[blogs angrily] · 11:07pm Sep 29th, 2014
Okay, so I don't think I'm a big complainer. I try not to be, at least. But there's something I really must talk about right now, because I'm sure most of us have experienced this before.
Haters, IRL.
Duh, they exist. There's a reason we've gotten two documentaries about the fandom; people are confused. And I've dealt with people one-on-one before who rag on the show and say things like "The only people that like the show are perverts." (That argument is so over-used.)
Here's a relevant story. I have a friend (I'm going to call her Carol because I don't think I know anyone by that name) who is basically only my friend because we were in a play together a year and a half ago; we have almost nothing in common. She took one look at my locker, patted my head, and proclaimed that I was "adorable with all my little fandoms".
I don't really know the details, but basically, last week she was on YouTube and accidentally stumbled across a clop video of Rainbow Dash. She was understandably shocked and made quite clear that she was disgusted, but instead of closing out of the video, she watched the whole thing.
And then watched another.
She knows I'm a brony (or pegasister or whatever we're calling ourselves), so of course she came to me to talk about it the next day. I basically gave her my standard response (somewhere along the lines of, "Everyone likes what they like, who are you to judge", "It actually is a really good show, questionable fan works aside", "I personally am not into that kind of thing, and there's a lot of stuff out there that is completely PG", etc.) but she just continued to look at me with this amused and skeptical expression, and finally walked away like, "Uh huh, sure."
I figured that things would be potentially awkward between us for at least a little while, but we're not that close and don't talk to each other that often, so I didn't think much of it.
Now, I have another friend whose little sister (eight) watches MLP. The friend and sister also know I watch MLP, and I've actually drawn a few ponies for the little sister before. The friend had only seen a few episodes with her sister, so I didn't think she was really a fan (six months ago, she asked me who Nightmare Moon was), but recently we've been talking more about the show and she's watched more episodes and gotten more into the fandom. (I'll call this friend Nyvette, since she's apparently got an account on here and that's her username.) I mean, sometimes we talk about weird stuff, like "Cupcakes", which, taken out of context, is really bizarre and disturbing, but on the whole it's normal.
So, Nyvette, her little sister, and I are going to see Rainbow Rocks next weekend, and today I was showing Nyvette this spoiler image from the movie, and we were both getting really excited, when Carol swooped down over us and asked, "What are you looking at? Brony porn?"
Maybe she was joking. I don't know. So while I was a bit angry, I let it slide.
The three of us are in a choir together. Today, our choir director was complaining about how, for some online certification course she's taking, she had to watch a cartoon, and not knowing any cartoons, she randomly picked "Teen Titans Go!". And hated it.
Then this happened:
Nyvette: Why don't you try "My Little Pony"?
Choir director: Pfft! Ha ha!
Carol: Ewww.
Me (whispering to the person next to me): It's not that bad.
*strange looks from everyone, shifty eyes hastily thrown elsewhere*
So now I'm just very frustrated. How the heck am I supposed to deal with this? I can't simply ignore it, because while I hate that reputations hold so much weight in our society, I can't afford to have everyone whispering behind my back that I have some kind of "weird sexual fetish" - which I don't. But they're also being extremely harsh on people that are into clop, whom I don't really have a problem with as long as they keep it to themselves. And I can't stand to have so many people wandering around with a misconception of bronies because, for one thing, Carol has a lot of friends, and I don't know how many people besides me she told about the videos.
I hope I'm just freaking out over nothing, and nobody actually remembered that this stuff happened
Long story short, I guess, close-minded people are a pain.
Anyways, got some advice you want to share? Or do you have a similar story? What's your personal method for dealing with haters/trolls (online or real life)? I do so love getting feedback. 
Rule number 1: Most people suck.
I have 3 arguments for dealing with haters:
1: I don't care, I love it
2: They see me rollin, they hatin
3: Haters gonna hate
These really help when I'm in an argument with an antibrony
I wish I had something productive to add. Sorry you're catching flak
Nobody aside from my wife knows I'm into MLP. Call that secretive if you want but really I'm just like that with most everything I'm interested in. I'm considering getting a Funko Twilight Sparkle (or possibly Octavia) for my desk and work… so far I haven't been able to bring myself to do it.
I had this guy who called me inappropriate things and told me to kill myself. His actions are a federal offense, and that it could land him in prison. I welcome that to happen, would serve them right. But now i just tell 'em, "Goodbye!"