The Newbie Thread: Introduce Yourself!

[Rocketfish~PONY LOVERS GONNA LOVE PONIES~]

If goons typically like something so much they start purchasing avatars, then usually it's something worth watching/paying attention to. This includes the ten zillion MSPaint Adventure avatars out there as well.

I resisted my conversion a little because I despised the cartoon as a kid. The G2 and G3 ponies were somehow worse. I have no regrets now.

[Tyma]

I actually heard about the show in GBS of all places. There was a therad about "Which children's toy will parents be trampling each other over this Xmas?". Someone directed it to me, because I'd spent all summer working on promoting one of the toys being discussed in the thread, so it was pretty fucking cool to see people discussing it as being potentially successful over the christmas period.

On the same page, someone posted photos of the Friendship Is Magic prototype toys. I had absolutely no interest in MLP, but when I first signed upto SA, I used an avatar from an old MLP colouring book, because I ride ponies every day, and it looked pretty cool. Out of morbid interest, I went to look at the prototype toys, to see what the MLP characters looked like these days.

There was no going back. Fuck you, random GBS poster.

[Kanthulhu~~Books!~~]

I came to the now dead thread because I saw a lot of pony avatars around the place. After finding the pony thread I read the OP and decided to see some episodes.

Watched the first two episodes and didn't enjoy it. I thought it was very well animated and cute but it seemed mostly like a kid show to me. But in the thread someone wrote that you should try at least the 4 first episodes so I went ahead and watched two more and noticed they were much better.
Before I knew it I had watched all of the episodes and the Winter Wrap Up song was stuck on my head. I was pretty much hooked by that point but still resisted buying a ponytar (need to preserve masculinity, etc).

That was when I started getting a craving for more pony goodness and noticed I had a favorite pony (it's Twilight). So I went ahead and got my ponytar, becoming a total convert.

[The Flour Moth]

Well, I usually try anything once. So when people told me that this new My Little Pony show is great I gave it a shot.

It went something like this:

- Load episode 1

- Preamble meh

- Intro gaygaygay but I'll soldier on.

- Well, looks like a regular kids show, nice animations and good voice acting however. But it's not for me, so I'll turn this...

- Fluttershy

Yeah, and that was that.

[inflatablefishYay.]

Then someone linked to the first pony thread from either the ST:O LP or the BattleTech LP, and I followed the link, read the OP, noticed some trolling but also a lot of people stating that it was a genuinely good show. Skimmed the first Ms. Magazine article with by the stupid lady who didn't even bother to watch the show, and then read Ms. Faust's defense of her work. Watched the Pinkie Pie compilation, and was amused by it. Decided to give it another shot. Watched half the episodes and was hooked. (Would've watched them all, but I had to be up early for work the next day.)

This is almost exactly how I found it. I had a brief glance at the thread, was generally thinking that a quality remake was generally a good thing but not for me, and I decided to give the first two episodes a try. It wasn't until a few days later when I was bored that I watched The Ticket Master, and from then I just fell in love with the whole show.

[chinaman7000]

I think I've admitted I came into the thread to laugh and point, but somewhere along the way my heart grew three sizes. The comic I drew pretty much captured what I went through.

[DEC 9]

Hahaha, I love how my avatar is responsible for a bunch of you watching this show.

You really do have a fantastic AV, and chiming in that I found the thread through your AV.

e:bad typin

[Nemo2342Friendship *is* Magic]

I started seeing all these pony avatars show up in the LP subforum, and I couldn't decide if people were being sarcastic with them, or if they genuinely liked the show. Eventually I saw the banner at the bottom of the page, and found my way to the thread. So I watched the first episode. Then the second. Before I knew it, I had watched all the episodes. Then I started discussing them in the thread, and before I knew it I had a ponytar and was in IRC, and everything. Without even knowing it, the ponies had converted me. And I couldn't be happier.

[courtney_bethI shall not use my hooves as hands.]

I've mentioned off and on in this forum and in the old thread that my husband is now into the show. He heard me talking about it and he thought I was joking. He's also a member of the forums and saw the thread and couldn't believe it. He watched Apple Bloom's first episode with the cutie mark drama and immediately fell in love with the show. Now he's a bigger fan than me! I think his favorite is Pinkie Pie, but he loves all of them.

[Triangle Headconfound these ponies,they drive me to think]

Saw some pony avatars in GBS and Games, thought they looked cute so I looked into it and found the second TVIV thread (may it rest in peace). I watched the first two episodes, liked the style but I didn't understand the hype and passed it off. A little while later, I decided to watch another episode and was pleased that it was so different from the pilot... then kept watching more and more until

I also originally hated the opening theme so very much, but I kept humming/singing it and it just grew on me. It's so damn catchy.

[courtney_bethI shall not use my hooves as hands.]

The theme song grows on you after awhile. At first it's semi-embarrassing and you feel awkward listening to it. Then by the fourth or fifth episode you're rocking out to it.

Now I can't get enough and sing along.

[Reveilled]

A lot of the original puking ponies were posters in Wiz's Rome LP, and I remember specifically that I ended up searching Patter Song's post history to try and work out where they were coming from. And when I found the first thread I figured, "I watched a whole bunch of Billy and Mandy a few days ago, what difference do ponies make?" So I watched the pilot and thought it was fairly good, and already knew I'd probably end up watching more, but not really sure if it could keep my interest. Then came the Benny Hill chase sequence on Ticket Master, and I guess that was what hooked me.

Ended up with a ponytar when the second thread got posted, The only good animated one left at that time was Fiestapinkie from Dragonshy, and from there on I was a bona filly ponyfan.

[BeepsTonight... We feed.]

In the original thread, I'd actually written a big "I can see how you'd enjoy it but it's not for me" post after watching Ticketmaster, while watching Applebuck Season. The overwhelming awkwardness of the prolonged scene of Applejack dragging the trophy made me delete it. Even the episodes that are about the same old issues end up doing so in a way that freshens it up.

Rewatching it now - I just caught the, "beating a dead... tree," joke. This show. Best show.

[Maple LeafOne look at your plebeian atrocity and I find myself asking where in it you hid the kitchen sink.]

I had no "natural stigma" against the show. I was originally just going to let it pass by, but after a few ponytars (the last one being, W.T.Fits's), I decided to see if there was a thread about the show. There was, I looked it up on Youtube, lived happily ever after.

[Aethis]

On another IRC network, someone was talking about the new MLP show and boasting of actually how good it was. I was skeptical, and asked him what he was high on. He assured me it was good, and as evidence pointed me towards the pony thread that was/is on the SA forums. So I sat and read through some of the posts and tilted my head and decided, why not.

Went and grabbed a bunch of episodes and didn't stop watching until the last episode, which at the time was Fall Weather Friends, and was there on out hooked. Continued to read the posts on the forum before it was gassed and watched the next two episodes as they were added. Currently waiting for the next episode.

[rainbowhaxthats me im a pony irl]

Friend told me about the PHIZ thread and how there were grown-ass men getting into this show. Took a look. Didn't watch it but had a laugh at all the pony conversion toys posted in that one. Then I learned one of the people involved had something to do with Power Puff Girls (I didn't know any names) and figured I'd watch an episode and see if it held up.

Saw the first one first. Saw what people liked about it but wrote it off as "not my thing." I remember the OP talking about how they don't beat bad guys through the power of sharing and I'm thinking that's literally what they did, yo.

Kept following the thread out of morbid curiosity, and that made me watch The Ticket Master. Been addicted to Horse ever since.

[chinaman7000]

The first episode still has residue of what you would expect out of a My Little Pony show. More magic, higher stakes, less humor and character development. It's fun to go back and watch now that I like the show, and it isn't TERRIBLE AWFUL, but it is pretty generic.

[Che Delilas]

I had seen IRQ's avatar but never made any kind of connection (probably because they don't really look like ponies in head-on shots like that). I just saw the thread in TVIV one day and figured it was a troll or there would at least be some good trolling in the thread. I resisted it a bit after reading the OP, but got bored enough to watch the pilot. Didn't think I needed to go out of my way to watch Powerpuff Girls 2011. A couple days later, something about it was buzzing around in the back of my head, not letting me dismiss it, and eventually I gave in and watch another episode. I binged on it for the rest of my Saturday.

I think more surprising than the fact that I like this show (my tastes have never really been completely "normal") is that I like Pinkie Pie the best. Usually I hate those overly-bubbly, hyperactive Ritalin kid characters, but her character manages to walk some kind of tightrope over that pit that I didn't even know was there. She somehow manages to not only be tolerable, but lovable.

[Nemo2342Friendship *is* Magic]

I woke up this morning with Winter Wrap-up in my head. The morning before that, I woke up with the main themesong stuck in my head. The ponies have their hooves in my soul, and they won't let go.

[Beef Assistant]

I think more surprising than the fact that I like this show (my tastes have never really been completely "normal") is that I like Pinkie Pie the best. Usually I hate those overly-bubbly, hyperactive Ritalin kid characters, but her character manages to walk some kind of tightrope over that pit that I didn't even know was there. She somehow manages to not only be tolerable, but lovable.

She's interesting because she's not always happy. She'll show frustration, too, which is a nice reminder that she's not completely out of touch with everypony else.

[dryerlintTwilight when ever will you get off the sauce?]

The guys who runs the vent I hang out on was like "hey ponies" so I was like ok I'll watch an episode.

[OderlanAnd you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?"]

As with a number of other people I started to see the avatars on the forums. I then found out about this new MLP by searching Wikipedia. I watched the original one with my sister way back in the day. I haven't even watched an episode before I started to mock it with a couple of friends. After all a lot of things from my childhood have become twisted shells of their former greatness. I had no doubt this would be to. After seeing the banners and going to the thread I decided watch an episode (Dragonshy). So, I thought that was that. I gave it a shot and thought it was ok but didn't think it was for me. Cut to a couple days later I'm sitting at my computer and queued up an episode... then another... and another until I've been through the entire series. Now I'm hooked and I accidentally got a couple of friends into it as well

[Momar]

I actually converted my sister with this article. It's Lauren Faust's written smackdown of a previous article, that proclaimed the show a racist, misogynist, homophobic toy commercial. To be perfectly honest, I had a lot of feminist hangups about getting into the show when I first started watching, but Lauren Faust is an outstanding director.

Honestly, I'm just glad to see a show where the female characters are three-dimensional and not somehow apologetic about their femininity. I certainly didn't think Hasbro would be the ones to produce it.

Now, back to work on my ponytar...

[[Insert name here]The poster every poster should avoid]

Reposting myself from the SA thread

1.See tons of pony avatars

2.Have someone in Mass Effect IRC channel shout about ponies

3.See and click on banner ad

4.Maybe just 1 episode

5.Maybe just 3 episodes

6.Maybe just all episodes

7.Read entire thread (started when thread was at 70 pages)

8.PONIES HELL YEAH


I seriously just read like the last 50 pages back to back even though I should be sleeping because if I go to sleep there will be more pages to go through.

Also I never thought there would be a time where I'm seriously debating between bombing Vietnam or watching ponies.

The ponies won

[quantumKitty]

Bleh.

[Orange Fluffy Sheep]

Same as last time I explained why I'm watching this show.

FUCK YOU W.T. FITS YOU GOT ME ADDICTED TO PONIES!

Because he directed me to the show.

And now I'm on a pony-centric forum. How the hell did this happen?

[IRQpat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat]

And now I'm on a pony-centric forum. How the hell did this happen?

Because

Everyone loves ponies.

[AzuriusThe ponies, they're inside your head!]

Same as last time I explained why I'm watching this show.

FUCK YOU W.T. FITS YOU GOT ME ADDICTED TO PONIES!

Because he directed me to the show.

And now I'm on a pony-centric forum. How the hell did this happen?

It's impossible to stay away, you shouldn't have bothered trying

[W.T. FitsSpoilers, you say? Well, in that case, I suppose I should avert my eyes.]

FUCK YOU W.T. FITS YOU GOT ME ADDICTED TO PONIES!

... I regret nothing.

[Maple LeafOne look at your plebeian atrocity and I find myself asking where in it you hid the kitchen sink.]

And now I'm on a pony-centric forum. How the hell did this happen?

Ponies.

[GlaziusHe finds himself through the martial arts discipline of Nokando, which he says hardens the body and turns the mind inward.]

Agent Interrobang's original avatar "we've tried persuasion, charm... whatever it is Pinkie Pie does..." is what got me interested. Then I went to youtube. Then I marathoned.

They had me at Twilight Sparkle teleporting past Nightmare Moon. That was just a perfect moment.

[IxionFaustGot a Ticket To the Moon.]

I saw that second banner ad you guys posted, and it caught my eye. Had a buddy in Skype talking about it, so i figured, why not, 'll give it a shot. Now, I'm uploading the newest episode on an alt forum for the topic I liked it so much. You guys, the show, and the friendship going around is all magical.

Everything about this show is brilliant. Someone said you could practically smell the unpaid work-hours and effort put into the show, and I agree. The animators, hell, the whole staff and Lauren together seem to be having a blast making these at the ridiculous standard of excellence that they do. So many layers and sub-layers of detail, every little nuance and gesture, all the subtle tweaks make the show come to life in a way I've never seen before, and it's just...well, a work of art.

That, and this is the best anti-depressant I've had in a long time, never seems to make the real ones backfire. Even better when making the anti-insomnia medicine shine, with all the vibrant colors the cartoon has.

[Master_TwigHey look, a bee.]

Saw the avatars, was intrugued by the art style. Clicked the thread. Got a bit interested. Watched the Call of the Cutie episode, thought it kind of sucked. Then someone in the thread said I should try another. So I did. Then I tried another... and before I knew it I had watched them all. The show is just so damn charming.

[[Insert name here]The poster every poster should avoid]

I returned a external hard drive to a friend a few days ago, so before I gave it back to him I made sure to drop the first 10 (since those were the only ones I had downloaded) episodes on it. I hope he's confused and watches it.

[KillerJunglist]

1. Lurking on forum and saw the pony avatars relativly uninterested in the art style dubbing it to childish, was also a bit mocking of the few spike ones going around.
2. Saw some guys avatar of Big mac, (May have been killerjunglist in which case I ow you one) and decided to check out why the hell there was male ponies,
3. Still mocking the idea, I decided to view the first episode as a joke.
4. ...Sat watching the episodes up to dragonshy in a single marathon.
5. Handed in masculinity to join the MLP club.

And thats about it.


Also on an unrelated note, 3rd post sorted out

Yea, had to be me. I think I'm STILL the only one with a Big Mac AV, at least an exclusively Big Mac one. There are a few like yours, with both Apple Jack and Mac, but he's a rare appearance so there aren't a whole lot.

But I do love my AV. A-yup.

I can't really add too much as I was never converted. I saw the art floating around online, found out the name, watched "Bridle Gossip" and was hooked. I found the SA forum while looking for desktop backgrounds, then jumped in to the conversation.

[LASTCARRainbow Dash1st Career Last-Place Finish2011 Running of the Leaves]

Well, this actually isn't my first rodeo, as it were. I am weak to Lauren Faust's magic.

In 2002, after my first year of college, I got into "The Powerpuff Girls" over summer vacation. For whatever reason, it was the right show at the right time; I enjoyed the strange giddy feeling I got watching a cartoon that was fresh and entertaining, making me feel ten years younger. When I came across a forum like this that was devoted to the PPG, I enjoyed even more interacting with fellow fans, sharing fanart and discussions along the way. I met a lot of cool people there who I kept in touch with all the way through college before the board folded-up just after I graduated.

In the six years since, I've yearned for that sense of community, and for a show that could fill the void left by the PPG. Eventually, I came to SA last year and indulged in my other passion - NASCAR racing. Then, last month, while browsing the SAS' thread just days before the start of the new racing season, I saw one of those banners. I'd ignored it for a few days, thinking it was just some kind of CG art thread or something. But, late that night after studying for an exam, my curiosity got the best of me. I clicked the banner and was immediately taken aback by the exuberant posts on what was then a 46-page thread.

Wondering what all the fuss was about in my half-awake daze, I watched the first episode. By the time Fluttershy was introduced, that old giddy feeling had returned, and I made my first post in the thread, admitting defeat. By the next day, I'd changed my NASCAR avatar I'd purchased just one week prior, and had completely succumbed to the Power of Friendship.

Friendship is magic, indeed.

[TOTBITthe filly who believed in disasters]

I was fresh off the Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt high I'd been riding the previous few months (barely posted in the ADTRW P&S thread, though I lurked the hell out of it) and was looking for something new. The dude who turned me onto that on IRC repeated his magic when he linked me to the SA pony thread, although this time with the opposite intention. Imagine his horror when, after the initial "man, this shit is for babies" period of apprehension, I threw myself on the first torrent of the show I could find.

Now I drive my friend crazy with my yapping about ponies. One day he will see the light. They ALL will *thunder crash, lightning plays around my horns*

[PickWarning: Sides With Applejack]

Mine's way more boring. Was in the TVIV subforum on SA to see if there was any Regular Show news, saw the first thread, went "There's a new My Little Pony show?" and went off to Youtube to check it out. Loved it almost instantly .

I loved the show as a kid, so when I was told, "Hey, it's that thing you loved, only good!" I was all like hell yeah.

[MoktaroPonies don't need no Constitutionto codify their freedom of expression]

I actually heard about the show from somewhere else, ended up recording Winter Wrap-Up as my intro. Thought the song ran way too long, but I loved how Faust subverted the old 'newcomer tries to fit in and ruins everything' trope at the end. Then I spotted one of the banners at SA and found the 2nd thread.

[In West FillydelphiaSCHWEIIIN]

Monday 14th. About 2AM. Doing some late surfing.
On Reddit, some user was commenting on a thread using captioned animated pony gifs. "What on earth is this?" I thought. "A purple unicorn and a rainbow haired, blue and winged horse? I must tineye this at once and find the reason for such curious things!" Tineye: no other images. In to Google: the basic description of what I am seeing. This being early morning I felt I had to appease this great curiosity with haste! Youtube links appeared, and there I was...

....Episode one you say? Well, it's only 20 minutes or so. I may as well... *click* ...Hold your 'horses': MY LITTLE PONY? Hahaha, let me see how much of this I can observe before I vomit velocitously!

...Hmm I can strongly relate to this protagonist who shirks potential friends in favour of study... ...and saving the world...

...Such whimsical and yet intriguing characters. A plot which leaves me more curious than I was about the ponies in the first place! This is a well produced work of art in all respects...

...Naww, how cute: She's too shy to even speak her own name. I've been there...



Goodness, this is pouring honey and light into my dark and bitter world! For the first time in a good long while, I am smiling heartily and honestly! Not at anyone's expense, or in a smarmy way. Not at smut or at gore. Just at simple, innocent and pure beauty!

Then at about 5AM I reluctantly sleep, having not seen all the uploaded episodes. I later wake up and witness the beauty of winter wrap up. The song only left my mind briefly, during Rarity's turn.