Sorry, I know its an old post, but I wanted to share my thoughts )

#128 - I cannot understand why any parent would allow a 7-year old to use the Internet unsupervised. Maybe it is a thing for the new generation of parents?

#129 - I like this answer - it covers the fandom quite well. The fandom seems to be a very emotionally charged one. People feel passionate about their common interest in MLP. Unfortunately, few people know how control their emotions, or how to express them.

It really is true: Some people have begun taking it all too seriously. To me, the message I took from the show has had much greater, longer-lasting impact on me than the animation or the even the fandom itself. Perhaps some fans have just forgotten the message of the show? Perhaps they've stopped reflecting on what they learned from it?

#130 - To me seems a bit harsh to say "Give up on this ridiculous fantasy and start living in the real world." To me, from the question, it sounds like a crush. Crushes on characters or celebrities is perfectly normal and a healthy part of human development, provided they don't interfere with one's school/work/family responsibilities. Fantasy crushes help people develop by allowing them to reflect on what characteristics one would look for in a real relationship. Impossible crushes (with celebrities or characters) may feel "safer" since there is, unconsciously, no fear of rejection. Hence, these crushes can last longer than normal crushes. Though I do agree that it is nonetheless important that the person asking the question understands that it is a fantasy, and know they will eventually need to face a real relationship, along with all the risks it involves.

Where can I get one of those Fluttershy cut-outs? It's not for me, it's for a friend's friend's distant cousin.

As a creative and moderate brony, sometimes i feel alienated from the brony fandom due to all of the excessive activity they're doing and of course the dividing of the whole fandom. With the argument of alicorn Twilight, it doesn't bug me that much from my viewpoint. Half of me accepts it but the half doesn't since Twilight's a unicorn and should stay as one but I can see where Hasbro is going with the idea. It is pretty tough for me to stick out of the crowd but nevertheless, I'll always be a brony but not the extreme kind of brony that does all of that crazy stuff. Many thanks for posting this

You seemed angry with the last question.

#128 More evidence on the growing pile that shows that we need some sort of a "brigade," for lack of a better term, of people to look out for this sort of thing.

I've been an out-spoken opponent of R34 art in the brony community. I realize that it'll never go away of course, but the fact remains that there are kids looking up My Little Pony videos because they love the show and possibly know that fans produce their own materials for it. Picture Perfect Pony, Ponylicious, Epic Wub Time, etc. are all highly-rated videos that are high on the list of videos YT shows in a search, so it's possible that kids will see them. It's equally possible that they stumble upon the Pony.MOV series, Twilight Sparkle's Special Message, and other videos that shouldn't be seen by kids. They probably won't understand what's going on, and that can cause damage to a kid because it can scare them, especially as they get closer to puberty.

It's hard to verbalize why people feel this way about kids seeing those things (mainly because when it comes to verbalizing something as abstract as feelings my own verbal skills go right out the window), but there is a danger when it comes to kids viewing any sort of porn. They're not ready for that stuff.

As Cudpug said, kids need supervision when they surf the net, as well as a parent who knows how to say no when it comes to clicking links. There is no reason why a kid as young as seven should have unrestricted access to the internet, even for school. There is simply too much porn and other materials that they should never be exposed to until they reach an age where they can handle it.

#129 Cudpug hit the nail right on the head.

I've never really been a part of the fandom myself. I mean, yes I do produce brony art, I watch videos on the internet, I hang out with fellow bronies, and of course I watch the series. Heck I even call myself a brony as a shorthand way of saying I love MLP. But there's a bigger fandom out there that I will never identify with.

Mainly the reason is that they seem so insecure. I used to be that way, so I know the feeling, but that also means that I don't want to be dragged back into that state of mind. So many fans see change as a horrible thing that should be avoided at all costs, especially with this show. That is unfathomable to me, because in my view, change can result in good things, and you can't just stifle it or else things will stagnate.

Another thing that I find irritating with the fans is that they seem to be under the impression that Hasbro makes the show for them. Since when? I do recognize that Derpy and other things were kept or changed because the bronies liked them and the creators wanted to give a tip of the hat, but the things like references to pop culture and the mature humor are there because the creators need to entertain themselves and are given free reign to do so (provided it falls under fair use). They were in the show from the beginning and where what caused many bronies, myself included, to love the show. I also love the humor and the stories, but I've always loved the things that made it into the show such as the physics equations on Twilight's chalkboard, the Big Lebowski ponies, the Star Wars ending to S2E2, and the "Duck Season! Rabbit Season!" sequence parodied in "Putting Your Hoof Down." However, I'm well aware that the creators only put those things in the show because they love them as well and have been given permission from their bosses to include them. I am not under any sort of illusion that they do it for me or my fellow fans (though that's certainly a part of it).

Finally, they have a rather amusing reaction to the realization that Hasbro is out to make money. Since when hasn't this company, or any company for that matter, been out to make money? I remember growing up and seeing Hasbro's Star Wars line in the stores and really loving all the cool toys they made. Anyone besides me remember drooling over the pictures of the Millennium Falcon or the X-wing toys they put on the back of the figure boxes? Those were the days . . . Anyway, there were a lot of toys made by Hasbro that have never been a part of the saga or the "expanded universe." Cruise Missile Stormtroopers, Luke's Desert Skiff, the monopod Cloud Car thingie, etc. Toy after toy after toy that was there because they knew that kids would want one and buy it, thus increasing their revenue. This hasn't changed just because a group of people decided to like something that wasn't intended for them. I haven't really mentioned the reaction specifically, though. Usually it's one of shock and anger. Well that's rather stupid, IMO. People who have that view need to realize that it doesn't matter how pure intentions are, the reality is that businesses, like Hasbro, need to make money to survive and thrive, especially in this economy. Therefore, they'll be manipulating things around in order to do so if they feel the need to. They know better than to tell the creators of MLP's cartoon how to do their job, but there's no reason why they can't tell them to change a certain unicorn in order to sell a toy variant. Heck, I'm sure if they had a Star Wars show to manipulate they would give it a try. Oh wait . . .

#130 Fluttershy isn't a real person. You may know that, but this notion that a cartoon can become a real being if you wish hard enough is absurd. That's not exactly how you worded it, but the idea is the same.

Cartoons exist only in the minds of their creators (which incidentally relates back to what I said about fans' irrational notions about ownership of the series). There is no changing this. If there were, I would be skipping around the Star Wars galaxy with Anakin and Ahsoka on The Clone Wars. But I'm a logical, thinking person. I realize that no matter how real such shows may seem, there is no way I can ever be a part of them. At least until scientists figure out how to harness the multiverse idea.

Anyway, the point is that although Fluttershy and the rest of the Mane Six are very fleshed out and unique characters, they're still just characters. They are a series of shapes that are animated to match the vocalizations of actors who are trying their best to interpret the dialogue written out for them by a group of talented writers.

A much better solution would be to go out and try to meet girls your own age (and species). There are a lot of them out there who are willing to give you a chance and see if you're compatible. And if you fail, get back up and try again.

3. And one more reason Fluttershy fans creep me out...

#128: I'm hoping she hasn't listened with focus on that shit, that'd be awful if it makes some impact. I don't really have anything more to add to this. I would just be repeating myself, as I tend to, for these things about topics about "kids see adult content of MLP".

#129: 'Bronies' carries a bad connotation. No one wants to associate with that sort of title when you say "brony" and terrible imagery comes up, more often than not. Though, I wouldn't want that title, even if the face of bronies was really weird fanart like ~applebeans makes.

#130: Oh, shoot, you mentioned this a while back, to me. Looks like you actually addressed this as a thing and as much as I want this to be a joke advice-thing, it's a thing that actually exists. Oh god, it exists.

And hope you had a good Valentine's bro!

I feel bad for that little girl in 128. Although, youtube really isn't a safe place for 7 year olds because of those reasons.
And on the topic of 129, I also agree that the fandom can be embarassing at a lot of points, really. But, really, the fans who don't go overboard make it worth staying in the fandom.

Even though I'm a Dash fan, I'll admit that I'll take Fluttershy over a H&H partner any day

I was a little sad that Fighting is Magic got the Cease & Desist order from Hasbro after all that hard work. However, I think it partly Mane6's fault for showing off the game at EVO, a public fighting game tournament where it probably got Hasbro's attention. I would'nt blame them if it was an honest mistake.