A weird insight into the world of other collectors

**Brainbomb** · 23-07-2012, 12:07 PM

Took the bus home and sat next to a girl at my job and she told me she used to collect My Little Pony. Not only was I shocked to hear that but also that when she sold her collection she estimated she got between £5000-£10000 for it!

But that was nothing compared to the shock she gave me when she told me a lot of the collector girls had tired of the hobby since 2009 when the manufacturer decided to update the brand by hiring a feminist to create tougher and less cute ponies. The result was that the fading fanbase started to grow again - a lot - but it was not little girls but young adult men taking a liking to them. Calling themselves bronies they invaded the girlie hobby, some of them bringing in sexual context - some of it quite disgusting (she directed me towards a website I wish I hadn't seen) and started scaring away the old collectors... now most of the old forums are quite dead and she bought aquariums instead.

Anyone else have a weird insight into the world of collecting?

**ginghamkitchen** · 23-07-2012, 02:24 PM

It's dark out there, isn't it?

**BestDressedChicken** · 23-07-2012, 03:08 PM

The "bronies" thing is to do with the My Little Pony cartoon - "Friendship is Magic". This is recent cartoon that has been self-consciously created so it can be read in two ways - both as a kids programme but also appealing to older adult geeks/anime fans. It's a bit like something like Buffy in this regard.

**Cacapo** · 23-07-2012, 03:54 PM

A feminist designed this to be tougher and less cute?

**Brainbomb** · 23-07-2012, 04:07 PM

Now that I checked it out a bit more, maybe feminist is a bit strong a word but they apparently wanted to get rid off the "sexist stereotypes" and thus hired someone (Lauren Faust) who was concerned with this...

**ginghamkitchen** · 23-07-2012, 04:36 PM

Is irony becoming a disease? The articles I've read about don't pinpoint what it is the bronies like, just that they like it.

**babycart** · 23-07-2012, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cacapo

A feminist designed this to be tougher and less cute?

At least two of those ponies have evil Bratz eyebrows.

**Cacapo** · 23-07-2012, 04:36 PM

**Headless mermaid** · 24-07-2012, 10:54 AM

I wanna be a Bronie too.

At least it's not as bad as feeders.

**eine** · 24-07-2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by ginghamkitchen

Is irony becoming a disease?

Trying to think of fantastic ironic music. Pavement?

**Headless mermaid** · 24-07-2012, 11:04 AM

Google is your friend.

**babycart** · 24-07-2012, 11:10 AM

I think it's to do with the fact that youngsters are unable to rebel in the time-honoured ways anymore, as their parents have already been there done that with drugs, rock music, tattoos etc.

However, imagine the plight of a parent who discovers their son is a brony.

**Brainbomb** · 24-07-2012, 12:16 PM

I asked her and apparently it's not irony. They just like the cartoons. But are often on the nerdy/geeky side and like other cartoons too - just some of them become obsessed with MLP and others by other cartoons...

**Headless mermaid** · 25-07-2012, 07:24 AM

**emperor tomato ketchup** · 25-07-2012, 10:59 AM

I may show this to the empress who will either sigh with relief at how much worse it could be and fully endorse my record collecting habits or turn up at home with blue body paint for the weekend.

**LDJB** · 25-07-2012, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by emperor tomato ketchup

I may show this to the empress who will either sigh with relief at how much worse it could be and fully endorse my record collecting habits or turn up at home with blue body paint for the weekend.

Win win then Mark?