September 08, 2020, 03:18:26 PM
I've always felt that G2 ponies as a whole are the collective least favourite. Although I may be completely wrong?  I love them for the nostalgia as they were my first childhood generation, but also their overall design. However, I think Hasbro didn't do much for them in terms of lore etc. The least fleshed out generation definitely.  I've always made my own stories for the Enchanted Forest dwellers <3
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on September 08, 2020, 03:31:49 PM
i've always been a loner... I'm kinda used to it by now
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Shaz on September 09, 2020, 02:18:57 AM
I'm used to having obscure interests that no one (offline) shares with me, though of course my girlfriend collects ponies with me and that's fun. I don't really need a lot of people to be into the same thing as me, I'm quite solitary really. I'm lucky because my family will usually let me enthuse over whatever I'm currently into.

My ideal online pony world would be full of people wanting to discuss foreign pony names and the wonderfulness of Sweet Talkin' ponies....haha just kidding, I just like to see people chatting about ponies, especially the older generations. It's interesting seeing what different people like and discovering new things through that.

I hope you find someone to enthuse about Takaras with. I think they're cute (especially their little outfits) but they're just too expensive and rare for me to get interested in. I like achievable pony goals!
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Shaiyeh on September 09, 2020, 03:04:28 AM
I'm also one of those people used to being the only one to like certain subjects/music styles/clothes etc, always been like that, so I don't mind not having many pony friends IRL. I've met some fantastic people through ponies, but we haven't been able to meet up for a few years now ^^'

Tailrust - I really like the PL ponies too! They're adorable IMO ^^ you're not alone :)

Takara ponies are tricky, they are waaaayyyyy out of most people price range, so I think most people will blank them out.

I am not sure you were saying this... But people don't have to physically own things to be fans of them. People can be fans of any pony, regardless of price, and own none.

Of course they can :) I think PKW meant some people decide to not get into things they won't be able to afford. I do that, haha. I absolutely adore the Takara ponies, but choose to not get too into them because I'll just be sad I won't be able to get one of my own. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's like that ^^' But of course people can be into something they don't have. :)
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 09, 2020, 06:54:52 AM
Takara ponies are tricky, they are waaaayyyyy out of most people price range, so I think most people will blank them out.

I am not sure you were saying this... But people don't have to physically own things to be fans of them. People can be fans of any pony, regardless of price, and own none.

Of course they can :) I think PKW meant some people decide to not get into things they won't be able to afford. I do that, haha. I absolutely adore the Takara ponies, but choose to not get too into them because I'll just be sad I won't be able to get one of my own. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's like that ^^' But of course people can be into something they don't have. :)
Which is fine... but I feel like I had to say something because there are other fandoms where if you don't own said expensive item, then you aren't a fan. And I was trying to point it out more generally.

My point was more so I think owning things doesn't mean someone isn't a fan. Price isn't really relevant either... we could be talking about $5 items, and it still rings true.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: LadyAmalthea on September 09, 2020, 08:06:42 AM
Within the community, I would say no...my pony interests are pretty mainstream. But in real life, I don't know anyone who is into ponies other than my 5-year-old son, who is obsessed with g1 ponies and won't talk about anything else (to the point of being annoying sometimes!). If my family or friends knew the extent of my collection/interest in them, they would probably raise an eyebrow at my being a 40-year-old woman who collects/restores 30+-year-old toys, so I don't talk to anyone about it. My husband straight-up rolls his eyes. My sister knows I have our combined childhood collection in my possession, and that I am cleaning them up, but I doubt she realizes that I'm involved to the point of reading up on them online and interacting on a forum about them, and I feel like she might ridicule me a bit about it if she did, especially since I don't do social media (apparently that's weird to some people?...'so you won't get a Facebook account to talk to me, but you'll go online and talk about My Little Pony?'...) I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, and it's all in my head, but I feel like that's how the people in my life would react, so I keep it to myself. It's okay...I've always been, maybe not really a loner, per se, but someone who enjoys time to myself, and my happiest moments these days are when my son is in school and my girls are napping, and I can clean and style a pony, and I can organize and set them up in my bathroom closet...by myself. This forum is a good place to come when I want to talk about ponies (unless I'm in the mood to listen to my little guy chat my ear off about them!)
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Mana Minori on September 09, 2020, 09:43:23 AM
Within the community, I would say no...my pony interests are pretty mainstream. But in real life, I don't know anyone who is into ponies other than my 5-year-old son, who is obsessed with g1 ponies and won't talk about anything else (to the point of being annoying sometimes!). If my family or friends knew the extent of my collection/interest in them, they would probably raise an eyebrow at my being a 40-year-old woman who collects/restores 30+-year-old toys, so I don't talk to anyone about it. My husband straight-up rolls his eyes. My sister knows I have our combined childhood collection in my possession, and that I am cleaning them up, but I doubt she realizes that I'm involved to the point of reading up on them online and interacting on a forum about them, and I feel like she might ridicule me a bit about it if she did, especially since I don't do social media (apparently that's weird to some people?...'so you won't get a Facebook account to talk to me, but you'll go online and talk about My Little Pony?'...) I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, and it's all in my head, but I feel like that's how the people in my life would react, so I keep it to myself. It's okay...I've always been, maybe not really a loner, per se, but someone who enjoys time to myself, and my happiest moments these days are when my son is in school and my girls are napping, and I can clean and style a pony, and I can organize and set them up in my bathroom closet...by myself. This forum is a good place to come when I want to talk about ponies (unless I'm in the mood to listen to my little guy chat my ear off about them!)
i don’t see anything the slightest bit weird at a 40 year old being a collector and restorer of pony toys. That’s an actual profession.
It’s cool that your boy is into pony toys, too, especially g1.
Not weird at all. I hope you can find more people irl to share your pony joy with, if ever you want a change of pace in enjoying them alone.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Ponybookworm on September 09, 2020, 10:06:30 AM
Amalthea, I'm OVER 40!!! And I still collect MLP, Customise MLP & have a plushie sharky perched on my leg right now!!!

If that's weird then we're the weird brigade xxx
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: LadyAmalthea on September 10, 2020, 10:26:11 AM

Amalthea, I'm OVER 40!!! And I still collect MLP, Customise MLP & have a plushie sharky perched on my leg right now!!!

If that's weird then we're the weird brigade xxx

Glad I'm not the only one! And I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that there are others...anyone who enjoyed g1 ponies in their heyday is either in their 40's or getting close to it, so there are probably more of us 'weird brigade' members out there than we think!

Post Merge: September 10, 2020, 10:44:06 AM


i don’t see anything the slightest bit weird at a 40 year old being a collector and restorer of pony toys. That’s an actual profession.
It’s cool that your boy is into pony toys, too, especially g1.
Not weird at all. I hope you can find more people irl to share your pony joy with, if ever you want a change of pace in enjoying them alone.


Thanks for the support! Maybe someday I will, but if not, my enjoyment of them won't be diminished any. My stepdaughter is coming for a week-long visit around Christmas, and I'm excited for her to see my collection...she is in her 20's now, but she and I used to play with my childhood ponies together back when she was 10 or 11. If anyone can appreciate the nostalgia of them, it's her!

I guess it is a profession...it makes me think of the guy that comes in to fix Woody in Toy Story 2, my husband made a joke about that once when he was referring to my bin of pony-repair supplies!

And yes, I'm happy that my son shares my interest...it's exasperating sometimes when he talks incessantly about it (he is autistic and when he develops an interest, he clamps down hard and it becomes his entire life focus!), but I try to remember that when he is 12 or 13, he will want nothing to do with me and I will wish I had made the most of this time with him when we had the opportunity to bond over something in common.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 10, 2020, 01:27:46 PM
TBH...as an autistic person who started with pony age 2 and is still into pony age 38...I don't think it's a guarantee your kid will outgrow them necessarily. I know it's a 'girl toy' but generally autistic kids don't seem to be as hung up on gender as neurotypical people, nor so fussed about keeping to stereotypes or age expectations. So he may yet surprise you :) (Though pony does seem to be a thing that attracts autistic people o.O. BUT that is another topic of discussion for another thread xD.

It's the people who judge others for their hobbies that have the real complexes in this society. So you're fine :)

I don't think we're a weird brigade, though. I mean, people collect dolls. Trains. Cars. Teddy bears. They aren't called weird :/ TBH, it's a harder row to hoe when you're in your late teens and early 20s and you have the judgemental peer group eye on you. Once you reach 30, it seems to be a bit more relaxed...

Ignoring of course the unpleasant pony press in some quarters.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Glitter Yolk on September 11, 2020, 06:31:07 AM
I don't have anyone in my RL age group to discuss collecting vintage children's toys, nor would I really dare to bring it up with friends, but my dad is a collector of diecast and sometimes we go looking for collection items together. Because he is also a collector of sorts, I feel much more comfortable occasionally discussing pony stuff, but even then I really only scrape the surface of my interests with family. It's just too hard to share things I like that I feel family wouldn't respond positively to, even if they're not mean about it.

I think takaras are wonderful and part of that is because I'm into fakies. Real takaras are very hard to come by, and I geniunely regret not talking about them to my aunt and uncle back when they lived in Japan, though I wasn't even collecting anything back then!

I find as a collector it's very lucky the internet has come around, as there are many other platforms to share your collection now such as this very Arena!
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: LadyAmalthea on September 11, 2020, 11:10:36 AM
TBH...as an autistic person who started with pony age 2 and is still into pony age 38...I don't think it's a guarantee your kid will outgrow them necessarily. I know it's a 'girl toy' but generally autistic kids don't seem to be as hung up on gender as neurotypical people, nor so fussed about keeping to stereotypes or age expectations. So he may yet surprise you :) (Though pony does seem to be a thing that attracts autistic people o.O. BUT that is another topic of discussion for another thread xD.

It's the people who judge others for their hobbies that have the real complexes in this society. So you're fine :)

I don't think we're a weird brigade, though. I mean, people collect dolls. Trains. Cars. Teddy bears. They aren't called weird :/ TBH, it's a harder row to hoe when you're in your late teens and early 20s and you have the judgemental peer group eye on you. Once you reach 30, it seems to be a bit more relaxed...

Ignoring of course the unpleasant pony press in some quarters.

I hope he doesn't outgrow it...I think society in general is more accepting of boys who like 'girl' toys now than it was 30 years ago, so hopefully no one will crush his spirit. The staff and students at his small school are very accepting that ponies are his 'thing', and I hope it stays that way. He has always gravitated toward toys that are usually reserved for girls-last year it was Frozen/Elsa stuff and before that, Rapunzel. My husband keeps trying to steer him toward other 80's cartoons-He-man, GI Joe, Ninja Turtles, etc that he can relate to, but none of it sticks. I told him, like it or not, the kid just likes bright colored toys with brushable hair, and no matter how many drab-colored action figures he gets shoved down his throat, he will always go back to the things he likes, and we should just be grateful he's not into Barbie! (I say this not because it's a 'girly' toy but because *I* don't like Barbie, never have, mostly because of the oversexualized and perfect-body idealism it breeds)

I can see how there is a lot here for a person with autism to embrace; hair play is a soothing, sensory experience, and there is a lot of information to catalog (my son has to know what color eyes each pony has and what color ribbon it came with, even on ponies we don't own!). But, like you said....a discussion for another thread! I've digressed enough  ;)

You are right...adults collect many other toys without being considered weird. Maybe I feel like collectors in general are a tiny bit stigmatized; society's recent obsession with minimalism makes me feel the slightest bit judged. Shows like Hoarders give people who have a lot of stuff a bad rap, even when it's well-organized stuff. Perhaps it's not *what* I collect so much as the fact that I *do* collect something. But here I am going off topic again...maybe this is also a topic for another thread. I ramble sometimes...
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 11, 2020, 03:24:43 PM
Collectors are generalised and stigmatised, but again it's the people who do that who have the real complexes.

At the end of the day, if someone is more concerned with judging what other people are doing than thinking about how to enjoy their own life,they're the one with the problem, right? At the very least they're wasting time and energy disapproving of something that's nothing to do with them...

There are a lot of people out there who need more imagination ;)

I'll let the other stuff alone because it's going way off the topic, but I have a lot of theories why pony is so popular with people on the spectrum. :)


Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: otocolobus_manul on September 11, 2020, 04:00:55 PM
G2s. I know I’m not the only one who likes them, but there are so few, especially in the US (which makes collecting them a pain).

G4 Hasbro Pop/Design-A-Ponies. I think I’m one of the only people who likes these things. I hope to have a complete collection of these some day, and the fact that I have as many as I do is one of the prides of my collection :lookround:

G4 EqG Minis. I actually do have a complete collection of these guys (aside from the last few Sunset Shimmer variants I need for my Sunset army) and I LOVE them.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Ponybookworm on September 11, 2020, 04:01:15 PM
Collectors are generalised and stigmatised, but again it's the people who do that who have the real complexes.

At the end of the day, if someone is more concerned with judging what other people are doing than thinking about how to enjoy their own life,they're the one with the problem, right? At the very least they're wasting time and energy disapproving of something that's nothing to do with them...

There are a lot of people out there who need more imagination ;)

I'll let the other stuff alone because it's going way off the topic, but I have a lot of theories why pony is so popular with people on the spectrum. :)

I think we need a thread on that xxx

Post Merge: September 11, 2020, 04:06:54 PM

G2s. I know I’m not the only one who likes them, but there are so few, especially in the US (which makes collecting them a pain).

G4 Hasbro Pop/Design-A-Ponies. I think I’m one of the only people who likes these things. I hope to have a complete collection of these some day, and the fact that I have as many as I do is one of the prides of my collection :lookround:

G4 EqG Minis. I actually do have a complete collection of these guys (aside from the last few Sunset Shimmer variants I need for my Sunset army) and I LOVE them.
I predict a post merge...
I love G2s, a lot!!! And though some of the articulations are a pain (looking at you, Dizzy Lizzie), others I can handle & I love the ones who sit down!!!

G4 POP/Design-A-Ponies (if you mean stick two halves together) are quite fun & I not only like the idea, but the fact this is how I have a G4 Sugarcube Corner which Ponies fit in & is close to show accurate.

Not so big on EQG Minis but then I'm not so big on EQGs full stop. The DVDs are cool but not the toys imo.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: LadyAmalthea on September 11, 2020, 04:35:47 PM
Collectors are generalised and stigmatised, but again it's the people who do that who have the real complexes.

At the end of the day, if someone is more concerned with judging what other people are doing than thinking about how to enjoy their own life,they're the one with the problem, right? At the very least they're wasting time and energy disapproving of something that's nothing to do with them...

There are a lot of people out there who need more imagination ;)

I'll let the other stuff alone because it's going way off the topic, but I have a lot of theories why pony is so popular with people on the spectrum. :)


I'd be interested to hear them sometime if it ever comes up in an appropriate thread...that's all I'll say about that! It's a fascinating subject to me.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Ponybookworm on September 12, 2020, 05:10:52 AM
Collectors are generalised and stigmatised, but again it's the people who do that who have the real complexes.

At the end of the day, if someone is more concerned with judging what other people are doing than thinking about how to enjoy their own life,they're the one with the problem, right? At the very least they're wasting time and energy disapproving of something that's nothing to do with them...

There are a lot of people out there who need more imagination ;)

I'll let the other stuff alone because it's going way off the topic, but I have a lot of theories why pony is so popular with people on the spectrum. :)


I'd be interested to hear them sometime if it ever comes up in an appropriate thread...that's all I'll say about that! It's a fascinating subject to me.
Wish granted xxx
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: BubbleTea on September 13, 2020, 11:48:31 PM
Over the past year the 3.5 ponies have really grown on me but the vast majority of people hate them. That's completely fine by me though because I can buy a ton of them online for really cheap. It's not uncommon to see MIB ones go on eBay for $10 or less.
Spoiler
maybe I could do some guilt-free deboxing 0_o

Quote
I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.

I love them too! They have great quality and accessories and the show is really cute. I totally get why people don't like them but people overdo it with the PL slander =(
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Wardah on September 14, 2020, 06:23:22 AM
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I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.

I love them too! They have great quality and accessories and the show is really cute. I totally get why people don't like them but people overdo it with the PL slander =(

Especially when a lot of these same people got upset when FIM fans did the same thing about G1. It's a tad hypocritical. Nobody has to like everything but what ever happened to if you don't have anything nice to say keep it to yourself?
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 14, 2020, 10:06:26 AM
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I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.

I love them too! They have great quality and accessories and the show is really cute. I totally get why people don't like them but people overdo it with the PL slander =(

Especially when a lot of these same people got upset when FIM fans did the same thing about G1. It's a tad hypocritical. Nobody has to like everything but what ever happened to if you don't have anything nice to say keep it to yourself?

Good point made in the wrong direction. I don't want to quote specifics because I don't want to point fingers of my own, but in recent weeks the most vehement anti-PL comments have come from people who are also fans of FIM (whether or not they have other generational interests).

Most G1 fans don't care if PL exists or not. And not caring enough to get involved =/= trashing.

And there is not a binary line between "G1 fans" and "everyone else" anyway.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Wardah on September 14, 2020, 12:18:29 PM
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I'm probably one of a few people who love the Pony Life ponies. Not bothersome, but could do without the "Burn it!!" comments. I really do think they're quite cute.

I love them too! They have great quality and accessories and the show is really cute. I totally get why people don't like them but people overdo it with the PL slander =(

Especially when a lot of these same people got upset when FIM fans did the same thing about G1. It's a tad hypocritical. Nobody has to like everything but what ever happened to if you don't have anything nice to say keep it to yourself?

Good point made in the wrong direction. I don't want to quote specifics because I don't want to point fingers of my own, but in recent weeks the most vehement anti-PL comments have come from people who are also fans of FIM (whether or not they have other generational interests).

Most G1 fans don't care if PL exists or not. And not caring enough to get involved =/= trashing.

And there is not a binary line between "G1 fans" and "everyone else" anyway.


I mean bashing of whatever is new is par the course for the MLP community since G2 first appeared (except G3 seemed to always be pretty well liked). I'm just pointing out that some people who like most generations of MLP are drawing the line with PL and then do it in ways that when it was done by people who are just FIM fans wasn't acceptable.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 14, 2020, 12:59:30 PM
Your post clearly indicated G1 fans, as you said FIM fans criticising G1, not some people who like most gens drawing the line at PL. Completely different implication.

There's also no comparison between what happened with the bronies towards G1 and especially G3 and what has been said about PL, at least here on this forum.

As for your other comment, what happened with G2 was an anomaly, but it was not repeated with G3 or G4. What happened with FIM was an unexpected level of hostility from the new fanbase that none of us really anticipated or expected. It wasn't a reaction to G4 as a toyline or a TV show and actually, I remember very clearly how much excitement and anticipation there was over it at ponycon in 2011, where they aired the first episodes.

There are perhaps parallels between what happened with G2 (albeit due to the scope of the net, that was on a much smaller scale) and the way those certain FIM fans dealt with older generations. But that was more than 20 years ago now. I need to also add that the reason G2 was so controversial was because it split the community. A good half of us were not hostile to G2 and got attacked because of it as well. You paint a picture that all old gen fans immediately criticise a new generation when it's introduced, and that's not only simplistic, it's also massively incorrect.

And, I have seen most complaints about PL coming from people who are invested in FIM, which actually makes the most sense, given that they are also more invested in the M6 as characters. And there are also fans of FIM who like PL, which also makes sense. So your point is valid but imo aimed at the wrong detractors.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Wardah on September 14, 2020, 08:45:47 PM
I mean there were plenty of people complaining when G4 came out that they "don't look like horses" and even recently someone in another thread meant for positive things about G4 said how they wish G4 never even existed. Both "ew the original sucked" and "ew change is bad" are unpleasant experiences for people who like the things in question. Nobody likes being told what they like sucks.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on September 14, 2020, 09:16:56 PM
I've been griping about the style of PL and its hideous removal of lower jaws, wonky anatomy and baldness yes. But I've been griping about the disappointing trend of unhorseyness of mlp since 3.5, long before I ever found my way into this community.

No one who dislikes PL  here is attacking or bullying others for liking it. No one that I've seen has been nasty in people's brag threads about it.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: SunPony on September 14, 2020, 09:21:54 PM
Any one person doesn't know exactly what another person's experiences with a fandom has been.  Nor has anyone experienced every single bit of a fandom, and every single reaction to that fandom.  People's experiences and feelings are their own.  It's not kind to put words in their mouths, or make assumptions about their experiences.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 14, 2020, 11:44:07 PM
I mean there were plenty of people complaining when G4 came out that they "don't look like horses" and even recently someone in another thread meant for positive things about G4 said how they wish G4 never even existed. Both "ew the original sucked" and "ew change is bad" are unpleasant experiences for people who like the things in question. Nobody likes being told what they like sucks.

I'm not saying that you're wrong about people and their experiences, I'm just saying that you cannot contextualise the extensive period of unpleasantness from bronies towards older gen fans with a few people saying "I think this sucks".

There will always be a handful of people who complain about something new, but again that's a far cry from it becoming institutionalised for a new gen to be brutalised by older gen fans the moment it comes out. As I said, even with G2, that was not the case.

I've noticed an actual hypocrisy from some fans who seem to think it's fine that older gen fans endured years of derogatory abuse on their YT videos, on their DA accounts, on forums like this and other places...but not okay for fans to say they don't like FIM once or twice in a discussion about FIM held on a multigenerational board like this one (where, ironically, there is more integration between fans of different gens than probably anywhere else now on the entire internet).

What happened with G2 was different to anything that has ever happened since with a new gen coming out, and the only thing that has come close to it was the hostility from some FIM fans towards older gens for simply existing. By the same token, I know there are some FIM fans who also took abuse for trying to state opposing opinions on G4/FIM in those communities as well, just like those of us who liked G2 or stood up for it had to deal with that as well.

On another line, and without defending abusive comments about any generation - people are allowed to not like something, and to say so. Confusing the dislike of a pony/pony line with a personal attack is problematic. I mean, I'm not a fan of Sundae Best ponies, but I don't think I have traumatised anyone over the last several years by saying their smell is noxious. It's especially problematic when (without naming names or pointing fingers), the same people who want everyone to be nice about FIM are also the ones making some of the most brutal statements about elements of other generations.

Saying that you don't like how PL look or the art or whatever is nowhere near the same thing as, say, drawing a picture of a G1 pony killing a PL pony and posting it in spaces where fans of PL reside...which is what actually happened, among other things, when G2 came out...and not that far from what happened from some FIM fans towards older fans.

It's all a matter of context, and generalising is sometimes unhelpful.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 15, 2020, 06:54:26 AM
I personally find it hard to enjoy, or participate, in certain threads here if people just want to continue to say how much they don't like something. So, for some people, it does have an effect.

And don't get me wrong. People are totally ok to hate something, and even say it. But at some point, it gets tiring.

It doesn't matter to me whose experiences are worse. Any negative experience stinks. Kinda like stubbing ones toe, vs breaking ones foot. Sure, breaking is worse, but that doesn't mean that stubbing ones toe doesn't stink.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 15, 2020, 07:46:46 AM
I personally find it hard to enjoy, or participate, in certain threads here if people just want to continue to say how much they don't like something. So, for some people, it does have an effect.

And don't get me wrong. People are totally ok to hate something, and even say it. But at some point, it gets tiring.

It doesn't matter to me whose experiences are worse. Any negative experience stinks. Kinda like stubbing ones toe, vs breaking ones foot. Sure, breaking is worse, but that doesn't mean that stubbing ones toe doesn't stink.

Also accurate, but there's still a matter of context, and saying that "I've stubbed my toe now so I know what it felt like when your foot broke" is also potentially insensitive.

Speaking as someone who saw the carnage of what happened with G2, it bothers me that anyone can compare that - or the FIM backlash abuse situation - to someone saying they don't like x.

We all get annoyed by stuff, by other people's opinions, by what is said or not said, and sometimes it can get heated or we can all disagree strongly. I'm not underestimating the impact that can have on someone. I've had physical reactions to online conflicts just like other people have, and I'm not saying they don't matter or that there's no need to be respectful.

BUT I don't like when someone tries to suggest these things are the same when they are not. I am not justifying bashing PL, or indeed, any other iteration. I am just pointing out that a situation where half the community is at war with the other half over personal preferences and that spills over into targeted personal attacks based entirely on what generation you belong to, then it can't be put in the same context as criticising something that's inanimate. And that has only happened twice in the 20+ years of this community. Once, around the intro of G2, and once with the brony incursion.

Yeah, it sucks when people say I hate G1 ponies. But I am fine with someone else having that as their honest opinion, because they're entitled to it. I am much more bothered when people come into G1 spaces and say it to get a reaction from G1 fans.

By the same token, I'm perfectly entitled to say that I don't like FIM. But I'm not going to go into brony spaces and write long posts telling them their fandom is stupid.

One is expressing an opinion on a thing. Yes, that opinion might annoy other people, but it's still expressing an opinion. The other is expressing that opinion about a thing in order to upset the people who care about it. Having experienced both, many times, in various communities - they're not the same thing and all I wanted to point out was that there are problems with conflating them.

This is what I mean about context. You use a hammer to break an egg, you end up with a mushy mess.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: SunPony on September 15, 2020, 08:14:17 AM
One way we could try to keep threads more civil is to be careful with our language and use phrasing like "I find x ponies to be tacky" or "this pony is a bit too bright for my tastes" instead of phrasing like "the x ponies are tacky" and "this pony is too bright".  The former keeps it clear that this is a subjective opinion held by the writer, while the latter sounds objective and makes the mood of the statement more divisive and is more likely to make others who don't hold that opinion feel bad.  I leaned this method from a friend who does mediation, and I've tried to implement it in my own communications. 
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 15, 2020, 08:15:09 AM
My comment was about how I feel on this forum, and that the bashing from people within this community, and all that negativity DOES effect people.
Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 15, 2020, 08:38:40 AM
My comment was about how I feel on this forum, and that the bashing from people within this community, and all that negativity DOES effect people.

Are you saying my comment is insensitive?

No, I was challenging Wardah's original comparison, and her generalisation, which was why I said right point, wrong target.

I basically agree with the point you made, just that there's a risk of conflation of two different types of dislike.


SunPony is probably right that everyone (you and I included) can think more about what language we use and how we state things - I tend to feel like if someone dislikes something I like, but can explain their rationale for that dislike, then it's easier to stomach than just "x sucks".

On a more positive note, it's kind of nice that the pony community does think of these things without having the context, because it suggests the bigger, badder incidents are much rarer and that's how it should be.

But there's a potential risk if you try and stamp out people having different opinions and expressing them, that that can backfire as well. You run the risk of people only replying to the same threads about the same things, and not sharing opinions or discussing across the divides, which is what a community needs to be really thriving.


Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: banditpony on September 15, 2020, 08:47:09 AM
My comment was about how I feel on this forum, and that the bashing from people within this community, and all that negativity DOES effect people.

Are you saying my comment is insensitive?

No, I was challenging Wardah's original comparison, and her generalisation, which was why I said right point, wrong target.

I basically agree with the point you made, just that there's a risk of conflation of two different types of dislike.

SunPony is probably right that everyone (you and I included) can think more about what language we use and how we state things - I tend to feel like if someone dislikes something I like, but can explain their rationale for that dislike, then it's easier to stomach than just "x sucks".

It's hard for me to make a connection if you quote me, but still are talking about Wardah's comment.

My comment was more in general, based on the current conversation, but I wanted to say it based on something LaW wrote. But it wasn't really a direct response to her.

I actually do try to be mindful and talk like how SunPony explained.
This is why I started off "I personally think..." And many times when I don't like something, I literally say nothing at all. Sometimes, I'll say something positive, then add my negative.

I even stated people SHOULD be able to say what they wanna say. It's just tiring to hear it all the time. Kinda like being around someone and all they wanna do is complain. I think that's fair. It's pushed me off into joining conversations, or making threads about things I like. It did have an effect, like I said.

Title: Re: Solitarily liking ponies?
Post by: Taffeta on September 15, 2020, 09:02:48 AM
TBH, your post charged in at me and I didn't expect it, as it was part of a bigger ongoing discussion to me. I don't like to feel targeted, and so if I made you feel targeted, I apologise. I am not always tactful, and I don't have the inbuilt sensors to tell me when that happens.

By the same token, though, I don't want there to be this confusion that we're talking about anything other than people being careless and tactless with how they state strong opinions. We can do something about that because for the most part I'm pretty certain absolutely none of those comments are made intending to hurt anyone else.

It's not the same as being subjected to a targeted campaign of stalking and harassment on and off forum for a period of months together with the sole intention of removing someone from the community because of those different opinions.

One of those is something we can just improve by thinking more about how we post our opinions, although I think it important they're still posted and shared. The other is a serious serious thing that nobody should have to deal with. If that kind of thing is happening to anyone they need to talk to someone about it, asap, and something needs to be done.

In short, one is something we can regulate ourselves. The other requires the help of mods and the community as a whole to eradicate it, and that's the real crux of my point. Conflating them either increases the severity of the first, making it more difficult for us to just handle in a matter of fact way as a community, or risks trivialising the second, which, as someone who experienced it first hand, is hard for me to accept.
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