Leave the fandom? ME?!?

Ok, so yesterday someone sent me a note on Deviant Art reminding me how there's been some drama in the brony fandom lately and asked if I had ever planned on quote unquote "leaving the fandom".

First of all: Why am I getting this as a note on DA?  Seriously, this isn't Tumblr guys, send me stuff like that on Tumblr, no one talks to me on Tumblr!

Second: Oooooooh, surprise surprise, there's drama in the fandom and let's completely ignore the drama that's been going on in other fandoms and the fact that there has been drama in this fandom ever since day 1 pretty much!  (anypony remember the 4chan wars?)

Third:  ME LEAVE THE FANDOM?!?!  REALLY?!?


Look guys, I know a lot of people in the brony fandom have "left" us or have just stopped making fan-content due to either having to move on with their life or they just don't like it anymore and that has you down but why am I being asked if I'm leaving the fandom?  I haven't even shown any signs of wanting to leave the fandom.  And quite frankly, I'm able to look past all the drama we've been through lately and you wanna know how I do it?  Well it's quite simple actually:  I watch the news.

People, THERE IS DRAMA ALL OVER THE DAMN WORLD!  Do you guys even watch the news?  I guess not.  Most people refuse to watch the news because they always talk about the bad stuff happening in the world but that's just the thing.  You don't have to necessarily drown yourself in negativity but if you'd actually take some time to educate yourself and see what terrible things are happening all over the world I think you'd come back and say "Wow, the brony fandom is nothing compared to that!  I'm glad to be part of this fandom now!"  A lot of times I am just left facepalming and rolling my eyes at a lot of the stories that go around on TV but I do it because I know I need to be prepared for the crazy world I live in and it challenges me to see the contrasting good in this world.  Honestly, the brony fandom is a walk in the park compared to all the things happening in the news and I wont' even go into details, just go pick up the remote and watch it.  I suggest the O'Reilly Factor.

But enough about that.  Sure, there has been some drama in the past year or so:  Derpygate, Las Pegasus Unicon, Fighting is Magic getting a Cease and Desist, Twilicorn and Equestria Girls haters, Sweet Apple Acres Con being cancelled, Down with Molestia, off-season fever, the tabloid-style stories being spread about us all over Tumblr by brony haters, brony "analyzers" apparently spreading too much negativity and criticism causing some people to think the show is "dying" and so is the fandom, JanAnimations getting a Cease and Desist, AleximusPrime is drawing pinups now... The list goes on.

But guys there are worse things happening all over the world.  Kids in Africa are starving and you're worried about things as simple as Twilight Sparkle getting wings?  I don't know if you guys have noticed yet but when you rant and rave about bad things that happen and bring so much attention to it, you're actually repelling the very thing that you desire: peacefulness.  Well I guess that's only for most of you, some people actually do like to cause a stir but hey, if you've got someone like that in your life, don't contribute to what they are doing.

Just ignore those bad things and pretend they can't affect you unless it's something extreme like if a person is killed for being a brony.  But even then, that's another thing that happens all over the world.  Numerous religious people, mainly Christians, have been martyred and maimed throughout the ages for what they believe.  When the day comes that bronies are being physically tortured by terrorists, then you have every right to worry.  Until then, be thankful that isn't actually happening to us.  Now I haven't given up my beliefs just because I'm hated by so many people for it because I know where I stand with my faith and I'm too stubborn to let anyone tell me to do otherwise.

All in all, I know this is a very cliche thing to say but just screw the haters.  Be who you are.  If you like MLP and you like the fandom then be a part of it and be proud that you are part of it.  Don't back out due to a bit of drama because by that logic you shouldn't be involved with any community whatsoever and should just pretty much shut yourself away from the world in a little shed in the forest getting cabin fever and living off uncooked Ramen Noodles.  Yeah, do not ask me how I came up with that scenario.

As for me, no, I am NOT leaving the fandom.  I have way too many awesome things planned for you guys for me to back out and I'm having waaay too much fun with these conventions and all the awesome friends I've made in it.  Why would I want to leave all that behind?!  If I did leave the fandom I'd miss it too much and just come back a few days later anyway.  And for those of you out there who have been tempted to leave the fandom, I hope this spoke to you and if it did, please show it to a friend going through the same thing.  Let's spread the word, this fandom needs more positivity in it for sure.

So thanks for listening guys, be safe, remember that friendship is magic, and in the words of Unikitty...

STAY POSITIVE!!!



Yeah, kinda unrelated but I mean I couldn't not include it!  Come on, who can resist Unikitty?

TL;DR:  There's drama everywhere.  Learn to deal with it.  Don't let it affect your place in the brony fandom.