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How did you first enter the fandom? - TheGypsyBard - 09-26-2015
I'm fairly sure every brony has been asked this at some point in their lives. The answers vary widely depending on the person, but it all ends with the result of being one of our herd. I'll be sharing mine to start things off, but I apologize in advance for the wall of text to come.
To begin with, I was a very, VERY troubled child as a youth. It was later discovered to be caused by a physical malady, but this was after the damage had been done. I started spiraling into a deep cespit of self-loathing, thinking I was some abomination that had no business facing the rest of the world. I fell into the 'emo' phase in an attempt to fit in with someone. As it was no doubt destined to end, I was only digging my pit deeper.
It was around 7th grade that I finally reached the end my veritable strand of willpower, however short it may have been at the time. Instead of trying to resist depression or seek ways of alleviating, I gave in completely. I began to physically harm myself, starting with peeling of skin until I bled, leading on until I was causing enough damage to leave scars.
One day during my final days of 7th grade, I had actually convinced myself I wanted to die. I had a knife in my hand, with the only step left of simply slitting my own throat. I was so utterly convinced it would make everything go away, I didn't consider the consequences. While trying to will myself to do it, a certain technicolor show about ponies happened to come on.
I had been obviously distracted, so it had come on without my knowing. When I did notice it, I was minor intrigued, the episode in question happening to be the Nightmare Night one. Halloween had always been my favorite holiday, so it managed to interest me some, despite the 'girly ponies' I saw. I watched the rest of the episode and felt... I can't say better, but calmed down is a more accurate word. It made me realize what I almost did, right then and there, and I was very withdrawn for a few days after that.
The weeks following that were similar to the ones before. It was some time before I caught another episode, this one being "Party of One". It was the first time I really saw her, really felt a connection. She reminded me of myself, yet.. she was so vibrant, joyful even. She had all the qualities i wished i had, the ability to soread her happiness like wildfire. I began to watch more and more, mainly to see that happy face again to remind me to just "Smile, Smile, Smile!"
Eventually, I had been engrossed in the show. It made me feel a bit happier to watch something so... happy. I yearned to experience more. I began exploring the Web for more of the series, which led me to discovering the brony community. I found friendship I could never gain in real life. The connection I feel with every one of you is on a personal level, all of us being a family that, in spite of some fights now and then, always get back together to laugh together, cry together, enjoy life together.
I truly value this community. Everyone has been a help in my life, and Pinkie has been an absolute miracle for me. She, quite literally, saved my life. Without her, I don't know where I would be right now.
----
Okay, I took a minute to dry off some tears after writing that. I may have gotten a bit carried away, hehe... Still, I'd love to hear everyone else's stories!
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Star Swift - 09-26-2015
Nothing all that spectacular. I became interested in the hype wondered what it was all about, watched the series premier episode 2 parter, and was stuck from there foreward.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Dr. Professor - 09-26-2015
Thank you for sharing that with us, Gypsy
Warden's right, you're in a good place with us here.My story also isn't very dramatic, but I found it a bit funny. When season one first came out, the show used to come on during my lunch break. That summer I usually watched the Daily Show reruns from the previous night, but one day I had actually seen the ep the night before, so I started channel surfing. (This story is riveting, I know x3) I saw "My Little Pony" on the tv guide and went "Holy crap, I gotta watch this trainwreck of a cartoon" (Expecting it to be terrible like so many other little kids shows - here's looking at you, Secret Agent Oso...that shit still gives us nightmares). The ep was Dragonshy and in about 30 seconds I was fucking hooked. I went on to watch it every day during lunch, and told my buddies about it that weekend when we met up to play some Yugioh x)
At work a couple weeks later, a friend of mine sent me an image in a text with the caption "I need a gallon of testosterone, stat! I think THIS is cute" ...but the image wouldn't open. So I replied "Hey, I can't open it, but don't worry bro, I watch a show about pastel-colored ponies xD"
It was quiet. And then..."You're shitting me? Me tooo! I love Fluttershy! She's the best!"
xD I lost it. We started talking about our favorite moments for quite a while, and finally I asked, "So what was that pic you sent earlier?"
"....Rainbow Dash"
I got online that night and out of sheer curiosity searched "My Little Pony" on the clothing site Red Bubble. "759 results found" ._________.
A few months later iBrony was formed and I was completely immersed in the fandom.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Fiction - 09-26-2015
Ya know, I used to closed-mindedly hate bronies. I thought all of them were just gay pedophiles who had no life. I remember feeling mad when I saw pictures of my favorite musician, Deadmau5, wearing a brony t-shirt (although he later revealed that he did it just to troll, even though now I wish he was a brony :/)
I was really closed-minded then, though. I would hate on this show, despite having never watched it.
I didn't just randomly decide "Hey, they say don't knock it til you try it, so maybe I should give this show a try." No. It actually took me until a couple years later, when I grew up more and matured more. I also happened to meet some cool bronies on Black Ops 2, which helped.
I later stumbled upon the Bronies documentary on Netflix, I watched it, and at the time before I watched it, I didn't even know The Living Tombstone (whom I'd heard of from Eddsworld and his Let it Go remix) was a brony.
I then gave the show a try, and I know this will sound so silly, but I starting loving it. it makes me feel really happy. I'm not joking, I smile really wide (and creepily) and I start sounding all childish, giddy, and girly, and also I'll sometimes just childishly comment on it whilst watching.
I owe even more to the show, as it helped to get me back into writing and EDM. I felt like I wanted to produce music, all because of the show, specifically Magical Mystery Cure, more specifically, the song "A True, True Friend". It just hit all the right emotional chords in my heart. As Savant said, "It was like someone coming in from the future and giving you a winning lottery ticket."
It got me thinking of what my light was, and this inner voice kept saying it was EDM, but I kinda fought it and was like "No, I'd never get into producing,"
But, here I am now, with my EDM dreams.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Kaltes-Herzeleid - 09-26-2015
It mostly started when a friend showed me a certain grimdark MLP fan fiction, then I started looking up more MLP stuff. Truthfully I don't really think I'm a big part of the fandom these days.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Sour Soul - 09-26-2015
(09-26-2015, 01:31 PM)Kaltes-Herzeleid Wrote: It mostly started when a friend showed me a certain grimdark MLP fan fiction, then I started looking up more MLP stuff. Truthfully I don't really think I'm a big part of the fandom these days.
Grimdark eh... Well... I see you more in big part of Nightmare's heart. :P How about that for your "fandom". XD
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Kaltes-Herzeleid - 09-26-2015
(09-26-2015, 01:34 PM)Sour Soul Wrote: I see you more in big part of Nightmare's heart.How about that for your "fandom". XD
I thought that was apparent? XD
Though several people on dA have confessed they like Nightmare much more ever since they've seen me express my love for her.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Sour Soul - 09-26-2015
(09-26-2015, 01:36 PM)Kaltes-Herzeleid Wrote: Though several people on dA have confessed they like Nightmare much more ever since they've seen me express my love for her.
Maybe because you shown us she is not all bad as we thought she be. X3
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Kaltes-Herzeleid - 09-26-2015
(09-26-2015, 02:08 PM)Sour Soul Wrote:(09-26-2015, 01:36 PM)Kaltes-Herzeleid Wrote: Though several people on dA have confessed they like Nightmare much more ever since they've seen me express my love for her.
Maybe because you shown us she is not all bad as we thought she be. X3
That...and I think it's really because they've never seen anything like what we have. Sure people being infatuated with a character is nothing new, but seeing someone express a great, sincere and passionate love is rare. To express himself so creatively and without fear.
They've seen my transformation from a hateful, angry and scared man to someone who has ascended beyond such awful things. They've seen me Become a stronger, happier, better man. A man passionately in love.
I doubt something like that comes around much.
RE: How did you first enter the fandom? - Sour Soul - 09-26-2015
(09-26-2015, 02:39 PM)Kaltes-Herzeleid Wrote: They've seen my transformation from a hateful, angry and scared man to someone who has ascended beyond such awful things. They've seen me Become a stronger, happier, better man. A man passionately in love.
I doubt something like that comes around much.
X3
No, you're lucky to have that something so great and wonderful, that no one will take that away from you or Nightmare. ^ ^