How did you first enter the fandom?

[Ziggy and Angelbaby]

Given the serious and forthcoming nature of the OP, I almost feel as though it's inappropriate for me to share my own experience...

...Buuuut, I have this nasty habit of being overly honest whether or not it might be considered appropriate, so here goes:

Well before FIM even aired, I was physically attracted to ponies. And yes: I'm referring to past gen "My Little" ponies. This led to the inevitable realization that I was attracted to women with hooves in general. Though never a card-carrying member of the furry fandom, I did actively pursue and peruse images depicting equine ladies. Here's the creepy grandpa speech: "Back in mah day, we didna have none o' this CLOP jest a bein' thrown at us left an' right. You had to scour the dem intranet for equine pornographa, and ya foun' mebbe one er two pickshers a week!"

Then, one fateful day, I saw (innocent) images of the FIM ponies. And I quickly decided that this was a marked improvement.

I ultimately decided to give the first two episodes of FIM a look-see, and I most definitely had ulterior motives. I was surprised that the ponies all had, quite unmistakably, BUTTS. I was immediately drawn to Rainbow Dash (for a number of reasons), but I didn't especially enjoy the show premiere (I have, in general, disliked the season premieres anyhow).

I stopped watching.

But, for some reason, I changed my desktop to an image of a certain pegasus pony napping adorably on a cloud. And purchased a Funko figure of the same pegasus that I placed atop the entertainment center in (formerly) my room. Something for me to acknowledge and admire from time to time. I later watched Hot Topic's "Hot Minute" featuring that same pony; I wanted to hear her voice. See her move.

I did some reconnaissance prior to joining a Broner forum. Tried to get a feel for how the Broner community regarded people like myself; the popular term seemingly being "cloppers." Apparently, I must be mentally ill and need serious help. But, nonetheless, I needed an excuse to continue watching the series. I had to see more of her.

I joined MLP Forums as the user "PegaMister." I let myself be talked into picking FIM up again (it wasn't at all difficult to convince me), and I began frequenting the Rainbow Dash Fan Club. I ordered the first season of MLP:FIM on DVD (and later the second and third seasons).

There was probably a period of infatuation. A period where the long-developing feelings (which I initially downplayed) were at war with my then quite debilitating obsessive compulsive disorder. It wasn't until I saw "Sonic Rainboom" and was moved emotionally (tears may have been involved) that I started to admit to myself that Rainbow Dash perhaps meant more to me than I had yet realized or acknowledged.

I became very active on MLP Forums and fairly active on a ponylove forum not-to-be-named. I wasn't shy about my attraction to or increasing feelings for Rainbow Dash. I made friends; others of the clopper / ponylover persuasion. x3 I, at least at some point, might have called myself a Brony; though I'm not sure that label ever really fit.

A lot of things happened in a relatively short period of time. Babe came into my life. My feelings became something more than infatuation, and the woman I fell in love with guided me to a better place, emotionally and mentally. I engaged in arguments with detractors on a semi-regular basis; defended ponylovers / cloppers and even Rainbow Dash. Problems with MLP Forums staff and others within the community became increasingly common and caused me anxiety at length. I ultimately came to see Broners in a negative light and separated myself from the label; I no longer interact with the MLP Forums / Broner community at large.

But I have something far more valuable now, and no one can change that or take it away from me. Things had to happen precisely the way that they did, and I can't erase the past without possibly endangering the present. And the present is someplace I'm genuinely happy to be.

I wrote a damned novel. x )