#28) Should bronies stop trying to convert the world? Stuff like the 'brony commercial' annoy me because it's as if bronies just won't shut up about what they like.

<sub>Answer: There are really two trains of thought in relation to bronies converting the world. Obviously, when someone likes a TV show, they enjoy getting other people to watch it. The show can be enjoyable, and so I would say that if you do like it, and if you have some friends who you think might like it too, you might want to encourage them to give it a shot. It doesn't hurt to try something out, and if they don't like the show, then that's fine. In that sense, making a small effort to get more people into the ponies seems harmless enough.

As for large-scale efforts, however, I do find them to be a bit in-your-face at times. Bronies are clearly proud of what they're doing, and thus a lot of them feel the need to make others experience their passion as well. The problem with this, of course, is that not everyone wants to interact with bronies and the pony fandom, and thus it can be quite invasive when bronies are everywhere.

The brony commercial is a prime example of a fandom that may be pushing things too far. At this stage, bronies are gaining publicity. However, making a commercial to air on the Hub network from the perspective of bronies is a risky move, because it seeks to alienate viewers who don't want to engage with that sort of thing. There's nothing stopping an older viewer from enjoying "Friendship is Magic", but when bronies become obsessed with it the problems arise.

The simple fact is that the behaviour of bronies isn't regarded as being conventionally 'normal', and I can sympathise with how an adult viewer unfamiliar with the fandom may feel if they're watching the Hub with their young kids and all of a sudden they see a bunch of teenagers gushing over a show designed for their daughter. In my mind, liking the show is fine, but you shouldn't shout from the rooftops about how much you like it, and neither should you start invading the space of others (such as with the TV advert) to boast about how proud you are.

While the brony commercial means well, I do think that it's largely unnecessary. It's not as if the show-makers, Hasbro and the Hub aren't already aware that bronies love their show, and so the commercial won't be saying anything that isn't already obvious. In addition, the brony commercial does feel as if it's there to feed the ego of bronies as much as to thank the show-makers: it's as if bronies want to say to the world, "Look at us! We funded an advert to show how much we love a show! Aren't we special?".

In my mind, people should appreciate ponies in their own small circles, in internet communities such as this one and among friends with a common interest. However, attempting to convert the masses is invasive and not particularly fair, and, as you say, it can be annoying seeing the brony fandom taking over just about everything it touches. I imagine that if you weren't a brony, you'd be sick of all of the pony content, and while a lot of it is positive, it should remain personal and largely private.</sub>



#29) In a show that has had quite a few episodes focused on tightening family bonds, especially that of sisters, why do you think the writers have not yet taken time out to explore the relationship between the royal sisters, even if they aren't main characters?

<sub>Answer: I imagine there are several reasons why the writers haven't made the decision to do that. No doubt one huge reason is because the show is designed to promote the toy range, and while Celestia is quite a popular toy among kids, Luna is less so. Really, the main six are the ponies who get explored the most and tend to remain the centre of attention for the most-part, because then little kids will buy their favourite. That's my economic assumption, at least.

Secondly, it should be noted that the writers have to run their scripts by Hasbro and, in many cases I imagine, Hasbro or higher-ups mediate the stories and so on. I doubt that there's complete creative freedom from the perspective of the writers, and so it's likely that there hasn't been a call for an episode focusing on Celestia and Luna yet. After all, there are a limited number of episodes in a season, and so there are plenty of characters who remain unexplored for the sake of running-time.

Ultimately, though, we have to remember that the writers don't think the way that the fandom does. The fandom loves Luna and Celestia, but that doesn't mean that the writers consider characters like Luna to be particularly significant. Celestia is useful, especially to kids, because she's a device to help and explore friendship lessons. She's a virtuous mentor-type of character that kids can look up to, and she's useful in solidifying the messages explored in specific episodes via the friendship reports. Luna, on the other hand, doesn't have that purpose.

I'd say that the bond between the sisters hasn't been explored, therefore, because there's been no reason to. Apart from some fans clearly wanting to see it happen, it doesn't seem as if it would add anything major to the show, and, by taking the focus off of the main characters, or other highly-marketable characters such as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, it wouldn't really be serving its purpose as an advertising tool. Also, perhaps the writers just don't care about the sisterly bond of the sisters as much as the fans?</sub>


#30) I understand the idea of grimdark and even the idea of adding some blood to ponies. I even indulge in it once in a while. But what I don't understand is some people's love for torturing young fillies and mutilating them in detailed stories, such as having little Dinky being beaten by Ditzy Hooves. Am I wrong here or is there something really wrong with the idea of people enjoying small foals/children being beaten and abused?

<sub>Answer: Yeah, there's something wrong with it. Child abuse in the real world isn't funny, and neither are artistic portrayals of it. But the thing is, a lot of the people who draw that kind of thing either don't see that it's wrong, or they just don't care. Naturally, it's a problem, because you'd have to be mentally questionable to derive pleasure and amusement out of seeing stuff like that, and for drawing/writing it as well.

People obviously enjoy doing messed up things in this fandom. Grimdark is one that divides a lot of people. I'd say that there are two types of grimdark: slightly-more-tasteful grimdark and totally-lacking-in-taste grimdark. The more 'tasteful' stuff might include a pony in a depressed state, or doing something gritty, such as drinking themselves to death, or suffering from psychological trauma. I find these images to be interesting, as seeing a pony dealing with mature psychological issues suits an audience who might enjoy psychological thrillers and the like.

Then you have the grimdark that sees Apple Bloom's head getting ripped off of her mutilated body, or the sort of image that you mentioned, which seems to be going too far. I just don't really see the point in it; why would you take something as cute and cuddly as My Little Pony and draw or write the ponies as serial killers chopping off each other's limbs and bleeding to death? I can't personally get my head around it, and I don't claim to be able to relate to those who enjoy it. Perhaps it's cathartic to some to ruin something pure? I don't know how people's minds work.

Some people are just sadistic, and others may just do it for the reaction. Certainly, if you're trying to piss off or shock a lot of people, extreme grimdark is the way to go about doing it. Graphic violence towards ponies will elicit a strong reaction from many, which is, in many ways, what a lot of those writers and artists are most likely looking for. That said, "Cupcakes" is an annoying piece of shit, both for its content and the quality of its writing, and yet it gained the author a whole bunch of publicity. People joke about it, but when you consider what stories like that, "Rainbow Factory" and "Sweet Apple Massacre" actually do, they merely confirm that some bronies are a bit fucked up and that they can't appreciate something for its intended purpose.</sub>