Sociopath Community

by Frauschwitz

 

by Edvard

Maybe people just crave to feel warm and fuzzy inside in this cold money-centered society XD

 I hope that was written in sarcasm. "This society"  (at least what spills over of it onto the internets, but increasingly in real life as well) is getting so insufferably feelerz-orientated that you can't even utter a pronoun anymore without someone getting butthurt and speed-dialing the PC police. 

I just crave money in this retarded feefee-centered society.  exdee.

 I was only half sarcastic. People are easily offended but that has nothing to do with fuzzy feelings. People connect emotionally less with each other now, despite all the social media. It's superficial anyway, the need for politically correctness. It seems artifical and it's probably more fueled by the desire to punish some "wrongdoer" than by really giving a shit IMO. XD

by chat reading puppet

Perhaps some people just like to spot the adult subtexts that are so often inserted into children's programmes to make them more bearable for grownups. Admittedly I only made it to 5.17 of that particular video, but you could argue it's the story of a group of friends who have an interesting acid trip and all have very different experiences. Only it's better than irl because they are PONIES!!!

It reminds me of another trend I just can't get - adult colouring books. They seem to sell them everywhere now, and I know actual grown women who go home of an evening and break out the crayons and sit there colouring in pretty patterns. Crazy.

Admittedly I am a bit curious about it, but I couldn't stay within the lines when I was six, probably still can't 20 yrs later, but now i'm a grownup and I don't have to, so 

  Very mature haha

Adult coloring books, wow what a boring way to spend time.

by Turncoat

Storm Troopers:

 LMAO

by Turncoat

Today's a time of escapism where a majority of my generation and younger don't wish to stop being children.

That being said, I'm not even meaning that to sound insulting, instead I'm meaning that adulthood itself has been demonized pretty hard. A lot of people don't feel ready for it (with some to the point of being scared of it), and once they're a part of it they see it like a prison, a slow death, until times with like-minded friends or going to conventions like that where they can stop having to worry about it for a little bit. Cartoons (and some video games and aspects of role playing) are an easy association to make with childhood, and certain kinds let them trigger those nostalgia nerves to the point of temporary regressions in some. Gatherings of like-minded types let them feel a sense of community while enabling the desired behavior through peer modeling, something the uncharismatic ones among them may not feel very often, causing them to associate whatever gives them that temporary release as an aspect of their identity (ie: Furries).

"Getting old" is now handled as a state of mind dilemma, a spiritual crisis, and 21+ is the new "old".

 This is all a very good point. A kid has fewer worries and is more free, in many ways. Biggest thing that comes with adulthood is responsibility, and few can deal with that. I'll make sure to ease my kids into being responsible, my folks did that with me and I am thankful for that.

by chat reading puppet

Being an adult is fucking awesome. When you think about it, all children's play really is is rehearsing for adulthood, and why rehearse when you can do the real thing? 

 This is also a good point. Still, being a kid has its charm, you see the world differently. You're more curious and everything seems entertaining. Memories imprint differently, with more emotions. I liked being a kid. And I like being an adult now. I will definitely still act like a kid sometimes though.

by TPG

....

Yeah...

by Tryptamine

What is so confusing about a bunch of social misfits/rejects banding together for mutual bonding?

 Yeah, wanting to feel kids again and wanting to be a part of a community seem good explanations.

Excepting the removal of legal restrictions by age (drinking, driving, etc), what is good about being an adult?

by Edvard

I watched an episode to see for myself what the show is about

and more than before I am surprised people other than young children find this entertaining.

I was hoping a MLP fan would show up and post. But your post is defensive instead of explaining WHAT you like about it. "Less than wholly shitty show" is not a reason to dress up and give hug parties and be fanatical about some ponies... I kinda got the Harry Potter mania, it plays on interesting levels of imagination a bit, is complex, has some more mature topics, but My Little Pony is limited as fuck. I mean''' "Ooooh I wonder what the potion does to Pony X...Now let's see what it does to pony Y... Oh and this is what it does to pony Z.... ". The hell?

Do you feel comfortable while watching MLP, like back when you were kids? Is it the community/other people enjoying the same thing that is the main attraction apart from the show itself? What exactly is it about MLP that you like?

I didn't explain what I like about it because I don't understand what relevance would that have.  Harry Potter is a series for young adults, my little pony's target demographic is small children, what mature themes or complexity were you expecting from MLP when you watched it, and why on Earth would you compare the two?  MLP is no more or less limited than i can't count how many other shows, and to be honest, it doesn't coddle it's audience the way other shows for the target age do. It was intended to be watched by kids and their families, and the writing does reflect this.

You watched one episode, that's hardly enough to get a fair assessment of the writing when, how the show style is written, each episode can be a stand-alone as well as tying into the larger story arc. Even the most rabid mouth-breathing bronies wouldn't claim every episode is good, there are bad episodes of every show.
And, even if you watched fifteen, and found you still didn't like it- then you didn't like it. Well what does that mean? Nothing. Not everyone is going to like it, everyone doesn't like all the same things. I don't feel the need to 'defend' it, the show stands on it's own merits, and if you didn't like it then you just didn't. I do, some people agree with me and some agree with you, and either of those is ok.

I don't see how whether someone likes or dislikes this one show means anything, about either the show or the person.

I consider myself a "brony" as opposed to just someone who watches the show because I participate in the community and I collect some pony items (in addition to collecting some items from every other fandom I'm a part of)

I don't dress up and give hug parties and I'm not fanatical about any ponies, I already addressed in my last comment that the fringe element is present in any interest group, bronies aren't special. Some people take their interests to a greater level, it's not magic or rocket science, it's just what some people do.

Funny enough, I never watched MLP when I was a kid, the writing then was terrible, it was nothing but tea parties and other crap, at the very least, people should be able to admit that FiM is better than the previous versions of MLP. Ugh...

But, as far as comfort, I'm totally comfortable watching anything I enjoy. I decided a few years ago that life isn't long enough to compromise my happiness for other people. I'm not self conscious about anything because the opinions of others aren't worth a damn to me. I want to get the most out of my life, and that means not wasting any time on anything that isn't a benefit to me in some way.

Though the fandom is pretty weird and fun, I've never found my way too deep into it. I don't go to brony conventions, mostly because I'm used to the week-long-bender that is Furry conventions and I think Brony ones would be really boring in comparison. The fandom is a little weird, to be honest, but not any more weird than any other fandom I've been a part of (and I've been a part of MANY- I have a tumblr, lol). They're overall just regular guys who are either too awkward, or confident enough, to give the finger to what convention says they should think about a little girl's show.

I think if I had to pin it down, MY reason is just simply, I like the show. I like the overall look of the animation and the show (the writing, story progression etc) isn't bad... It has comedic elements and unexpected references to other pop culture that I enjoy. The ratio of good/bad episodes is pretty good being about 1bad/3good, on average. Of course they have to work merchandising in there so some things make a little less sense (like the most recent season finale which had "MERCH" written all over it, but overall, it's just not a bad show. Also, it's something I can enjoy watching with my niece that doesn't have mind-numbingly repetitive music and a plot consisting of "kids rule, adults are dumb".  I think the show is be really good for teaching values in a way that is woven into the story and organic, rather than just having a character look at the screen and say "Being an asshole is bad", while resorting to toilet humor just to keep kids from changing the channel.

It helps that I'm youthful and allow myself to enjoy children's entertainment unselfconsciously (one could use the term "manchild" but I find that term sexist since the same traits, in an adult woman, are seen as positive), I honestly think that's a necessary element of being able to enjoy a young children's show. Society places too much emphasis on acting a certain way after a certain age, especially for men.

I didn't explain what I like about it because I don't understand what relevance would that have.

The thread is about understanding the appeal of shows like MLP, how is that not relevant.

by Flibbertigibbet

 

You watched one episode, that's hardly enough to get a fair assessment of the writing when, how the show style is written, each episode can be a stand-alone as well as tying into the larger story arc. Even the most rabid mouth-breathing bronies wouldn't claim every episode is good, there are bad episodes of every show.
And, even if you watched fifteen, and found you still didn't like it- then you didn't like it. Well what does that mean? Nothing. Not everyone is going to like it, everyone doesn't like all the same things. I don't feel the need to 'defend' it, the show stands on it's own merits, and if you didn't like it then you just didn't. I do, some people agree with me and some agree with you, and either of those is ok.

 I agree one episode isn't enough. Did you see the episode I watched? Do you consider it a good one and why?

I don't see how whether someone likes or dislikes this one show means anything, about either the show or the person.

What people like and don't like, their personal preferences, is a big thing in getting to know them.

Though the fandom is pretty weird and fun, I've never found my
way too deep into it. I don't go to brony conventions, mostly because
I'm used to the week-long-bender that is Furry conventions and I think
Brony ones would be really boring in comparison. The fandom is a little
weird, to be honest, but not any more weird than any other fandom I've
been a part of (and I've been a part of MANY- I have a tumblr,
lol). They're overall just regular guys who are either too awkward, or
confident enough, to give the finger to what convention says they should
think about a little girl's show.I think if I had to pin it
down, MY reason is just simply, I like the show. I like the overall look
of the animation and the show (the writing, story progression etc)
isn't bad... It has comedic elements and unexpected references to other
pop culture that I enjoy. The ratio of good/bad episodes is pretty good
being about 1bad/3good, on average. Of course they have to work
merchandising in there so some things make a little less sense (like the
most recent season finale which had "MERCH" written all over it, but
overall, it's just not a bad show. Also, it's something I can enjoy
watching with my niece that doesn't have mind-numbingly repetitive music
and a plot consisting of "kids rule, adults are dumb".  I think the
show is be really good for teaching values in a way that is woven into
the story and organic, rather than just having a character look at the
screen and say "Being an asshole is bad", while resorting to toilet
humor just to keep kids from changing the channel.It helps that
I'm youthful and allow myself to enjoy children's entertainment
unselfconsciously (one could use the term "manchild" but I find that
term sexist since the same traits, in an adult woman, are seen as
positive), I honestly think that's a necessary element of being able to
enjoy a young children's show. Society places too much emphasis on
acting a certain way after a certain age, especially for men.

 (Sorry, not going to bother arranging this, blame Luna)

Alright, thanks for explaining some stuff. You like the show, I get it. You do come off as more defensive than necessary about this, but no need to, you sound reasonable enough and not retarded. I was just trying to understand, not mock anyone.

by Flibbertigibbet

Excepting the removal of legal restrictions by age (drinking, driving, etc), what is good about being an adult?

Other posters made good points, but being able to drive, drink and fuck is kinda huge thing on its own...