Our findings along with your participation allowed us to present these results at a at Bronycon 2012 in July along with coder brony and Dr. Pat Edwards (of the Brony Study).
We hope to to have a more representative sampling in this dissemination, and we would like for those who know about the show and the subculture (brony or not) to take time to complete the questionnaire.
Please let us know if you have any questions at verbosethetalkygmail.com, opspe.kymgmail.com, or mynameiscite@gmail.com. Thanks so much.
Can’t wait to see the result of this one too. I expect some changes from the last time because some peoples will answer it in function of the last result.
My background is in the social sciences, including the degree in sociology. You can take that with a grain of salt, but I’ve been trained to understand culture fairly well, I think. My understanding of a subculture is a culture that has an identity separate from the mainstream culture, has its own shared understandings and values, but has a direct tie to the mainstream culture.
I think that the FiM-fandom fits those criteria quite nicely. We know and use “Love and tolerate;” something that people in the mainstream wouldn’t even understand without knowing about the fandom. The subculture also knows and understands fluffy pone fanart and green text stories. We know clopping is a thing. We all know that everyone is gay for Braeburn. We all know that we collectively donated a third of a million dollars for a documentary. These are things that are part of our consciousness; things that we can bring up with each other and has meaning that the mainstream wouldn’t actually get.
But we’re also tied to the mainstream (albeit as a counterculture or shadow culture.) Most men are known to like sports, but most bronies do not seem to. We have our concept of masculinity that wouldn’t be threatened by watching colorful ponies or viewing cute fanart and animations. These are some of the large differences that are directly tied to the mainstream. In fact, I’ve read many posts where people who were beginning to get into the show showed that cognitive dissonance in understanding until they came to grips with it. That dissonance indicates a tie between two sets of understandings.
And we (often) call ourselves bronies. Some people don’t like the term, but I think most people would say people who like the show outside of the target demographic (especially older males) that we could be identified as bronies. I think that counts as a distinct identity, even without using the name.
Brony just means that you’re a fan. Nothing more, nothing less. Creating more definitions is what leads to the situation that the Furries are having, where no-one really knows what what means and everyone argues about said meanings. Just keep it simple folks.
That’s why we made some questions that lets you say that. We know many people don’t want to identify as a brony for several reasons, but they are involved with the subculture.
We want to understand various different people involved with the community, see what attributes and attitudes they have, and compare them to other communities.
It’s not a very long survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes, and probably less than that. Thanks, guys.
opspe was able to take the data and create a pretty astounding write-up, if you’d like to read it.
I told you that there would be no compensation for participants. I told you, bro.
Everybody waggle your finger at Citation and say “Tsk, tsk,” please.
He deserves it.
guys i’m sorry
i lied about the cookies
don’t hate me
I would argue otherwise.
My background is in the social sciences, including the degree in sociology. You can take that with a grain of salt, but I’ve been trained to understand culture fairly well, I think. My understanding of a subculture is a culture that has an identity separate from the mainstream culture, has its own shared understandings and values, but has a direct tie to the mainstream culture.
I think that the FiM-fandom fits those criteria quite nicely. We know and use “Love and tolerate;” something that people in the mainstream wouldn’t even understand without knowing about the fandom. The subculture also knows and understands fluffy pone fanart and green text stories. We know clopping is a thing. We all know that everyone is gay for Braeburn. We all know that we collectively donated a third of a million dollars for a documentary. These are things that are part of our consciousness; things that we can bring up with each other and has meaning that the mainstream wouldn’t actually get.
But we’re also tied to the mainstream (albeit as a counterculture or shadow culture.) Most men are known to like sports, but most bronies do not seem to. We have our concept of masculinity that wouldn’t be threatened by watching colorful ponies or viewing cute fanart and animations. These are some of the large differences that are directly tied to the mainstream. In fact, I’ve read many posts where people who were beginning to get into the show showed that cognitive dissonance in understanding until they came to grips with it. That dissonance indicates a tie between two sets of understandings.
And we (often) call ourselves bronies. Some people don’t like the term, but I think most people would say people who like the show outside of the target demographic (especially older males) that we could be identified as bronies. I think that counts as a distinct identity, even without using the name.
but it is still pronounced big mac
also,
“Big McIntosh”
FUUUUUUUU-
Brony just means that you’re a fan. Nothing more, nothing less. Creating more definitions is what leads to the situation that the Furries are having, where no-one really knows what what means and everyone argues about said meanings. Just keep it simple folks.
Hated the ship question though, answered with “Gay ships overall”
Well, “My Little Pony Fan Survey” doesn’t sound as good, I suppose.
I have no problems with being called a brony, or saying I am if someone asks, but I would never tell anyone. It’s just not that big of a deal.
I have to say, I’m impressed with the number of choices and questions.
I agree with Blackie on the “brony” thing too. Unless of course someone outside the show asks if I am, and I say yes just for simplicity’s sake.
That’s why we made some questions that lets you say that. We know many people don’t want to identify as a brony for several reasons, but they are involved with the subculture.
We want to understand various different people involved with the community, see what attributes and attitudes they have, and compare them to other communities.
It’s not a very long survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes, and probably less than that. Thanks, guys.