Red - I love you.
Deep Red - I’m in love with you.
Pink - I could stay on your blog for hours.
Yellow - You’re amazing.
Peach - I miss you.
Blue - I want to get to know you.
Purple - You’re hot.
Brown - I would fuck you.
Green - I would date you.
Black - I hate you.
White - Delete your tumblr.
Violet - Go die
Well can’t really talk about bronies in any depth without bringing up what many see as our motto, so might as well delve into that. (And again, this is all just my opinions.)
First off what does “Love and tolerate” mean, well the technical definition is the easy part
from the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary
Love
a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child>
(2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers
(3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>
Tolerance
a : sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own
b : the act of allowing something : toleration
Well, I think it’s a safe to assume that the “love” part is going by the third definition. And both the parts of Tolerance work. But that’s just the technical part, what really matters is, “What does ‘Love and Tolerance’ mean to the brony community” well…I don’t know, every person is different, and so exactly what it means to everyone will be different depending on them. What I can know is the general attitude I’ve seen regarding it, as well as my own perceptions of it.
Well, as most bronies knows at this point “love and tolerance” was first created by the initial bronies on 4chan as a way to deal with trolls and haters, (and as an aside, for something like this, to come out of a place with the reputation of 4chan, just boggles the mind and shows how truly powerful this show can be) instead of responding with vitriol and hate, bronies responded by ignoring the hate, letting it pass, and simply telling the trolls and haters they were missing out. (yes not all did this, but enough, and a term you will me use A LOT when talking about this or any community is “Bell Curve”) Even when it got to the point of mass bans for talking about ponies, we simply went and created new places of our own, and in the end, 4chan folded, and now there is a dedicated board just for MLP there. that right there proves just how powerful those three little words can be.
So anyway, what does it mean now? Well far as I’m concerned it still means the same thing, don’t give into hatred, just accept what people think and move on. And overall we as a community still embrace that ideal, yes saying “love and Tolerate” does seem to be treated a bit like a cliche by many at this point, but it’s not the words that matter, it’s what they mean. more importantly “actions speak louder then words” and to those that bother to listen, the love, kindness, and generosity of the brony community drowns out any shouts of hatred or anger. Are there some bronies that may respond in anger, or be unable to tolerate certain things, of course, but they are far an away the minority, but they are no less bronies, “Love and Tolerate” means doing so to each other as well.
but there is one issue I’ve been seeing all to much, people who decry how “love and Tolerance” are dead, or that bronies are being hypocrites by not doing so, over stuff that 1. is either from that group who never subscribed to it or 2. Is not actually breaking those goals. the single greatest example of what I’m taking about is “Derpnarock” (i refuse to indulge that way overdone need to label EVERYTHING that is the slightest bit conflictory as ‘-gate’) Now that is WAY to big an issue to delve into now, I’m already sure this is long enough as is. (I’ll make a later novel on that subject) But it seemed as many, if not more, bronies were upset with people being upset, then people that were actually upset. “Love and Tolerate” does NOT mean “be a doormat” there is nothing wrong with standing up for yourself, or letting someone know when they hurt/offended you. As long as you do it while respecting the other person and being willing to hear their side. And really that’s what most of the angry bronies I heard really wanted, was to hear Hasbro’s side of the story, they just wanted to know WHY, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Ok this has been WAY to long, and thank you to anyone that made it this far. So in conclusion, “love and Tolerate” is more then just words, or a cliche, it is a way of life for many many bronies, but many of us need to understand that it’s still fine to tand up for yourself, to demand an answer when you feel you’ve been wronged, and also, that while a key part of being a brony for most, it is NOT a requirement, and we need to love and tolerate those that don’t choose to follow it as well.
I’ll try to work on making these things more manageable if the length is a problem. But regardless I would appreciate any feedback anyone has.
Reblog if you want either a truth or dare in your ask. All answers have to be published! It’s the rules! (That I just made up…)
“Sure, why not?”
What the hay, I’m game.
Well this is a surprise, hopefully I can put something in this blog that you will like, or will get you thinking, and I am always open to feed back and criticism. Working on my first real “analysis” type post now, but it’s ending up longer then I had planned, hopefully you don’t mind and still find it worth reading.
I just want to give a big BIG thank you to the tumblr bronies that have been so kind and welcoming to me so far, Thank you! and thank you all for being patient with me as I try to learn to fit in, hopefully I can add something to this little community. You’ve once again proven to me that bronies really are the warmest, most loving and welcoming group of people there is.
((totally noticed this….granted long time after you posted it, but it was noticed.))
Hmm, crowbar…let’s have some fun.
Well, first and foremost have to just go with, because it means I’m a fan of one of the greatest dang animated shows ever, hell it’s better then 90-95% of the non-animated stuff as well.
But it’s more then that, being a brony is more then a simply being a fan (and again this is all just my opinions) it’s like being a part of a community, and I really can’t explain just how amazing it is for my to actually feel like part of a group, of a community. Always before, I’ve always felt like and outsider, even when i was in the middle of a group, or actually with people i knew out doing things, or just in some situation where everyone is together in something. I never felt like I was a part of them, I was always, adjacent to them, or simply allowed to hang out with them. never PART of them.
But with the brony community, it’s different, I actually FEEL like a part of it, everyone in it is so open, so welcoming and friendly. Bronies, for the most part, accept everyone, just as they are. That amount of love, and acceptance, of actually having a place, a group, where I don’t feel awkward, don’t feel judged, where I can just relax and enjoy being in the company of people. It’s something I have never felt before.
And that is what, to me, the real magic of being a brony is, it’s more then a fanbase, it’s more then just a group of people with something in common, it is a collection of some of the nicest, friendliest, most open, and caring people on the planet, all different, from all over, all walks of life, but all united by friendship.
I guess that’s another reason for these ramblings, to actually try and ACT like a part of this community, to actively contribute to it, even if none of them know this exists, I at least know I’m trying. (although to be fair, I was also one of the people that helped create the Darring Do TVTrope page, so there’s that)
Well, as the blurb to the side says, I’m incredibly introverted, i have a hard time opening up and talking to new people, and one of the reason’s I’m making this is to try and help me get used to getting the thoughts out of my head and into a form others can understand. I spent nearly 6 years in the Navy as a Nuc. (Naval Nuclear Reactor Plant Technician) So when I said the one thing i can do good is think, you know it’s true. I’m now 30 (though i still argue that the 6 years I spent in that hellhole doesn’t really count, no one else agrees though)
Not only am I extremely introverted, but i also have Avoidant Personality Disorder, as well as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which makes it damn near impossible for me meet new people, since between the two, unless conditions are JUST right, trying to do so normally sends me into a panic attack.
This is one of the things that has really drawn me into the brony community. (and I’ll go into them more in a later post) Just how open and inviting you all are, I know that the only barriers keeping me from actually, for once, feeling like I’m not completely alone, like I’m actually part of a community, are of my own making and i guess this is my first attempt to break down some of them.
First off, as the blog title might hint, I’m a brony. but we’ll get into those details in a bit. So then why make this blog? honestly, I just needed to do something, while I can come up with a few ideas for stories, turning them into a readable fic escapes me. Art? well if you don’t mind stick figure ponies that barely look like ponies. And as you my have noticed, I’m not exactly overflowing with self confidence. but what I can do, and I do very well, if not far to much, is think
So that’s what I’m going to do, just use this place to get out my thoughts, mostly on ponies and the brony community, but anything else that I really just feel the need to get out. Am i fooling myself into thinking this’ll be some big hit and get thousands of views? buck no. i know this’ll probably be seen be barely anyone, if anyone at all, but I’m still gonna give it a go.
