• SodaHead MLP Poll

    Over on Sodahead, they vote "awkward" or "awesome" on various topics.  One of the current ones is the Wired article.

    I have to admit, the escape into magical pony land part of the piece is pretty weird... along with a few other sections.

    Sadly most of these side websites tend to focus on those exact quotes.  So we have no better option than to defend it!

    You can find the site, and poll here!

    I went into that interview trying my hardest to make FiM sound less ridiculous! I'd say my quotes were pretty normal.  It's everyone else's fault!

    84 comments:

    1. So many haters.

      The "nerd" images they posted made it worse.

      :(

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    2. Definetly more bronies needed in the comments. We need to love and tolerate the SHIT out of the comments. Maybe like most bronies did with the Wired article?

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    3. I love how they completely bias the poll towards the "awkward" too.

      Sad.

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    4. Good God people just don't get it.

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    5. Assemble the bronies - we must LOVE and TOLERATE the SHIT out of all the non-believers!

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    6. Advertisements everywhere!! I had to dig just to answer the poll!

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    7. BRONIES.
      ASSEMBLEEEEEE.

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    8. Won't let me vote, do I need to log in?

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    9. I don't see the point in trying to convince them of anything. The best way to "love and tolerate them" is to ignore them. Haters gonna hate, nothing you can do about it.

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    10. Just going to put this out there.

      I enjoyed the MLP show, and have been enjoying the various fan-works that fans have been putting out.

      But as with many things on the internet, some people get too wound up in it, taking it from an interest, to almost an obsession. To a point where it's actually embarrassing. Like the 'MLP graduation speech'

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    11. If only Wired got it right and mentioned that there were female audience members too. :(

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    12. If you do visit, make sure you're upvoting the good comments. Get something positive into the most popular comment slot, so it's the first thing (after the article) that new viewers see and all.

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    13. Did they just say Lauren Fausi?

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    14. Seeing a need to send an army to storm a small opinion poll on a show you like

      [] Awesome
      [X] Awkward

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    15. Oh well. I'm not sure we change the negativity--I still say that any decision based on emotions is going to be impervious to any kind of sense. Maybe flooding the comments isn't the wisest choice either.

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    16. website doesnt even work

      the register/login buttons dont work

      and when i finally got into the register/login page, the quick-register buttons dont work

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    17. You know, the comments are a little jarring, but they are respective of what the outside world would think of us. Think about it.

      How many of you have confessed your love of ponies? I'm sure many of you have. Now, tell me, how many of you have confessed it to people who have no idea about any part of internet culture (like they don't really even know about 4chan) and don't like animation, anime, or any other stuff generally associated with the internet community (at least the one we are all a part of, the one based around the internet itself as a medium of self-expression rather than a place to just talk about your interests)?

      This reaction was expected, and it just goes to show why I don't reveal my brony status to other people. I don't have any friends familiar with the whole internet thing other than Facebook and all the other mainstream sites. If I were to reveal it, I would be called "creepy". I'd be called weird, nerdy, pretty much anything that people tend to associate with us. This isn't the kneejerk /b/tard reaction that we're so used to. This is the real reaction of people who have never experienced that type of place.

      Also, yeah, I agree that Wired could have picked better quotes and a better picture to lead the article with (Seth's was just badass, though). I think it doesn't help at all to break down the image people would have in their mind of what a grown man who is obsessed over a show for little girls would look like. And it actually probably hurts.

      tl;dr This is a new reaction we haven't really seen before. A reaction from a much different group of people than the normal internet troll. This isn't based on just trying to annoy us or piss us off. These are real opinions from real people who truly believe these things about us, and associate us with these things.

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    18. It's kinda funny when I consider that most of us used to think just like those guys.

      Of course, the featured picture doesn't help any. They should have used Seth's picture instead!

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    19. Somepony needs to post a chart or the knowyourmeme page link. Show them that we are a large fan base and what we are capable of.

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    20. I saw this earlier, I was like WTF at so many "Awkward" votes

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    21. STOPNOTLIKINGWHATILIKE.jpg

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    22. Why is everyone getting all up in arms about this? Sure, we're being insulted as a community, but honestly, did you expect we wouldn't be?

      Love and tolerance guys. That's tolerance, please look it up if you are unsure as to the meaning.

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    23. To be fair, though...the 32-year-old unemployed guy with unkempt sideburns and a shelf full of ponies behind him was probably not the best person they could have picked to represent the entire fandom.

      Let's find some of those Army bronies and get them out in the spotlight. At the very least, people would think twice before calling those guys lifelong virgins.

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    24. We need to recruit a bunch of notable figures of manliness to the herd so they can be good examples.

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    25. @Anonymous

      For the record,, I told, in person seven people I know that I enjoyed My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. None of them had ever heard of it before. I got four of those people hooked on the show, thankyouverymuch.

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    26. @Thattagen

      Exactly - it took me months of wondering what all the hype was about - once about 80% of the webcomics I read had done strips, I watched two episodes just to see what it was about. I've been hooked ever since Twilight's "Tell me she's not" in Ep 2.

      I've converted quite a few of my friends too, have yet to see anyone dislike the show after 4 episodes.

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    27. I honestly marked it as "Awkward". Not because of the show or the fanbase, but because the article itself was awkward. People do not like to see fat, bald, and creepy-vibed "nerds" in an article and it biases those who read the article with no previous knowledge of the show or community.

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    28. Because being a bunch of butthurt faggots is going to make us seem functional.

      Fuck you, Seth.

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    29. Whoever is linking to this site in the comments...please stop. The chances of people getting the wrong idea (which leads to trolling) are much higher than actually converting them or making them understand.

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    30. @Agnitio Ex Machina

      I meant "nerds" as-in generic. You looked fine Seth but they used the top picture for the poll.

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    31. What the hell is wrong with this website? I've been through three web browsers and the Login and Register buttons don't work and on the proper login page the quick-login buttons don't work and the register one still doesn't.

      Long story short, I can't vote on or comment on anything on this damn thing.

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    32. @BronyMike

      You can vote without commenting and look at the comments if you stop the site loading short enough. That's how I did it.

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    33. "80% Awesome"


      I think those poll results could stand to be 20% cooler.

      I'll be here all week!

      But seriously. The fandom is misrepresented in that poll. For one I'm 16 and look nothing like that dude. All of my friends know about my pony obsession. I converted one of them, but the others still think it's weird. And like Anonymous said earlier, mine aren't familiar with Internet or tv culture. People will alwayshave a bias against it. They associate the show with the toys, though the show actually stands independent. It was inspired by the toys but is not used to market them like past generations.

      I encourage all who read this who haven't voted yet to vote on it. We need to show them we have a strong fandom. Not a "fad"dom (I'm still here all week!). Show them not all of us are 32 years old, unemployed, and look like pedophiles.

      -Brony_and_Proud

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    34. @Anonymous

      Well since we are now classified as an internet subculture just as the furry fandom is, we appear to have found ourselves in the same damn boat as them - at least as far as the real world goes...

      The more attention we get, the worse things may become for us regarding the outside world, although on the other side of the coin; fear of the unknown is quite powerful so there's that to get over...

      One possible advantage we may have over the furries is our momentum; in that none of this existed a year ago, yet you find furry sites which have been around forever which are nowhere near as active as our sites seem to be. [CITATION NEEDED] (abandoned furryness for bronies?)


      TL:DR
      Perhaps our momentum will allow us to do something with our fandom that the furries have yet to accomplish...?

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    35. Head on over. I posted a the Venn Diagram that's on the first page of comments. Haters gonna hate, but most of the time, the haters haven't even watched the show.

      I really don't like Spongebob, but my best friend loves the show. She thinks it's weird that a 30 year old likes a well done show like FiM, and yet it's perfectly alright for her, a 20 year old girl, to love Spongebob. I've watched it enough to get the gist, so I can say that overall, i'm not a fan.

      I don't get it. If this were something more manly or boyish like Ninja Turtles people probably wouldn't bat an eye. Gender stereotypes, yay!

      And yes, i'm aware that the general populace thinks we're weird. There are much, much weirder people out there than Bronies, though.

      ::sigh:: All we can do is tolerate them. It's what we do best. :)

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    36. I think we just brony dumped their poll!

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    37. @Anonymous

      We need a new community name for these shorts of shenanigans.

      I for one vote for "RainbowCrash-ing the poll."

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    38. @Doombah

      Organized attacks to take over polls is nothing close to "tolerance".

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    39. See this post, vote on the pole, see the results are barely in favor of "awesome". read a few comments, post my own comment, reload page and see "awesome" winning out significantly, thanks to the exposure granted by posting the link to it here on ED.

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    40. @Anonymous
      The difference, though, is that the furry fandom is much more largely based on sexuality. People will be way more willing to accept a bunch of people enjoying something drastically outside their demographic than they'll be willing to accept people being sexually attracted to fictional humanoid animals.

      I'm not saying all furries are in it for the sex, and likewise there are some bronies who are somehow probably in this for some aspect of sexiness, but that is a pretty major distinction between the two fandoms and I think it'll make it way easier for people to accept.

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    41. @Anonymous

      It's not taking over a poll. It's defending ourselves. Showing them we aren't just guys sitting in our basements watching Star Trek between MLP episodes. We're normal people.

      If the link to this poll had never been posted I would never have seen it. I'm sure it's that way for a lot of other people who voted too. We shouldn't hide our Bronydom. We should wear it proudly. And vote on polls like these. Spread the word.

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    42. @Brony_and_Proud

      Perhaps your comment should be changed to "We aren't ALL just guys sitting in our basements watching Star Trek between MLP episodes." As I was watching some ST:TNG after watching Art of the Dress at the time of this poll posting.

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    43. @Anonymous

      Touché. Though I think saying "...Just guys sitting in our basements..." means not every one of us does that. Or that even though some may do that, it's not all they do.

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    44. @Brony_and_Proud

      Right, I totally got what you were going for. It was just too weird of a coincidence not to mention it.

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    45. Dear Sethisto,
      I feel that your quotes accurately describe how i feel and am behind you 100%

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    46. I've never cared what other people think about the clothes I wear or music I listen to, etc. That extends to TV. I will watch this show, and IDGAF what SodaHead thinks.
      I'm not going to that site and commenting, because I don't need to defend myself. And neither do any of you. We aren't furries or pedophiles. We're normal people who watch a show about ponies.
      Haters gonna hate. Bronies for life.

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    47. *looks at the comments on the poll for "Awkward"*

      Yay stereotypes! Also, I feel kind of bad for Luke. Everyone seems to be dumping on the poor guy. :/

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    48. @Anonymous

      It did give me quite a laugh XD

      I decided to read through all the comments. People who don't like the show, yet think it's fine for us Bronies to garner deep respect in my sight. Also those who give it a shot, but don't quite like it. They aren't just judging it from the name. I first saw this on a forum other than 4chan. In March a 24 year old man posted every episode and praised it. I called him crazy but watched the first episode just to make fun of it. I loved it. I didn't know why, but I did. I quickly became the resident Brony on that forum and I wear the title proudly. There may be few of us, but we are proud. So far I've only converted one of my friends. I've gotten a few others to check it out. They actually found it entertaining, but couldn't get past the fact it was My Little Pony.

      Tl;dr: I at first was a hater, but Celestia forgave me of my trespasses. And all haters of it should at least give it a shot, or don't hate on it.

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    49. I honestly don't care what some half-baked polling site has to say about us. Haters gonna hate.

      I'm a 17 year old guy and I happen to enjoy a show with great animation, songs, and voice acting that happens to be about brightly colored ponies. And I'm involved in a community who is interested in the same thing. I'm a brony and proud of it.

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    50. I do greatly enjoy the rapid change of direction that poll has taken, though.

      Now, who's the other brony in Iowa?

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    51. @AliceInChains
      I agree that we should not care what other people think of us especially over something as trivial as TV show tastes. At the same time, a side should be allowed to leave a counter point if it can be articulated well and without spite or malice.

      Who knows, maybe someone can get through to one or two haters and get them curious enough to try the show out.

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    52. @Anonymous
      Well but of course. I don't think everyone agrees with my stance. I hope they don't. We should have a voice and use it to make our presence known. But SodaHead is not really much of a concern to me personally.

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    53. You know, one common thing I get sfter reading all the comments is that there's this creepy guy liking ponies... I know the image used wasn't flattering of the brony community at all, so why don't we all add to the picture pile like Seth did? And for that matter, why not his picture instead?

      Personally looking at Sodahead, I've come to the conclusion that it's a professional troll site. Bet you anything the admins are laughing their head off at all the polls they put up, this included. :p

      ~onery

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    54. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    55. @B.DUDE IM IN IOWA! despite all the farm land I know of so few of us here

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    56. @AliceInChains
      It's not much of a concern for me either. I just voted, left a comment on some things I liked about the show and that's it. I didn't even know about SodaHead until Seth posted about it, heh.

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    57. I do so enjoy reading comments on non-pony sites that mention us.

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    58. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    59. @B.
      @SecretPony

      Iowa here too, although for some reason that site seems to think I'm in Illinois. I'm not even near the border, but whatever.

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    60. @Storm Visionit most likely tracks ips and that means its your provider whose doing that

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    61. @B-Man
      Luke Allen here. Thanks.

      Just so you all know, *I* contacted Wired. They wrote me into the story because I was a good source; I provided them with ten times the info they printed. Then they asked me (last minute) for a picture. I sent them several. They used the one with the best composition, but the worst pose on my part, and they used it at full size, to my horror.

      I certainly look balding, but it's a widow's peak, and the camera caught my part wrong.

      Self-medicating my Asperger Syndrome? Tongue-in-cheek comment, but true enough. Who here doesn't feel strangely better after watching FiM?

      Out of work programmer? I know Java, C++, C#, and I'm learning Actionscript, but my best work is in DOS batch files.

      235 lbs in a pocket tee? I really don't have an excuse for that, beyond just not working out and having no fashion sense. I'm down from 250 lbs four years ago.

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    62. @Anonymous

      I'm afraid I mistook you for Sethisto in my previous comment. Sorry about that. Something about how he wrote his post seemed to imply that the pic/quote was from him. Anyway, you're awesome for representing us, Luke, and no one (within this fandom anyway) should make you feel otherwise. You're braver than I suspect most of us could ever be about this unusually awesome show we enjoy.

      Unfortunately a large portion of this thread is garbage, and makes me rethink if I even want to actively participate in this fandom anymore. You're clearly a better man than I though, so keep up the fight for love and tolerance, brony.

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    63. Even though I don't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks. I'm glad us bronies are able to LOVE AND TOLORATE the living shit out of people.

      It seems you guys had fun raiding that little poll. 893 Awesome votes and 114 akward. When I submited this to seth it only had like 50/50 votes on both. Within a few hours it got raided by bronies and the top rated comment is the truth.

      Good job Bronies, Good job. Now give me a BRO HOOF.

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    64. @Anonymous

      Hey Luke. It's cool to see a reply to my post, and to see much information that was not revealed in the Wired article. It's always kind of cool to know the person behind the brony. :3

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    65. I get that people hate on us for watching a little girls show. I can't really blame them. To be honest, a year ago I probably would have been on the hate wagon too. The one comment that actually upset me was the one that asked if anyone would be comfortable letting adult Pony fans watch their kids, implying that we are all pedophiles or something just because we enjoy a clever, genuinely funny cartoon. It's times like these where love and tolerance is difficult.

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    66. I'm sure most of the hate is because of the fact that, judging from the title and prior knowledge of the series, it seems as if it's a show filled with incredibly cheesy kiddie dialogue and "plot" for a 5-year-old. I mean, the show is called "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic"... I'm sure most of you thought the same prior to giving the series a shot.

      And I also think that they just don't understand that we actually like the show for legitimate/relate-able reasons that could easily be apparent in other shows. Reasons such as the artwork, characters, dialogue, and overall lightheartedness of the show. The "only possible reason" they could come up with is that we're 30-year-old pedophiles that get their jollies off of cute little ponies... which, considering how society is today, isn't too hard to imagine happening.

      What I'm trying to say is, you can't completely blame them for misunderstanding/bashing the show... it's a natural response, especially for people who use the internet casually.

      Just remember that it's their loss and not everyone can be as open-minded as us bronies! B)

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    67. And although I give mad props to Luke Allen for giving them his picture, it probably wasn't the best to use since... for an outsider, it seems like it fit the stereotype they initially thought of rather well.

      That being said, I'm sure in reality Luke is a pretty average guy!

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    68. I tried to X out an ad and it accidentally voted for Awkward.

      NOT FAIR, I DEMAND A REVOTE.

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    69. When I voted the results were:
      Awesome-1129
      Awkward-130

      Does this mean we won?

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    70. @Firleycat
      Yes! People only post hate comments because they are scared, scared because they know our conquest of the internet is almost complete!

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    71. Counter with our own images. Show them exactly how awesome it is.

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    72. I'm a brony, and even I think it's awkward. Doesn't mean it can't still be awesome though.

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    73. @SecretPony

      Excellent-I'm not the sole brony in my state!

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    74. 1456 x Awesome (84%)
      272 x awkward (16%)


      Missions Successful.

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    75. @B.my best guess is there is about 8 of us and i base that on a lazy internet search

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    76. "i agree its bordering child malerstering, first you watch the shows then you you the toys then you play with the toys whats to say they wont move on to playing with the kids. they need locking b4 its too late sick sick sick"

      Has anyone been so far as to do look more like

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    77. >ask if awesome or awkward
      >bronies get linked to it
      >awesome votes spike
      > ?
      >PARTY!

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    78. I think we totally ruined their idea of getting a fairly objective poll of the internet. I bet most of the polls traffic is coming from right here.

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    79. I like the haters. They give me someone to flame endlessly.

      Seriously, there's so much wrong with what the haters are saying. Let's start with those people saying that if you're a guy and you watch it, you're gay.
      1. WRONG. Being gay and watching masculine TV shows are not mutually exclusive. I love this show to death, but I also have a girlfriend (she watches it too. It gives us something to talk about).
      2. Homosexuality is not a bad thing, so don't say it like it is.

      Then how about those people who say "you need to grow up"?
      1. Watching Friendship is Magic != being childish. It's having an appreciation for a well-developed and well-written show, which is ironically good considering the franchise it's a part of.
      2. Ten bucks says you've never seen it, so you CAN'T REALLY say anything on the matter.

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    80. If you really want to mess with their heads, start off by pretending to be haters. Then, a few hours later, reveal yourself to be a brony. Make them feel paranoid about their fellow haters.

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    81. @DavidReinold

      What really fascinates me is how the "grow up" crowd behaves in real life. Do they approach problems with maturity and dignity? Do they treat others with respect?

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    82. The Hate! It only strengthens us more....

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