# How embarrassed should I be about my hobby? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284 "2014-12-15T14:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/201 "2014-12-23T18:34:35Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > The ponies, as stated earlier, are not child-like characters for the main part. Well, but they’re very clearly patterned after the baby schema—big eyes, a disproportionally large head, comparatively short noses, and so on. In most adults, this evokes a cuteness response, in the “d’aww”-sense, and an instinct for protection—the evolutionary benefit is obvious. So when instead something patterned on this schema is placed into a sexual context, then this will squick people out quite naturally, and invoke strong feelings by those with a strong instinct for protection. And to be quite honest, if I were to find myself being sexually aroused by something conforming to this schema absent any explicitly sexualizing context, then I’d probably be worried. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/202 "2014-12-23T18:43:52Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Well, but they’re very clearly patterned after the baby schema—big eyes, a disproportionally large head, comparatively short noses, and so on. You’ve just described virtually every anime or manga character ever created, including those made for expressly adult contexts. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/203 "2014-12-23T18:48:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > You’ve just described virtually every anime or manga character ever created, including those made for expressly adult contexts. Yes, indeed. (But still, those are typically expressly meant to be adult humans, and those which aren’t—well, my point stands.) ---
**Author:** ![Tuxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Tuxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuxie)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/204 "2014-12-23T19:03:40Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Yes, indeed. (But still, those are typically expressly meant to be adult humans, and those which aren’t—well, my point stands.) And there are guides to help people draw anatomically accurate made vulvas which suggests a beastiality angle. Also I’m sure it wouldnt be hard to find fans of the show and clopfics that are totally into the idea of sex with children and ponies. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/205 "2014-12-23T19:08:15Z")
> [@Tuxie](#): > > clopfics Remind me to never ask what this word means. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/206 "2014-12-23T21:42:28Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Remind me to never ask what this word means. Oh, after 5 pages discussing from the OP on, it I imagine \*\*Tuxie \*\*expected it to be obvious from context. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/207 "2014-12-23T22:42:55Z")
But what if it’s even more specific, and…worse? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/208 "2014-12-23T23:33:29Z")
Latecomer (man, that word feels wrong in this thread) but the censorship vibe I’m getting here is more disturbing than than BPCs hobby is… and I find “Brony” culture to be fucking stupid, a terrible outgrowth of a generation that can’t seem to form its own identity, choosing instead to attempt to differentiate themselves from the rest of society by fully embracing the most off-putting behaviors imaginable. And for the record, I am a fat dude that plays video games, Magic: the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and watches anime at every opportunity, and have always done so. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/209 "2014-12-24T00:11:31Z")
> [@VoluntaryFireman](#): > > And for the record, I am a fat dude that plays video games, Magic: the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and watches anime at every opportunity, and have always done so. One would think this would make you less inclined to label others freaks, not more so. I’ve seen some episodes of the show, and it’s not bad. Pinkie Pie cracks my ass up. I watched the documentary ‘‘Bronies’’ and I found it quite interesting. I know at least one Brony, and he’s a badass human being. I don’t really see the big deal, unless the hatred for Bronies is grounded in the notion that men shouldn’t be doing feminine things like feeling emotions and caring about relationships, in which case fuck that noise. (I offer that as a possibility because in the documentary Bronies one of the guys explicitly says he is attracted to the show because of its positive portrayal of friendship.) I’m not a reader of fanfic but I understand that a lot of it, and particularly the tradition of ‘‘shipping’’ stemmed mainly from the lack of LGBT relationships in mainstream media. I didn’t really understand that history until I read [this article about ‘‘queer baiting.’’](http://www.uwbnext.com/editorials/please-do-not-bait-the-queers) I realize not every fanfic story has gay sex, but it does sort of establish that this culture was something created by and for marginalized communities, even if that means certain members of those communities are into cartoon ponies fucking. I’m guessing it’s far less about the physical characteristics of ponies and far more about the characters themselves as relatable entities, but either way… whatever floats your boat. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/210 "2014-12-24T00:34:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > You’ve just described virtually every anime or manga character ever created, including those made for expressly adult contexts. Anime character design stylistically derives from Tezuka’s manga, which in turn was most heavily influenced by Disney’s _Bambi_. So we’re back to animals drawn to intentionally resemble babies. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/211 "2014-12-24T00:44:20Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > I apologize: I got carried away and misrepresented your comment. Okay, that’s cool. **armedmonkey** , all Rule 34 means (and as you yourself pointed out it’s mostly a joke) that if something exists, someone, somewhere, will base porn on it. That’s it. It’s not meant to be a justifcation or a defense of anything. Face it: there are always going to be people with disturbing thoughts in their heads. We probably don’t even WANT to know what they’re thinking about. You can’t stop it. It’s sick and it’s sad, but there you go. As long as they’re not acting on it (and that, in my view, should include creating child porn – yes, even fictional stories!), then well, as long as they’re just thinking them, or imagining them, then there’s really nothing you can do. (Literally, it’s impossible – there’s no way of seeing inside someone’s thoughts.) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/212 "2014-12-24T00:51:02Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You young whippersnappers! In the \*real \*good old days, we flogged the dummy to Betty Boop and we were thankful! Betty Boop? We would have _killed_ to jerk off to Betty Boop. All _we_ had was [the Venus of Willendorf](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Venus_of_Willendorf_frontview_retouched_2.jpg/623px-Venus_of_Willendorf_frontview_retouched_2.jpg)! ---
**Author:** ![Tuxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Tuxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuxie)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/213 "2014-12-24T01:16:50Z")
> [@VoluntaryFireman](#): > > Latecomer (man, that word feels wrong in this thread) but the censorship vibe I’m getting here is more disturbing than than BPCs hobby is… and I find “Brony” culture to be fucking stupid, a terrible outgrowth of a generation that can’t seem to form its own identity, choosing instead to attempt to differentiate themselves from the rest of society by fully embracing the most off-putting behaviors imaginable. And for the record, I am a fat dude that plays video games, Magic: the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and watches anime at every opportunity, and have always done so. I approve this message. For a candid look at Brownies, google Tosh.o Bronies. Also this article was an interesting look at the Brony documentary: [http://www.btchflcks.com/2013/09/the-bronies-documentary-is-borderline-propaganda.html#.VJoS7UO4IE](http://www.btchflcks.com/2013/09/the-bronies-documentary-is-borderline-propaganda.html#.VJoS7UO4IE) ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/214 "2014-12-24T02:11:37Z")
> [@Tuxie](#): > > I approve this message. For a candid look at Brownies, google Tosh.o Bronies. Also this article was an interesting look at the Brony documentary: [http://www.btchflcks.com/2013/09/the-bronies-documentary-is-borderline-propaganda.html#.VJoS7UO4IE](http://www.btchflcks.com/2013/09/the-bronies-documentary-is-borderline-propaganda.html#.VJoS7UO4IE) Sweet, let’s watch Tosh.0 for a good look at Bronies. Seems legit As we all know Tosh.0 is an absolutely amazing place to find well balanced and nuanced documentaries, as evidenced by such pieces as **“Kid Who Farted on the Bus”** and **"Smell Yo Dick Girl**". Can I suggest **Debbie Does Dallas** as a good research piece for an inside look at the world of cheerleaders? ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/215 "2014-12-24T03:02:38Z")
I guess I will weigh in with this: I’m not prepared to accuse anyone of anything so vile as pedophilia just because they like cartoon horsie porn. We all have our oddities, whether it be sexual or, frankly, even stranger: [http://www.skunklover.com/](http://www.skunklover.com/) (Link refers to platonic love) Unless someone can show me some evidence that MLP arousal is somehow linked to pedophilia, I think it is downright nasty to assume it does. Go to Youtube an look up some of the 50s educational films about how all homosexuals are out to rape little boys if you think that such a link is intuitive. Are all people into BSDM out to hurt women? What about people who like to be rolled up in saran wrap? Surely that must link to some evil intent. Now, all that said, I have one more piece of advice to BPC: You don’t see me sharing my turn-ons with a random message board. ---
**Author:** ![Tuxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Tuxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuxie)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/216 "2014-12-24T03:41:13Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Sweet, let’s watch Tosh.0 for a good look at Bronies. Seems legit As we all know Tosh.0 is an absolutely amazing place to find well balanced and nuanced documentaries, as evidenced by such pieces as **“Kid Who Farted on the Bus”** and **"Smell Yo Dick Girl**". Can I suggest **Debbie Does Dallas** as a good research piece for an inside look at the world of cheerleaders? Maybe Budget Player Cadet should go on Tosh.0, he could do a Web Redemption. Maybe give a reading of his erotic fanfic to live audiences or something. Since he’s brave enough to admit to all of us what he writes, I’m sure he would be okay with it. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/217 "2014-12-24T03:45:03Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Maybe in a discussion about pedophilia, we can avoid use of the “general you?” Unless you’re making a specific accusation about me, here. > > Anyway, “Thoughts lead to actions” is not a truism. I have lots and lots of thoughts that never lead to actions, from “I should join a gym,” to “I want to burn down the Mormon Tabernacle.\*” Hell, a good 90% of the entertainment I consume involves acts of \*appalling \*violence. I’m guessing you aren’t going to contend that it’s inevitable that I’m eventually going to start committing violent acts? As much as I may enjoy an idle fantasy about taking a rocket launcher through the halls of Congress, you wouldn’t actually suggest that I’m going to do it, right? > > So, same thing with sexual fantasies. If I fantasize about sleeping with someone who’s not my boyfriend, I have not actually cheated on him, nor am I going to. If I fantasize about keeping a sex slave tied up in my closet, I’m not actually going to become a kidnapper and rapist. And if someone else fantasizes about sex with someone who’s underage, it does not automatically follow that they’re going to commit child abuse. Thoughts are not actions. 99% of thoughts never become actions. A thought that’s never acted on can be neither moral nor immoral, as a thought neither helps nor harms anyone else. It’s just a thought. > > \*Prop 8 stirred up a lot of hostility in me. I hate people who quote long posts in their entirety, but the ideas expressed in this post seem pretty important to me. Since this thread has gone in a lot of different directions I am quoting it here to reinforce **Miller** ’s wise words. Thoughts are not actions. Believing that they are leads to censorship and a lot of other ugliness. ---
**Author:** ![Tuxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Tuxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuxie)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/218 "2014-12-24T04:05:23Z")
I find it rather offensive to insinuate that Bronies are like gay people. People are born gay, they are not born Brony. Which means they are making a choice on what they choose to watch and how open they choose to be about it. It would not surprise me to imagine some gay people getting irritated at the idea that a Brony has it just as hard. And throwing the “thought crimes” label around is just one totenkopf decal away from Godwinizing the whole thread. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/219 "2014-12-24T11:42:15Z")
> [@Tuxie](#): > > I find it rather offensive to insinuate that Bronies are like gay people. I find it rather offensive that you insinuate that Bronies are zoophiliac pedophiles. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284/220 "2014-12-24T12:17:16Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I hate people who quote long posts in their entirety, but the ideas expressed in this post seem pretty important to me. Since this thread has gone in a lot of different directions I am quoting it here to reinforce **Miller** ’s wise words. Thoughts are not actions. Believing that they are leads to censorship and a lot of other ugliness. No, **Miller’s** words equating all thoughts are not wise. Maybe my “thoughts lead to action” was a bit overstated it, but the overly permissive position is just dumb. If the recurrent thought is “I should join a gym” then who cares? However, if the recurrent thought is “I should rape a child”, then see a psychiatrist because that is not a good though to be having. That’s what psychiatrists are for. There is a whole profession whose specialty is dealing with this stuff… The position of “it’s just a thought so what are you going to do?” is just dumb. Tell that to somebody struggling with OCD or suicidal ideation and see if they share the same opinion that all thoughts are O.K. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-embarrassed-should-i-be-about-my-hobby/707284.md?page=12)