http://news.yahoo.com/photos/my-little- ... 20098.html

4,000 My Little Pony fans (mostly males) gathered this weekend for BronyCon in New Jersey. That's a much bigger turnout than I have ever seen at a yo-yo contest, by far. What's the largest number of yo-yo players to ever meet up in the same place at the same time? I doubt Worlds even gets 1,000 players to attend each year.

Is My Little Pony officially cooler than yo-yos, or what?

I'm guessing theres not nearly as many "mylittlepony" events as there are yoyo contests. However having said that, you can still showcase pictures of costumes and stuff on the internet without having to meet up at a place. maybe it is bigger than yoyoing? hahahahah

If that is the case here, that isn't a good look for yo-yoing, IMO.

I have a really bad impression of bronies... Nothing anybody can say is going to change that. Even if I someday become interested in the show, this impression will remain.

Any slouch with a penchant for animated ponies is automatically gonna be interested in a brony roundup. For a lot of people, it's a lot easier to be really into something that only requires staring at a screen for extended periods of time than it is for them to be interested in something that requires a daunting amount of practice. That's probably how I'd explain it.

EYYC had a turnout of ~1500 this year, I think I read, though that's still a lot less. I'm not sure that numbers adequately correlate with coolness in this case. I feel like throwing in public would get a lot more compliments than wearing an MLP shirt or something (could be wrong though!).

Only one way to find out. Perhaps a social experiment is in order.

Any volunteers?

anyone else thinking MLP yoyos are in order? Cross-market opp

Considering how many bronies there are on YYE, that might be a smart investment. But it would also make yo-yoing look like a bigger joke than it already is.

I think the issue isn't "is mlp cooler than yoyos?" . It's like saying "Oh my GOD! Professional soccer events have like... SOOOOOO many fans show up. And like... Is soccer cooler than american football?! I mean like... football only has like... 30-40 people show up to play at any given game!"

Yoyoing is a skill based activity. My Little Pony only really requires that you have a television, an internet connection and or a netflix account. Almost any combination of these three allows you to experience everything MLP has to offer.

Yoyoing requires you to dedicate a lot of time and effort to being good at and at least a little to even be able to follow and be legitimately interested in anything a yoyo contest has to offer.

It should also be noted that MLP is targeted at and marketed to children. Yoyoing isn't marketed at all.

You may as well ask if snickers bars are cooler than yoyoing, using the same logic. =D

Explain the logic of dudes loving my little pony

No personal offense intended and I'm not a fan of the show, but...

Explain the logic of grown men playing with kids' toys.

well...I'd say a plastic yoyo is a kids toy, but a custom anodized Chief for $400 is never going to be owned by a kid, so is it still a kids' toy?

If we're arguing using public opinion and stereotyping, the PS3 launched at like what? Close to $600? Video games = childs toy. Just to take apart that argument.

I don't think the point of the discussion is even to try and figure out if it's reasonable for people to like something. It seemed more like to try and determine if that would cause something to be cooler.

I'd argue that it certainly makes it more popular... but popularity doesn't necessarily denote "cool". I'm willing to bet that there are more people who like, say, sudoku than crossword puzzles. Does that make it more cool? (I have no idea if that metric is accurate, but I can cite people saying more recently that they wanted to do some sudoku than a crossword.)

I also feel it may be unproductive to throw stones from within the confines of a niche hobby. It is a natural pitfall to stumble into with anything, but I feel there may be folly involved.

There is no explanation for it, IMBHO. Males, especially adult males, shouldn't be fans of cartoons that are geared towards young girls. That isn't normal by any means. It is downright creepy.

And before anyone starts calling me a homophobe or anything along those lines, I have no issues with gay people at all. They are fine in my book. I just dislike bronies, and I don't feel that I should have to hide my disdain for them.




Considering that I started yo-yoing 12 years ago with a bunch of adults (in the back of a tattoo shop of all places), that the majority of players I have ever hung out with have been adults, and that the overwhelming majority of people I still throw with today are adults, I don't even see a yo-yo as a "kids' toy".

It is definitely a toy though. No argument there. I just don't feel that they are only meant for kids. I also feel that it is rather self-defeating to chalk them off as just for kids, when this sub-culture obviously appeals to people of all ages.




I strongly disagree. Keeping silent about our opinions is the least productive thing that any one of us can do. However, to speak your mind only opens the door for a discussion on it. Sure, some people might get offended by your words. But in the long run, it would be a whole lot more beneficial than refusing to throw stones out of fear that someone might butt hurt about it.

The fact here is that 4,000 people showing up for BronyCon is a bigger turnout than any yo-yo contest I've ever heard of. If that strange little sub-culture can draw that many people, then that tells me that someone is seriously dropping the ball when it comes to yo-yoing.

In Europe and most other countries of the world actually soccer is considered more cool and more fun than american football. I've never heard anyone in all my time in Britain say they like american football. The equivelent to that here is rugby. Personally I don't like any of those and prefer b-ball and badminton.
Back to the topic, MLP gets a lot more advertisement than yoyoing does because it is a tv show, and a popular one at that. Yoyoing has little advertising and the only add I've seen for yoyos is the yomega add that got me into yoyoing and I've never seen that one since. The way I feel most people find out about yoyoing is by having a friend who does it or seeing someone else doing it. I personally hate MLP and am mystefied as to why so many like it.
But I heard and knew about my little pony when I was like one and I only found out about the true nature of yoyoing two years ago.
Everyone knows about yoyos, but what they don't know is the true potential of yoyos. Yoyofactory, Duncan, Yoyojam and Yomega are probably the best to advertise modern yoyoing due to their product ranges

The point of my reply was to simply note that we shouldn't pass judgement on others anymore than they should pass judgement on us.

YoYos... in the minds of the vast majority of people the world over are viewed as *kids* toys. You can argue that most yoyo players today are adults or that entire companies market exclusively to adults, but that doesn't change the fact that most people think yoyos are for kids. Thus, most people think that we (predominately grown men) are playing with kids toys all day.

Kinda like most people think that My Little Ponies is for girls. Well apparently a small minority of boys/men also like the show. Who are we to judge, no?

(My understanding is that they enjoy the show in a purely platonic way. John, I would definitely echo your 'creepy' comment if in fact Bronies are enjoying My Little Ponies for other than simple, pure cartoon viewing entertainment.)

Ok, my time to have a say here.

It makes sense that MLP would have a bigger following than yoyos honestly.

Think about what MLP is. Its a tv show that is broadcasted on TV daily, so already there you get a large chunk of followers.
It is produced by individuals who already had a very large following based on their past works. (Lauren Faust: Fosters home for imaginary friends, powerpuff girls) a swell as many higher up voice actors who had a large following as well, so there you get a chunk of people following for those reasons.
You get the bulk of the fandom, those who are animation enthusiast who enjoy the quality of work and respect that the entire show is created in flash (no easy task).
Artist, both digital and traditional who enjoy making fantasy/ realistic art inspired by the show. Musicians who make music inspired by the show, and the general fans as well.

Mix all that up with a huge online community of people who support each other and truly have no hate toward each other no matter what beliefs, ideas, and whatever else they have, combined with production studio that actually gets involved in the fandom to throw in fan references and ideas into the actual produced show, and you start to see why something like this grows to be as big as it is.

I'm not saying yoyoing can't be as big as MLP, but Im saying that if we want a similar type of following, some big things need to be done.

Now on the topic of how its wrong for a guy to be liking a little girls show.
I gotta stand up and say something.

So understand, yes I am a brony, and I have been actively involved in the fandom for over a year and am a very active member within. I also thought it was downright strange at first for anyone to be a fan of this show. Like what kind of guy would get into this? But Ill tell you, the pre-concieved idea of what the show is based on past generations is not true with the current generation.

In interviews with Lauren Faust, the executive producer, she aimed to take the show and make it not a show for little girls per say, but a show that is "family friendly" to be enjoyed by all genders and ages. This is why many bronies cringe at the older pre g4 pony stuff, because those gens were blatantly "girly pink and frilly" stuff that many think of as soon as they hear the words "my little pony".

Then of course there is the whole masculinity thing. "Im a man, I shouldnt watch this stuff, Rawr gimme some MMA and manly tv!" Ok, I get that. But think of it this way. Why can't we be secure enough in our own masculinity to enjoy things like this? Who are we trying to show off to that "oh im such a man and I dont watch that!" If anything, maybe being as such means you are not secure with your masculinity and need to prove to yourself that you are. Im just saying, I know who I am, and what I am, and I'm not afraid to admit that I watch this show, cause if people judge me for it, oh well, they don't the real me, and I know that people like to judge. I shouldnt let public opinion sway who I am and what I enjoy, it should never be like that.

The fandom itself is one of the most open and accepting fandoms I have ever seen. We get people of all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs in the community. Its not just random guys sitting behind computers. We have had quite a few members who are very active who served in the military, Navy, Army, Coast Guard. Police officers, Lawyers, Doctors, literally, almost any occupation you can think of, there has been someone involved in the community, who is a huge fan, and isn't afraid to admit it. People come in with differeing opinions and beliefs, but with the idea of "love and tolerance" that the fandom lives by, there is never any arguing, hating, bickering of anything. Everyone comes in and feels welcomed, and everyone is accepted.

The fandom has worked with many charitable foundations in donations thousands of dollars all around the world to different causes raising funds through auctions of art, and just donations out of the kindness of fellow bronies hearts who want to help.

There are meet-ups just like yoyo meet-ups.

Although in the brony community, there tend to be meet-ups almost every single week. Meet-ups for all ages, as well as meet-ups for those 21 and over at local bar's and whatnot as well.
This grows the community even closer.

Like any fandom though, there are sadly the bad apples who can cause some trouble. I hear many experiences of some bronies who try to push their love for the show too far and end up trying to force it onto others who don't have an interest. I honestly can say that those are not the kind of people who most of the community is. Those who are the real deal in the community do not push our opinions on others or try to force them to like the show, obviously, its not for everyone. I myself dont like certain shows I have given a shot of, others might not like this one. Totally understandable.

I would say though that before anyone goes hating on the show and hating on the "bronies" it wouldnt hurt to at least give the show a quick look. Hating on something that we don't even understand is never right. I have heard many a story of people who were serious haters of the show and bronies, and ended up giving it a shot, and they ended up loving it. One of the most popular brony rap artist in our community I bring da lulz, he was a serious hater at first as well. And many others. Not trying to tell anyone to do anything, but at least know what you hate, before you hate if that makes sense. haha.


Anyways, on the topic of yoyoing getting bigger. It can be done, we can have a huge following like MLP. I mean I think about how there are over 20 major conventions worldwide for MLP, and many such as Bronycon actually happen TWICE a year. I would love to see that happen with yoyoing, and for yoyoing to get that attention. It would be awesome. It takes work, unfortunately, yoyoing doesnt have a media broadcasted tv show. But you never know.

Heres for hoping.

J

well said jayyo, I won't poke fun at mlp, as long as you don't make fun of my purple yoyos

Well said Josh. Everything I wanted to say, you said better.



I love purple yoyos. But pink yoyos are better. Just sayin'

I totally agree. You missed my point, but I agree with yours. I'm trying to make the point that a comparison is being made on disparate ideas. Maybe it would have been more appropriate to liken the number of people who attend a highschool football game to the number of players in a professional game? Either way...

In response to the disagreement with my throwing stones argument - I'm hardly trying to say someone shouldn't share their opinions. What I was more trying to convey is that an statement is being made using a stereotype. Stereotypes have a tendency to deal great harm to a lot of things, especially small communities that aren't understood. Yoyoing is one of these communities.

As Jayyo stated, apparently current iteration MLP isn't targetted exclusively at young girls. Uninformed perception, possibly based off of what MLP used to be, is that it is. In a like fashion, uninformed perception of yoyoing is that it is targeted at children. Not even targeted well at children anymore. It's the kind of thing you pick up at the dollar store to hand out at your 4 year old's birthday party. An adult is spending their time with THAT? My point - your opinion is fine to have and to share. If it is being made without a good level of information, though, you can hardly get up in arms at others for conveying the same level of courtesy to you - the ground to stand on has already eroded away at that point.

But again - the comparison is weak to begin with. A television show is being compared to a skill that takes lots of work to develop. It takes one button press to be good at watching my little pony. The barrier to entry is completely different and the goal of engaging in either isn't always the same for the participant.

I don't think you can say that one is intrinsically cooler than the other based solely on which has a larger fan base, especially when one is clearly marketed significantly more (read: marketed to anyone not already indoctrinated in the culture.)