Ponies have gone too far

My face when I log onto forums and see
[IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52280257/O%20RLY.bmp[/IMG]

I sure as sugar didn't make this thread. Friendship is Magic has stolen a place in my heart right next to Chronicles of Narnia.

Oh, I see. Someone (Not sure who?) thought my image was taking it too far, and decided to single it out and make a statement.
Let's address that first. A few people mentioned inappropriateness of the joke.

[QUOTE]without the humor or sense of other communities to make such references enjoyable or warranted.[/QUOTE]

Now, I know this happens, as it does with every meme, joke, or fanbase, but my picture was neither. It was enjoyable to people, I am sure of that. I saw a few people (including Spiritcrusher, who is not at all a brony) chuckle at it.
[QUOTE=srb2fun][16/02/2012 04:25:20] <SpiritCrusher> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52280257/Spazzo%20Welcome.png Hehe[/QUOTE]
So quite clearly, this got some chuckles. And as for it being warranted? I see no reason why not! It was relevant to the situation, and quite a clever usage of the similar situation in that episode. with a little cheesy copy pasting for extra laughs. The "Oh please. Get out." look in Twilight's face contrasts perfectly with the "Hi! Welcome!" of Pinkie's face. A great analogy for how most people are acting about your return, Spazzo. Of course, I am saying none of this to brag. I am only bringing it up because I have to defend my integrity and reasoning. Something I'm honestly disappointed I have to do.

All I can say on that matter, is choosing my picture as an example of "unwarranted ponies" is a silly example, because it is absolutely warranted.

And now, I shall stand some answers to carious fallacies and misunderstandings that have been brought up here.

[QUOTE=BlueWarrior]a show whose cast and visual style are clearly designed for the smallest of little girls.[/QUOTE]

Designed for such, indeed. But show me the chromosomes that makes girls like magic, ponies, and unicorns. Pink, for that matter. Yes, I agree many people flaunt their like of the show in ridiculously unwarranted, unfunny, and plain obnoxious ways. But what does the content have to do with it at all? Pegasi, Purple, and Friendship is only considered feminine because of ARBITRARY CULTURAL STANDARDS. It's foolish to judge any book by it's cover. Rather, judge it by what is inside.

[QUOTE=Spazzo]I'm not saying that I oppose the altercation of gender roles, I'm very much in support of that...but for your own sake, "ponies" really isn't an attractive trait to have, as an outsider looking in. It's like you guys aren't even trying to pick up girls anymore, if you had to ask me.[/QUOTE]

That's implying that we flaunt it in places that would be harmful to our reputation. You see, ponies are not the problem. It's rather an issue of maturity. A large part of maturity is having the discernment as to when to do something, and when not to. A wise person doesn't show ponies in a situation where they would bring him bad judgement from people that are important. That can be acquaintances, coworkers, or people you've just met. As to it turning away girls. What? How can you even say that, Spazzo? Our romance lives are completely unexpressed on the internet here. I mean, really! Who tries to pick up chicks on the SRB2 Message Board? Besides Kitoko. :p
But really, it all comes with a certain level of maturity. First impressions are the most important thing. If you're trying to get girls, and the first thing people see is "obnoxious pony lover" that can turn out bad. On the other hand, a girl who you have known for a while should understand you well enough to not shun you for your love of the series. If they are, they're honestly pretty fickle. In my own life, I have had no one react poorly to it, besides my older brothers. But they react poorly to everything I do, so who cares! Now, the times when I mentioned it to my friends (and some not so friends), they had questions, naturally. But all of them understood when I explained myself. And so, it was proved, I have some good and intelligent friends!

[QUOTE=BlueWarrior]I do ignore them -- by refraining from regularing this forum anymore[/QUOTE]

Excuse me, but this sounds fishy? No. The reason you left was because of the drama that was caused by the Spazzo incident. You expressed that you felt as if a lot of stupid choices were being made, and you didn't want to be a part of the community because of that. And then, when Spazzo was strike 3 banned, you left the community because you were sick of the handling. And now that Spazzo is back, you are regularing the community. Coincendence? I think you're just making stuff up.

[QUOTE]This is not one of those forums. This is the SRB2MB, which is, and has been for several years, home to the least independent or realistic people I have been exposed to for a significant period of time, most or all of whom lack the humor or sense necessary to make them credible in a less dated and narrow-minded community.[/QUOTE]

This too is nonsense. I know for a fact that many of us are active in other communities. I myself am active on a number of areas. VGMusic is a big one, as you know. And that one is a big one, because it has roots in all areas of the internet. It's just a spoke of the musical wheel, which I try to immerse myself in. You can't possibly assume to know how we fare in other areas of the internet.

[QUOTE=Rob]Exactly, so that outs anything except publicly saying "Hey, look, some of us are sick to death of the ponies, keep it in the MLP topic for the sanity of people around you." That really isn't a lot to ask for.[/QUOTE]

But actually it is. Point out what inappropriate pony related things are done on this forum. And don't point out my post, because that was obviously fine. I would have used a Team Fortress snapshot is it came to mind, or a Lord of the Rings clip, or a Dr. Who quote. It was simply a fitting pony moment that came to mind then. No one would have complained about any of those, either. It's just that your brains are obviously triggered to react negatively at the sight of FiM. And don't point out avatars. Are we next going to jump on people for having giant flying turtle avatars, because we personally don't like them? Freedom of the press, Rob. And the press includes the internet. This may not be the people of the united states here, but the common sense of freedom of the press remains, as long as within the forum rules. And in no way are the avatars disruptive. In fact, don't even point out the IRC quotes thread. I see no rule for #srb2fun quotes only, and many of the quites actually are good for a chuckle. And if they weren't to you? Big deal. No reason to complain about a joke regarding a subject you have no interest in.

[QUOTE=Spazzo]If I could remove one word from the English language, it would most certainly be "drama"...you guys hide behind it so often whenever someone suggests a different viewpoint, radical or otherwise. It's the equivalent of saying "humorhumorhumor" whenever I made someone laugh. Quite dysfunctional behaviour...[/QUOTE]

Would a better phrase for drama be "Much ado about nothing?" Simply put, you are reacting harshly to something which doesn't deserve this reaction here. Yes, there have been places where such is justified (even if posting a thread like this is probably a horrible way to do it), but I hardly see this as one of them. Show me where some disruptive pony posting appears and then I shall begin to understand your disappointment with this message board.

[QUOTE=Spazzo]I just think that, perhaps for your own sake, this show has reached a little bit too far in to your lives. Sure, who am I to dictate what you can and cannot watch, that's a valid argument. Just think of it this way: Do you want to entice new users to come around? Do you think having ponies left right and center is going to earn you new friends, both on and offline? I may be very open-minded, but the rest of the world is still a bit behind there: It's going to be a while before you can have your cake and eat it too. By taking every effort to show just how proud of your pony obsession you are, you're pretty much ensuring that your social encounters will exist solely with those who share that viewpoint.[/QUOTE]

That again is assuming that we actually make every effort we can to be obnoxious pony fans. And if someone does, it's as stated above, an issue of maturity, not of pony. Ponies are simply the unforunate victim with which they've chosen to manifest their immaturity. Now, let's look at how this plays out in my life. I have a Friendship is Magic shirt. [URL=http://www.offworlddesigns.com/p-706-brony-t-shirt.aspx]This one, in fact.[/URL] I am very careful when I wear it, for that very reason. I wouldn't wear it a get together full of people I didn't know, because it could make a wrong first impression among people I am trying to meet. On the contrary, I would intentionally wear it to the mall. I don't plan on meeting anyone at the mall, but I wouldn't mind running into a fellow brony who caught the message. I would have nothing to lose, but could make a new friend in the process. And of course, with this shirt, it's not incriminating enough that the normal person will be weirded out by it. Actually, my own father, who has no clue about the whole FiM thing, said the shirt was cute when he saw me wearing it. Sort of awkward, as a dad to son thing, but it works. It's certainly not a "Son. Ponies. I am immediately disappointed in you." And if I can get that sort of reaction from my dad, who would probably be one of the first to point out if I was doing something entirely inappropriate, I can get that reaction from pretty much anybody.

So, the point being, approached with maturity, it is no problem at all. I'm aware that JEV3 is obviously a fan of FiM, yet he has his share of female friends. Is not that because he approaches it with an air of maturity in all areas where necessary? I say, once again, maturity is how to handle it. Maturity, maturity, maturity, maturity!

[QUOTE=BlueWarrior]Shitty comparison, plus you're not listening.

TF2 was a huge hit; it was fucking fun and tons of people were playing it. What's more, it was also a social game that was perfect for communities getting together and just picking up and playing, so they did it often. No shit they took over online communities, what the fuck did you expect from an ONLINE VIDEOGAME that most people agree is FUN and convenient to play frequently?

But that's not even the point. Of course there are obvious mutual interests between SRB2 and TF2, but people were still annoying about it with the stupid memetic mutation that happened to 1/4 of all of the voicelines in the game. And they're even moreso aggravating now, with the new pony mindset. Ponies, pony fan characters, pony jokes shoved in your faces just for the sake of showing your pride for liking a girly yet (presumably) entertaining show designed for six year olds.[/QUOTE]

That "presumably"? That's nonsense. There is enough of a following to say that we can safely call it fun. no sarcasm involved. Even if not for you. But your opinion is not absolutes. Say, let me sum up the type of points you introduced in an easy to understand format.

TF2 is fun, Friendship is Magic is fun.
Lots of people like TF2, and lots of people like Friendship is Magic.
Many people play Team Fortress 2, just like many people watch Friendship is Magic.
TF2 is perfect for communities to play together and talk about. FiM is wonderful for communities to watch and talk about.
Therefore, the two cannot be compared.

You see, something does not compute. It is in no way a shitty comparison! The two main differences between them are two things you didn't mention. #1: One is a videogame, one is a show. #2: One is earth tones, one is pink and purple.
The first reason doesn't really have any bearing on the conversation, as they are both popular forms of media. The second has no merit at all. Anyways, this is the internet. For all you know, we may be girls! Or maybe we're all bi! :p

And I especially want to call this one out: "designed for six year olds." The director of the show, Lauren Faust, said this was not the case. It was aimed to be something the whole family could enjoy. Obviously it achieved more of that than she ever expected.

But hoo, I digress...