Are you ready to quit the fandom, but your YouTube account doesn't have the following you need to bow out dramatically? Have you realized that an oversized affection for a show for little girls has probably alienated friends and family? You need an intervention, and Bronies Anonymous is the organization that can help.
We visited a meeting of BA, which ironically schedules their sessions on Meetup.com, for some insight, and to speak to a few people going through therapy. All names are withheld or changed for their sake.
Founded in the spring of 2014 by "Mike," BA aims to help disillusioned Bronies wean themselves from the habit and move on with their lives. Mike explains: "I had an altercation at an event early in 2014. I lost friends, and was ostracized by much of the fandom. That's when I realized that all of this really meant nothing. The projects, attention, and recognition are in service to ego. Horse Fame is not a career. You can't put 'Brony Analyst' on a resume and expect to be taken seriously. So I founded this group."
BA aims to help the famous and the obscure. For example, you've been wearing the DJPon3 hoodie everywhere for two years. You never go anywhere without a brushable in your pocket. You haven't spent time with people you once knew as friends in weeks because they think your FOE references are weird. There's a problem here, and it isn't their inability to "love and tolerate." Maybe you've realized this, and decided to drop everything, but you're finding it more difficult than you imagined.
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This is completely different. This obsession is okay because Not Ponies.
/s |
"Those are the types of people BA is for. This group offers support for withdrawal for the even the most obsessed people." Mike says. "We can help you win your friends back, and make you a presentable person again. But you have to want to be helped." The process is entirely voluntary, and people can bow out at any time they feel uncomfortable. Given the audience, feeling uncomfortable is a likelihood.
Friends and relatives of attendees are elated that their loved ones are halting their obsession. One delighted mother said "I'm so happy. Maybe my son can find a socially acceptable obsession, like a sports team. Because that's okay for a man to like, right? Isn't that right? I want my son to be normal and bland, not to pursue things he likes if I think they're unusual." She said, clutching her Hunger Games themed purse.
New attendees ago through a multistep process that involves things like hiding your collection and buying grownup shirts. Eventually the former Brony will be clean shaven, and can even be allowed to go outside. "It's a huge step to be able to wear a polo shirt and slacks, and not feel as if you're betraying the fandom." One attendee said. "It feels great to not be stared at. I used to think that people looked at me in admiration of my bravery for wearing a Brony shirt. I realized it was pity, and sometimes disgust."
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You aren't allowed to do the things you like doing if society frowns upon it.
Yep, that's the rules. |
Mike says that the group doesn't look to completely purge ponies from one's life. "We're still fans of the show. It's just that there's no reason to go overboard. 24/7 obsession with anything is unhealthy."
We asked Mike who presents the most difficulty. Without hesitation he answered "
Drama enablers. You know the type. These are people who think that every little spat, fight, and confrontation is something important. They think it defines the fandom. We help them step back from the edge and realize that none of this ultimately matters. Unfortunately, they tend to have the highest rate of relapse as well. Drama fuels their lives."
Can BA really turn around every pony fan? We'll see. As the fandom ages and people gain other interests, a few fundamentalists will stay, but people should always remember it's a corporate franchise, not a movement.
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| An incredibly successful franchise. Keep buying stuff, Bronies. |
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