Dear Lehigh Valley Brony meetup,

When I saw your banners and your posters two weeks ago, I thought I was dreaming. "Other bronies at my college?" I've never had any friends at college, despite attending for over two years. I'd never really spoken to anyone other than my professors. I thought this would be a great time to meet with other bronies, make some friends, come out of my Twilight-shell, if you will.

For a while, I laid in bed this morning, thinking, "is it worth going? Getting up and going all the way out to school just to meet other bronies?" For a while, I made up my mind to stay home. But I realized that it was my depression keeping me locked up in my house. With Spike's declaration of "make some friends!" ringing in my ears, I built up my resolve and drove out to campus.

As I entered the room where the meetup was taking place, I was entirely unnoticed. This didn't phase me, however; it's the same reaction I get no matter where I go. I take a seat in the back of the room, too awkward to push my way into any of the many conversations going on. Eventually, however, I was invited to a group of three other bronies, so I could be a part of their team for a Jeopardy-like trivia game. It was a lot of fun, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. The points were close, but we just barely edged out the leading team in "Final Magic."

The prizes were given out. I don't remember what the 4th-2nd place prizes were; I was so excited to see our team win a Twilight Sparkle figure. I felt so left out when I arrived, I was the only one without any pony stuff to show. Nearly everyone had a pony shirt, and everyone had at least one figure of their favorite pony. One of you even had the whole set from the blind bags! I was so jealous; my efforts to obtain anything relating to this wonderful show had been met with hate and ridicule from my parents, often leading to them both decrying me as a "disgrace" over the phone or in person to the rest of the family. Finally, I had something of my own. And it was my favorite pony! I couldn't believe my luck.

I sat back as the post-game conversations began picking up again, and I began hearing things, things I was sure I wouldn't hear in a brony meetup. Did that guy just crack a joke about how he's not surprised that "that fatass in the corner showed up with cupcakes?" And were you really laughing at the clearly mentally disabled guy who was happily playing with his Rainbow Dash? Surely, I was just hearing things. These were bronies! We put "love and tolerance" above anything else! Then, right next to me, someone grabbed a hand made Fluttershy plushie from the guy sitting in the chair beside me. Despite his cries and pleas to get it back, you refused. Pulling on her wings, pulling her hair apart, throwing her around, all among the pleas of this poor guy who just wanted his stuffed animal back. That's when I knew these people weren't who I was expecting to find here.

I turned to gather my things, when I see the final straw. One of the teammates from the Jeopardy game picked up my Twilight, my one thing from this show that was finally mine, and put it in her bag. "I like Twilight. I want her." That's all she said when I confronted her. She had told me earlier that she already had two other Twilight Sparkle figures, why did she have to take mine?

"You're joking, right? I thought she was mine."

"Nope. Sucks to be you, doesn't it?"

And then she left. I know it's ridiculous, it's over a children's toy, but I honestly had trouble holding back tears. These were supposed to be loving and tolerating, caring and accepting people! I was supposed to finally make friends!

So I left.

Thank you, Lehigh Valley Brony meetup. You've soured my love for this community, possibly permanently. I know now that bronies can be just as hateful and hurtful as the rest of us. Just because you like a show about adorable cartoon ponies means nothing.

I just hope I can still watch this show, this amazing, happy show, this show that reminds me that there is real friendship out there, and that I just haven't found it yet, I just hope I can still watch without you tainting this too.

Sincerely,
DJP0N3


**EDIT:** Thank you to everyone who commented, you've reminded me of the other side of this community. Truly, we have an amazing community here. Special thanks to RogueDarkJedi, Cheesetoast9, and rogy56 for offering to replace Twilight, especially RDJ for sending both me and my little sister some figures. I sincerely love you all :D