I myself am an avid fan of Star Wars. The only difference between me and a Brony is the thing I'm interested in. BTW I'm not a brony.
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6Jan 13
I never thought I'd be writing a blog on a game based in the My Little Pony universe. Alas, here I am. And there is so much to be said.
Ponies. Yes. Ponies. Little ones.
Unless you either A) live under a rock, B) dont' have an internet connection or C) are dead you've more than likely heard of the concept of a "brony". Since you're reading this blog, you have an internet connection, are probably alive, and I'm assuming do not live under a rock. Therefore, you should know what a "brony" is. If you do not, it's a male(usually older, but a male of any age will qualify) who watches and enjoys My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Now, Gamespot's Maxwell McGee already wrote and incredible article on the indie project My Little Pony: Fighting is Magic. In fact, it was so well written and researched you'd think I'd have absolutely nothing to say because he seriously covered everything you could think of writing a blog about.
Well, thing is I'm not talking about the game. I'm talking about the one thing McGee couldn't write on...the comments.
As you'd expect, so much flaming was going on in these comments it was an oven. An oven so hot that if you tried to cook your pizza rolls in there they will burn.
The horror. The horror!
Once I finished reading the article I wrote a comment congratulating the devs on making a great game and admiring their commitment to a fandom. It wasn't too long before someone tried to attacked my comment (saying that I was being an "attention whore" by being accepting; clearly a troll), but luckily some awesome Gamespot members put him down in my defense(and, even luckier, a mod deleted the comment later). I don't like responding to trolls or flaming comments, so I appreciated how quickly some members came to my defense with intelligent responses (rather than starting a flame war).
Those defenders made me wonder...why this community get attacked as horribly as it does? I did not understand it, not in the slightest.
That is...until I related it to another, completely different issue.
I noticed in the comments that many, many bronies were revealing themselves, proudly supporting the game and their passion. It was incredible. I understand that the article was talking about My Little Pony and would therefore draw the attention of bronies, but when searching their profiles, there was nary a hint of being a brony in their blog posts or union affiliations. Indeed, it seemed as if this article acted as a catalyst in the brony community on Gamespot. McGee's article praised the game for being a creative and smooth fighter, saying absolutely nothing negative or degrading in regards to the MLP community.
It's my belief this acted as a signal to bronies that it was alright to out themselves as a brony, seeing that Gamespot was accepting of them. The article let them know that Gamespot was on their side, and that was enough for them to come out and support this game.
This idea of "coming out" as a brony has had me thinking a bit for a few hours as I periodically checked the comments for updates. Once the mods finally hit the page, many of the negative comments were deleted, so my analysis was being brought to a close as the posts defending bronies from negative comments were soon becoming irrelevant. No longer did those negative comments exist, making the defending posts lose context to any new readers.
Before the removal of such posts, however, the attacks on the brony community and its defenders reminded me strongly of another community-the gay community and its allies.
To be clear, I am NOT drawing a correlation between bronies and being gay (not, mind you, that there is anything wrong with being gay I myself am a homosexual). I am drawing a connection between the perception of said communities in the public eye. Both are misunderstood (though, to be fair, the gay community is gaining more approval as time passes) by the majority of the public, and much of the public will lash out against them in their misunderstanding.
A lot of this misunderstanding has to do with the media's presentation of the communities. GLBTQ people are depicted as promiscuous, carefree and flamboyant. Grown men who like children's toys and shows (particularly those aimed at a younger, female audience) are depicted as creepy and socially awkward.
Hello, socially awkward, child-toy-collecting, children's-show-watching Disney character. Oh, wait...
It's an issue that's becoming bigger and bigger each year-the media is constantly forming our opinions and biases on different cultures, hobbies and ideas. No matter how aware we are of it, it still will affect us at a subconscious level. The best we can to do to combat it is to look at everything we see objectively.
That's exactly what I did when I heard of the brony community. I looked at the idea objectively. My knee-jerk reaction was to react in a bit of disgust, but I know that's wrong of me to judge such a group of people unfairly. I considered why it exists.
Bronies did not exist in such large numbers until Friendship is Magic was released, so it had something to do with the show. I did a bit of research and realized it a Saturday morning cartoon, not unlike Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon, Xiaolin Showdown, and other shows that frequented my television set as a child. I know how addicting watching those shows can become. They're usually packed with action and halfway decent character development, and are usually expertly animated and brightly colored. They're flashy, fun, and are a joy to watch as a child, and for many people that joy just does not go away. That's normal, I myself love Disney films and still freak out like a child when I get the chance to go to Disney World. It's nothing different from the brony community still liking Saturday morning cartoons.
The cartoons are almost always heavily merchandised, and My Little Pony has been a toy marketed at little girls since the 80s. It was a perfect storm for collectors of T.V. show merchandise. The explosion of bronies should not have come as a surprise to anyone, it came just as the explosions of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! before it. It's a Saturday morning cartoon, and there's nothing wrong with adults liking cartoons.
To all of the bronies out there: don't be afraid of what the world thinks of your passion. The more you expose yourselves, the more you will come to support each other and cast away your dissenters. More and more allies will reveal themselves. Those who realize the true nature of your fanbase will realize that you are no different from those who enjoy Halo, Pokemon, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft or otherwise. The internet is a nasty place, but there is no reason to hide what you love from the world in a place where anonymity reigns supreme.
And, to those who relentlessly attacked the MLP community in the comments on McGee's article: as entitled to your opinions as you are, know that, even though you cannot see the face or know the name of the person you're attacking, that they exist, and they do feel. They're as human as you are. Anonymity comes at cost; you're able to say what you're want, but consider saying what you're going to say in a comment to a person in real life. Would you do it?
If not, I rest my case.
And, before I go, I will post a picture of my favorite pony.
It's Bill the Pony. Because Bill the Pony is awesome.
133 comments
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@timdogg42069 What if the person is trans-gender and they are being the person they are within in regards of their behaviour? Like if their internal gender is female and they think and feel as female while identifying as female despite their physical sex being male? Or someone who identifies as male but who's physical sex is female?
Would you really force someone to be their physical sex instead of being themselves, resulting in them being miserable, depressed, fed up and suicidal all their lives just because you're uncomfortable with trans-genders?
Nice blog. I don't think I can add anything that wasn't covered in the article comments (*cough*).
I will say this though to anyone......contrary to popular belief, it's OK with (most of) us if you don't like the show. It can't appeal to everyone, and not everyone will 'get' it. That goes without saying. But outright mocking certain aspects of the community (or calling for the death of all bronies and whatever else, etc) is no way to get your point across.....it just makes you look silly.
@Celldrax I have no idea what bronies people are referring to when they talk about the ones who want everyone to watch MLP and such. The bronies I know largely keep it to themselves, with the occasional conversation about the show happening in front of me from time to time. I've never been told that I MUST watch the show by anybody.
In that regard, they're much better than I am. I tell everyone I meet they MUST watch Game of Thrones otherwise I will disregard them as a human being (okay, I don't say something that intense, but I do tell everyone they need to watch it.).
I think it has to do with the how much ponies DID get posted in the past. Like, take the OT board for example. During mid 2011, it was extremely common to see pony pictures posted, because I think that's when a large amount of people were starting to hear about the show and get into the fandom. So I think for many people, it just kind of left a sour taste in the mouth. And while the fandom has since matured, and others have just simply moved on.....well, to some, we're all still just obsessed neckbeards trying to shove it in everyone's face...
And Game of Thrones is pretty awesome ;) So yeah, watch it people!
I just thought that they're pretty much the same people that insist on blaring Gangnam Style in people's faces 24/7 because they think it's funny even though it got old after the second day that it became a thing.
Honestly, I hate the term "Brony", I'm a fan of MLP and I just so happen to be a male. But if that's how the greater MLP community wants to be labeled who am I to say otherwise. Anyway, I think you have everyone's motives wrong, I think the only reason the MLP fans came out in force in response to Max's article is because it is relevant to them. Any opinion they have can be shared without being considered spam or irrelevant.
@dogman7
That would be more it. Many of us have been following the progress of this game for a while now, and to have a this massive article just appear on the front page of GS, it was just like, 'oh awesome! Big feature of Fighting is Magic! And front and center on the GS homepage!'.
Needless to say, word quickly spread...
4 Like Personally, I thought that article was great! A few guys with passion and determination, with nary a programming skill, make a GOOD video game about something they are interested in. It's inspiring!
The fact that they used MLP is irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. Video games are weird anyways, so making a game about MLP is hardly worth raising an eyebrow over.
Hmmmmm well people the Bronies have spoken and I am shocked and impressed by this article. Bravo sir BRAVO!!!!
1 Like I don't see why people need to affiliate themselves with the show though. I mean, there is no real point to going around calling yourself a Brony that I can see. It just seems like people are doing it to gain attention, whether it be positive or negative. There are fans of all types of shows, all types of medium, but it seems like these fans have some sort of ulterior motive for proclaiming their love of the show so outwardly. Why not just watch the shows you like, and leave it at that?
@ZOD777 Have you never heard of a Trekker (or Trekkie)? A Twihard? A Saltgunner? Browncoats? True, most fan-bases create their names, but it shows a solidarity and a sense of community between like-minded individuals. Sometimes, fandom names aren't even made by fans, but as an insult by "outsiders" and the fan-base just takes it and turns in to something else (see: Trekkie).
Also, your screen name is Zod and your forum pic is of Zod from Superman I and II. Please note the irony when you compare that with what you said.
@spoonybard-hahs There is no irony. I just chose ZOD as an avatar and name because he is one of the only villains to ever seize control of the White House and I love his quote, "Kneel before Zod!". Perfect gamer tag. Like minded? Since when does watching a cartoon make people like minded? Maybe they share common interest in the show, but I doubt everyone on board can agree on pro-life/pro-choice, republican/democrat/independent, etc. I don't think there is anything wrong with being a fan of something. It is the proclamation that makes no sense to me.
@ZOD777 @spoonybard-hahs Wow... that was a very round-about way of linking bronies to pedophiles.
1 Like @ZOD777 @spoonybard-hahs I think the community needs to come up with a third term for those who are creepier than most. Like Otaku or something.... PonTaku maybe?
1 Like @spoonybard-hahs You are speaking in absolutes as though the entire fan base believes the same things. That is absolutely not true, and if you have common sense, you know that cannot be 100% accurate. I have nothing against people being a fan of something that is considered normal. I do however find adults (more so adult males) proclaiming love for something such as MLP so vehemently somewhat questionable when you consider what the intended audience is. It is not normal. If you have kids, you would understand that it is very suspicious. If not, you are turning a blind eye to my ivory tower that has nothing to do with being prude, but lies more on the moral side of things and whether or not some of these individuals have mental health issues, or are sexually deviant. That is where the inherent problem arises in my mind.
1 Like @spoonybard-hahs @ZOD777 Nice to see you two remaining civil despite your obvious differences in regards to this topic.
I would also like to take some time to point out and remind posters that this is a users personal space (not unlike the rest of you) so please do your best to keep your comments respectful.
1 Like @ZOD777 I am not speaking on behalf of anybody. I am telling you what these fandoms have said. There are books, articles, films, et al that describe what these fans have in common beyond the source material and why they are such devoted fans in the first place.
If you do not understand nor want anything to do with a fandom, then fine. But don't act like some prude ass in an ivory tower denouncing others who do as attention whores.
@spoonybard-hahs So you speak on behalf of all Trekkies and Browncoats? I think you are stretching the truth a bit much just to validate your argument which is thin. My avatar means nothing. I am more a Marvel superhero fan than DC by a long shot. You are trying to paint me as some sort of Superman die hard, which I am not. So now you are gonna call me a "Marveler" or something of that sort?
@ZOD777 You're making that same proclamation with your screen name. And yes, typically fan-bases are very like-minded. All Trekkers believe in the advancement of science and that science will free humanity of all need and want and end discrimination of all kind. Browncoats (Firefly fans) believe in small government and the right of the will of the people.
I didn't know Bronies had to defend themselves, I thought they were universally loved by all. :P But I gotta admit, it is kinda surreal seeing guys into a show that was primarily designed for little girls but at the same time it's nice to see kids shows making themselves bearable for adults again. Kinda reminds me back in my days when shows like Tiny Toons and Animaniacs had the same approach.
@kbaily To be fair, Animaniacs was definitely aimed at the parents watching the show with their kids too. There is a lot of subtle humour in innuendo in those episodes that still entertain me, and I'm 19.
@ZachBobBob @kbaily That could explain why I wasn't interested in Animaniacs. I didn't get a lot of the humor when I was younger.
1 Like I don't really see myself being a total fan of my little pony but watching a few episodes myself I could kind of tell why people liked it. It has plot and the humor isn't in your face like other cartoons its subtle in someways and in other ways it isn't.
I think the hatred My Little Pony receives particularly might be the fanbase it has. You see memes of it everywhere and its guaranteed you will not leave a forum or any social community without seeing pinky pie or rarity.
amazing article:D, interesting and to the point:), one of the more intelligent things somebody said in some time;).
let people like what they like, and if somebody doesn't agree on that, let that be their opinion and not fact, forced someone else V.V.
4 Like Hey Thunderstarter, thanks for the kind words. It's humbling to know my feature had this sort of effect on people. Reading your post definitely underscored something I realized while writing the piece: always force yourself to keep an open mind. Something may seem odd at first, but could lead to something really interesting.
The whole "Guys can't like a show for girls" argument just reeks of the similar argument I heard growing up of "Transformers is a boys show, and you (as a girl) are weird if you like boy things).
Thank you for saying the article was well written (I helped on some of it as the office equine expert) so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it... even if they did misspell Apple Jacks name (I'm not an AJ fan so I didn't think twice about it ;p ).
@Synthia thank goodness i never listened :) i watched transformers, played with GI Joes with my brother and the neighborhood boys and dressed up my barbies with my sister! awesome times. just like what you like and let others like what they like. i don't get why people have to be so interested in what everyone else is doing all the time.
@Synthia I love Transformers and I'm female, I like the engineering and the imagination in the toys. The story is never really anything special, the toys are a lot of fun though.
1 Like I've always liked cute things. That doesn't mean I'm watching shows that teach children the alphabet and how to differenciate colors. But people really need to understand that there's a difference between children's shows like that, and children's shows like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I sat down and watched an episode on a whim one day. I wasn't really averse to it, but I didn't think I'd enjoy it. ...I now think it's one of the most awesome cartoons I've ever seen.
So, I guess that makes me a brony then? ...Cool. It's not like it's the only thing that makes me who I am. People see bronies on the internet, doing their thing and just presume that's all they are. In real life, I'm sure most of them are ordinary, well adjusted adults. There are a great many layers to people, and to limit them down to just one would make just about anyone seem weird. But taken as a whole, all those pieces come together into something far more grand.
As for my thoughts on the show, I think it's good for everyone, even adults to have a bit of good natured light and joy in their lives, and it's important to remember that the lessons we try to impart on our children remain important to us as well, even as we grow into adults. I could speak of the specifics of why I think the show is so great, but I feel like those things are mentioned often enough to be rendered redundant here, and would only serve to bury the point I'm really trying to make.
Having some positive moral life reinforcement is good for everyone, not just children. Having something cute and joyful placed in front of you isn't so bad either.
P.S.
As an added ironic thought, if bronys were the dominant social norm in the world, then everyone else would be the outcasts. Likely due to the nature of their brony status however, it seems to me like the bronies would probably be more accepting of all the people who fell into the minority. But that's just me adding in a bright eyed hypothetical.
P.P.S.
Naturally, bronies are people too, so there are bound to be nice ones, and not so nice ones.
@Jaxith: well said sir. Wish some people also could understand that we can like shows like this even if we are in adulthood, past the twenties. This moment in life isn't defined as well rounded only by watching series like CSI and L&O, or pulling your hairs of screaming "damn liberals" while watching Fox New, but by things way more important, like the decisions you made.
It's just half an hour per week to watch the show, and if someone just complains that you could do better without a sincere opinion or alternative, that's someone you don't need to look up for in life.
Grown men probably like My Little Pony for the same reason I like another kid's show, Adventure Time. The conflict comes because MLP has a history. People see what has for decades been a toy for little girls which up until now (apparently) has had uniformly bad and/or juvenile entertainment based on it. I admit I have a hard time getting past that myself.
@ggregd Adventure Time and MLP are completely different though. Not only the intended audience, but the humor and writing style as well.
@Poodger I also have to admit I've never watched MLP. Adventure Time is directly aimed at "tweens" (10 - 15), but it has a basic nerd appeal, humor and dark themes that defy age groupings.
I don't know how AT compares to MLP. PowerPuff Girls and Foster's Home were cartoons from the same creator(s) that other people have compared to MLP. I could watch those shows when my kids had them on but I wouldn't call myself a fan by any stretch.
The thing the two shows have in common is you have to look past the surface, but with MLP you have to look harder.
I also loved Invader Zim and I like Regular Show.
I think the love for My Little Pony is not necessarily because it is a saturday morning cartoon show, but because of the ponies themselves. They are designed and voiced in such a way that oozes this sickening cuteness. The kind you love to hate and hate to love, to the point that even people who dislike this stuff are repulsed by their own surprising "attraction" to something so... "cutesy". I see clips of the show, and I am immediately repulsed by how "cute" and childish it is, but also repulsed by the fact that I find it "cute".
Also, the few bronies I have seen IRL have not exactly been the peak of social normality. Most of them (donning pony shirts) were overweight, 30 something neckbeards that acted very odd in public. Now I am not dumb enough to think that these few examples I have seen are representative of the entire community, but it does match a certain stereotype that only weirdos and social outcasts could be "proud" of something as odd as MLP.
6 Like I may not like My Little Pony, and I still think it's a "Girly Show" (In My opinion). Never the less, I respect them. To each their own. =)
My opinion on the matter ranges from: annoyance at the more obsessive members of the fanbase who have pony avatars, posted "20 cooler :D" all over Max's article, tried to convince the people reading the article who don't watch the show to do so because they think that it actually has something which makes it objectively "good" & enjoyable for everyone, & generally shower the internet with pony images on every subject under the sun; to annoyance at the haters for being so naive as to think that the concept of a "little girls' show" actually has some kind of essential truth to it; to hilarity at watching forum threads being completely derailed by the two parties coming into contact.
Oh & Xiaolin Showdown was awesome.
@Hairygrim Thank you for the thoughtful response :)And yes, Xiaolin Showdown was awesome. I never got to see the end of it though. I sometimes wonder what happened to Omi after he turned all evil and stuff.
@Thunderstarter 'what happened to Omi after he turned all ev-'...oh lord, I think I need to watch the rest of that show at some point.
@Kats_RK It's simple enough, the characters are good, it's well written, the humour is a mixed blend of child and adult style humour and is pretty funny when it wants to be. The episodes are lighthearted while having a moral to the tale each time, the world in the series is colourful while also having a darker side to it at points.
When you've seen Pinkie Pie go insane, Fluttershy use The Stare and snap necks, Applejack showing that underneath her hard working exterior is someone who does tend to push herself too hard to work hard to the point of exhaustion, Rainbow Dash learn humility, Rarity show a lot of compassion outside of her 'I am the greatest pony ever' act and Twilight Sparkle show that despite all that she knows, she still has a lot to learn, it's than that you know that the show isn't intended for children alone, it's intended for all ages.
It's very rare that a cartoon will come out these days that will be engaging enough without relying on tired cliches and stereotypes.
I don't consider myself a Brony even do i enjoy wathcing the show. I just hate do the bashing that takes place betwen trolls/haters and bronies, while indeed it often comes down to simple taste in shows, the problems often ocours from imature/troll comments to overzelous Brony comments wich gives a bad image to both those who just dislike the show and those who like it.
3 Like I like Friendship Is Magic, but then I'm not male. The term for female fans of the cartoon is Pegasister, so I've heard anyway. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the simple innocence and charm of the cartoon, it's a nice breath of fresh air from all the doom and gloom of the usual male focused testosterone fueled nonsense that keeps being churned out.
The reason for all the hate is the same as with everything that isn't approved by narrow minds - they want conformity, they want everyone to look the same, think the same, only like what they're told to like, only love who they're supposed to love and so on.
Any variation and any individuality is looked down on by those who demand conformity and 'perfection'. In the eyes of the 'norms', adult males are only supposed to worship sports, beat, rape and enslave women as their own personal sex slaves, kill anyone who doesn't conform to a very limited and narrow spectrum of life and be angry the majority of the time. Basically being like the usual male lead only character from a Rockstar game.
That there are grown men who enjoy a cartoon that is well written, has fun characters, sly adult humour and has better topic matter than 'Man kill many, man pound chest, MAN RULE ALL!' makes the 'norms' feel threatened, as threatened as they feel with anyone who's homosexual.
There's nothing wrong with grown men enjoying the cartoon and nothing wrong with being an individual, but such simple facts are too complicated for the 'norms' in the world.
1 Like @PotHeel No, just tired of the ego and constant catering to them because of how easy it is to cater to men - CGI, explosions, guns, bare chested stereotypical male with all the brains of a dead fly - it really limits creativity and imagination by only catering to males with the same tired nonsense and demanding everyone to like the same tired nonsense.
@RTHKI @Smokescreened84 @PotHeel I find Zyxe and Smokescreened's arguments insulting, I don't like MLP but I don't discriminate against bronies. Plus my favorite genres are comedy, mystery and intelligent action thrillers like Homeland.
@Smokescreened84 @PotHeel SGU was cancelled for more than just being more character based. Yes less action was part of it but the show wasn't like the other Stargates. It's darker and serious. Some very slow/unneeded episodes especially in season 1 and being on SyFy didn't help anything. There weren't many alien encounters either, not that I needed to see anymore medieval villages.
And women like mindless shows too. Twitter and fb were filled with posts about the Bachelor.
There are plenty of shows with good stories and action.
@PotHeel i personally thought her argument was quite apropos, especially when you keep arguing that the show should only really be watched on a consistent basis by little girls. her argument is a fine counterargument to yours.
i don't see it as trying to offend people at all, it's just another view point to which i believe she happens to be quite passionate about. but i should stop speaking for her :) i just happen to think i see her point.
2 Like What Smokescreened84 is trying to do is offend as many as possible while deviating as much from the original argument is possible. Speaking of obsession, what does it say about one when everything becomes a question of gender?
@JabbaRancor @Smokescreened84 i thought what Smokescreened84 was saying was more that this stereotype is what the media and a big part of society is peddling to us as what men should STRIVE to be, or what the "ideal" man is and how he acts, not how actual people act. i don't think it's as antiquated as you do, though, because i see what she's saying. and it's not based on online interaction, it's based on what so many people seem to idolize as a "guy" thing. it's not right, but it's perpetuated by a lot of video games and movies.
of course, to a rational mind, it IS "to each his own", but how many rational minds are out there, especially present on these forums? :P it's just a tad ridiculous that there are so many people who have to actively have to tell people who differ from them that they're wrong and horrible for what they like.
the other point is that people look down on others that do not perpetuate this stereotype, especially online in forums where they can be anonymous and not "say it to my face", because they are insecure and need others to be like them in order to feel validated.
otherwise i'm too tired to effectively explain, apparently they don't make strong enough coffee for mondays...
3 Like @Smokescreened84 Reading through this string, I have to wonder where your stereotypes of men are originating. Amongst friends, co-workers, family members, and most strangers, I don't see "agressive" and "angry" as the norm.
It almost appears as if you're hanging on to some aged stereotype that has (for the majority of rational minds in developed countrys; third world is different) generally faded from the general public. Sure, television and movies have gotten...stale...but that is in no fault based on one gender. You focus on action movies, but there are just as many horrible romantic "comedies" and shows like "The View" that cater to a dated stereotype of women.
Bronies are proof of this change...fifteen years ago someone wouldn't have been caught dead watching My Little Pony. Now, if someone watches it, the reaction by a rational mind* is "to each his own."
*A problem you might be having with this discussion, and males in general, is that you base the stereotypes off of online interaction. Nothing on the Internet can be taken seriously, especially forum boards (I realize I am contradicting that now). The web is not a rational place...rarely are rational thoughts put forth.
3 Like @Smokescreened84 Anger is an emotion which isn't limited to men, and some are rightly angry. I agree however that reasoned debate is infinitely preferable to incoherent shouting. Which still doesn't address your extreme hostility to the notion of masculinity.
@PotHeel When outdated ideals of how men are supposed to are abolished and men are finally allowed to express their feelings in a positive light instead of being looked down on for daring to display any emotion other than anger and a lust for aggression, then maybe there will be a brighter future for the human race.
Being a man shouldn't mean being aggressive, angry and a stereotype, such outdated social stereotypes are very limiting.
4 Like @Smokescreened84 There is an argument that entertainment is being dumbed down, however was TV in particular ever smart? You have cited fairly mainstream and certainly US produced series. TheI fact of the matter is that there are still a number of series out there which have been consistently excellent.
Frasier, Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Wire, In the Thick of It, Homeland, Borgen, The Killing, Lewis, Game of Thrones...there are a number of series both past and present which have remained consistently entertaining and are well worth a look.
Remove gender from the equation, it is a facile excuse for the situation. The problem isn't tied to genitalia, people are always the same. Novelists in the 19th century moaned about the vulgar tastes of the common, the elite will always find fault with the preferences of those "beneath" them. It must be accepted that not everything good can last forever, there will always be a dip in quality eventually.
Men are not inherently vile creatures. Despite what you may think, we are people. Our brains can compute emotions other than anger and sex, we deserve a little more humanity than we are afforded at the hands of some. True equality is certainly a worthy goal.
@PotHeel Entertainment that I like is few and far between, Star Trek is dead, killed off by reality TV and ever decreasing intellects in human society and now turned into an insulting farce by JJ Abrams.
Stargate is dead, canceled because the fans who wanted to see guns and explosions didn't like Stargate Universe for trying to be more character based than action based.
Dead Like Me was canceled for being too different, Firefly was canceled for being too good. All there is now is reality TV, more sports coverage and mind numbing male focused testosterone fueled nonsense.
Finding something that's refreshing and enjoyable is pretty much impossible these days. I'm tired of seeing the human race become increasingly dumber due to how easy it is to cater to males by having a lot of action, no stories and no imagination.
1 Like @Smokescreened84 However if you take the time to seek entertainment that caters to your tastes, then you shouldn't feel threatened by the mere existence of those whose tastes differ to yours. Just because the majority of the population believe something different to you doesn't mean that they are inherently bad.
I've seen your writing on these topics before, the generalisation evident in your responses along with the evident anger speak of a pathological fear.
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